Author Topic: K98 Mauser (Read 623 times)

jack19512 · « **on:** January 07, 2006, 08:27:05 PM »

I know this probably should have been posted in the military surplus forum but I wanted to post my question here because I thought I might get a better response.

I recently purchased a K98 Mauser with the ATI stock from Centerfire Systems here in Ky. This rifle is very accurate and I really like it but I am having a lot of misfires. I am shooting the Yugoslavian mil-surplus from AIM.

The primer doesn't look to me like it is being hit as hard as it should be, although I don't have another rifle to judge mine by. I am thinking light primer strike is the main reason. Sometimes the bolt doesn't want to close with a round in the chamber also.

Most times I can cock the bolt again and the round will fire. Do any of you think this could be caused by incorrect head space? Or any other ideas or anything you might suggest I check would be appreciated.

I should add that I took the bolt apart and cleaned and oiled it good. I couldn't see any damage or problem with the firing pin either. Thanks

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2006, 02:30:13 AM »

Jack - it may be your ammo. There is not a lot of new manufacture 8mm ammo out there and a lot of the mil-spec stuff is old, very old and not reliable. An example is some turk 8mm a buddy got for his VZ-24 - it went bang, boom, spittzle, bamp, no-fire, etc. Some of the 'Original' WWII stuff should be strictly for display - some of the stuff made in the 50s in the comm-bloc nations is also not very good. About the best surplus stuff around is the Portugese mil-surp - it is reloadable, accurate and reliable. Try some new stuff by S&B - that should work fine for you too.

Also, repost this on the Mil-Surp site - you will find a lot of advice there about ammo preferences for some of those older K98s and advice about making certain she functions properly for you.

At the onset, if some of that stuff is hard to chamber, I would dump it. Your K98's chamber won't tighten up after all these years unless it is rusted or badly pitted and holds onto the brass as a result, which you have not said happens. Headspace will cause cases to separate, which you have not said happens. Sounds like bad ammo to me. If you think you need a new firing pin there are tons available. HTH. Mikey.

PaulS · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2006, 02:40:25 AM »

Jack19512,

You didn't say whether you had cleaned the bolt or not - it may be that the bolt is full of cosmoline or other preservative that is restricting the firing pin. Have a look and make sure it is clean and lubed.

jgalar · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2006, 04:03:26 AM »

Both Mikey and Paul gave good advice. You can go to surplusrifle.com to get detailed (with pics) instructions on how to remove and take down the bolt to clean.

jack19512 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2006, 05:05:47 AM »

PaulS

Re-read my post. Pay particular attention to my last sentence. :grin:

I do not think it is the ammo. I think something isn't quite right about the bolt. When I had the bolt apart I tried to examine the bolt and firing pin workings without the spring installed. I mentioned that sometimes the bolt won't close when trying to chamber a round, but I can try that same round again and it will chamber fine.

You would have to be really familiar with how the bolt works and operates to understand what I am trying to say, and to be honest I really don't know how to say this, but when reassembling the bolt without the spring to study it's operation there is a point right before the bolt is fully assembled that the firing pin will protrude real good through it's hole in the bolt face. But when the bolt is fully assembled the firing pin will barely protrude through it's hole.

I suspect some sort of mis-match with the bolt and it's parts, if that is possible. As far as the ammo goes I did try this rifle with two different brands of mil-surplus ammo and it did it with both.

I tried to post a pic of the 8mm round but photobucket.com must be having troubles, the pic wouldn't ever upload. Unless the problem is with this site.

jack19512 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2006, 05:23:30 AM »

Here is the pic. The 8mm is on the left. Like I said it's not a very good pic. The casing on the right is my K31. The primer strike on the 8mm is very light.

Mikey · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2006, 01:01:08 PM »

jack19512: I once had problems re-assembling one of my 98 bolt and found that I had not tightened the collar down to the last turn. The detent pinpoped into the hole but I still had one more turn to go and didn't realize it until a bit later. I can't recall what the 'symptoms' were at the time - I think I couldn't close the bolt. If that isn't it I would order another firing pin.

The picture shows a light primer strike and if the bolt is mismatched the firing pin could be the problem.

But, I was going to ask if the rifle had the same problem before the ATI stock was installed but when I re-read your post I saw you purchased it that way. OK, does the bolt have free travel with the stock - that is, it doesn't impede the forward or downward movement of the bolt??????? Is there any indication of wear in the bolt cut-out in the stock where the bolt handle travels downward???? I don't know if that would impede the firing pin impact of the 98 action but failing something like that it may be your firing pin. HTH. Mikey.

jack19512 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2006, 05:56:16 PM »

The collar isn't the problem. You know when you have screwed it far enough as it will seat itself with the bolt handle and you can't screw it in any further if you wanted to.

I have done a ton of research on other forums and I think the problem must be the firing pin or it's spring or both. I believe Centerfire Systems will work with me and see that it gets fixed.

Centerfire Systems wanted me to take the bolt apart and make sure it was clean and lubed so I have done that. I will call them tomorrow and let them know it didn't help any.

This rifle shoots so good I don't want to take it back and exchange it for another in fear the next one might not shoot as good. Thanks again

jack19512 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2006, 05:58:22 PM »

The collar isn't the problem. You know when you have screwed it far enough as it will seat itself with the bolt handle and you can't screw it in any further if you wanted to.

I have done a ton of research on other forums and I think the problem must be the firing pin or it's spring or both. I believe Centerfire Systems will work with me and see that it gets fixed.

Centerfire Systems wanted me to take the bolt apart and make sure it was clean and lubed so I have done that. I will call them tomorrow and let them know it didn't help any.

This rifle shoots so good I don't want to take it back and exchange it for another in fear the next one might not shoot as good. Thanks again

jack19512 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2006, 10:35:15 AM »

:grin: :grin: :grin: Well, it's fixed. I ordered a new Wolff spring, cheaper than taking the rifle back to Centerfire Systems. I put the new spring in and tried it out. No misfires at all.

I am one happy camper because I really like this $150.00 rifle. I got my reloading dies and some 200 gr. bullets yesterday and received 100 new Boxer primed 8mm brass in the mail today.

I still plan on reloading the Berdan primed brass but for now I have to save my Berdan primers for my K31.