Older Mausers

[Gun Nut]

I have three Mausers:

A K96 6.5 x 55 Swede made Husqvarna Vapenfabrik. It's scoped and is my real workhorse. Shot a whack of deer, not to mention Coyotes and beavers with it over the past 20 yrs.

Also have a German Kar 98a Mauser Erfurt 1917, 8mm x57, still open sights but contemplating installing either a peep or scope .

And lastly a Mauser Model 1871 71/84 11mm. I've never fired it.

Good story on the 71/84; I was at an auction and chatting with the fella next to me and my buddy poked me and said the Mauser I was looking at (K98 above) was up. So I took a starting bid at $60 ....and that was it, I owned it. Then the Mauser I wanted came up next and I got it for $80.

Run-of-the-mill old Military guns don't sell well at gun auctions. Young guys want guns with plastic camo stocks and scopes :

Great guns..once you used a Mauser Auction, it spoils you.

"Mauser Model 1871 71/84 11mm. I've never fired it." You are missing a real treat. Since they only used soft lead bullets the rifling is generally in great shape. You can use 45-70 brass in them, the rim of the brass has to be milled down a bit. Lee makes loading dies for the 43 Mauser, the sizing die easily forms them to fit, they are a bit shorter than the original brass, I just seat the 340 grain .446 bullet to match the original bullet's OAL. You can use H - 4198 powder, about 30 grain will keep the chamber press below 20,000 PSI. It makes for a reasonably gentle load.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

[MikePal]

Thanks Gun Nut...I'd never thought to pursue alternatives to the original cartridge. I did find x5 rounds at a gun show once, very expensive so I have them for show and tell but never fired them.

I'm going to print out your info above and take a look at trying to do up some shooting rounds !

[Gun Nut]

Thanks Gun Nut...I'd never thought to pursue alternatives to the original cartridge. I did find x5 rounds at a gun show once, very expensive so I have them for show and tell but never fired them.

I'm going to print out your info above and take a look at trying to do up some shooting rounds !

This may help you mill the rim on the 45-70 brass. I put a round stone in my drill press. I put the shoulder of the brass in some type of loose ring and lay the rim up against the edge of the spinning stone, as it turns down I check it in the shell holder that comes in the die kit for fit.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

[Bluebulldog]

This may help you mill the rim on the 45-70 brass. I put a round stone in my drill press. I put the shoulder of the brass in some type of loose ring and lay the rim up against the edge of the spinning stone, as it turns down I check it in the shell holder that comes in the die kit for fit.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

Mike. I'd love to see that rifle if we get out for breakfast.

[Fenelon]

I own two Carl G. M96's in original military form with all matching numbers and a Husky M38 all original with numbers matching. All are tack drivers. I put a scout scope on one using a mount that uses the existing front sight holes. I would highly advise anyone who owns one in original confiruration to not Bubba the gun by drilling one for scope mounting! Do not take the stock apart unless you are aware of Swede armourers instructions for proper assembly, care of existing recoil block, action screw torques , any shims, etc. If you do alter or drill anything you just changed your $800 gun into a $400 gun. The supply has now dried up and anything original milsurp is just going up in price. They are beautiful guns to shoot ! The Swedes are the only surplus rifles that I own that can shoot almost on par with the Swiss K31s that I have. If you like Swedes you better get a K31 before they are all gone! They are creeping up in price now. You'll understand why I'm advising this after you shoot one!

[Fox]

I own two Carl G. M96's in original military form with all matching numbers and a Husky M38 all original with numbers matching. All are tack drivers. I put a scout scope on one using a mount that uses the existing front sight holes. I would highly advise anyone who owns one in original confiruration to not Bubba the gun by drilling one for scope mounting! Do not take the stock apart unless you are aware of Swede armourers instructions for proper assembly, care of existing recoil block, action screw torques , any shims, etc. If you do alter or drill anything you just changed your $800 gun into a $400 gun. The supply has now dried up and anything original milsurp is just going up in price. They are beautiful guns to shoot ! The Swedes are the only surplus rifles that I own that can shoot almost on par with the Swiss K31s that I have. If you like Swedes you better get a K31 before they are all gone! They are creeping up in price now. You'll understand why I'm advising this after you shoot one!

All those people chopping them up are making yours worth more though.

This is mine, was tapped before I got it.

M38 Mauser - Overall.jpg

[rf2]

If you like Swedes you better get a K31 before they are all gone! They are creeping up in price now. You'll understand why I'm advising this after you shoot one!

I agree. I have a K31, and they are accurate rifles. I put a clamp-on scope mount and a scope on mine, and it shoots phenomenally well for a military surplus rifle. I have to say though, I wouldn't pay current prices for one - people are asking $1000 and more for them!

[Sam Menard]

Back in the ‘70s, when I was a teenager, I bought my first rifle -an 8mm Mauser for $35. I can’t recall the precise details about the rifle but I think it was Turkish and was produced for the Boer War. Maybe someone with more knowledge can clear this up.

When I went away to college, I left the rifle at home. Even back then, I was concerned about safe firearm storage, so I removed the bolt and hid it somewhere. Unfortunately, I could never remember what I did with the bolt so when I moved away for good my brother turned the rifle over to the police for destruction.

I very much regret losing the bolt and destroying the rifle as I would have liked to have sporterized it. “Should have, could have, but didn’t!”

[Fox]

Back in the ‘70s, when I was a teenager, I bought my first rifle -an 8mm Mauser for $35. I can’t recall the precise details about the rifle but I think it was Turkish and was produced for the Boer War. Maybe someone with more knowledge can clear this up.

When I went away to college, I left the rifle at home. Even back then, I was concerned about safe firearm storage, so I removed the bolt and hid it somewhere. Unfortunately, I could never remember what I did with the bolt so when I moved away for good my brother turned the rifle over to the police for destruction.

I very much regret losing the bolt and destroying the rifle as I would have liked to have sporterized it. “Should have, could have, but didn’t!”

The boer war would have been 7mm mauser, the 8mm mauser would have been too late for that, the 8mm was not designed until after the Boer war.

The turkish mausers are the same as the German ones, very good rifles.

[Sam Menard]

The boer war would have been 7mm mauser, the 8mm mauser would have been too late for that, the 8mm was not designed until after the Boer war.

The turkish mausers are the same as the German ones, very good rifles.

Thanks for the info.