Springfield 1903 or Mauser K98?

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MicrosoftWord

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So I'm somewhat new to this forums and I've looked through (as of this point) 31 pages from the Milsurp section and couldn't find anything on this. Thanks for the replies!!!


So I'm looking at getting my 1st rifle and I've narrowed it down to 2, a Springfield 1903A3, or a Mauser K98. "I know enough to be dangerous" about about these rifles but would like to know more. I've tried looking around for the Springfield's and couldn't find much as far as price or where to get it other than EE. And I went to Marstar and they have a bunch of Yugo K98's with different variations and I have no idea where to start. I would like to know how much they are, what are YOUR opinions on these rifles, what problems they have (if any), where to get them.

I'm kinda leaning towards the Springfield if I can find one for the right price but you (or I) can't go wrong with a K98.

If somebody has already started this "type" of thread please feel free to link it for me and I will be very happy w:h:.
 
The Springfield is rare and expensive. Marstars Yugo's are pretty darn good. At least that is what I have heard, since I bought mine about 12 years ago. I'd start with a Yugo and work towards a Springfield but that's only me. Both are excellent rifles.
 
Springfields can only be had affordably if you are willing to live with a low-number receiver and/or shot out bore. They are stellar target rifles with perhaps the finest target sights ever issued on a bolt-action battle rifle (M1903) and, IMHO, worth the asking price for a nice one even more than the M1 garands that are selling for comparable money nowadays.

Mausers, typically, do not have as nice a sight on them. They will generally shoot as well in equivalent condition IF you can make effective use of the sights - hard to do compared to the 1903 sights. I collect Mausers, so am biased, but I shoot the M1903 a lot better.

There are also lost of Mausers out there in near-new condition - far more than M1903's in Canada. Here of some examples of what you're after in nearly-new rifles.

DSCN4072.jpg


DSCN4038.jpg


DSCN3954.jpg


DSCN3806.jpg


DSCN3619.jpg


DSCN3514.jpg


P8111434.jpg


P8111486.jpg


P8171585.jpg


P8171591.jpg


P9221910.jpg


P9161863.jpg
 
Functionally they are both the same, as the Yanks stole the mauser design for their springfields. The Germans took the Yanks to court and won. So, during the first war the US had to pay royalties to the Germans to make and use springfield's to shoot at Germans.

They are both an excellent rifle. It boils down to the caliber that you want and the amount that you want to spend. Heck if you are really lucky you can find a Norwegian k98 chambered in 30-06. Best of both worlds.

I know that you are looking for a K98, but there are also a lot of other Mauser varients out there that are well worth looking at. I can't name them all, but someone probably can. I know of Spanish air force, Swedish, Argentinian, Brazilian, and Portuguese.
 
Claven2 said:
Springfields can only be had affordably if you are willing to live with a low-number receiver and/or shot out bore. They are stellar target rifles with perhaps the finest target sights ever issued on a bolt-action battle rifle (M1903) and, IMHO, worth the asking price for a nice one even more than the M1 garands that are selling for comparable money nowadays.

Mausers, typically, do not have as nice a sight on them. They will generally shoot as well in equivalent condition IF you can make effective use of the sights - hard to do compared to the 1903 sights. I collect Mausers, so am biased, but I shoot the M1903 a lot better.

There are also lost of Mausers out there in near-new condition - far more than M1903's in Canada. Here of some examples of what you're after in nearly-new rifles.

DSCN4072.jpg


DSCN4038.jpg


DSCN3954.jpg


DSCN3806.jpg


DSCN3619.jpg


DSCN3514.jpg


P8111434.jpg


P8111486.jpg


P8171585.jpg


P8171591.jpg


P9221910.jpg


P9161863.jpg
Click to expand...

I read your thread on your Finished 1903 and it was great! Also the Yugo Mauser's, how are they when compared to the German K98's
 
Cdn303 said:
Functionally they are both the same, as the Yanks stole the mauser design for their springfields. The Germans took the Yanks to court and won. So, during the first war the US had to pay royalties to the Germans to make and use springfield's to shoot at Germans.

They are both an excellent rifle. It boils down to the caliber that you want and the amount that you want to spend. Heck if you are really lucky you can find a Norwegian k98 chambered in 30-06. Best of both worlds.

I know that you are looking for a K98, but there are also a lot of other Mauser varients out there that are well worth looking at. I can't name them all, but someone probably can. I know of Spanish air force, Swedish, Argentinian, Brazilian, and Portuguese.
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Not exactly. The Mauser patent the US had to pay to use was not for the rifle itself, the M1903 while similar was different enough to skate by, it was for the charger guides in the rear bridge - a direct copy of the Mauser patent.

The day the US entered the war, they stopped paying the royalties to Germany.
 
MicrosoftWord said:
I read your thread on your Finished 1903 and it was great! Also the Yugo Mauser's, how are they when compared to the German K98's
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I would suggest the Yugo workmanship is about equivalent to mid-war German workmanship, but nowhere near as nice as early or pre-war fit and finish on a K98k.
 
At over a dollar a round for FMJ, I would venture "no". For that volume, IMHO, it should be discounted more. But then, I reload and am not subject to the extorsion that is commercial 8mm prices today.
 
Claven2 said:
At over a dollar a round for FMJ, I would venture "no". For that volume, IMHO, it should be discounted more. But then, I reload and am not subject to the extorsion that is commercial 8mm prices today.
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Speaking of reloading, how much is it to reload rounds? Is it cheaper than buying a case of 500 for $530? What load do you shoot in your Mauser's by the way?
 
Both are well proven rifles. The M1903 and 03A3 have more refined sights, so lend themselves to more accurate shooting in issue configuration. The .30-06 is a better reloading proposition by reason of the huge array of .308 diameter bullets on the market.

Many Springfields in circulation have toasted or well worn bores as a result of heavy use and corrosive primed ammo. Barrel replacement is expensive, but worthwhile as they are inherently very accurate given a sound barrel, tight sights, and proper stock bedding. 03A3s are tough to find; just ask me as I've been looking for another 03A3 action or clapped out rifle to do a build on for a looooong time.:wave:
 
Like anything it comes down to what you want to pay. For me I love Springfields so much it is worth it to me to buy a $900 03a3 and pay $300+ to import it. On gunbroker right now there is over 100 Springfields available and it is like that every day. Granted some are sporters but up here you may see one really nice one once in a blue moon. Personally I have had a Mauser 98 and it was a nice rifle. If you plan to shoot I would go with a 1903 or a3 any day simply for the fact that the sights are better and you just can't use a sling properly with a Mauser. Add in the US martial history and it's a no brainer for me. ( but that's just me)

I have recently gotten rid of everything except a Garand, Smith Corona 03a3 and have a Remington 1903 getting built as well as a Remington 03a3 on the way from the US which will be my shooter. I'd sell the Garand too but I have too much time, effort and money into it to let it go.
 
Thank you everybody for the responses! I have one more question, in regards to the name of the rifle some are built by Remington and some are Smith Corona, which is better?
 
I can't honestly say one is better than the other but the Smith Coronas used 4 groove High Standard maufactured barrels marked with a SC and the month/year whereas Remington used 2 groove (maybe 4 groove as well?). Smith Coronas are rarer as well. SC made about a third as many rifles as Remington did and you'll find SCs full of Remington parts from when they were arsenal rebuilt. One reason I bought the Remington 03a3 I have coming is that it is in a SC stock and the seller didn't realize it so I'm killing 2 birds with one stone. My SC came in a Remington stock.

One thing I would advise is to get a book or two about whatever rifle you plan to get - be it a Mauser or Springfield and do some research first. They can easily pay for themselves many times over if it prevents you from buying something that is misrepresented either honestly or knowingly. After reading through the two I have on the Springfield I feel way more confident and educated when I look at ads, read the descriptions and see the accompanying pictures. You'll also know the right questions to ask when it is time to buy.
 
Just one add. If you come up with either an 03 or a mouser with a bore that is toast, it will be the result of the guy who bougtht it as surplus and didn't bother to clean the bore until he got round to it. In any military if you didn't clean your rifle after firing it, the Sgt or feldwebel would be on your arse like stink on ####!
 
Fit and finish on an SC will be better, in general, than on a Remington 03A3. Remington DID use 4 groove barrels until at least June 1943. Later production is all 2-groove.

1903 (non-A3) producers were:

SA
RIA
Remington

I like the SA 1903's in the high-number range with nickel-steel receivers as they seem to be the smoothest of the breed - my above build is one such rifle.

YMMV.
 
John Sukey said:
Just one add. If you come up with either an 03 or a mouser with a bore that is toast, it will be the result of the guy who bougtht it as surplus and didn't bother to clean the bore until he got round to it. In any military if you didn't clean your rifle after firing it, the Sgt or feldwebel would be on your arse like stink on s**t!
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LOL - ever seen a Korea or Chinese import Springfield? Not all militaries were as disciplined as the US ARMY.

Up here, Springfields out of the States are a real rarity.
 
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