new mauser ?

[sbuff]

As stated in a earlier post,I bought a new to me mauser from kittery trading post.Mikey was a big help with info{as is everyong on GBO}.I was still wondering some other things.

Is a vz24 and a Yugo mauser the same thing.On mine,the  handguard is extended from the lower band to the front of the rear sight base.A M48 extends to the front of the reciever ring correct?

C.A.I. ST. ALB. VT is stamped along with K98 at the end of the barrel.On the crest of the reciever is a Yugo symbol.And then a small lettet S just above  the crest.

As stated too,its has the Preduzece 44 and mod 98 on the left side of the reciever.Numbers don't match,but that doesn't matter to me.Last stupid question,is 8mm and a 8x57 the same thing and both can be shot safely out of this gun..

IF I can figure out how to post a picture I will..

Thanks all.
Steve

[Mikey]

sbuff:  Nope!  Two different Mausers.  The VZ 24 is a standard 98 action built for the 7.92x57mm (8mm) .323 bore cartridge.  The Yugo is also a Mauser but slightly shorter action than the VZ; bolts do not interchange.  I find my Yugo handier than my VZ.  Both have/had new bores when I got them and both shoot incredibly well.  Stock differences vary and I am no expert on stock identification.

Century Arms International (CAI) is the company in St. Albans, Vermont that imported your rifle. The crest on the receiver authenticates the manufacturer, or at least the purchaser.  I have also seen unmarked M48s -  contract rifles. If the 'S' is a original strike it means one thing, if the strike is similar to the CAI style markings it probably means 'safe'.

The markings you describe are consistent with the style used at Factory 44 when they rebuilt the VZs with new barrels (probably including serviceable k98 barrels), bolts and stockwork and it's really nice to see a rifle that still carries its crest; some appear crudely removed....

8mm (slang term, actually), 7.92x57mm and the 8x57JS describe the correct cartridge for that rifle.  The cartridge is actually a 7.92x57mm round and mil-spec on this round was a 198 gn .323 caliber Spitzer bullet at 2500+'/sec.  American made casings for this cartridge are given the same case head dimentions as the 30-06 family of cartridges.  The case is rimless.  Sellier and Bellot and PRVI are the best ammo sources available.  Check Mid-South and the other places like Natchez, Cheaper than dirt, etc. for the ammo.  The round is a real thumper with the original European loadings; American loadings from Winchester and Remington are loaded way down and are little better than a 30-30.   

[sbuff]

sounds good Mikey,thanks for the mauser knowledge....
can't wait to shoot it..

any other info you think I should find out about it..

I would like to try to get this reddish tint out of the stock,other then that she is a sweety...

[Mikey]

Steve:  the reddish tint to the stock may be cosmoline and Murphy's Oil Soap applied either directly or diluted should clean the cosmo out of the stock and lighten it up a bit.  HTH.

[sbuff]

I will try that.
I had thought maybe it was some type of laminate or something.It streaks through the wood every 4-5 inches or so.

That letter S that we talked about above the yugo symbol on the crest is much larger then the CAI markings at the end of the barrel.

Thanks again Mikey for everything.

[TribReady]

Ammo: S&B prices have almost doubled. Another option for European powered loads are HOTSHOT from Century Arms. Made in Serbia to full 2900+ fps.  I haven't tried the hotshot yet, still using up a bunch of S&B, but I've heard good things.
As far as the stock, there's a stock restoration forum at ParallaxBill's site.