Post-WWII FN/Israeli Mauser

[db22]

Two beat-up, much worse-for-wear Mauser rifles are sitting on the used rack at the local Gander Mountain this week. They were made by FN in the late 1940s, and bought by Israel, as the Hebrew markings on the receiver suggest. Both are chambered for 7.62 NATO. One of them looks to be in salvageable shape, a good winter project.

GM is asking $199 each for these worn old veterans. What do you think? Way too much, or "grab one while you can, there are no more"? One of my old buddies back in Texas had a good-condition Israeli 7.62 NATO Mauser, and loved it -- accurate, smooth, and with a completely different historical background than any other Mauser. I am very tempted . . . there is a big can of once-fired commercial .308 brass sitting under my loading bench and 250 new Hornady 150-grain FMJs on the shelf, next to a fresh pound of IMR 4064 that was intended for mild .30-'06 loads. Your opinions, please, gentlemen!

[TribReady]

A decent Israeli "k98" for $199.  I'd buy it in a second.
Of course, just for the historical factor it'd be cooler if it was a converted German k98, but still, alot of history in that rifle.

Supposedly very good shooters and a 1940's FN mausers are very well made.  Check the bores as some guys don't clean corrosive ammo properly.

[S.S.]

I have one myself and love it. mine is an 1895, not a 98.
just remember to load the rounds as long as possible.
original round case was 57mm long to the 51 of the 7.62.
short rounds cause jam after jam in feeding

[TribReady]

Don't know if the post-war FN's were converted 8x57's or originally chambered in the NATO sized round.  I think they were 7.62x51 from the start.

Your comments though definitely apply to the Israeli converts.

[Mikey]

I think those rifles may have been converted from 8mm.  The FNs were made in the late 40s and I do not believe teh 7.62x51 round was developed until a bit later.  I recall reading of Isreali snipers using the old 8mms from WWII and complaining that it would take a full magazine (5 rnds) to hit one target over on theother side of the Suez...  Mikey.

[woodchukhntr]

The 7.62 x 51 NATO was developed in the mid 50's, so the rifles have to be rebarreled 8mm's.

[TribReady]

After I posted, I researched a bit in Rifles of the World and saw that you guys are right. It has to be a convert.

All that said, I'd still buy it, db22, if I was you.  $199 still seems like a good price  Once you know Israel's struggles to build an army, let alone a country after WWII, you appreciate the history that's built into that rifle.

[db22]

The Israeli Mauser is home with me tonight.  When I stopped at the shop to examine it again this afternoon, the house gunsmith was there. He offered to scrub out the bore, which proved to be an average 40-year old military bore, with some old pitting, but no active rust.  I asked him to run his go/no-go gauges into the chamber -- the chamber is a bit on the long side, but aren't military chambers cut a bit big?  Anyway, he assured me that it was safe with any reasonable load, and so I filled out the paperwork, paid the bill, and took it home.

Having completely disassembled it and finished most of the cleaning, I can see the good workmanship that FN put into this rifle.  The bolt movement is smoother than any push-feed action. The trigger is a pretty good standard two-stage.  The sights are a bit worn, so a Mojo set will probably be a good bet.  I think I have heard mention of scout scope mounts for K98 Mausers.  I have a 2x LER scope that would work if a solid mount can be found.

The stock is plain birch with a reddish varnish, and a compacted coating of grime. Stripped, filled, stained and finished in Tru-Oil, it should look just fine.

I'm several weeks' work away from the first range trip, but I hope to have some good moderate handloads developed by November deer season.  Any pet loads for the .308 would be appreciated.  Thank you for your advice and opinions!

[mitchell]

a 165 hornady sst and a nice charge of IMR 4064 has been my go to load for deer for a long time. don't quote me its been like 4 years but i think i used 43.6 grains of powder

[db22]

Have fitted a Mojo Snap-Sight set to the old Israeli, and patched out the bore with ammonia several times. The workbench trash is filled with blue-green patches, but I'm well on the way to getting down to bare steel in the bore. Meanwhile, the rifle has delivered very good groups with the Hornady 150-grain BTSP and moderate charges of IMR 4064 or Varget. BL(C)-2 did well, too, but I was reminded of the difficulties my measure experiences with ball powder.

Even though I am left-handed, the Mauser is a delight to handle and shoot. Brass is free for the gathering at the range, and powder and bullets are shared with my ought-six (I never load the .30-'06 to maximum levels -- my shoulder aches for a week after shooting a box of factory-level loads).

I am very glad I followed the advice given here and bought this old rifle. I can now see the appeal that 98 Mauser actions have had for decades as the core of custom rifles. Just never paid any attention to Mausers, being a southpaw.

[bluebayou]

When I first started handloading I bought 2 pounds of BLC-2.  I still have 1-1/2 pounds after 5 years.  I have tried it in 6 rifles..........sucks everytime.

Otherwise, the Gander Mountain in Texarkana had one of the Israeli Mausers.  It had a fantastic bolt.  Smooth, but tight (no wiggling).  It felt like a handmade rifle.  I have been watching the Century Arms website for months.  They have FN, Czech, and German ones for less than $200.  The Gander Mountain price doesn't seem that bad when you discount shipping and/or transfer fee. 

I don't think that $200 is a once in a lifetime deal, but I want one and would probably pay it. 

I am loading 150 Sierra flatbase SP (Prohunter) with H4895 for my Ishapore Enfield.  We will see. 

[db22]

Bluebayou -- my problem with BLC-2 is that, like all ball powders, it migrates all over my powder measure and jams it up. An RCBS and a Lee have both had this problem. I have settled on Hodgdon Varget for both ought-six and .308, with the Hornady 150-grain BTSP. IMR4064 gives the same good results, but Varget is made with shorter grains that meter smoothly and consistently. 4064 has long, skinny grains that occasionally must be cut by the drum, or bridge in the drop tube. So far, this has not happened with Varget.

[AtlLaw]

I don't know why I haven't put my 2 cents in on this subject    Not like me... But...
The "Israeli mausers," re-barreled from 8x57 to 7.62x51, have been around for quite some time.  I don't remember when they started importing them, but I do remember the late Finn Aaguard writing an article about one he bought and tested.  Good review and the price back then was a lot less then $200!     Like most surplus imports I've seen, when a particular make of weapon first start coming in to this country, they are the cream of that models surplus crop.  But as the supply runs out the importers will buy anything, if the particular weapon becomes popular.  I guess all the good ones have fallin into the "Bubba's sporter" pit... 

BTW,  as I remember the Israeli Air Force was equiped with British Spitfires early on.  Seems the new nation made good use of recycling other countries old military equipment!

BTW - 2, I bought some BL-C(2) to try out with light bullets in my 338-06.  Never got around to that but am using it in my 30/30 and it dies okay.  Maybe something will do as well or better though.  Then again, I don't use a measure... 

[db22]

AtlLaw: You are, of course, quite right. I first heard of Isreal's stock of re-barreled K98k Mausers from an old friend in Austin TX, who bought one and found it to be a great shooter. His was much nicer, cosmetically, than mine. But even with a less-than-perfect bore, my old rifle does quite well with fairly mild handloads.

The appeal of the controlled-feed Mauser action is clear to me now, having shot the rifle quite a bit lately.  I stumbled upon another such rifle recently that is much better-suited to me, since I am left-handed. I found a used Ruger M77 Mk II left-hand .30-'06 on the rack at another local shop, and immediately put it on layaway. The bolt face is cut away at the bottom to pick up the cartridge from the magazine, the extractor is a non-rotating external Mauser style, and the safety works like a Mauser's, and it's all "held up to a mirror" -- completely reversed for southpaw use. As much as I enjoy shooting my .30-'06 Handi Rifle, I will set it aside for awhile and concentrate on load development and plain old pleasure shooting with the Ruger. It's half paid up now; just a few more weeks to go.

[mrbgt]

you've got a good attitude , sometimes you can polish a turd . here's my yugo captured mauser , it even had a broken firing pin . after scrubbing ,the bore turned out to be mint.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

[Troyboy]

It is amazing what a little elbow grease will do.

                                        Troy

[db22]

mrbgt: Troyboy said it -- you applied elbow grease just right. That is a mighty fine-looking Mauser! I suppose I should get busy again and take some more gunk outta my old rifle's stock . . .