Need opinion on Czech and Yugo Mausers

ante_up

ante_up

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I will soon be purchasing a Mauser rifle. I would love to own a Mauser k98 but I don't have or want to spend over 1k for a fully matching one. I could get a Russian Capture but the price vs condition is not worth it.

So here is where I need help. I am currently looking to either get a Czech VZ24 or a Yugoslav M48 (possibly a 24/47). They are roughly the same price ($400). I understand that the vz24 is standard action while the yugo is intermediate. The bolt on the yugo m48 is bent as well. Tough decision. I have no experience with them and only know as much as I've stated. Can someone give me an opinion?
 
go with the Yugo.

The Chechs would be the better rifle, but they were reconditioned (I believe in Russia, as were the latest RC 98ks).
All the Chech rifles I inspected and owned have a dark/very dark bore.

The Yugos on the other hand, are in brandnew condition with mirror bores.
 
This may be off topic but if you want a cheap Mauser that is a great shooter you could look for a Turk Mauser. I have an m38 Turk Mauser with a heavy barrel and it shoots well and has a very nice looking walnut stock. Turks are often despised by collectors but really they shoot well, have lots of history behind them and can be had for around 1/2 the price of any other Mauser on the market.
 
I have a 24/47 and had a 48. Both were like new and were excellant shooters with both jacketed and cast bullets. Excellant value (in my opinion) if you can find one for 400 bucks.

If it's "just a mauser" you want a good M38 Swede might fill the need. Probably still looking at something around $400. They are amazingly accurate if the bore is OK.
 
Old Ranger said:
I have a 24/47 and had a 48. Both were like new and were excellant shooters with both jacketed and cast bullets. Excellant value (in my opinion) if you can find one for 400 bucks.
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I believe that Marstar has a few good condition ones for about 400. Not sure what "good" means because I've never bought something listed as good condition.
 
Old Ranger said:
I have a 24/47 and had a 48. Both were like new and were excellant shooters with both jacketed and cast bullets. Excellant value (in my opinion) if you can find one for 400 bucks.

If it's "just a mauser" you want a good M38 Swede might fill the need. Probably still looking at something around $400. They are amazingly accurate if the bore is OK.
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I haven't seen any m38 Swedes available recently. None of the sponsors have any and I haven't seen them on the exchange. It would be a good rifle though. I am slightly partial to the 8mm Mausers as well.
 
I bought both my 24/47 & my M48BO from Marstar about a year ago - both were in excellent condition with mirror bright bores and sharp rifling. I find the 24/47 far and above nicer to shoot, the action is silkier, the wrist is thinner, somewhat thinner and the butt plate is much easier on the shoulder - everything about that gun just 'feels right'

You should definitely buy them both - that would put you in about $1000/$1100 :)
 
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sean69 said:
I bought both my 24/47 & my M48BO from Marstar about a year ago - both were in excellent condition with mirror bright bores and sharp rifling. I find the 24/47 far and above nicer to shoot, the action is silier, the wrist is thinner, somewhat thinner and the butt plate is much easier on the shoulder - everything about that gun just 'feels right'

You should definitely buy them both - that would put you in about $1000/$1100 :)
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I heard that the 24/47 action is slick too. Maybe that might be the better deal.. So the stock is thinner? I didn't know that. I assumed it was the same.
 
The M48 is visibly more beefy in every respect:

The Wrist is visbly slimmer on the 24/47
compare-01.jpg


The straight bolt is much easier to get at ;)
compare-02.jpg


Neither of which impresses the cat
compare-03.jpg


At $400 - $479, if you didn't like one, you would have no problem unloading them on EE.

-sean
 
ante_up said:
I believe that Marstar has a few good condition ones for about 400. Not sure what "good" means because I've never bought something listed as good condition.
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Come to think of it when I bought mine they were listed as 'Excellent' so - not sure what 'good' means. Just call them, they are very helpful.
 
I like the Yugo M48. Its just beefy. But, I would like to have a 24/47 too, as they are really smooth.

I want a Swede some day too.

what I am trying to say is, you won't be able to just buy one. so get the best one you can, and then get the other(s) at a later date.
 
John_in_BC said:
I like the Yugo M48. Its just beefy. But, I would like to have a 24/47 too, as they are really smooth.

I want a Swede some day too.

what I am trying to say is, you won't be able to just buy one. so get the best one you can, and then get the other(s) at a later date.
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one? who suggested OP should buy one? No! not allowed.

I bought one Mauser once then the next time I looked there were over a dozen in the closet! errr, gun safe.
 
Thanks for the pics sean69. I like what you've done with the m48. I am worries I will end up buying all sorts of mausers. Right now I've convinced myself one is enough... We will see how long that lasts.
 
Ive had plenty of mausers in the past, for shooting i always like the M48 and the m24/47 since their thicker wrists, and no matter what, they shoot accurate off the spot, no adjustments. I also like the fact that the sites start at 200 meters, while the vz 24 start at 300. The yugo also makes it easier for you to go hunting since it wont shoot to high and you don't need to aim lower that much. If you want something that looks like a k98k take the m48, if you want something with a good history take the vz 24 because the Romanian army used many of the vz 24 against the Russians in WWII. the Vz 24 sites start at 300 meters, so it will shoot high at 100 yards. The m24 is almost the same-thing as the m48 accept with a straight bolt and a different sling mount. To tell you the truth, i find shooting a yugo mauser better that the K98K, since of the think wrist and better accuracy. In Conclustion the Yugo is the best rifle for the $$$ since there almost new and very good quality, most will have matching numbers. The vz 24 is very good quality, but thier well used and most dont have matching numbers. Go with a Yugo in my opinion, then the czech. If your not in a rush go to gunshows and maybe you can buy a German k98k for a good price, or you might get a good price even on the Yugos.

Yugo Mausers-400@ Dealers, on the EE you Can find them for around 350
Czech- 399 @ dealers, but theres two on the EE for 300-325$.
K98K- 600 PLUS @ Dealers, but if you go to Gunshows you will find some for a very good price.
 
dgradinaru said:
Yugo Mausers-400@ Dealers, on the EE you Can find them for around 350
Czech- 399 @ dealers, but theres two on the EE for 300-325$.
K98K- 600 PLUS @ Dealers, but if you go to Gunshows you will find some for a very good price.
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I haven't seen the yugo m48s under $500 in quite a while [problem with EE is most people are tying to make a profit, +$50 3 guys down the line = the one listed for $650 http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?881388-WTT-Yugo-M-48BO-NIB-650-shipped]

Looks like Marstar sold their last one recently, PS has an m48a at $450, probably the best buy you are going to find anymore. :(
 
dgradinaru said:
My bad, haven't looked for a while at the current value. I saw Marstar have some m48a for 299 a while back, if i remember correctly.
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wow - SCORE! I bought mine from Marstar almost exactly a year ago for $470ish ... the DAY before that I got the same rifle scooped out from under me at SHOW, he was asking $400 ~ I really should have popped n that one.

I think I'll go out on a limb and say that marks the end of the 'in cosmoline' M48BOs - I think only around 3000 were made [not 100% sure on that tho]
 
Hard to go wrong witha Yugoslav Mauser at any price. If you've seen one in VG+/EX condition, compare the build quality to a modern sporter. Once you've found one that's as well made as the Yugo, buy the Yugo: in fact, you'll likely be able to buy three or four Yugos for the price of the sporter. In terms of bang for the buck they're near impossible to beat.
 
If you want an original GERMAN Mauser, take a boo at the Brazilian ones.

Brazilian 1908 series were made in Berlin and in Oberndorf-am-Neckar. The 1912 rifles were made at Steyr.

Rifles originally were in 7x57 which is an accurate, mild-recoiling round. Some were later altered to handle the 7.62NATO/.308W round, which is easier to find.

Either one is the cream of pre-War One manufacture. The Steyrs are said by many to be the finest 98 actions ever made.

Are they original Mausers? I have a Brazilian 1908 here, serial number 25. In all likelihood it was personally inspected by Paul Mauser, being one of the first rifles of a new contract. That's original enough for me, anyway!

Trade-Ex has some at very reasonable prices and I believe PS Militaria also has a few. Both dealers are above reproach and both allow you to pick the exact rifle you want. In glaring contrast to some shops, both tend to under-rate their stock, Trade-Ex sometimes radically. You are NOT gonna do better.
 
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