Scoping a M38 Mauser

M

mike Crawford

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
10   0   0
Location
kingston Ontario
I have a M38 in 6.5 x 55 that I use with open sights // because I dislike the high mounts required too clear the bolt.. I was watching a You Tube video and they had a Picatilly mount that went on where the rear sight is ..This would make it like a scout rifle I would think; and let me mount a scope low .. The question is if any one else has done this and if the accuracy of the original step barrel is worth the trouble of scoping it . Or if the gun is best served as a open sight rifle like it came from the factory and save the 150.00 dollars they want for a mount from Bad ace tactical
 
I went with a Leupold mauser mt and high rings........shot truckloads of deer and moose with it stepped barrel didn't matter. 42gr of IMR 4350 or N-204 and a Hornady 160gr /Sako 156gr
 
Most of the M38's I've seen were definitely very accurate as original, only you can be the judge on yours. As the stepped barrel is parallel, you could find a Picatinny rail with the correct radius on the bottom to fit to your barrel, or buy a Picatinny blank and have it machined to fit your barrel. Then use whatever mounts/rings you choose to mount a scope scout style. Or just spend very little and have the bolt handle modified or replaced to clear a low scope - easy job for any decent gunsmith. On the one I had, we used weaver bases after removing the charging clip hump, Weaver rings, fitted a new bolt handle and mounted a Weaver 4x scope and had a very accurate hunting rifle. But the flag type safety isn't usable - not an issue when you use a half open bolt rather than a safety.
 
I once shot a magpie in the head at 200 yards because that's all I could see in the crotch of the tree off a rest and a 6x scope.I was 40 years younger then.160gr handload.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom