I know this ? Has many variables, but.. Mabey you guys have some anwsers for me. So here it goes. I have a gwer mod 98 made in germany in 1942. Thinking of sporterizing it. There is not a scratch ding or any blemishes on this gun at all except someone installed a williams peep sight on it and cut the stock. Any how i want to make it a sporter . I think i will use it more this way. So can anyone give me a ball park figure on what it would cost to have someone do it. Any input would be helpful. Mabey i can do some of it myself. Just havent done it before. Thanks
sporterizing an 8mm mauser ?
- Thread starter upnadam
- Start date
Sounds like has the cheapest "sporterizing" has all ready done. After this it starts to get into money and depending on your pocket depth
it might be a few hundred$ all the way into thousand$. Why don't you list what you want done eg. a new stock etc etc. and we'll attempt
to come up with a figure.
Over the years and a few times I found that buying one already done was by far cheaper (have a peek at Tradeex) and return yours back to
original military configuration. --- John
it might be a few hundred$ all the way into thousand$. Why don't you list what you want done eg. a new stock etc etc. and we'll attempt
to come up with a figure.
Over the years and a few times I found that buying one already done was by far cheaper (have a peek at Tradeex) and return yours back to
original military configuration. --- John
depending on what you have you might be making a $500 -$1000 rifle a $300 rifle. some of the WWII Mausers are very collectible. post some pictures will be help full with the markings. it might be better to sell it and buy one or two hunting rifles.
samsplacci71
Regular
- Location
- Toronto area
^^ what he said, sell it to a collector, please! Take your proceeds and buy a sporter rifle with it.
This rifle is very sentimental to me. My grandfather toted one for four years back in the war, then moved to canada became a canadian (was very proud of that) and gave me this gun when i was little. I domt use it enough( in the field) so thats why i want to do this. Adam
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
well I say for respecting your grandfather keep it as is and buy a sporter rifle plenty of them about I have my great grandfather no 4 mk1 that he carried though Europe still full wood and I hunt with it I don't see the point in sporting any rifle let alone a family heirloom. plenty of new made firearms we don't need to bubba guns that are not made anymore
if it has sentimental value, why mess with it ?? any thing you do to it will deface it, and take away from its value. buy a hunting rifle, and put your great grandfathers rifle away for your kids. or sell it to someone who will appreciate it for what it is.
If your eyes are good, give that peep sight a try. You will be very impressed at how well they work.
You don't mention where the peep sight is mounted. Is it a receiver mount that had to be drilled and tapped or one of after market types that took the place of the original rear sight in the soldered on barrel mount? If it's the latter, the rifle might be better off left alone.
If it's the drilled and tapped mount, the rifle need quite a bit of work to turn it into a scope mounted sporter.
If you do the work yourself, do some modifications to the original stock, remove the rear sight bracket and front sight as well, you can turn it into a decent, scoped hunting rifle. All it takes is time and patience.
If you're handy with some basic tools and have them on hand, drilling and tapping the receiver for a scope mount is not difficult. It just takes some very careful layout work and a good way to control the depth of the holes over the chamber on the front receiver ring. You may also want to add a recoil pad. Again, you just need to be careful. By the way, you will likely need a bench mounted grinder to add the recoil pad.
There are also some decent after market triggers available for the 98 action. Not cheap though. The military trigger can be modified and stoned to be as good a trigger as any aftermarket model.
You will also need to modify the bolt handle to clear the scope, especially if it has the straight handle. There are high rings that can be had that will allow the bent bolt model to clear.
You can do the job for as little as $200, not including the scope or mounts, if you already have access to the tools needed. If you have to get the work done, look at closer to $500.
Just to add this, my father gave me a gun when I was 16 as a birthday present. After a few years I decided to "modify" it somewhat, new stock, bent the bolt etc.
I am now 74 and have regrets over my alterations, I still have the gun and as I find parts to at least return it to its original "gift" configuration I am doing so.
It will go to one of my grandsons eventually. IMHO "gifts" especially family heirlooms should be left as received / they loose some of the previous owner touch.
Your gun - do as you wish but as others have said lots of sporters out there. FWIW --- John
I am now 74 and have regrets over my alterations, I still have the gun and as I find parts to at least return it to its original "gift" configuration I am doing so.
It will go to one of my grandsons eventually. IMHO "gifts" especially family heirlooms should be left as received / they loose some of the previous owner touch.
Your gun - do as you wish but as others have said lots of sporters out there. FWIW --- John
"...what it would cost to..." Depends on how far you want to go. You should be able to get an aftermarket commercial stock for a reasonable amount. Look into Boyd's stocks.
"...Mausers are very collectible....a $500-$1000 rifle..." Not with commercial sights and a cut stock. It has no collector value now.
"...am now 74 and have regrets..." Relax. When you did it, nobody even dreamed that any milsurp would ever be worth what they are now.
"...Mausers are very collectible....a $500-$1000 rifle..." Not with commercial sights and a cut stock. It has no collector value now.
"...am now 74 and have regrets..." Relax. When you did it, nobody even dreamed that any milsurp would ever be worth what they are now.
Be glad you made your inquiry in the smithing forum, and not the 'surps! It certainly cuts down the :
"How do I do this?"
"...you shouldn't because I like history!" banter.
Sounds as if it's already been "sported" anyway. It's your rifle, and your money. What more did you wish to do with it? Williams sights are pretty fine sights. The stock has been cut, but there are quite a few aftermarket stocks out there too. Kinda depends on which direction you choose to go with it.
"How do I do this?"
"...you shouldn't because I like history!" banter.
Sounds as if it's already been "sported" anyway. It's your rifle, and your money. What more did you wish to do with it? Williams sights are pretty fine sights. The stock has been cut, but there are quite a few aftermarket stocks out there too. Kinda depends on which direction you choose to go with it.
Figure on $50-100 to get the holes drilled and tapped, plus the cost of the rings, bases & scope. Getting the bolt handle altered will be another $100. The safety will need to be changed as well; easiest alternative is the Beuhler/Timney copy, which will be another $50. Then add the price of whatever stock you choose.
I'm not going to say you shouldn't, but the value of the rifle in monetary terms will never equal what you spend on it. I've had a couple of Mausers customized myself, but once I start spending money I tend to go all out; new barrel, new calibre, best wood I can find, etc. Then I feel like the expenditure has been justified to some extent. The Mauser 98 is the best bolt action ever designed, IMO, and make superior hunting rifles to anything modern that you might replace it with.
Since it seems like it's already been altered to a considerable extent, I wouldn't feel guilty about further customization. Restoring it to original trim would be just as expensive as customizing, and you would still just be left with a restored milsurp that would never command the value that an all original one would.
It would be interesting to see pics of what you've got.
I'm not going to say you shouldn't, but the value of the rifle in monetary terms will never equal what you spend on it. I've had a couple of Mausers customized myself, but once I start spending money I tend to go all out; new barrel, new calibre, best wood I can find, etc. Then I feel like the expenditure has been justified to some extent. The Mauser 98 is the best bolt action ever designed, IMO, and make superior hunting rifles to anything modern that you might replace it with.
Since it seems like it's already been altered to a considerable extent, I wouldn't feel guilty about further customization. Restoring it to original trim would be just as expensive as customizing, and you would still just be left with a restored milsurp that would never command the value that an all original one would.
It would be interesting to see pics of what you've got.
Bingo - it's almost always less expensive to buy a sportered rifle to which someone's already done the drill-and-tap job.....
A new stock won't make it any lighter. Learn to use the sights that are on it. Those sights are good on moose right out to 350 meters, as long as you do your part and learn bullet trajectory.
Just a little information here. Back in the day, Guns and Ammo did some accuracy tests between scoped and open sighted rifles.
The first thing that became glaringly obvious was that most of the shooters in the tests were not well trained in shooting skills. The next most obvious thing was that in almost every case, no matter on which cartridge/rifle/sight combo, up to 100 yards +, the fellow using iron sights was shooting as well and often better than the fellows with scopes.
It wasn't until ranges exceeded 150 yards that the scoped rifles really shone. It was also found the ghost ring/peep rear sight allowed for better accuracy than the tangential sights mounted on the barrel.
If the military stock is uncomfortable, find out why. Is it to short, to long or just to heavy?? If you are very tall, it is likely to short and needs an extension. If it is uncomfortable to shoot because of recoil, it needs a recoil pad attached and fitted to the length of your trigger pull. If you have a long neck, it's likely difficult for you to get your head low enough to get a decent cheek weld and see the sights together at the same time.
Most modern stocks have a cheek comb/riser to aid shooters in getting their heads high enough to achieve a cheek weld while lifting their heads high enough to see a proper sight picture in their scopes.
Many tall or very short people are afraid to get their heads close to the grip area of the rifles and tend to try to hold their heads straight back by the butt. NOT A GOOD HABIT to get into. Recoil is multiplied and causes flinching. The angle of the neck/head allow the rifle to rise more on firing and this will give your head/neck a snap, which after a few shots can become painful. It also allows more felt impact on the shoulder, rather than spreading it out over your body.
If you just don't feel comfortable with the way it looks, then dig out the wood working equipment and make it pretty. Lots can be done to modify an existing military stock to make it look more sporting. Your time and imagination are the only drawbacks.
Just remember, BUBBA and his brothers have made more very nice rifles into real dogs than you can shake a stick at. Just use the KISS rule and all will be well.
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antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
a new stock will not make it lighter this is true also make the rifle lighter will affect how much recoil you feel I laugh when people complain about weight and then get a light rifle and complain about recoil. also think of what you're grandfather had to carry a 9lb rifle a good bit of ammo a grenade or two(not light BTW) and a pack full of gear while wearing a uniform
if you are after moose the 8mm will do the job but as far as mausers go id get a 9.3x57 or a 9.3x62
if the barrel and action are not messed with too much they can be put into a military stock
if you are after moose the 8mm will do the job but as far as mausers go id get a 9.3x57 or a 9.3x62
if the barrel and action are not messed with too much they can be put into a military stock
Bullwinkle stands no chance! There are quite a few stocks out there for the '98, as these rifles have been turned into sporty rifles for a good, long time. Prices will vary widely. Same with optics. If you go with a scope, you may have to consider other modifications too. Safety won't swing under most scopes, bolt handle may need a touch of tweaking.
There is no game animal in North America your 8mm can't knock down easily. Bullwinkle beware
