German Mausers

[Dixie Dude]

What is a good price on large ring 8mm German made Mausers, circa 1942 or 1943?  Local dealer has them for $400.  They look to be in very good condition.  Would drilling and tapping for scope cause value to go down?  Would try to avoid tapping into any markings. 

[30-30man]

They sell in the $200-350 with a C&R license at the online places. The lowest price I've seen was around $200 for one in NRA good conditon which can sometimes be not so good. The difference in prices depends on condition and markings.  An excellent one would be $300+ with a C&R.   A lot of German Mausers had the markings ground off and were restamped.  A good large ring turk or yugo($200-250) would be cheaper and probably just as accurate.  Many people will tell you that there is no replacement for a German but I don't see it.  None of my Mausers will shoot less than 2-3 inches at a 100.  I have a German, Yugo, Spanish, and Turk, so I am not knocking them at all.  It is just the ones I have are not so accurate as to say they are better than all the other surplus out there.  I have better results with my Enfields but I guess I just got lucky with them.  The Mauser (German) would be worth more to me if it were drilled and tapped for a scope but that is me. The iron sights on most surplus rifles are too fine for dusk shooting and that limits the time you can hunt with them.  AS far as scoped surplus rifles, I like the Enfields.  I never consider value in a rifle to someone else, I only consider what is valuable to me.  It is youor rifle, convert and bubba it up if you want.

[TribReady]

Definatley don't D&T a German mauser, it will really hurt the value alot.
There's plenty of D&T'd mausers already out there, too.

My Yugo shoots awesome and the one time I shot my German k98, I was very happy.

PM sent also.

[Mikey]

Dixie Dude:  If you want a Mauser bolt action and want to shoot the 8mm, get a M48/M48A Yugo.  You can find them almost new, if not new, for well below the price range of a wartime nazi mauser, and in much, much better condition.  The Yugo is one you can turn into a sporter without losing value.  Of course, you can also do the same with a Turkish Mauser, VZ/CZ24, etc.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Lost Okie]

Was the Mauser a 24 or 29 inch barrel?  straight or bent bolt?  If 29" and straight bolt, check the writing on the left side of the receiver, if its farsey its a Persian Mauser and the price is close.  Keep in mind before you drill and tap there are mounts available that allow you to mount a scope were the rear sight is located without any drilling.  Just mount a long eye relief scope on it, works great.  There are also peep sights that replace the rear sight.  Good luck

[Dixie Dude]

Do you guy's have any links to mauser web sites?  I would like to know how to take the bolt apart, peep sights, and scope mounts.
Thank,
DD

[Aardvark]

www.Surplusrifle.com

[1marty]

I picked up a yugo 24/47 for $200 at a gun show which included the bayonet and everything else. All the parts had matching serial numbers and the barrel was in excellent condition. I'm shooting 4 inch groups with iron sights  at 100 yds. with Fed 8MM.
Be careful with some of these guns built around the year you want. Most of them have been shot quite a bit.

[Dixie Dude]

Thanks for the link Aardvark.  Thanks you all for comments and suggestions.  This site is great for information.  I picked up a Yugo for $150 at a recent gun show.  All parts with matching serial numbers.  I am going to have it drilled and tapped ($20) for scope.  Wood is ok, but I am going to refinish the wood.  I have a scope lying around.  So for less than $200 I have a great big game rifle.  Shot it, was 3" at 50 yards, but about 8" at 100 yards with the iron sights, using surplus ammo.  I'm going to try again when I can find some S&B ammo.  It was also shooting high at 100 yards on the lowest setting.  I think it was sighted in for 200-300 yards.  May have to get better sights, have it parkerized, new stock, and have a really nice gun for around $400.  Just don't know if I should spend that much on a milsurp gun.  One thing about the mausers is they can be taken completely apart with minimum tools.  Also the moslin-nagants.  Very few parts. 

[Joe B.]

I picked up an FN Mauser 98 barreled action, that had been rebarreled to 7.62x51 Nato (.308) with military barrel contour. I paid $50 for it, then bought the aftermarket black scout rifle stock with integral scope rail, made for military conversion. I left the bolt handle straight and installed a long eye relief 2x scout scope on it and now have a sweet shooting rifle for about $160.00. The scout style takes a bit of getting used to, but I like it. And it is different from all the sporters I have in my closet. And if I lost it or gave it away I haven't lost much money wise. So it was really great that it shoots so well.

The steel was in the white so it was a ground up project, blueing it, then fitting the stock (only minor touch up with a file), then finding the best position for the scope, and then, finally,  mounting the cheek piece on the butt stock for a solid cheek weld in the proper position. When you bring the gun up, it is just right there. Scope clear and on target, with both eyes open, I can see anything around my intended target and any downrange movement. I was very pleased to rescue this action from a junk load of steel going to the metal yard, and turn it into a fully functional firearm..