As you know Xmas has rolled around once again. And I have an opportunity to get a yugo Mauser from cabelas. I'm a 16yr male of large build, and I'm looking for rifle for coyote/deer/boar hunting. As well as something that's fun to "shoot the hell" out of stuff with. I'm wondering if any of yall have shot one of these rifles? And know how reliable they are? I'm used to shooting my 12 Guage and if the recoil is similar, it won't be a problem. What do yall think?
Yugo m24/47 Mauser as hunting rifle???
- Thread starter shinwa98
- Start date
Well, it will do...sort of. Meaning you CAN take it hunting. But with the crude trigger and sights found on a military 98 it will not be anything near precision. The Mauser 98 was meant to be a rugged and reliable battle rifle, not a hunting gun. A sporting rifle with a scope would be a much better choice.
For "banging around" an issue 98 is a great pick. For serious hunting...not so much.
For "banging around" an issue 98 is a great pick. For serious hunting...not so much.
I see what you mean. Thank you.
Mosin-Marauder
New member
The M24/47 is a Mauser but a K98 it is not. Actually uses a shorter action than the standard K-98. I'm getting a Yugo Mauser myself for Christmas, and yes, it is a perfectly adequate hunting rifle for all things listed, just use proper ammunition. Practice and tuning is necessary with these rifles, as they are not out of the box MOA rifles. I've seen groups produced at 50 yards that were superb with quality handloads. They are extremely rugged and robust rifles. I say hunt away! 
On a side note, inspect the crown and bore of the rifle you are planning to buy.
On a side note, inspect the crown and bore of the rifle you are planning to buy.
I have personally taken a couple deer with a Yugo 8mm Mauser, and I would definitely get used to those sights at 100 yds. It took me a while to get used to. However on a plus note, the ballistics on an 8mm Mauser are almost identical to a .32 Win Special (which I've taken a lot of animals with)
I definitely agree with some of the previous posts in that you should try different ammunition and get plenty of practice in. If down the road you are planning to capitalize upon the rifle's accuracy, find a scope mount for it (Mitchell's Mausers has them I believe) They are indeed robust, and very well built.
I definitely agree with some of the previous posts in that you should try different ammunition and get plenty of practice in. If down the road you are planning to capitalize upon the rifle's accuracy, find a scope mount for it (Mitchell's Mausers has them I believe) They are indeed robust, and very well built.
All good answers here, but as i sit here on the last day of deer season, I remember my son saying the same thing about my Mauser. I put some mojo sights on the thing and was a dramatic improvement over the battle sights. trigger improvement would be another necessary item for hunting for me. I settled on a Savage Hog hunter for my son. It didn't need any work, and is good for any kind of hunting you can think of. Like someone said, save your pennies and get one of the cheaper deer rifles. they have come a long way!
2damnold4this
New member
I have killed two deer with my Yugo Mauser. The cartridge has plenty of power and when my eyes were better, I could shoot some great groups with it.
I don't hunt with it now for several reasons. One is the battle sights are hard for my old eyes to use and they are regulated for farther distances than I would like. Another is the rifle is heavier than it needs to be. The last reason is the trigger isn't great.
My Yugo is nice enough that it would be a shame to permanently modify the sights. Since I have rifles that are more suited to hunting, I'll enjoy it on the range.
I don't hunt with it now for several reasons. One is the battle sights are hard for my old eyes to use and they are regulated for farther distances than I would like. Another is the rifle is heavier than it needs to be. The last reason is the trigger isn't great.
My Yugo is nice enough that it would be a shame to permanently modify the sights. Since I have rifles that are more suited to hunting, I'll enjoy it on the range.
An original milsurp can be used as a hunting rifle-combat is often not that different from hunting. Biggest difference IMHO is that JSP ammunition is legal for hunting. And I think we have enough board members who hunt with iron sights who will testify to their effectiveness-when the shooter does his part.
They will do the job, but I think you would be far better off to look for a good used 243. There are several lower priced gun out there. I like the Savage rifles because I like to switch barrel on them, but even the H&R single shots can be made to shoot very good, and these guns are far easier to scope.
I would like to clarify my former response, I have no problem with anyone hunting with a milsurp bolt action rifle. I just wouldn't go out and buy one just for hunting. My experience with Mauser iron sights is that they leave a lot to be desired, the shallow V setup isn't very forgiving. Later Lee Enfields and Mosin Nagants have better sights in my opinion
Of course you can pop a Mojo rear sight on 24/47 and get a much better sight picture without permanently altering the rifle.
Jimro
Of course you can pop a Mojo rear sight on 24/47 and get a much better sight picture without permanently altering the rifle.
Jimro
BombthePeasants
New member
The sights are truly terrible, but the gun REALLY shines when you get into bayonet range; try attaching a pig poker to a H&R single shot!!
You didn't mention where you are hunting, but optics may not even be a factor where you live, and with 16 yo eyes. I'm guessing economics is a factor in your slection, so I say go get it, practice, and join the ranks of the hunters out there. One thing about milsurps is that if you decide you want something better later, or desire better options, you can always sell it and get most of your money back out of it. It may not be the trickest hunting rifle out there, but the sport is open to archery and pistol hunters, not just trick hunting rifles. The round is more than capable to humanely dispatch the beasts you will pursue, so its simply a matter of keeping your shots within the distance at which you can make them.
FrankenMauser
New member
The 24/47 is a perfectly adequate rifle, as long as the example in question has a good barrel. If it's worn out or has been abused, it may not shoot well.
But... it's never easy to tell if the barrel will be good, or not. My 24/47, for example, had lands that were rounded over so much that they just looked like deformities in a smoothbore; but it was the most accurate 8x57mm rifle that has been in my family.
It's more than enough for deer, hog, coyotes, etc.
The 24/47 is also a more solidly built rifle than the later Yugo M48. They use the same receiver and barrel, but everything else is cheaper and weaker in the M48.
Keep in mind: Unless you want to drill and tap the receiver and modify the bolt handle, it is not a rifle that is easily scoped.
As other posters mentioned, it is NOT a K98. The Yugo Mausers were "intermediate length", which means that the action is shorter than K98s. Parts are not interchangeable; nor are stocks, scope mounts, etc. Most of the aftermarket Mauser parts on the market will NOT work for these rifles.
You could easily argue that my first hunting rifle was my Yugo 24/47. I never did take any big game with it, though. It wasn't the rifle's fault - I just didn't have it with me when the time was right. One of my brothers also borrowed that 24/47 for a few years and used it as a 'truck gun'. Several coyotes lost their lives to it, and several deer, wounded by other hunters, were put down with authority.
Mine was a good rifle. I wish I still had it....
But... it's never easy to tell if the barrel will be good, or not. My 24/47, for example, had lands that were rounded over so much that they just looked like deformities in a smoothbore; but it was the most accurate 8x57mm rifle that has been in my family.
It's more than enough for deer, hog, coyotes, etc.
The 24/47 is also a more solidly built rifle than the later Yugo M48. They use the same receiver and barrel, but everything else is cheaper and weaker in the M48.
Keep in mind: Unless you want to drill and tap the receiver and modify the bolt handle, it is not a rifle that is easily scoped.
As other posters mentioned, it is NOT a K98. The Yugo Mausers were "intermediate length", which means that the action is shorter than K98s. Parts are not interchangeable; nor are stocks, scope mounts, etc. Most of the aftermarket Mauser parts on the market will NOT work for these rifles.
You could easily argue that my first hunting rifle was my Yugo 24/47. I never did take any big game with it, though. It wasn't the rifle's fault - I just didn't have it with me when the time was right. One of my brothers also borrowed that 24/47 for a few years and used it as a 'truck gun'. Several coyotes lost their lives to it, and several deer, wounded by other hunters, were put down with authority.
Mine was a good rifle. I wish I still had it....
M24/47 for hunting? Yes!
I have two; one is a sporter, scoped and it shoots 1-1/4' all day long, the other in military dress is a 2"-3" shooter. I did tailor ammo to each one, 180 grn Nosler Ballistic Tips @ 2650 fps
for the sporter, and 200 grn Speer Hot Cores @ 2500 fps for the other. Took some time and patience to get there, but well worth it. The sporter has two deer to it's credit so far
I have two; one is a sporter, scoped and it shoots 1-1/4' all day long, the other in military dress is a 2"-3" shooter. I did tailor ammo to each one, 180 grn Nosler Ballistic Tips @ 2650 fps
for the sporter, and 200 grn Speer Hot Cores @ 2500 fps for the other. Took some time and patience to get there, but well worth it. The sporter has two deer to it's credit so far