Mauser 98 for hunting??

J

Jvezina

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I have a Mauser 98 sporter sitting in my locker, fitted with a scope. I'm wondering if anyone has used on or uses one for hunting deer with? I've found it to be reasonably accurate and before I go spend some money on a new gun plus optics just curious on others thoughts? I've used it as a target shooting gun, never hunted with it.
 
Oh hell yes. The Mauser 98 in your cabinet is what pretty much set the bar for the modern hunting rifles we have today.
 
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If that M98 is chambered in 8x57, you have a very fine rifle/combination at your disposal.

The 8x57 will do pretty well anything a 30-06 will do, properly loaded. So it is more than
a deer rifle, it is plenty for moose, elk and other critters like that.

Load em up, sight it in, and go hunting! Cheers, Dave.
 
^^^Yes, I forgot to emphasize use of the proper load. North American made factory hunting ammo tends to be underloaded (or has been in the past) because they still seem to be terrified that someone would fire the round in the older (.318 bore diameter) mausers (versus the 323 diameter bores)--to help prevent a blow-up.

European ammo/hunting ammo has more velocity.
 
I have a wartime K98 that was rebarrelled to a 308 heavy target in a previous life. It came in on the cheap due to a damaged crown so it got cut to 20 inches and put into an old Mauser sporter stock that was kicking around. Heavy as all hell to carry around all day, but the forward weight seems to work in its favour when shooting. One of the greatest hunting rifles I've ever owned.
 
I've used a stock Mosin Nagant, as issued Swede M96, a "sportered" Ross 303, a cut-down U.S. M17 Enfield 30-06 and a 300 Win. mag built on a P14 action to hunt with. If I had the rifle you describe I would certainly use it.

It might be a little heavier than some commercial rifles and the factory ammo might be a little anemic (with still plenty of horsepower behind the bullet though) but you've got a perfect hunting machine there.
 
I had a Brno VZ 24 Mauser re-barrel by Israeli's to to .308 so I bought a synthetic stock, had it tapped and drilled for scope mounts, had barrel cut to 21" and recrowned, bolt handle cut and re-welded to proper angle and entire action re-blued. It was my first hunting rifle and it was great.
 
Mine was made by Germans then bubbad by Globe.
I still haven't shot it yet as 8x57 isn't common in our area.

It still has the issued sights but I'm contemplating also getting it drilled and tapped for scope mounts.
 
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