HM3:
Your "new" Mauser is more complete than many, if your barrel is still original. Take the others' advice, try it out before deciding anything further. I've got an old Polish (Danzig/Gdansk)-built version of the 98K, it's barrel was grimy and dark, but after thorough cleaning it seems very acceptable. And since the barrel and receiver have matching numbers, I'm hesitant to rebarrel just yet.
By the way, it's very common for the bolt to be mismatched. When these rifles were captured by Allied forces, often the first thing that was done was to remove the bolts and toss them in a big pile, effectively taking those firearms out of the fight. When the captured arms were refurbished in an arsenal (by the Soviets, for example), they certainly did not take the time to match up the loose bolts. In a way, that fact is rather meaningful, it is likely that your rifle did indeed "see some action".
That 8mm round punches a hole nearly 10% bigger than a .30-06 or .308, in some respects it is superior to "our" calibers.
Just be sure to remember, all modern commercial 8mm Mauser ammo made in the U.S. is downloaded because it can also be chambered in older, less robust Mauser actions. Your '98 can take the military surplus stuff, there is a big difference.
Your "new" Mauser is more complete than many, if your barrel is still original. Take the others' advice, try it out before deciding anything further. I've got an old Polish (Danzig/Gdansk)-built version of the 98K, it's barrel was grimy and dark, but after thorough cleaning it seems very acceptable. And since the barrel and receiver have matching numbers, I'm hesitant to rebarrel just yet.
By the way, it's very common for the bolt to be mismatched. When these rifles were captured by Allied forces, often the first thing that was done was to remove the bolts and toss them in a big pile, effectively taking those firearms out of the fight. When the captured arms were refurbished in an arsenal (by the Soviets, for example), they certainly did not take the time to match up the loose bolts. In a way, that fact is rather meaningful, it is likely that your rifle did indeed "see some action".
That 8mm round punches a hole nearly 10% bigger than a .30-06 or .308, in some respects it is superior to "our" calibers.
Just be sure to remember, all modern commercial 8mm Mauser ammo made in the U.S. is downloaded because it can also be chambered in older, less robust Mauser actions. Your '98 can take the military surplus stuff, there is a big difference.
