Best Mauser 98

[Bm22]

What is a good mauser 98 to use as a project gun. I am not looking for bench rest accuracy but a quality gun to build on. I will probably build a 6.5x55 swede.

I heard the argentine 1909 are good but are hard to find now.

Are the turkish or czech rifles any good. How much am i looking to spend on a donor action?

Thanks

 

[The_FNG]

Have you thought about grabbing a Zastava action?

 

[sandwarrior]

It's almost easier to say which ones to avoid.

Anything pre '98 with the exception of Swedes.

Spanish Mausers up to the point of the Santa Barbaras (civilian made in 1960 and later).

Chinese copies. One exception is the Czech VZ 24's that were sold to China, all being marked '1937'.
Those are hard to identify specifically though.

Pre-T38 Turks

During re-work many were re-heat treated. Double heat treating often led to brittleness. Thus the Spanish and Turk rifles to look out for. This has often been pointed out, but not all Mausers that were arsenal reworked had these issues. It's up to your gunsmith to determine how hard the casing is on the receiver (most all were case hardened) and if it's too brittle or not.

I can't think of any Czech rifles I wouldn't have.

Another big caveat too is what condition the rifles are in. Take a look at the receiver, especially below the wood line, for pitting. Any thing you think you might want as a candidate to rebuild on needs to be inspected to see there is no corrosion pitting.

All that said, if you wanted the absolute best Mauser to build on, you might look into finding a current double square bridge M98. But, that action alone might cost you around ten grand.

If you have a Swede that has been 'modified' it would be a very good candidate for a custom build.

 

[Powermac]

Good Mausers to build on would be.

Parker Hale M81,82,84,85.
Commercial FN Mausers.
Spanish commercial Mausers.
Kongsberg weapons KV 67.
The Czech Mausers are generally of good quality.
CZ VZ24.
Swedish Mausers.
The Turkish actions are often of good quality,look out for what Sandwarrior mentioned though.



If i was going to do a build i would have chosen a commercial, closed top action, built with modern steel, witch avoids potential problems.
They were generally held to higher tolerances when built.
Comes from the factory drilled for scope bases, with a properly bent bolt handle.
Improved bolt shroud and safety, and the closed action helps make it more rigid.



If you want the very best Mauser receiver available, contact Prechtl in Germany.
The GS04 they use is certainly the most impressive Mauser action built ever.
It's the one is used in the GOL rifles the GSG uses.

Precision machined, whole reciever made from one block of steel.
A beefy Octagon receiver with flat bottom, fora better bedding surface, and closed design to maximize stiffness and rigidity.
One piece bolt with oversized bolt handle.
3 position m 70 type safety.
Intergal ZF/ weaver/ Picatinny rail 20, 30 or 40 MOA.
Standard M98 after market triggers fits.
And in it's original configuration, it comes with a chassis system with a intergal mag well, the size makes it difficult to fit it to most stocks though.
But if you want a DBM unit for it, the CDI version can be made to fit.

Combine that with a Bix'n Andy M98 two stage trigger, a quality stock (McM comes to my mind), and a good barrel and you have the ultimate Mauser.
The price might become hard to swallow though.

The second best choice would be the current Double square Bridge Mauser design from Mauser, Prechtl or Ragnar Hansen.
These are extremely expensive though and Sandwarriors reference for 10 grand is about right.

 

[Phye2003]

Mark x, vz24, 1909 Argentine, 1908 Brazilian(the same as a 1909 but no hinged floor plate). I have been told some Spanish and turkish Mauser had soft metal. I have seen one that had a soft receiver. The bolt lugs had started to set back the receiver lugs. Cant usually tell till you take the barrel off. I think the action it at my grandpas ill try to get pictures of it. O and of coarse the german actions are good.

 

[fmsniper]

Commercial FN Mausers. or CZ actions are what I use and CZ M98

 

[ranger1183]

Always have liked this rifle.

 

[fmsniper]

yes very nice, had to sell it a while back, needed the money for bills

Always have liked this rifle.

 

[lw8]

Modern? The Saterlee Mauser is hard to beat or Granite Mountain Arms if your gunsmith is good and prefers to fit parts himself.

They are spendy though.

 

[ranger1183]

Modern? The Saterlee Mauser is hard to beat or Granite Mountain Arms if your gunsmith is good and prefers to fit parts himself.

They are spendy though.

Spendy? No Kidding! But they are beautiful. Satterlee Arms phone: 605.584.2189 -

 

[usmc3439]

Czech made "BRNO" 98/22 or the vz24

 

[sandwarrior]

JEEZO FRIDAY! It's Monday already and I forgot one of the best deals out there for a Mauser Action. Montana Rifle Company [COLOR="#0000CD"]edit: must google search to find[/COLOR]

I have a .300 WSM made by them and it's a tack driver for a hunting rifle. It holds 1 moa @ 300 yds. with my handloads. I don't buy off the shelf because of cost. Not because it isn't accurate or anything (hate factory loads BTW)

In any case, they run close to a grand for just the action. But, they've got all the good things on them that I like (Win 3 pos safety for one). But for the cost on one of them you won't pay much more than if you started from scratch with an old Mauser action and had all the work done. Because in the end you'll spend almost as much that way.

 

[ranger1183]

One question I have is with all the High-Tech CNC machines FN/Winchester has these days making CRF model 70 actions, why not just build off of one of those? Or are those actions not considered "mauser enough"?

 

[Smcarroll]

I have a pile of Mauser rifles and actions. I have much love for the 1909, I have one in the safe built into a 25-06 and one I am turning into a 308 heavy barrel. The vz24 actions are ok I used one for a 338-06. I have a nib zastava magnum bolt face I am making into a 8mm Remington mag and its a peachy action. My favorite 98 is made from a 98k, is in 300 Wm and has a shilen barrel with a timney trigger. Shoots incredible.

300 Wm.

This is why its my favorite rifle. Little sister took her first deer with it the fall I made it.

 

[sandwarrior]

One question I have is with all the High-Tech CNC machines FN/Winchester has these days making CRF model 70 actions, why not just build off of one of those? Or are those actions not considered "mauser enough"?

They have a claw extractor don't they?

Smcaroll, Fmsniper, love those rifles.