Need advice, not sure if it's even possible. K98 Question.

Ryan500

Ryan500

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Hey all,

I have a 1945 Israeli Mauser in 308, full stock, not a single matching number or original part on it.

What I would like to do is have it re-barreled and tuned up while maintaining the original barrel profile so all the wood fits (upper hand guard etc). I want it to be accurate, maintain the 308 caliber. Not sure if bolt is decent and I should have it checked regardless for safety. I have a Timney trigger on it which I would keep on.

Also I would like to have it drilled and tapped for a scope mount, right now it has an S&K insta mount that may not be perfect but works very well. Trust me if it was worth it I would not. It's not a collector haha. It does however mean a lot to me and I will be keeping it forever so a little price does not scare me.

Is this possible and who would you recommend do the work?

Thanks.
 
Just about any competent gunsmith is capable of the job. However, it's a giant money pit with no tangible benefit. Why do you want to spend $600+ to see the value of your gun go down and to achieve nothing more than what you could by buying a firearm suited to the task?
 
Yeah you guys are probably right. Could pick up an SPS 700 in 308 and likely have a much more accurate rifle. For the same price.
 
It's easily possible. There used to be a smith in Calgary whose last name was Remple. He can do the work for you or at least direct you to someone who can.

There were a bunch of South American K98 barrels with the proper profile and chambered in 7.62x51 available last year. I think they're all gone.

Still, a new barrel can be profiled and fitted to your action. Cost would be around $600 if a new barrel is turned and fitted with sights.

IMHO it would be cheaper to purchase another rifle in excellent condition to fill your needs.

You might be able to find a take off barrel from another Israeli or South American K98

TURF THE LIBERALS IN 2019
 
Ryan500 said:
Yeah you guys are probably right. Could pick up an SPS 700 in 308 and likely have a much more accurate rifle. For the same price.
Click to expand...

Probably. Heck, for round about $1000 you could buy a 783 and install a pre-fit match barrel, and you'd have great performance. Jerry from Mystic Precision likes the 783 a lot.
 
Your rifle should be plenty accurate. All the Isreali. Mausers I have seen shoot under 2inch groups.

Do Not Drill and tap your rifle ! You will damage the resale value significantly. Instead search for Badace.com (or.ca sometimes prices vary for us vs can) they sell a really nice K98 low and regular profile mo drill mount.... I bought the low profile one for one of my K98s in 8mm.. I have fired over 200rds since mounting and it holds like a rock you remove the front sight (keeping it safe in a box for reinstall later) and once tighter you have nothing to ever do to it again and no rifle damage.

https://www.badacetactical.com/
I highly recommend these mounts. The SVT40 and Mauser mounts work 100% as advertised. If I was to buy anymore mounts for my milsurps I'd only buy them with badace. Quality is top notch.
 
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For around the $400 mark, you can buy a variety of 98 commercial mausers from Trade-Ex. Already sporters, some FN made, drilled and tapped and even scope mounts, side safeties, and such. Not too many .308 but lots of 30-06 available. It would probably cost you at least $400 for gunsmithing, new barrel, etc.
 
Very little in shooting is about practical value. I mean a person can pretend but unless a guy depends on a gun for a living (in which case 99 out of 100 users are eliminated) it's basically a matter of taste. Cost doesn't come into it. Chicken's cheap. Shooting isn't.

So regarding a rebarrel to keep the old cool school style combined with one of the most effective cold weather designs ever made, my suggestion is that any competent smith could turn a barrel to profile. Mauser barrels are simple profiles. But I'd also suggest that a smith would offer caveat emptor, as the barrel *may* do funny things when metal is carved off.

Collector value for a mismatch is negligible. To me, it would be a sweet project. A few hours on a lathe, some fine tuning. Jah. Goot.
 
Google Lothar Walther for a barrel. They sell drop in military profile barrels for the K98k for $249. They are really nice barrels. You could have the sights from yours soldered on to the new barrel and headspace checked when the barrel is installed. Any competent gunsmith(not the guy who also sharpens skates and fixes lawnmowers) could do the work.
 
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