here are a few more details.
went to one of my little hiddy holes where no one else seems to go because it is thick and steep and visibility is limited, and where i have jumped some very nice bucks in the past. i climbed pretty much straight up for a while and then started to go sidehill, carefully glassing each gully and point that i came too. the bush was VERY noisy, no snow and no rain. saw a smallish 2x3 buck. and then nothing else. then on my way down the mountain, came across another buck, i was quite surprised to see him there as i had let my guard down. i saw that he was a 4 point on one side and wondered if i should take him as there are bigger bucks on the mountain. but then i thought about my elk hunting this year, turning down easy shots at cows in the hopes of getting a bull....ended up with neither. and on the plus side it was all downhill from where the buck was.
so at around 60 yards i took an offhand shot with the mauser. the load was a 200 grain nosler partition in igman brass pushed by enough RL 15 to start at 2300 fps. yes i know that a 98k can handle more, but i also use the load in a portugese M904/39 and i see no need to push these open sighted old rifles.
the old 8x57 gets the job done, i have now taken 4 deer and an elk with rifles so chambered.