My grandpa had an old rifle he passed down to me and would appreciate more info if at all possible. All the markings i can see on the gun is mod.98 on the left side of gun and am told it shoots 8 suret not quite sure, it also has an old scope which says. weaver and looks alot like the 80 anniversary k4 series but of course is much older than 2010
mauser 8mm????
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Most of the German Mauser rifles are stamped 7.9mm. This is same as USA 8mm. Since they were made by the millions by a variety of nations, Mausers are neither rare nor difficult to find on the market. Value starts at $100. and goes up based upon level & quality of customization.
You should have the rifle checked over by a competent smith before firing it.
NORMA makes full power 8mm ammo. American made ammo is much weaker; about same as 32 Special ammo. This weaker ammo is still deadly. I knew a Shepard in the late '60s who grazed sheep in the alpine pastures of Bighorn Mts of north central Wyoming. He shot many elk and a few bears, too with his German 8mm. He thought nothing of it. But of course he didn't read MAGNUM-focused magazine articles.
TR
You should have the rifle checked over by a competent smith before firing it.
NORMA makes full power 8mm ammo. American made ammo is much weaker; about same as 32 Special ammo. This weaker ammo is still deadly. I knew a Shepard in the late '60s who grazed sheep in the alpine pastures of Bighorn Mts of north central Wyoming. He shot many elk and a few bears, too with his German 8mm. He thought nothing of it. But of course he didn't read MAGNUM-focused magazine articles.
TR
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I have one stamped gem 98 and I think my grandfather got it during the war. He had the bolt handle altered and the safety to so it is scope freindly. He put a Douglass barrel chambered in 30.06 on it. I'm thinking of making it into a .338.06.
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Yup, sounds like you have a reworked military mauser. Lots of them got made into hunting rifles in the 50s and 60s.
I'm going to move this into the rifles topic where it might get a little more focused attention. Welcome to the forum.
I'm going to move this into the rifles topic where it might get a little more focused attention. Welcome to the forum.
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You should do a chamber cast if you are not sure of the caliber.
If it has the original barrel it is 8x57 rimless Mauser. It is a common caliber and it's easy to find amo just about anywhere.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8x57
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That is typical for the German military rifles.
This is a restock of a WW II German Mauser. You can't see it too well in the photo but it sill has the stepped military barrel.
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moosepucky
That is one fine looking rifle and lovely stock. All the best...
Gil
That is one fine looking rifle and lovely stock. All the best...
Gil
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My guess is that it was quicker to lathe the barrel back in the day in that manner. I have one with the last two steps turned off and it shoots very well. The 8x57 is a very viable cartridge, pretty much on a par with the venerable '06. Just make sure, if you want a rifle with more power than the 30/30 or .32 SPL that you buy European ammo for it (or after market stuff). Most of the Euro stuff is loaded WAY hotter than American loaders load theirs. I use Sellier & Bellot 196gr loads in both of mine. It's a good stiff load. 2592 FPS and 2924 FPE for their 196gr load.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/forgotten_8x57.htm
Wow. I love that stock.That is typical for the German military rifles.
This is a restock of a WW II German Mauser. You can't see it too well in the photo but it sill has the stepped military barrel.
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Mack,
I believe if I had a gun with a stock like that I would give up huntin'...just stay home all weekend and stare at it!
Not to get too far off the thread topic... I have always wanted an 8x57 Mauser, but only so I could have it reamed out to the 8mm-06. Something about that round has always appealed to me...seems like a great way to convert an old war-horse into a bona fide 250-yard elk gun. That was my dream back when the guns were dirt cheap and there was a gunsmith in every town who had done the job a time or two. It would still probably be less money than some of the other gun projects I've paid for, but then again I don't really have a need for it...yet!
I believe if I had a gun with a stock like that I would give up huntin'...just stay home all weekend and stare at it!
Not to get too far off the thread topic... I have always wanted an 8x57 Mauser, but only so I could have it reamed out to the 8mm-06. Something about that round has always appealed to me...seems like a great way to convert an old war-horse into a bona fide 250-yard elk gun. That was my dream back when the guns were dirt cheap and there was a gunsmith in every town who had done the job a time or two. It would still probably be less money than some of the other gun projects I've paid for, but then again I don't really have a need for it...yet!
yes the 8x57 is a dandy and if it is reasonably accurate i'd leave it alone too!! i have a M48 yugo that is a sub 1" gun with handloaded remington 185gr spitzers. you certainly don't need a sub 1'' gun for hunting... in fact if it will do 3'' or less it'll be just fine. hornady has a new factory load for the 8x57 that ought to be a great all around loading...
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When I take that one out in the woods the deer come in from miles around just to gawk at itMack,
I believe if I had a gun with a stock like that I would give up huntin'...just stay home all weekend and stare at it!
As pointed out, the Europeans load the 8mm Mauser cartridge much hotter than American companies, making it close to the 30-06 in performance.
According to what I read years ago, Paul Mauser discovered that straight tapered barrels in a full stock military rifle had problems with heat expansion during sustained fire that caused the barrel to bind against the stock. The stepped barrels were his answer and if you look at a military stock with a stepped barrel, you'll see that there is a gap between the step and the stock channel. The gap won't be large but enough to allow the barrel to expand without being bound by the wood. i.e., the barrel remains free to move.
According to what I read years ago, Paul Mauser discovered that straight tapered barrels in a full stock military rifle had problems with heat expansion during sustained fire that caused the barrel to bind against the stock. The stepped barrels were his answer and if you look at a military stock with a stepped barrel, you'll see that there is a gap between the step and the stock channel. The gap won't be large but enough to allow the barrel to expand without being bound by the wood. i.e., the barrel remains free to move.
A Model 98 Mauser in good working order, firing full-power 8x57 loads with a 200gr bullet, is capable of a maximum point-blank range in excess of 250 yards, assuming an 8" target zone. It is only marginally less powerful than a 30-'06 and is suitable for the same game at roughly the same distances.
If you're willing to get into reloading a wildcat, you can even have yours opened up to the fairly popular 8mm-'06 cartridge. This would make it an 8x63, but really only provides an increase of ~5% over what the original chambering can do.
If you're willing to get into reloading a wildcat, you can even have yours opened up to the fairly popular 8mm-'06 cartridge. This would make it an 8x63, but really only provides an increase of ~5% over what the original chambering can do.
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