Yugoslav Model 24-24/77 questions

C

Casey

New member
Hello all.

I own numerous rifles, including several 30-06 rifles (a bolt action and a M1) and a couple of "varmit" rifles. But I've always wanted to own a Mauser.

The gun show was in Hilliard this weekend, and while I was there buying some reloading brass I happened across a vendor with exactly what I have a weakness for - old military 8mm Mausers!

To make a long story short, I ended up buying a nice Yugoslavian model for $80. Problem is, I don't know much about them.

Are they as strong as I've always heard they were? Are they tough enough to shoot modern 8mm through (I'm sure they are). What kind of wood is it? What would be the best way to refinish it?

Any general information about these rifles would be appreciated. I will also be searching the history on this site. (Well I was, but it's disabled!)

Thanks.

Casey
 
Thats a great shooter!

I love my yugo 8mm! It's very accurate with the cheap milsurp turkish ammo, and shoots the american stuff really well also. I have no idea what the wood is, but mine was in excellent shape and had all the accesories with it. I'm sure you will be pleased with the gun!

Pat Brophy
 
Casey,

Your Yugo 8mm is as tough as they come regarding it's ability to handle high pressure ammo. It is based on the Mauser 1898 action.

It is quite common to take an old military Mauser '98 and "sporterize" it with a new stock & barrel. Many companies regularly advertise stock & barrel combos just for this. The calibers offered range from .243, 7mm-08, .270 win, .308, .30-06, .300 win mag, .358 win, and even .458 win, among many others. These are all very high pressure rounds and the '98 action is well able to handle them.

Regarding the factory 8mm chambering your Yugo has, you will find that the milsurp 8mm ammo you can buy is a LOT hotter than is American commercial 8mm ammo. This has to do with the fact that around the turn of the last century, the Germans had TWO 8x57 (8mm) rounds.

The difference between the 8x57-J and the 8x57-JS is VERY significant. The early 8x57-J had a bore of .318 diameter and was a much lower pressure round, maxed at about 35,000 psi. This was the chambering of most Mausers up until about 1905. At that time, Mauser switched over to the 8x57-JS chambering.

The 8x57-JS (which we know as military 8mm Mauser today) has a bore-bullet dia. of .323 and is loaded up to around 58,000 psi. You DO NOT want to mistakenly load and fire a "JS" round in an older, pre-1905 "commission" rifle chambered for the "J" round.

In light of this, the American ammo manufacturers have wimped out and played "big brother" and loaded all commercial 8mm to specs that are safe for any rifle that will chamber it, including the very old pre 1905 "commission rifles" that were chambered for the "J". As a result, any American made 8mm ammo you buy is going to be about equivalent in ballistic terms to the .30-30 Winchester, with a 150 grain bullet in the 2200 fps range.

On the other hand, surplus military 8mm "JS" ammo is loaded to full capability of the round and action. Typically, a 154 grain fmj is going to be pushing 3000 fps from your Yugo 24-47. Some 8mm "JS" has a 193 grain fmjbt and will be running around 2700-2800 fps. This exceeds most 30-06 velocities. When you break the trigger on a milsurp 8mm round, your shoulder knows it's been tapped.

Yes, your Yugo is strong enough.........

As far as re-finishing the old warhorse, check out my Yugo 24-47 and see what I did with it at:
www.swampworks.com/SwampysStuff-2.html

Best to all,
Swampy
 
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