Sportered 1938 Mauser

B

Beard

Inactive
This summer, I inherited a 1938 s/243 German Mauser.
Album: http://imgur.com/a/ph5Cq#0

The neat:
S/243 puts it as being made at Borgiswalde (the internet tells me).
Serial number is 9xxd, all numbers match except stock.
All proofs are visible, not scrubbed out.
There are no import marks, so possibly a bringback.
Action is smooth, rifling is good.

The not so great:
The stock is not original and has been cut down on both ends.
The rear sight has been replaced with a Williams sight.
The barrel may have been shortened just in front of the receiver?

I can put a slipon butt pad to make length of pull manageable.
I am thinking about replacing the buckhorn sight with a Firesight ring from williams.
I'd like to add a sling to take it deer hunting.
I figure since it isn't original now, I might as well make it functional for me.

What does TFL think?
 
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That rifle is restorable to original condition, except the cost of parts would make the restoration hideously expensive. The rear sight base was typically lead soldered on and then fixed in place with a screw. Looks like that has been removed.

In its current condition, you can shoot it, the cheapest solution is as you suggest. If you want to start spending money you can buy a replacement drop in sporter stock. Adding things like bent bolt handle, drill and tap for scope mounts, the dollar cost adds quickly and at the end of it, you will have more into the rifle than it is worth and probably as much, if not more, than a good used push feed M70.
 
Just FYI, barrels are shortened at the muzzle, not at the receiver. I would advise making darn sure you know what caliber it is, tho probably 8mm. There are two 8mm sizes, the standard .323 and the earlier .318, not many of those around. As has been mentioned, there are a lot of things you can do to make a good sporter rifle out of it, but the money adds up quickly and it's cheaper to buy a new rifle, like a Savage. The fun days of building sporters out of surplus Mausers are pretty much over. GW
 
Wow, that was quick. Thanks.

Goatwhiskers, if it's not been cut to shorten it, what do you think is going on in front of the receiver where it looks like plumbing pipe?
The rifling is consistent from crown to receiver.
 
There was a metal sleeve there, where the original rear sight was mounted. It was soldered on originally, that is why it looks like crap.

It doesn't look like anything that can't be reversed. Barrel looks to be unaltered (not shortened), there may be a hole drilled for the rear sight, but that would be covered by the rear sight sleeve.

You basically need this stuff:

http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/m98msrrearsightsleeve98k.aspx
http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/m98msrrearsightcam.aspx
http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/m98msrrearsightleafassemblywslide.aspx
http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/m98msrrearsightspring.aspx

And someone who knows what they are doing installing it. If you can find a gunsmith over 60 years old, that may be a good place to start.

You will also need the stock and metal, they are out there, if you are patient. Alternatively, you can get a Russian Capture or Israeli stock, they have both here:
https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewcategories.asp?idCategory=40
 
Kind of a no-win setup. Expensive to either re-mil or nicely sporterize.

A peep sight and some Euro-spec 8mm and it would be serviceable on about any North American game. Otherwise a memento of the ancestor.
 
I have not shot it yet. No ammo. The gun shop in my town has 8mm on backorder. He's got my number when it comes in. I'm assuming Prvi Partizan or Sellior & Bellot.

Any recommendations?
 
My advice: shoot it like it is if you can handle the sights. Put a decent drop-in stock on it with a recoil pad and sling swivels and don't spend a pile of cash on it. The Privi ammo I've used is quite well suited for informal practice and deer hunting. The S&B I've used has not been impressive in any way.
Just my opinion and I 'm not suggesting you will be so impressed but the absolute best current bullet I've shot through my 98's is the Nosler 180 Ballistic Tip/Combined Technology Plastic Tip. If was using an 8x57 for hunting, that would be what I used.
 
I am a big fan of Privi, in any caliber except 8mm Mauser.

None of my rifles shoot it well, and what they sell in the US is the wimpy Lawyer load, the low pressure crap Remington and Federal sell.

The best thing about Privi is that it is excellent quality reloadable brass.

Looks like Midway has both Hornady and S&B in stock. For comparison:

Hornady 195gr Interlock 195 gr @ 2500 fps.

Sellier & Bellot 196 gr SP 196 gr @ 2591 fps.

Prvi Partizan 196 gr SP 196 gr @ 2181 fps
 
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