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Started By
Message
Rebuilt a K98, should be safe to fire?
Posted on 1/22/22 at 2:05 am
Posted on 1/22/22 at 2:05 am
So, I came into possession of a K98 Mauser, barreled action, with trigger guard and bolt. I've gathered up the remaining parts (stock etc) to make it complete again.
It is a DOT 1943, a little digging around tells me it was made in Czechoslovakia.
Rifling looks sharp with some darkening, and there was some surface rust (mostly freckling, very little along the lines of any pitting, and nothing deep). Bolt moves and locks up fine, I replaced the extractor and it now grabs and throws rounds easily (the original extractor was worn and would slip right off the case).
As I understand, these large ring Mausers are built stout, it should be safe to fire. I've got some 8mm already, both surplus and some PPU new manufactured. I think the new stuff would be the best to do a test run, since it's not corrosive (makes cleaning easier, and I know it should be more reliable).
Anything I should take into account before firing? I've taken the bolt completely apart and cleaned, and it looks good to me. And I've run some patches and swabs through the bore, everything seems fine.
It is a DOT 1943, a little digging around tells me it was made in Czechoslovakia.
Rifling looks sharp with some darkening, and there was some surface rust (mostly freckling, very little along the lines of any pitting, and nothing deep). Bolt moves and locks up fine, I replaced the extractor and it now grabs and throws rounds easily (the original extractor was worn and would slip right off the case).
As I understand, these large ring Mausers are built stout, it should be safe to fire. I've got some 8mm already, both surplus and some PPU new manufactured. I think the new stuff would be the best to do a test run, since it's not corrosive (makes cleaning easier, and I know it should be more reliable).
Anything I should take into account before firing? I've taken the bolt completely apart and cleaned, and it looks good to me. And I've run some patches and swabs through the bore, everything seems fine.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 3:26 am to Scoob
might want to research breach design pressure and the design pressures of the new and old shells.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 3:43 am to Scoob
My official advise is have a gunsmith look at it.
Personally if it feels good and looks good it probably is good enough for me to shoot.
Personally if it feels good and looks good it probably is good enough for me to shoot.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 3:48 am to Scoob
Official answer: take it to a gunsmith and have it checked out before firing.
Unofficial answer: choot it.
What I’d do: choot it with normal pressure Euro rounds like S&B.
Unofficial answer: choot it.
What I’d do: choot it with normal pressure Euro rounds like S&B.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 6:00 am to DownSouthJukin
quote:
Official answer: take it to a gunsmith and have it checked out before firing.
Unofficial answer: choot it.
This
I would check the headspace. Get a live round, put a piece of scotch tape on the shoulder and the bolt shouldn't close on that round anymore.
Also something to always check with old surplus guns is that the receiver wasn't cut and welded back together. Should be very noticeable if it was.
Those rifles are very well built and immensely popular. Should be easy to find more information than you want elsewhere on the internet.
If I were you (and I thank God every day that I'm not) I would do hillbilly headspace check and go pew pew some targets. Especially if its a matching numbers rifle.
This post was edited on 1/22/22 at 6:01 am
Posted on 1/22/22 at 10:20 am to Scoob
This may be dumb however, after inspecting and cleaning an old K98, I chambered a round, held it of to the side under the shooting bench at the range and pulled the trigger. All went well. Whew!
Posted on 1/22/22 at 10:25 am to Scoob
I would get the headspace checked
Most gunsmiths should have a go/no go gauge for a Mauser
Most gunsmiths should have a go/no go gauge for a Mauser
Posted on 1/22/22 at 10:40 am to Yewkindewit
Odds are if its a matching numbers rifle its good to go. I would want to check one that has a replaced barrel or appears to have been Bubba gunsmithed
Posted on 1/22/22 at 11:51 am to Scoob
What round is it chambered in?? Both the 7mm Mauser and 8mm Mauser are potent hunting rounds.Has the safety alraeady be changed to a horizontal type?
I bought a surplus Model 98 chambered in 8mm Mauser at a gun show many, many years ago w/ the intention of sporterizing it. I already had some ammo so I shot it as soon as I got home on Saturday. There appeared to be headspace problems. I went back to the same gun show the next day and the dealer took the gun back and returned my money back. If you want a more exact headspace check than Downshift's suggestion and getting to a gunsmith will be a problem, you can rent a go/no go gauge from 4 D Rentals for $8 (actually $10 since their minimum order is $10). I've rented headspace gauges from them 3 times and been very pleased. There's so much info on the 'net nowadays you should be able to figure out a lot about your gun.
I bought a surplus Model 98 chambered in 8mm Mauser at a gun show many, many years ago w/ the intention of sporterizing it. I already had some ammo so I shot it as soon as I got home on Saturday. There appeared to be headspace problems. I went back to the same gun show the next day and the dealer took the gun back and returned my money back. If you want a more exact headspace check than Downshift's suggestion and getting to a gunsmith will be a problem, you can rent a go/no go gauge from 4 D Rentals for $8 (actually $10 since their minimum order is $10). I've rented headspace gauges from them 3 times and been very pleased. There's so much info on the 'net nowadays you should be able to figure out a lot about your gun.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 12:25 pm to TigerOnThe Hill
There's a gunsmith at the range I belong to, I'll ask him to check the headspace.
It is the barrel, receiver, trigger and guard, and the bolt.
I purchased a stock;
magazine follower, spring and floorplate;
various hardware (butt plate, bands etc) to complete the stock.
No import markings on the barrel or receiver. It came out of the closet of a 75 yr old woman who said her father brought it back from the war. I've known her over 30 yrs, have no reason to doubt either her tale, or her ability to protect and maintain it.
She got flooded in Central back in 2016, - but like I said I know her. She soaked this down in a tub of diesel afterwards. I know she saved a ton of tools and some other (complete) firearms in the same manner.
I mentioned rust, it was all surface and minimal. When I rubbed it down with ballistol, the metal came out cleaner then a lot of guns I see for sale used. The barrel rifling is very sharp, and mostly white. Some indication of shooting corrosive, but overall not much.
A good indication of the condition- I ordered parts from Numrich, used stuff. They came with less finish, and often more rust, than the stuff I started with.
The bolt, firing pin, spring etc were pristine.
I'm about to go to the range. If I don't blow my hand off, I'll post a follow-up
quote:8mm, it's a K98 dated 1943, with matching numbers on receiver, barrel, bolt, and trigger guard.
What round is it chambered in?? Both the 7mm Mauser and 8mm Mauser are potent hunting rounds.Has the safety alraeady be changed to a horizontal type?
It is the barrel, receiver, trigger and guard, and the bolt.
I purchased a stock;
magazine follower, spring and floorplate;
various hardware (butt plate, bands etc) to complete the stock.
No import markings on the barrel or receiver. It came out of the closet of a 75 yr old woman who said her father brought it back from the war. I've known her over 30 yrs, have no reason to doubt either her tale, or her ability to protect and maintain it.
She got flooded in Central back in 2016, - but like I said I know her. She soaked this down in a tub of diesel afterwards. I know she saved a ton of tools and some other (complete) firearms in the same manner.
I mentioned rust, it was all surface and minimal. When I rubbed it down with ballistol, the metal came out cleaner then a lot of guns I see for sale used. The barrel rifling is very sharp, and mostly white. Some indication of shooting corrosive, but overall not much.
A good indication of the condition- I ordered parts from Numrich, used stuff. They came with less finish, and often more rust, than the stuff I started with.
The bolt, firing pin, spring etc were pristine.
I'm about to go to the range. If I don't blow my hand off, I'll post a follow-up
Posted on 1/22/22 at 1:39 pm to DownSouthJukin
quote:
What I’d do: choot it with normal pressure Euro rounds like S&B.
Mauser 98 actions are extremely robust. As long as headspacing is within specs, I wouldn't worry about what manufacturer makes the rounds, as long as they're not someone else's handloads.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 2:50 pm to Buck_Rogers
Good idea to check headspace ...
So nothing was marked at all, but someone long ago apparently bored it out and rechambered it, to 375 H&H
So nothing was marked at all, but someone long ago apparently bored it out and rechambered it, to 375 H&H
Posted on 1/22/22 at 6:47 pm to Scoob
quote:
So nothing was marked at all, but someone long ago apparently bored it out and rechambered it, to 375 H&H
WOW!! 375 H&H??? What a surprise. How many rounds did you shoot before you realized it was something more than 8mm??
Nevertheless, sounds like you got a good deal.
This post was edited on 1/22/22 at 6:49 pm
Posted on 1/22/22 at 9:57 pm to Scoob
quote:
someone long ago apparently bored it out and rechambered it, to 375 H&H
Oh damn, that's cool. Assuming they did a good job, thats a hell of a rifle.
Posted on 1/22/22 at 10:08 pm to Scoob
quote:
So nothing was marked at all, but someone long ago apparently bored it out and rechambered it, to 375 H&H
So… totally disregard my prior post.
That’s cool as hell.
Posted on 1/23/22 at 7:38 am to Scoob
not sure what you have there. Standard 8x57 KAR98K action is not long enough to fit a 375 H&H. Barrel might be changed or bored out to 375, but unless action was cut, lengthened and welded it will not fit the 375 H&H. There were lots of wildcats designed for this exact reason to allow surplus Mausers to be converted to larger calibers and still fit. Could be something like 375/06, 35 Whelen or possibly the 9.3x62.
One question - does the barrel have the original 2 "steps" ie change in outside diameter or is the outside diameter a smooth taper from breech to muzzle? if it is a smooth taper than barrel is not original military.
What you will want to gunsmith to do without question is to do a chamber cast and find out exactly what it is.
One question - does the barrel have the original 2 "steps" ie change in outside diameter or is the outside diameter a smooth taper from breech to muzzle? if it is a smooth taper than barrel is not original military.
What you will want to gunsmith to do without question is to do a chamber cast and find out exactly what it is.
Posted on 1/23/22 at 7:50 pm to Scoob
I bought some Cerrosafe from Brownell's once to cast a chamber but never got around to using it.
Posted on 1/23/22 at 8:24 pm to jimbeaux82
I thought the 98's could fit a 375 with the port opened up a bit?
Posted on 1/23/22 at 9:57 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
It might be possible with the port opened up but you should be able to see this on the receiver ring
Posted on 1/23/22 at 9:58 pm to jimbeaux82
quote:yeah,...
not sure what you have there. Standard 8x57 KAR98K action is not long enough to fit a 375 H&H
barrel bore diameter seems to still be original too. So not a 375... maybe a 300 H&H or similar.
*in researching this, the 375 uses a bullet with a 366 diameter, so it would be at/larger than a 9mm. My barrel remains the 'thirty cal' 8mm size.
quote:Original military, 2 steps. No markings to indicate what was done. I was rebuilding into a 'surplus K98' authentic look, the barrel seemed correct.
One question - does the barrel have the original 2 "steps" ie change in outside diameter or is the outside diameter a smooth taper from breech to muzzle? if it is a smooth taper than barrel is not original military.
Whatever was done, was done quite a few years ago, and resulted in an 8mm cartridge that doesn't start to neck down until nearly the complete length of a 8mm mauser case.
I know this because my dumb arse shot one rd through it, and got a fireformed case
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