HI guys, want to purcase a mauser K98 in 8mm would like to know if it is a reliable model, and how acurate the 8mm bullet is and at what ditance (military ammo whice is good) or factory thankyou.

There are many '98 Mauser rifles in military and sporterized condition around and it has proven to be very reliable for over a century. Prices vary widely and there are some real bargains available. Accuracy depends on the rifle, ammo and the ability of the shooter.

If you shoot military ammo be aware that some may be corrosive and will require cleaning the bore with G.I. bore cleaner or hot soapy water patches. Factory ammo tends to be underloaded and reloading can improve performance.

Good luck in your search. All the best...
Gil

gravedigger,

As Gil mention they're quite realible. Remember that nearly all modern bolt actions are based on the 98. I've got a pre-WWII German K98 that I shot steel plates (iron madiens) with ranges up to 475 meters. That's using the iron sights and Eygptian surplus ammo. This ammo is corrosive so it gets a hot water bath or GI bore cleaner. Ammo in the states is pretty weak compaired to European loads were the 8mm Mauser is on par with the 30-06.

gravedigger - Do you have a specific model in mind? Or a local gunshop item?

gravedigger- I've got a '98 that shoots great w/ iron sights & handloads. The factory stuff in the States is underloaded to about what a 30-30 will do on account of the older '96's with .318 bores. Make sure you get one chambered for 8x57JS, which is the .323 bore and then you can use any ammo around, although like the others said, all that military stuff is corrosive. I like using Speer 170 gr. bullets and IMR 4064 for handloads w/ Speer data. Best of luck.

The 'real' K98s aren't cheap any more, but there's a number of variants (Yugo, Bosnian, Turk, etc.) that were made under contract in various countries over the years.

Some have had a hard life so give it a good once-over before you head to the range. In particular, I'd suggest making sure that the bolt serial number matches the rifle.

I was checking out the Lew Horton distributer web site and they had quite a few Mauser 98's for sale. They don't sell to public, but will sell to a FFL holder.

Thanks for all the info guys, it's a local gun shop that has one for salr for $250 and the bolt does match the rifle serial# they all match but the barrel band and the stock is surprisingly great it probably did not see action. The ammo is 1970 cekcoslovaqian if i spelled that right.

I've had two. The first one I bought as a teenager - I wasn't experienced enough to have the bore checked out before the purchase - turns out it was very eroded & she wouldn't keep 'em on the paper at all. Sold it to a guy who intended to use the action to build a sporter.

The second was brought back by my wife from Hawaii - a hobbist dropped a straight handled bolt, (not a true K98 bolt), into a nice K98 action, (with what turned out to be a worn-out barrel), and started to put them into a really pretty curly maple stock.

After screwing around trying to get the 8mm barrel to shoot, (best I could do was about 3" groups at 50 yards with a stone cold and perfectlly clean bore), I had the bolt handle turned down, had a 26" ER Shaw 30-06 barrel and a Tinmey trigger fitted, had her reblued, glass bedded the action in the maple stock, and mounted a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10 scope.

Properly loaded, the '06 will do it all.

She'll easily shoot MOA if I do my part.

I'm a big lever gun man, and I love peep sights on 'em, but the Mauser fills the need for a long range go-anywhere rifle.

Anyway, before you buy, HAVE THE BORE CHECKED OUT BY SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW.

Good luck & good shooting.