These are just my opinions, of course:
1) Don't worry about small/large ring questions unless you are buying an action to customize. Most on the market are large ring. If you want to understand these and other types of variation, you will have to buy books and look at a lot of rifles
2) Always have head space checked on rifles you intend to actually shoot. Buy the gauges and learn how to use them or have your gunsmith do it . Most of the guns are fine, but a few are at least at the point of becoming questionable.
3) Don't believe any talk of getting a great bore or great accuracy. Most of the bores are actually on their last legs and probably most of the bedding is also gone on these rifles. Therefore, you get mediocre accuracy. You are not going to get the equivalent of Shilen's best barrel on these rifles. If you actually got a great bore on a really nice rifle, it would be kind of a shame to shoot it out at this late date, its worth more as a collector's piece, you know.
4) Collectors will always want all matching serial numbers (all original) on their rifles and , of course, in the best condition possible. These will eventuall bring the highest prices when supplies dry up. Mismatched guns are good as shooters and for customizing. You have to make up your mind what you want. I can go for both types.
Rifles currently available:
A) Swedish mausers M96 (long) & M38 (short). I think these are the best quality wise: you should be able to get a beuatifully made rifle with all matching serial #'s. I would get the nicest one I could while they are still available. 6.5mm Swede. Not a 98 Mauser, a 96 Mauser.
B) Persiam M29 Mauser: These where made by the Czechs in the 30's, are in great shape and are arms of the highest quality and with all matching serrial #'s. This is another one that should be bought while they are available. 8mm standard 98 Mauser.
C) VZ24 Czech Mauser: Lots of these are available. They are fine 8mm standard 98 Mausers, but they have mismatched parts. I am told that ones w/ serial numbers starting with 2 letters, the second one being an R (XR), where made for Romania.
D) Yugoslav M 48: A 98 mauser made after WWII by the Yugoslavs. Finish is not as fine as on pre-war Mausers, but these guns are in excellent shape. 8mm standard 98 Mauser
E) Various other Yugoslav Mausers: They had a lot of models before the war plus captured weapons. Serial #'s are mismatched. Who knows what you are getting with these? They should have been checked and OKed by their arsenals. I would want to see these in person before buying. But they are cheap 8mm standard 98 Mausers.
F) Turkish Mausers: They had lots of different models by various manufacturers and then reworked them all themselves in their own arsenals. So they are all mismatched "Frankensteins". The oldest ones are pre 98 Mausers. Most look pretty beat. I would want to see these in person, or really trust the person I ordered it from. 8mm Mausers very cheap. If you get a nice one, you would have made quit a good deal.
Have fun with all of these. There is one for every budget.
[This message has been edited by Herodotus (edited April 09, 2000).]
