Bought my first mauser yesterday. It's a Yugoslavian M48 chambered in 8mm mauser. It's in excellent condition.

I'm not going to shoot it until I have taken it to a smith and made sure headspacing and everything is right. I also have to work up some loads for it. Eventually I plan on sporterizing it. I guess it's my new project rifle.

Are there any specifics about the 8x57 cartridge I need to know? Also, does anybody have any tips or ideas for the rifle itself?

Thanks

Congratulation! I got started with Mauser with an M48 myself. As long as its in good condition, it ought to be pretty accurate. You're probably going to find that you don't like the sights - they have an itty bitty sight picture. And, I believe the sights are regulated for ~200 meters to start with for a 198 grn bullet.

In terms of loading, most powders that work with a 30-06 will work fine with the 8x57. The 8x57 is real easy to load for. I use mostly Varget to load, but that's me. You'll further find a good selection of good bullets and I can atest to this cartridge's whitetail killing ability.

In terms of sporterizing, I might advise you to consider purchasing a VZ-24 action instead. There are numerous reasons why I'd advise against using this rifle, but I'll tell you that since this is your first Mauser, why not keep it? Looking back, I wish I had used another Mauser to begin sporterizing in lieu of using the one I had. Granted, it turned out real nice, but now I want another original Yugo.

Mausers are a great and wonderful addiction. Welcome to the club! Enjoy the Yugo!

suggestion #1***Use the stock it came with. After you remove all the oil and accumulated crap with Oven off cut it down, inlet it ,put a schnabel on it, remove a lot of wood and free float it, If you intend to use a scope add a check rest to it, cut some off the butt and add a reciol pad to it and once it is nice and smooth camo paint it and paint your favorite outdoor scene on it.

Why the military stock? Well the rifle probably wore that thing for 60 years or so and is probably use to it by now and it is a whole bunch of fun. Don't cost much either.Unlike reloading you can have a beer or two while working on that stock. You got a lot of fingers. roger

Now there is a slipery slope! I am on my third, of various kinds. I started by saying "this is going to be my truck gun". Three truck guns later, one is now a 6.5x284 and another is a 30-06, and the other I sadly traded off, I am hooked.

Just don't try to make anyone believe you bought a cheap gun.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
suggestion #1***Use the stock it came with. After you remove all the oil and accumulated crap with Oven off cut it down, inlet it ,put a schnabel on it, remove a lot of wood and free float it

What's a schnabel???

After a lot of consideration and research, I will just rework a yugo stock. I'll get a second one to butcher so I can save the original with the matching ser. #'s. I know. these things are a dime a dozen, but I would still like to be able to return it to original condition if I decided to. That and the original stock has a very nice wood pattern.

About the only other things I will do to it are a trigger and maybe a scope. The trigger has a very very long pull before it stiffens, then is very heavy.

I have seen/read about a scope mount for these that replaces the rear leaf sight, but can't seem to find one or the manufacturer. Also, what kind of scope would I need to use? All the articles say is use a long eye relief scope.

What about these? There is another one that I can't seem to find that replaced the rear sight, then came back over the action so the scope was mounted where it normally would be.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.as...AUSER+98+SCOPE+MOUNT

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.as...e=MAUSER+SCOPE+MOUNT

quote:

Originally posted by Steel Slinger:
What about these?

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.as...e=MAUSER+SCOPE+MOUNT

This one shows promise but I kind of shy away from alum. because of recoil. But it may work. I can send you photos of four that I designed and built just to give you an IDEA. Would need your E maill address. roger