Which mauser

[SKSer45]

I agree. Yugo's are good first Mausers and still affordable. It's what I started off with. Generally in better condition as well. Be prepared for lots of cosmoline. It seems like the Yugo cosmoline is stickier than other countries, but it sure does preserve them well. I agree with what is said about the Swede quality (owning 2 myself) but I prefer '98 action. It's the strongest Mauser action made.

Pssst...I thought the Arisaka was the strongest Mauser action heheh

[Mustang]

I don't know the difference between rifles from different countries. So any advice on which rifles to concentrate on would be helpful. Also what would I expect to pay for a good bore, original mauser? Any info on the best places to look? Thanks in advance.

Wheew...that is a tall order.

The answer to your question is tough, because there were so many different Mausers made.

Finding a "good bore, original German K98 is going to be both tough and expensive. They are great rifles, but not generally considered to be at the top of the accuracy heap. (expect to pay north of $1500 for a numbers matching, "original" German K98, if you can find one)

Yugo M48's are much easier to find in great matching condition. ($250-$400) Yugo 24/47's and K98/48's in similar shape are a bit less, but every bit as serviceable.

When the question of "what was the best military Mauser ever made?" comes up, three Mausers are usually on the list...1909 Argentine Mauser, 98/29 Persian Mauser, M96 Swedish Mauser. All of them can be commonly found in excellent matching condition.

Excellent condition matching '09 Argentine and 98/29 Persian Mausers can usually be found for $600-$900. Excellent matching Swedish Mausers are usually somewhere between $400 and $500.

Good luck.

[Flyin Brian]

Swedish Mausers are very accurate. however, 6.5mm not 8mm, and never been in a war. Those factors may make a difference, may not.

There were quite a few Swedish Mausers used in war by the Finnish Army.

[eightmd]

Thanks guys that's a lot of good info and will get me started. I know the mosins are much different from the mausers, which is why I need a mauser now. To see for myself. Thanks.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

well OP the first thing you should do is sell those ****ty mosins
Why don't you ask BB how long it took for him to see the light and be converted to team mauser. I'd say about 5 minutes

While it is true I am a certified Mauser enthusiast nowadays, I never did nor ever will abandon my fondness for Mosin Nagants. The Mauser is a much more elegant rifle, but I still have twice as many Mosins as I do Mausers and I don't plan on selling any of them. 54r ammo is a lot cheaper too. Both rifles have their place at Casa Ricigliano.

[Flyin Brian]

OP- are you in NorCal? I have some "Mousers" I'm looking to get rid of... vz24s, etc, one is an E series.

[Milsurp Collector]

which would be a good one to get that would be a good to excellent shooter, for a good price. Also what would I expect to pay for a good bore, original mauser? Any info on the best places to look? Thanks in advance.

m/38 Swedish Mauser. You can find them under $500.

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/12162434/guns-for-sale-curios-relics/curios-relics-rifles/swedish-m-96-38-mauser-6.5x55.all-matching-num-s.mfd-1902-c-and-r-ok

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=336612480

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=346540775

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=338133476

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=336904337

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=341899168

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=345672775

[eightmd]

OP- are you in NorCal? I have some "Mousers" I'm looking to get rid of... vz24s, etc, one is an E series.

No I'm in SoCal. Looking to get one on-line probably because I have my C&R license.

[knucklehead0202]

well OP the first thing you should do is sell those ****ty mosins but hang on to that k31. Then get yourself a yugo m24/47 since it will be your first mauser. SOG has them for about $199 still in cosmoline.

See how you like it, learn to field strip it, bolt assembly etc...shoot it and the awesome 8mm and if you like it then grab yourself a m48, 98k RC pending on your budget.

Why don't you ask BB how long it took for him to see the light and be converted to team mauser. I'd say about 5 minutes

seriously? the mosin bashing is not only lame, but getting to be obnoxious. many here own more than one type of rifle and are not idiots for doing so. because you think your favorite is cooler, doesn't actually make other things "sh*tty". that level of close-mindedness should be left to the people who claim to be "liberals". back on topic, mausers of all shapes and sizes are lots of fun. if accuracy is a major concern I wouldn't really be worried about which ones have surplus ammo available. you can either reload or purchase well-made loaded ammo for any chambering at this point without going broke thanks to companies like Prvi Partizan, Hornady, Grafs, P.C.I. etc. if you don't intend to reload, save the brass and sell it to someone who does. thus far, I only have "inferior" small-ring mausers aside from a Persian sporter that came with an SKS I bought for 150 dollars ;D. One thing I really like are many of the South-American contract mausers because if you find them in good shape, many have really neat crests and cartouches all over them. everyone's preferences are a bit different but especially the earlier mausers show outstanding quality and just beautiful design and workmanship. you really can't lose and any mauser unless you get a totally hammered POS. good luck and have fun with whatever you end up grabbing.

[Tekkno]

Has the law pass? No more C&R face to face in ca starting 2014?

[Capybara]

The law passed a long time ago but goes into affect January 1, 2014. But if you have an FFL03 + COE, you will still be able to buy cash and carry F2F, you will just have to register the gun with the DOJ.

[SKSer45]

seriously? the mosin bashing is not only lame, but getting to be obnoxious. many here own more than one type of rifle and are not idiots for doing so. because you think your favorite is cooler, doesn't actually make other things "sh*tty". that level of close-mindedness should be left to the people who claim to be "liberals".

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=683143&highlight=mauser+mosin

cooler hu? more like ingenious innovation, changed the world, over 300 million variations of mausers where made by dozens of countries and not to mention Mr. Mosin and Mr. Nogant based their design off the Mauser action. Not to mention the US wised up and dumped the Mosin design and adopted the American Mauser aka Springfield 03. So if you think changing warfare, perfecting smokeless powder rifle cartridges, and having a design still being used in the 21st century is not cool then go ahead and love your mosin. I am sure there's some Czarists, Russian, Boers, Mexican, Spanish, British, French, American and other soldiers that would disagree about the mauser being "cool".

[knucklehead0202]

that would've been much more impressive if it made some sense. think i'll go have a debate with my 4-year olds. at least there's some kind of progress to be made there....

[SKSer45]

that would've been much more impressive if it made some sense. think i'll go have a debate with my 4-year olds. at least there's some kind of progress to be made there....

Ok I'll do it barney style for you then: Mauser > Mosins as per history, mass production, and historical impact. Now if you want to learn something, know that head to head Mauser vs Mosin is 1-1. Imperial Germany defeated Czarist Russia, Soviet Russia defeated Nazi Germany.

I think that's simple enough for you and your 4 year olds to debate. Have fun. O yeah and if you want to progress, know that innovators like the Mauser brothers changed the world. Copiers like Sergei Mosin and Leon Nagant just lived in it and are part of the status quo.

[JohnnyMtn]

Gentlemen , thank you for all of the fine info in this thread. I too have been wanting to get my first Mauser but have not been exactly sure what to get. Hopefully, you'll see me posting pics of a new purchase sometime soon.