I am thinking of a Yugoslav M48 Mauser rifle from the Four Seasons.

http://www.fsguns.com/fsg_used.html

I am looking for a good steel silhouette rifle.
I will load for the gun with top notch components.
What can I expect for accuracy off the bench with a “like new condition” M48 ???

Here is a link to look at:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/yugom48/index.asp

How accurate will your rifle be, will depend on the bore condition. Most of these old milsurp rifles were shot with corrosive powder and primers.
I replace the original sights with MOJO's and test the rifle using them. I have not used scopes on these rifles as it is not cost effective.

I am thinking of a Yugoslav M48 Mauser rifle from the Four Seasons.

http://www.fsguns.com/fsg_used.html

I am looking for a good steel silhouette rifle.
I will load for the gun with top notch components.
What can I expect for accuracy off the bench with a “like new condition” M48 ???

Mike,

Results will vary. I have a total non-matching (all the different numbered parts do not match) M48....which is very accurate with handloads. It was pretty accurate with milsurp or commercial ammo, as well. Mine will do 1 MOA or a bit less, as a best case performance. This is well better than I am usually capable of duplicating myself. However, my rifle has a very good barrel, which I improved by hand- lapping. I have a friend with a very nice M48a, which I helped him select, that, in the original stock, with milsurp ammo, is almost capable of "one ragged hole" accuracy. But, these cases are probably the exception.

As I am sure you know, much depends on the shooter. For target use, most rifles can be made accurate, with the right handloads.

The point of my comments (above) is to make it clear that some very good results are possible with these rifles. However, depending on ammo used, the sighting system (the original issue sights are not very good)....and the shooter.....more typical results are probably 2" - 5" at 100 yards. Other factors, such as the trigger and the bedding of the action in the stock, also will come into play. Whether the rifle is in "unissued" condition, or well used, the important considerations, as to choosing a good barrel (on a milsurp rifle), are whether the barrel shows any signs of corrosion in the bore....and whether the lands are sharp-edged and well-defined. I have seen a few VG to Excellent condition Yugo Mausers that will not do well, even with what appear to be great barrels. However, to reiterate, most any rifle, with a decent bore, can be made to shoot pretty well, with the right handloads.

In conclusion, I will simply give an estimate. Based on my experience....and negating extraneous factors, you should be able to get accuracy of 6" - worst case......and sub 1" - best case....with the Yugo rifles, at 100 yards. The vast majority will fall somewhere in between. If you are willing to work for it....and know how....it is very possible to get to the smaller end of that scale.

I have several model 48 and 48As that were unissued and they can really shoot my reloads very well. If the rifle is like new it probably depends on what you shoot in it and your abilities. All the best...
Gil

I am thinking of a Yugoslav M48 Mauser rifle from the Four Seasons.

http://www.fsguns.com/fsg_used.html

I am looking for a good steel silhouette rifle.
I will load for the gun with top notch components.
What can I expect for accuracy off the bench with a “like new condition” M48 ???

That's not a bad price for all-matching, and if they are unissued, they should shoot well. The supply of m48s seems to be drying up and they were some of the last military mausers produced in the world.

I'd probably stick it in a sporter stock, just to not have to mess with the barrel bands and such. Some people fiddle with them to improve accuracy.

Good luck!

Thanks for your opinions.
They are very helpful.
I will call the shop, if the M48 are were not issued
I think I will buy.

The "Four Seasons Firearms" shop has a good rep.

Thanks.

One of our local "convenience stores" sells a few guns on the side, they have 48's for $150. I bought one already to build a .22-250. Think i'm gonna buy a couple more & put them away, can't beat the price for a quality rifle.

Good move. The M48 series rifles, like the M1924 (24/47's) before them, may not be the most refined, beautiful and perfect rifles ever created, but they certainly are bloody solid and competent in all ways - and often quite accurate - much more so than one would expect. They may not be as "valuable"....as collector's pieces....as many other rifles...but I'd rather have one than a fine Rigby or Schoenaur sporter, any day (though I'd certainly not turn down the cash value of either of those).

I just wish I would have bought a couple of these in the spring of 2004 - when the excellent unissued ones were selling for about $160 from AIM and SOG. Alas, too many guns and not enough money. I bought some VZ24's and M24/48's cause it seemed the supply was drying up quick at the time... I did run across one (M48) at a gun shop I stopped at one the way to my dealers house in the summer of 2004. It had a nice teak stock and was in excellent condition, with the rough surface and the cosmo smell. But I figured the $199 price tag was too much - Heck I'll get around to ordering one or two soon I figured. Well it never happened, I always found something else that was higher on my priority list. But I have managed to to build a nice little mauser collection in the past few years. It all started with a FR8 I bought about 4 years ago. Since then I've added a couple of yugo m24/48's, 2 Czech VZ24's, a Turk M38, Swede m96, Oberndorf 98K (RC - no damage to the markings and no crossed rifle markings - mixmaster but it's pretty, and shoots great). Well I'm rambling but I sure do like the way those m48's look - I'm almost tempted to buy a Mitchell's... but I need to get a couple of CMP Greeks, some 1903a3's before they run out, Some parts kits before the barrel ban kicks in... Arrgh! Who's got the MilSurp anonymous hotline number!

http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/664/mitchellsmausers0032ah.th.jpg (http://img173.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mitchellsmausers0032ah.jpg) http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/8365/mitchellsmausers0027ly.th.jpg (http://img173.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mitchellsmausers0027ly.jpg) http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/327/mitchellsmausers0011an.th.jpg (http://img173.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mitchellsmausers0011an.jpg)

These are a couple of new Yugo Model 48's I got from Mitchell's earlier this year. Both are clean and came with the complete accessories package. For the money they are really nice. billt.

http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/664/mitchellsmausers0032ah.th.jpg (http://img173.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mitchellsmausers0032ah.jpg) http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/8365/mitchellsmausers0027ly.th.jpg (http://img173.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mitchellsmausers0027ly.jpg) http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/327/mitchellsmausers0011an.th.jpg (http://img173.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mitchellsmausers0011an.jpg)

These are a couple of new Yugo Model 48's I got from Mitchell's earlier this year. Both are clean and came with the complete accessories package. For the money they are really nice. billt.


You did very well. I was in a local gun shop last week and picked up an unissued Yugo Model 24/47 for $180.00 with all the accessories. The market is getting tight and AIM and other distributors now have a disclaimer regarding the bore condition of surplus rifles due to the use of corrosive ammo. It pays to get these rifles when you can. All the best...
Gil

CDNN Sports is advertising Yugo M48 rifles starting at $79.99, matching numbers and in very good to excellant condition, $139.99. They also have Yugo reworked K98s starting at $99.99, your choice of stock.
I got my Yugo K98 from Century and the bore looked brand new. Only problem was a knot hole in the stock. Definately a keeper.