new or old mauser choice

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shores

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Hi,

I've got my PAL, looking to get a second rifle, apart from the 22.
it'll be used for long distance target practice and eventually deer hunting.

I can't find a decent used M38 mauser anywhere, so the choices appear to be the 6.5x55 96 mauser (longer length), the k31 swiss, or the 1600 sporter which is mostly 30-06

I've heard that the 6.5x55 is a gentler recoil, very accurate, and the ammo is decent availability, but the long length of the 96 might be cumbersome in the bush if i hunted with it?

The swiss i hear is also accurate, but ammo is difficult to find?

the 1600 sporter is a good overall gun but id rather it be in 308, unfortunately not readily available.

is it still fairly accurate for a 30-06?

I would also contemplate a brand new zastava in 270 or 300 win mag as well.

Which would be the best overall long distance rifle, mostly range work, with some hunting light to medium game?

Thanks!

Budget is about 600 before scope.
Does this belong in milsurp or hunting since they are technically both...

Thanks
 
I found an M38 for sale on the EE and promptly bought it :) Put up a WTB ad. They are on there. 6.5 would be my choice. Lower recoil, very flat shooting.
 
I have a Swede 96 and though it is lovely to shoot at the range, yes it is cumbersome to pack around. The iron sights shoot way too high at 100 yards too. It would be a good stand rifle for ranges up to 100 yards if you get a new front sight.

The Swiss rifle is a good rifle too, but unless you handload be prepared to pay plenty for ammo. Big heavy rifle to pack around too.

A Husqvarna 1600 sporter in 30-06 is all you need in North America for a hunting rifle. Much better than a milsup. Believe me, I have done both, hunted with a full length milsurp and then a Husquvaran sporter.

I can't imagine why you'd want a 308 over a 30-06. (I just said that to get the flames going)
 
This being the Military forum, my brain picked up a notch when Mausers were mentioned.

The OP appears to be lumping them all together, which is OK for someone fresh to the topic, but it needs to be sorted out. Not all Mausers were military rifles; there were and are very good commercial rifles made with Mauser actions. The 1600 is one of these, but it has never been near an Army, anywhere, any time.

Standard rifling twist for the .30-'06 is 1 turn in 10 inches: faster than that used for the .308W (1:12) and capable of stabilising heavier bullets. Good choice of calibre. Reloading components are identical, only the casings (and their capacity) differing. The larger case of the .30-'06 permits it to duplicate anything the .308W can do at any given pressure, and it still has available another 10% if you really like high pressure and recoil and all that extra heat burning out your barrel.

The 6.5x55 is one of the highest-developed cartridges ever made, it being popular n Northern Europe for over a century now as a Match and long-range hunting round, not to mention its extensive military use. As a sporting round, it is capable of flattening almost anything in North America and is wizard accurate to boot. Low recoil is another benefit derived from this choice. Model 38 Swedish Mausers do turn up on the EE regularly and there are a number of supporting dealers who have them in stock quite often. Use the links and you will find them. Trade-Ex is an example: they very often have an extensive selection of used Mausers in very nice condition, most of these coming from Swedish permit-holders who are at their limits and want to get a new rifle.

If you are intending to put a scope on the thing, be advised that you should start with a COMMERCIAL rifle. Most are D&T from the factory..... and you won't be D&T-ing another poor Military rifle, an act so execrable that the perpetrators have their names expunged from the list of Honourable Milsurpers at midnight conclaves around blazing bale-fires, the High Priest attending intoning their foul names slowly as fresh logs, each "named" to someone who D&T'd a rifle, are tossed into the fire, there to burn away like the sins they represent!

Well....... it's not quite THAT bad, but it makes a great story!

And there ARE no-drill mounts available for many military rifles, so be sure to check them out.

As to the Swiss rifles, they are blistering accurate and very fast. Handloading is with ordinary .30-calibre components. The Swiss 7.5x55 has served their military since 1889 in one form or another and is another highly-developed target cartridge. It will do anything that a .308W will do and also stabilise heavy bullets better.

With ANY of these, factory ammo is best seen as a source of brass. Handloading is about HALF the cost of factory ammo and, by loading your own, you can insert much more precision into the loading process than can any factory which is trying to turn out 20,000 rounds an hour.

Hope this helps.

Have fun!
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PS: MOST military rifles are fitted with iron sights which are immensely tough. They are factory-set generally for 300 yards/metres and UPWARDS. This is because they were designed for shooting at MEN who were STANDING UP..... and getting them before they could get into bayonet/grenade/SMG range. What you do is kwitcher#####in and learn to HOLD LOW at close ranges (under 300 m). Works.
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It would appear that you are looking for two slightly different things here, but are leaning toward a hunting rifle rather than a milsurp that can do both jobs. There is no one-size-fits-all if this is what you are looking for.

Most Military rifles are made for rugged but simple handling. You can adapt them for hunting, but really they are not as satisfactory as simply buying a hunting rifle designed for that purpose. With the Mausers, you will have to drill and tap the receiver, bend the bolt and usually alter the safety, all at an added expense.

I would suggest that you check out the Trade-Ex website, one of the sponsors here and a link above (TEC Trade-ex Canada). They have an assortment of good used Swedish Mauser hunting rifles, both ex-military and commercial manufacture. If you buy one, I would recommend you look at one that is already drilled and tapped, and maybe with bases, with the bolt handle altered to clear the scope, and a side safety.

While you are at it, you might even consider the 8 mm Mauser cartridge, expecially if you intend to reload your ammunition. The 8x57 appears to be not as good as the 30-06 when you check out the North American loadings, but the ammo in our countries are underloaded because of Lawyer liability. If you check the European loadings, there is a great difference. You were considering the Swiss K-31 and the 8x57 ammo is a lot easier to find than the Swiss ammo.

Right now, for under $500, you should be able to buy both a K-31 or m/96 and also a hunting rifle, so why not buy both to suit your two different purposes?
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Hi,

I was on the trade ex website, but didn't see any M38's, just M96 and then the sporter 1600's, all of which (at least right now) are 30-06.

I didn't see any 6.5x55 for sale :eek:

I'd love to get an M38 to keep stock, and a 1600 in 6.5x55 or similar.

I just checked out the M70, which was released in 6.5x55 if you look hard enough, sweet :)

Now I just need a mosin, an sks, and a...
 
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