Ok got my Nagant now questions about Mausers and SKS's...

[bobs94formula]

Does anyone here have a Mauser? What should I look for when looking at them? I am on a budget, so no $1,000 rifles .

What about an SKS? I haven't looked into them before so I am just starting on some research. Which countries are good and which do I stay away from?

Since I got my M44 I have really gotten the itch to get a couple more C&R type rifles.

Thanks guys

[David]

If you just a want a mauser to shoot on a dollar, an M48 is a good look. There's also nice russian captures if you need swastikas without breaking the bank.

[CJ]

Does anyone here have a Mauser? What should I look for when looking at them? I am on a budget, so no $1,000 rifles .

What about an SKS? I haven't looked into them before so I am just starting on some research. Which countries are good and which do I stay away from?

Since I got my M44 I have really gotten the itch to get a couple more C&R type rifles.

Thanks guys

Well, the original Mausers which people think about when they are mentioned are usually K98k's. Those are German rifles are generally run upwards of $500. You can find other Mausers such as Turkish rifles in 7.92mm which are decent rifles and relatively cheap.

You will see them sold as 7.92mm and 8mm or 8x57mm IS - both are the same caliber. Just be aware MANY of them are rechambered, since they were such an accurate rifle tons of them were shipped to the US to pay for war debts, and rechambered to .30-06 and other calibers as sporter rifles.

[CJ]

As far as SKS's... Norinco's are plentiful and cheap. I would just buy the cheapest one you can find. The Chinese Norinco's are dependable, work well, and are pretty easy to find. Don't expect to mount any optics to them.

[Mr_Fiux]

Does anyone here have a Mauser? What should I look for when looking at them? I am on a budget, so no $1,000 rifles .

What about an SKS? I haven't looked into them before so I am just starting on some research. Which countries are good and which do I stay away from?

Since I got my M44 I have really gotten the itch to get a couple more C&R type rifles.

Thanks guys

I own a Turkish K98 model Mauser, it's chambered on the 7.92MM or known as 8mm. If you are on a budget these are the ones to get (or a Chilean one as well) Just make sure like CJ said to have them chambered in 8mm since most of the Chilean or new mausers are chambered in 7.62X51mm (.308) and have some problems. You are looking at prices of around 100-200. The german k98ks are going to cost you a pretty penny though so if you want a cheap C&R rifle you can do that mauser OOOOOR.... Get an M91/30 Mosin Nagant for 80-100 bucks. Ammo is cheap too.

As for SKS's all I know is that they were used in Rice Field warfare in Vietnam.

[futant]

I've got a shit ton of work into my sks. Basically just to make it more like an AK (albeit modified)

anyways, I would highly suggest a cheap AK instead of a cheap SKS.
If you can get a cheap AK for 300-400, I think you are wasting time getting the SKS unless it's just for the slight accuracy advantage.
What's the cheapest an SKS even goes for now ?

[CJ]

I've got a shit ton of work into my sks. Basically just to make it more like an AK (albeit modified)

anyways, I would highly suggest a cheap AK instead of a cheap SKS.
If you can get a cheap AK for 300-400, I think you are wasting time getting the SKS unless it's just for the slight accuracy advantage.
What's the cheapest an SKS even goes for now ?

You can find them for around $250 or so. I would also recommend an AK over an SKS. Neither of them is going to be extremely accurate, and ballistically the cartridge is best utilized at shorter ranges anyway.

[Dacotua]

I've got a old Yugoslavian M24/47 Mauser in 8mm, I'd consider letting go. Its a straight bolt, front hooded sight rifle. I've shot it a few times and it just wasn't my cup of tea. (Didn't care much for the recoil).

Send me a PM if you are interested.

[Marss]

I've had 2 Turks and currently have a Yugo M48. The Czech VZ24 Mausers are good too. I perfer the carbine versions over the long rifles. I've had both. There is also a Swedish Mauser chambered in 6.5x55. This is the only one I'd get not in 8mm and would love to have one.

Do your research so you know the major differences between the years/models and countries of origin. Learn what a good bore looks like. Watch for ones that have a matching bolt. If you want a scope on it, choose a model with a curved bolt.

[Neighbors]

I'd like to have an 98k, but fell upon an Argentine 1909 a while back; it's a long version (like the Gew98) and an 'odd' caliber (7.65 Argentine), but a nice shooting gun (although sights start at 300 yards, LOL!). Guy at work had it, and bought it for $400; no import marks, crest intact, 100 rounds (think I got a decent deal; gun is beautiful!)...

If it were me, starting off (which I just recently did), save a couple of hundred dollars more and buy a Garand. Do an Appleseed shoot, join the RWVA, and you can buy a field grade for $525, or a service for $625. Best shooting gun (to me) I've fondled (however, for some strange reason the '49 Enfield I have feels 'right' to me)...

I have a 59/66 Yugo, and have about 20 rounds through it; bought it 'new', in cosmo; I like it (added TechSights), but haven't put enough rounds through it to make a fair assesment...

The (Swiss) K31 is a nice shooting piece as well, and surplus ammo is semi-reasonable; second behind the Garand in terms of shooting, IMHO.

The Mosin? It's an ass-kicker! I get it out when I take the kids out to shoot, and say 'watch this', w/o the beer! They are in shock about the recoil it puts on me (200 lb short fat guy); lesson well demonstrated for them...

I'm on the hunt for an FN model 49 and a Jlungman AG42, and that 'almost' completes my short list..

[David]

I love shooting my AG42, smooth shooting gun.

[Neighbors]

I like the idea of owning a 'less-than-30-caliber', plus the significance of the weapon itself: gas system that's a precursor to the AR, and designed, developed, tested, and put into production in less than a year. Forget the fact it never saw duty, LOL! I like them...

The model 49 was designed in '36 (as you probably now), and interestingly enough (due to German invasion, again!), it wasn't released until '49 (the British poo-poo'ed it); funny, the SKS system is remarkebly similar to the 49 (hence my desire).

Thanks for the feedback on the 42! I plan to make a CMP trip end of Feb (going to pic up a couple of Garands), and make a semi-serious effort to score a 42 after that; prices seem reasonable on them, IMHO...

[Marss]

There were a couple FN49's up at Cabella's a month ago. A 1903 would be a nice rifle too. A 30/40 Krag and Enfield are on my long list too, but prices need to drop.

[Roger]

Since I got my M44 I have really gotten the itch to get a couple more C&R type rifles.

Think of the Mosin Nagant as a gateway drug. It's getting you hooked on old military surplus rifles. Before you know it you'll have to have Mausers, Garands, 1903's, Enfields, etc.

You might do on online search on military Mausers. There are a lot of different models and calibers since they were the go to rifle for so many countries for so many years. Most of them are 50-120 years old so look them over good prior to buying and don't be afraid to bring a bore light to check the bore.

[Neighbors]

There were a couple FN49's up at Cabella's a month ago. A 1903 would be a nice rifle too. A 30/40 Krag and Enfield are on my long list too, but prices need to drop.

No kidding?! Any idea of price?

I missed the 1903's CMP had a couple of months ago; $500 a pop. I would like to have one, but prices are a 'little' steep for me at the moment. I like the Enfield, and was handed a 1908 MkI*** the other day; too bad they butchered it! Cut all the wood, drilled barrel and receiver for scopes, cut off the barrel, removed mag cut-off, cut off safety lever, blaa, blaa, blaa. About puked...