The Yugoslavian M-48 Mauser discussion and photo thread

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freedomintheskies

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It seems that since there are getting to be a good number of M48, M48A, M48BO rifles here in Canada. Perhaps we can get a decent all inclusive thread going and I welcome you all to post your experiences, photos and thoughts on these Mausers, which may have been the best evolution of Mauser to be made.
These rifle have seen small jumps in value since being imported to Canada but have not gone crazy like some of the other Milsurps out there.

The fact of the matter is; You can still get a very nice M48 for well under $500.00, so it makes for a pretty attractive deal. Like most Milsurps, it will only be a matter of time until they too become relegated to the rifle safe, because they are too valuable to shoot. -But until that happens, you can shoot your Mauser and do so without breaking the bank, or destroying the potential value.

Feeding them-
Many supporting businesses still sell 8mm Mauser ammo and there is still some ex- mil stuff floating around.
Right now, you can still buy German made (Russian remanufactured with non corrosive priming) ammo for under a buck a round. Reloaders have it better, with a fair selection of components and brass available. PRVI is some of the best stuff out there and is perhaps some of the least expensive. If you cast your own projectiles, a Lee mold is around 30 bucks and gas checks make it a viable alternative to those on a budget, or wishing to shoot lighter loads. -A 196gr. bullet loaded to full power will certainly get your attention!

I'll start it off with one from my collection.

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[/URL]20171122_142904[1] by Dave Hanson, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
Thats nice have to get mine out for a photo shoot,and here they are
cg6W16j.jpg

First one is a M48 still in cosmo
Second is an M48A
Third one is an M48BO Bosinian sniper rifle
 
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Those are some great looking M48's!
I just ordered an M48A yesterday from Corwin Arms. I hope it looks even half as good as yours! Spent the afternoon casting 175gr. gas checked bullets. They will be super cheap to shoot and should be accurate enough for some "Mauser day" fun at the range with the guys.
How does the sniper shoot? The wood is beautiful and I love the Zrak scope!
 
The Yugoslav M48s were manufactured at Zavodi Crvena Zastava, Kragujevac, Serbia, from 1950-65. The series had four versions, M48, M48A, M48B, M48BO

M48s (all milled parts) were manufactured from 1950-52

M48As (stamped metal floorplate) 1952-65

M48B (more stamped parts) 1956-65

M48BO (bez oznake--"without markings") 1956-65
Many M48BOs were scrubbed and reconditioned German 98k rifles. The German reworks (which have the standard length receivers) were also called M98/48N, the "N" standing for "Njemac" which means "German" in Serbo-Croat.

Preduzece 44 was renamed Zavodi Crvena Zastava (Red Banner Works) in early 1953. The M48B and BO rifles were intended chiefly for export, most of these were sent to Algeria, Egypt and Iran.

Most of the M48As here at present in the USA were made between 1952-56. Another aid to dating the rifle. If the rifle has the Cyrillic acronmy FNRJ (Federated People's Republic of Yugoslavia) marked on the receiver ring or wall, it was made between 1953-1963. If it is marked with the Cyrillic acronym SFRJ (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) it was made during 1963-65.

A carbine version of the M48, the M53, was briefly produced in very small numbers. It featured a small Cutts-type compensator fitted to the muzzle. In 1960, approximately 20,000 M48 rifles were fitted with the M60 grenade launcher (somewhat similar to that on the Yugo 59/66-series rifle.) To my knowledge, none of these have been imported into the USA.
{Source}
Data is from a 1990 Yugoslav-language reference book entitled "Two Centuries of Rifles in the Territory of Yugoslavia" by armorer and military historian B. Bogdanovich, who is presently revising the next edition.
(note, This book was printed in 1986 by Branko and another author)
 
Fargone4sure,nice rifle.
The first m48 in the photo is the last rifle i acquired .Got it from Corwin arms, its a very nice rifle ,slightly used i think as it as a little blue wear.Its still in storage grease but should clean up nice.
The other two are older imports and have a different type wood than rifle #1,i think its walnut.They are in like new condition .The m48 bo was listed as never issued and came covered in cosmo and wrapped in cardboard when i received it .Took a while but it cleaned up nicely.The m48A and the m48BO have real nice wood in my opinion.
 
This one was unfired as well. No bluing scuffs on the mag lifter etc. The wood does look like walnut, or some species close to it. Pretty nice guns for the price. I know i paid to much for the scope and mounts, but they aren't easy to find. Evidently civilians can't export military surplus items. But the fellow I bought from lives close to the Hungarian border, so he drove across the border to mail them.

Did your sniper come with the scope and mounts?
 
no,i got the mounts and scope from ebay 8 or 10 years ago and had a smith install them for me.I just loved the look of the m48 with the Zrak scope and mount that i wanted one and the rest is history.
 
EBay can certainly be your friend when looking for obscure items. Agreed the Zrac mount and scope look great. And there won't be many other guns with the correct optics floating around.
 
Can M98/N48'S be included in this thread? I have a beautiful one which is actually my most prized and favorite Mauser.
 
Woo Hoo! Looks like another Yugo Mauser sniper is going to be put into service! My offer was accepted and I just paid for a ZRAK M-76 4x 5°10’ scope with Zrak mounts for an M-48. Apparently the tritium is still good and the IR detector works as well. I'll have all the bells and whistles that 1980 can provide~
I guess the one still in Cosmoline is going to go under the drill press. -At least it will be an authentic pairing. No feelings will be hurt in the assembly of this rifle.-Certainly not mine.

Here is what the seller describes it as;
Zrak ON-M76 scope,this is original scope made in pre war Bosnian Sarajevo ZRAK factory WITH MOUNT (quick release mount, mount is with screws-special base thread)
Scope is in working condition, no spots,no mold!! Superb quality. Very hard to find!!! Glass-lenses exellent condition protection layer on lenses , picture 8 and 9 sun shade cover!!! Plus cover and eyecup!!!

Very hard to find!!!It has "third knob" - Infra Red detector in working order (here is how i check it,leave scope under light for half hour-black glas on top of scope to point to light,after half hour turn small knob and in dark leave for 15 minutes,then point tv remote control to scope i used Samsung tv remote and i sow very small beam of infra red ,when i turn off remote beam was gone,its not easy to point at first it need patience) Reticle glow in dark (you can see reticle in total dark)

Magnificent item for collection or use and great value as it will get higher price over next years,scope is made in 1980 (first two numbers in serial number 80), week 03(next two numbers in serial number) Called Sherman tenk among scopes because it is very durable for big calibers and long life,hard to brake !!!
37974057994_6449f5bf7d_c.jpg
[/URL]s-l1600 by Dave Hanson, on Flickr[/IMG]
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[/URL]s-l1600-3 by Dave Hanson, on Flickr[/IMG]
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[/URL]s-l1600-8 by Dave Hanson, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
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I have a few K98s but 5 x M48s to date. Two are BOs, one M48B and two M48As. One of the latter I got out of the cosmo from Weimajack during one of his latter runs. It was a thrill to clean it up and reveal it. I love them to say the least and I've fired all but one of the BOs and it is displayed prominently in my display case. They are meant to be enjoyed after all. It's fun to discover the reload "recipe" and see how close I can get the groups on just irons. I will never be a marksman but I'm not bad either and until my eyesight fails it will be a good run.

I still am in awe of the people that fought a war with these or the K98s, what a heck of a boom compared to today's AR15-ish styles of modern firearm. Not disrespecting them, just prefer the manual operation of a good bolt action. To me a similar feeling between a standard (stick) and automatic transmission cars.

Yes, K98s are great in the family of 8mm Mausers but for the bang vs buck, the M48s are great.
 
knotking said:
I have a few K98s but 5 x M48s to date. Two are BOs, one M48B and two M48As. One of the latter I got out of the cosmo from Weimajack during one of his latter runs. It was a thrill to clean it up and reveal it. I love them to say the least and I've fired all but one of the BOs and it is displayed prominently in my display case. They are meant to be enjoyed after all. It's fun to discover the reload "recipe" and see how close I can get the groups on just irons. I will never be a marksman but I'm not bad either and until my eyesight fails it will be a good run.

I still am in awe of the people that fought a war with these or the K98s, what a heck of a boom compared to today's AR15-ish styles of modern firearm. Not disrespecting them, just prefer the manual operation of a good bolt action. To me a similar feeling between a standard (stick) and automatic transmission cars.

Yes, K98s are great in the family of 8mm Mausers but for the bang vs buck, the M48s are great.
Click to expand...

Luckily I was able to stumble upon a good recipe first time out. PRVI brass, PRVI 198 FMJBT bullet, Dominion LR primer and 40.0 gr of H4895. It's a very light load but was able to tuck 3 rounds in under an inch at 100M. I just cast some 175 gr bullets and can't wait to try them out.
- And like you say...It so much fun digging the cosmo out of these rifles to slowly discover what you have got. It's almost archeology with a bang...(Happy ending optional). LOL
 
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