Looking at mausers. 6.5 x 55 or 8 x 57?

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Are the Swedish mausers any good with the 6.5 x 55? And is that ammo hard to come by?

What about the 8 x 57?

Any mauser experts? Please school me on which to get?

I have a Czech m-24 and I think its in 8 x 57? have not shot it yet are they any good?
 
Tradex has brought a bunch of Swedish mausers to Canada. They are well built guns that shoot the long standing 6.5x55 ammo. 6.5x55 is probably the most popular 6.5 round out there is easy to come by. 8x57 is another European classic. It is a popular amd powerful round that will do anything needed hunting wise. Brass can be made from 30-06.
 
The Czech VZ-24's are a very high quality rifle. Do you have any other details or pics of yours? Many have gone through some sort of refurb over the years and can be a mixture of parts but it should still be a good shooting rifle as long as the bore is reasonable. Other 8x57 options out there are the RC, Yugo, East German, and post war Czech K98k's. They can all be had for reasonably cheap and make good shooters. The Swedes in 6.5x55 are also very high quality and are pretty cheap.

When it comes to Mausers there are a hundred different variants and all will be good rifles if they are in reasonable condition.
 
jbmauser said:
The Czech VZ-24's are a very high quality rifle. Do you have any other details or pics of yours? Many have gone through some sort of refurb over the years and can be a mixture of parts but it should still be a good shooting rifle as long as the bore is reasonable. Other 8x57 options out there are the RC, Yugo, East German, and post war Czech K98k's. They can all be had for reasonably cheap and make good shooters. The Swedes in 6.5x55 are also very high quality and are pretty cheap.

When it comes to Mausers there are a hundred different variants and all will be good rifles if they are in reasonable condition.
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its the bottom one it has an aftermarket stock brand new I got it from tradex in a 5 rifle deal for $899. The stock has the same numbers stamped in it but looks to be a new stock but the good thing free of cracks, it has a smooth action and looks to have the metal parts armacoated or blued or something. looks like it has been fixed up like new but definitely not original. But atleast in good working order.
 
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Ammo isn't an issue for either caliber other than there is some surplus 8x57 that is relatively cheap still out there at the moment. As far as quality goes condition is everything and you pay accordingly.

There is one issue not mentioned. RECOIL. If you are recoil sensitive then go for the 6.5x55. I that isn't an issue just buy the best example of either that you can afford. Better yet, buy one or more of each. They get to be quite addicting.
 
Your VZ-24 looks like one of the Russian captures sold by many dealers (although there is some debate whether they are Russian or some other country that did the rework) and probably had a new stock installed at the refurb/rework. I had one like it and it was a nicely done rework. Most of these have some what dark bores but it should still shoot good. You can find a mixture of Czech and German parts on them so they are pretty neat to look over. Should be just a standard blue job on it, not armacoat.
 
Go with 6.5x55 mm, the Mauser M1896 is an extremely well built rifle and very accurate. I used mine in Phoenix last February to shoot 2x Pre 1912 Rifle matches. I took 3rd place on the first and 4th place on the second, and my rifle had a #2 condition bore. Easy to reload for, Jet hunter sells cast lead bullets for reloading.
 
I'm certainly not a Mauser expert but I own and shoot both calibers. Go with the 6.5 x 55. Look for a nice M38. I've found the 6.5's more accurate than the 8's I've reloaded for. In fact one of my 38's is my most accurate military rifle (with jacketed bullets). A good Swede is probably going to be a little less money than even a half decent Yuko Mauser. Recoil is going to be less and 6.5 ammo may be a little easier to find.
 
6.5 more accurate??? I beg to differ. It all depends on the quality of the bore and if the ammo fits it properly.

The rifles that were built under wartime conditions were allowed to have some larger tolerances in their manufacture to speed up production and keep costs down.

The Swede 6.5x55 rifles never suffered from this affliction. I have not been able to find a Swede with an as new barrel that didn't have perfect bore dimensions. Even with relatively worn throats and pitted bores they usually shoot very well because the tolerances were held to such close standards.

The K98 rifles in 8X57 can and will deliver the same sort of accuracy if their bores are within strict tolerances as they were before and after WWII production. I have several M96 and K98 rifles that with competent shooters it would be extremely difficult to tell which rifles shot the best groups other than the size of the bullet holes in the targets.

The only other factor that will effect accuracy is the ability of the shooter to overcome the anticipation of felt recoil. I have seen some very serious shooters that are excellent shots lose it because of felt recoil.
 
You can get great surplus rifles in both 8mm and 6.5 - there is no debate about that.

If looking for a rifle with combat history - probably one of the 8mm variants is the way to go (The K98, VZ24 etc. these rifles were used in many conflicts and are probably still popping up).

The 6.5 never saw much combat use - except for a few rifles sent to the Finn's (at least to my knowledge).

As far as accuracy - I think there has to be a reason why NEW hunting rifles are still being made in 6.5 with increasing production in recent years - even by North American producers. However, the 8mm is being chambered less and less in NEW rifles and practically by no North American producers.

One reason I know is the 6.5 is becoming increasingly popular is because it has managed recoil - good for youths/females/elderly/small stature individuals. The 6.5 is also one of those 'magic bullets' that performs well at longer distances.

If not for milsups and European shooters the 8mm is going the way of the Dinosaur - where the 6.5 is seeing increased numbers - there has to be a reason behind this.
 
I own and shoot both 8x57 and 6.5x55 mausers.

Like others have said if you want combat history and a very stout cartridge buy an 8x57.
If you want lighter recoil and something that shoots a little flatter a 6.5x55 will do the job quite nicely.
I tend to shoot more 6.5x55 then 8x57 but that's mainly due to bullet shortages in my area.

For me it's a toss up as I will always own and shoot both and couldn't pick one over the other. As for accuracy that's a very subjective thing but in my experience at ranges from 100-300 yards they will shoot the same granted both rifles are in similar condition.

After 300 yards I'd say the 6.5x55 will out shoot the 8x57 mainly due to the fact that bullet manufacturers have spent a ton of time making better 6m5 bullets where the 8mm has stayed the same for decades.
 
I have both 8x57 and 6.5x55 rifles.
I prefer the 6.5 for recreational shooting. Less recoil, and if you reload, there is a much greater selection of bullets available for the 6.5.
Take your time and look around a bit, and you should be able to find a M96 or m38 in really good shape. The fact that the Swedes were never technically at war and seemed to be very particular in the maintenance of their rifles shows in the quality and close tolerances of the Swedish rifles.
I do have a VZ24 that I used as the basis of a 257 Ackley improved custom. The 98 action, and the VZ24's in particular were very popular for custom builds.
The action is stronger, many people prefer the #### on opening of the 98, although you can get conversions for the 96/38 actions to make them #### on opening.
I have a couple of early German 98's that were made to much higher standards than the later war models, and they shoot great, but not up to the standards of a Swede, in my opinion.
Check Trade Ex and the EE, there are some really nice examples right now, as a matter of fact I'm waiting for a M96 target rifle I just bought from the EE.
Be careful though, they easily turn into an addiction!
 
If I was to purchase another milsurp , a Swede M38 would be the choice.
I do have a M96 which is the most accurate of all my rifles.
Fast and hard hitting yet easy on the shoulder, the 6.5x55 would be a good choice
 
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