Fellas, the thread on the 7X57 got me thinking about both the old Mauser cartridges. Here's a question though: If you were hunting for a military 98 Mauser in 8X57 to make into an accurate sporter, which would you choose? I have had several over the years, but it seemed some had long throats and others had worn throats. ARe there any surplus Mausers that will make up into a minute-of-angle gun, or are the military barrels just not up to it?

If you just want a 8x57, it might be a less risky venture to just get a Steyr in that caliber. They apparently were imported at some time in the recent past and you would not have to worry about the barrel, throating and most likely would be accurate. I have seen a few used ones recently.

Bill/Oregon

I have a 1939 Oberndorf K-98 8x57 sporter with a mint barrel(steel bedded and free-floated) that shoots 1 MOA or better. Threads over the last year have pointed out many are getting equal accuracy even with the "cheap" Turkish M-38's. Like most good rifles the key is making sure everything is square, straight and bedded properly. If you find a sound action, good headspace, straight-barreled with sharp rifling, you can probably make it shoot 1 MOA without much trouble. I have 6 Mauser based sporters with original military barrels in 4 different calibers and all shoot 1 MOA consistently.

A friend of mine has a Czech VZ24 in 8x57, original barrel cut to 18.5", buttugly shortened laminated stock, 2 stage trigger...and it shoots 1/2 MOA and better with handloads it likes. I have first rights to buy it but am unlikely to live that long.

I have a VZ-24 with a like new barrel, cut to 20" and in a Ramline stock. It has never fired a group larger than 1", most are under .5". I have a like new Yugo M48 that does 1 moa with issue sights and surplus ammo.

A lot of the Yugos that were made for Egypt, are unused and are very good looking rifles.

I have 2 yugos, with original barrels that will group with any "modern" commercial rifle I've ever owned.

Husqvarna made lots of 8x57's. You can buy them very cheap (50-100$), here in Sweden at least.

I have one of those cheap 38 Turks with a synthetic stock and a 3-9x40 on it. It will shoot 170 Hornadys, or 196g Normas into 1" all day long. I tried the 150g Hornadys, but could not get them close enough to the riflings. I really like shooting this rifle, and have already taken a deer with it.

I don't know about military 7.92X57JS accuracy, but I have both a 7X57mm and a 7.65mm military Mauser, and both will come very close to 1 MOA. However, I don't believe they received much use in their respective armies (Venezuela and Argentina).

Go to www.Mitchellsales.com and look at his M48's, they are nice and you can buy M48 barrelled actions ready for sporterizing, pretty good pricing as well

I really don't think you can go wrong with either a VZ-24 or a Yugo M48.

I have a K98 that will shoot 2/3" groups with a 185gr Corelock at 2650fps.

I would go with a Persian 98/29 available now for about $200. They were made at the czech factory during the 20's and 30's.

About 10 years ago I had a good friend who was a Mauser nut to say the least. On more than one occasion I saw him shoot 1/2" 3 shot groups at 200yds with an issue Venezuelan 98. Yes, I was impressed!
He and agroup of friends used to practice off hand 200 yd shooting with Win 94's and cast bullets at 12" square steel plates. They could ring them by the hour. Open or peep sights only. After he died the gun dealer that dispersed his collection told me that George's 94 found it's way into his closet.

A good long throated 8x57 with a magazine box to match the chamber is in effect a 8mm/06 balistically....My Commercial Brno mod. 21 will duplicate any 8mm/06 load easily and is superbly accurate. I can seat a 250 gr. Woodligh way out there to nearly touching the lands and get some awsome velocity...Just depends how you set them up when you build them...