Does anyone have any experience with the new Mauser M98 magnum?

http://www.mauser.com/en/products/m98/m98magnum/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1W3a1UgsxE

I've heard suggested retail price is 12,500 USD. Any thoughts on price vs value? For comparison, the new big game Rigby retails for 13,500 USD. Based on pictures, the new M98 magnum looks a bit slimmer. The M98 is in fact a tad lighter, and has a slightly longer LOP than the Rigby - which suits me fine.

I've handled the new Rigby when visiting London recently, that rifle felt great! Hopefully I will have the change to take a look at the new M98 magnum.

My interest in big bores has mainly been related to double rifles, but these Mausers (both Rigby and the M98) have made me question my path... being able to shoot different bullet weights without the concerns of barrel regulation for instance.

I'd send the extra Gand and get the Rigby...it will have better resale. If I could pick up the Mauser sub-10K then I would take the Mauser...

Ed

With these classic big bores I am a sucker for nostalgia.

I find the M98 magnum in the link website a bit too modern. Nice wood but lacking the classic look. Why the white finish on the bolt & bolt handle?

I definitely prefer the classic look of the Rigby. I just love the red tinge (Alkanet root) of the wood that brings out the real contrast in the mineral streaks.

Rigby is partially owned by the same group that owns the name Mauser, and I believe they use actions made by Gottfried Prechtl for both brands and the difference is just in styling.

Rifle magazine was wanting one of us writers to test one for a feature review and I looked at them at SCI and decided I was not to interested in review, expecially if it entailed having to carry it for mile. It was way too heavy for any caliber under the 458 Lott.
For even money my personal preference would be the Heym/Martini. And I think they are actually cheaper

OR take the money and have Lon Paul or some other quality custom gunsmith build you a rifle to your exact specifications and fit.

Mark

Lon does make some exquisite rifles, for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by BrownMax:
Does anyone have any experience with the new Mauser M98 magnum?

http://www.mauser.com/en/products/m98/m98magnum/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1W3a1UgsxE

I've heard suggested retail price is 12,500 USD. Any thoughts on price vs value? For comparison, the new big game Rigby retails for 13,500 USD. Based on pictures, the new M98 magnum looks a bit slimmer. The M98 is in fact a tad lighter, and has a slightly longer LOP than the Rigby - which suits me fine.

I've handled the new Rigby when visiting London recently, that rifle felt great! Hopefully I will have the change to take a look at the new M98 magnum.

My interest in big bores has mainly been related to double rifles, but these Mausers (both Rigby and the M98) have made me question my path... being able to shoot different bullet weights without the concerns of barrel regulation for instance.

The Mauser M98 Magnum is not all bad!

Rifle Loony me purchased one from Cabela's in 2004 for only 5500 USD.
It was made in 2000 AD and languished at the Sidney, Nebraska original Cabela's store until I drove by incidentally on a road trip and impulse purchased it on sight.
They wanted 5995 for it but I offered 5500 because there was one little scratch on the barrel, from sitting in the Gun Library too long.
They took it.
I took it.

Mine is the basic model with uncut square bridges and an original "Mauser Flag" safety, no "Winchester Wing" on mine.
One fixed rear sight leaf, a flat top with a U notch to fit a big gold bead.
Ruggedly perfect functionality for what it is best at.

It holds 4 down in the box and feeds perfectly.
9.5 pounds and 24.5" barrel of 1:14" twist.
450 Dakota Chambering.
Iron sights only is how it must stay.
A DGR to hold its own amongst the double rifles ... and then some.

Mr. Prechtl himself signed the test target that came with the rifle completed in May 2000, built with a Prechtl action:

Above is the 500-grain Woodleigh, 50-meter test target from the factory.

Here is the 450-grain North Fork, 50-yard test target that was not shot with a machine rest:

OOH!

Look at at that 99.0 grain load!
Standard deviation of ZERO!!!

The rifle was factory "zeroed" at 50 meters for 500-grainers at about 2400 fps.
450-grainers at 2200 to 2600 fps will shoot into the same full-choke pattern at 50 yards.



I am going to have to get some Weaver scope bases screwed and epoxied onto those square bridges if I want to have more flexibility in loading.
Might have to go with extra high rings to clear that Mauser Flag safety, maybe some see-through rings ...

The New Rigby "For Big Game," cell phone photos from DSC 2014, one square bridge and one round:
It is a Mauser speaking English, like Arnold Schwarzenegger.






Basic model and fancier models available from both makers.

Do they all use the same Prechtl action from Germany?

English scope mounts on the Rigby:

Two different types of front sight attachment methods on Rigby rifles?

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
Rifle magazine was wanting one of us writers to test one for a feature review and I looked at them at SCI and decided I was not to interested in review, expecially if it entailed having to carry it for mile. It was way too heavy for any caliber under the 458 Lott.
For even money my personal preference would be the Heym/Martini. And I think they are actually cheaper

I disagree with you concerning rifle weight. 10 lbs is a pretty standard recommendation for 416 types of rifles. In my opinion this should be OK to carry, and certainly longer than a mile… but this belongs to another tread.

It would be interesting to hear if anyone has any field experience with either the new Rigby Big Game model or the new Mauser M98 magnum.

I've shot the new Rigby Big Game extensively. The actions are made in Germany by Mauser themselves in a new purpose-built plant these days, I'm told. The earlier Mauser rifles were made by Prechtl but that has changed, and the Mauser and Big Game now share virtually identical barrelled actions with slightly different sights and a few other subtle differences.

The Big Game is a nice rifle. The stock design is excellent and the ones I played with functioned perfectly. They changed the standard stock finish recently, which is a big improvement.

The Mauser is a fine rifle as well but I would go for the Rigby for the simple reason that you can have your name written in the records and that it should hold its value a bit better over time.

The top-grade London Best Rigby is a different beast altogether and features hand finishing, British-style scope mounts and all the bells and whistles that an individual customer may require.

jvw's comment about the Rigby vrs Mauser resale was certainly true when Rigby and Mauser were completely different companies in separate countries. Even though the action and often barrels came directly from Mauser.

And my comment about rifle weight was a personal opinion. but I think a 10 pound unloaded and unscoped 375 H&H is a tad on the heavy side. So is that weight on a 416 unless you plan on only using it in Africa and unscoped. With the heavy mounts and large scopes most hunters want to put on these new Mausers a rifle ready to go will weigh in well over 12 pounds! That is a heavy 375 !

I asked the help at the Mauser booth why the 375 H&H rifles weighed so much and their answer was "because it's a heavy rifle"
Mauser seems to be doing the same thing that Winchester did with the M-70, use the same barrel diameter for all the larger calibers.

Such beautiful rifles.

To be honest, I would choose neither. I think they are both bulkier than they need to be. Now, the "pre-war pattern" .416 that Rigby makes...THAT is sweet...but starts at 30K USD I believe. The cheaper model is not so Rigby-ish in my mind and the Mauser is not much better. If I didn't have 30K to spend, I think I would give a long look to either a Custom Wiebe or a Heym.

I am no big bore expert. Just owned a CZ 416 Rigby.

I found mine was 9 lbs with scope and just the right weight to handle the 416 Rigby recoil. My 9.3X62 with scope is a tad under 8.5 lbs scoped and that is a very well balanced rifle that feels lighter than the scales say.

I would consider a scoped 375 H&H even at 9 lbs to be a bit on the heavy side.

I handled a 404 Jeffery Mauser that was 9.5 lbs with open / peep sights and I found it too heavy.

I played with an original 404J, circa 1907, that weighed approximately 8 lbs. Balanced beautifully and felt perfect! Withought a scope though.

Used to own a 450/400 3.25" single shot, weighed around 8.5 lbs, perfectly balanced and fit me well, just sort of pushed you back when you fired it...many shotguns I have used have hurt me significantly more, this rifle just shoved you back a bit!

I handled an original "pre-war" era Rigby .416 Rigby in Botswana in 2001.
It belonged to PH Ronnie McFarlane, a gift from his PH Pop, on his 21rst birthday, a rite of passage marking kind of thing.
It weighed about 9.25 pounds and had the same weight, barrel length, and balance as a CZ 550 Magnum .416 Rigby in original Euro "Luxe" Hogback walnut: 9.25 pounds with no scope.
I think CZ did that copy on purpose and then for economy used the same barrel contour (about a no. 4 sporter, perfect for a .416) for their .375 and .458.

I think a dry, unloaded weight for an iron-sighted .416 Rigby is perfect at 9 to 9.5 pounds if well balanced, average 9.25 pounds is about perfect.

A CZ 550 Magnum .416 Rigby in the Kevlar stock (aka Bell & Carlson composite or "Aramid Composite")
will be just right (9.25 lbs) and can be customized and tuned up to be as good as either the Mauser or the Rigby.
It only lacks snob appeal.



The Ed Lapour safety and Timney trigger add some interest:



Reinforced front of magazine box is a must, and the full-metal-jacket bedding block/endoskeleton is a big plus:

quote:

Originally posted by Esskay:
I played with an original 404J, circa 1907, that weighed approximately 8 lbs. Balanced beautifully and felt perfect! Withought a scope though.

The original Jeffery 404's were a lot slimmer and lighter than the Rigby 416 as you can see in this photo


My Jeffery was delivered in Jan of 1907 and weighs 8 1/2 pounds and even with a steel butt plate is comfortable to shoot in the field.
That, and maybe price, may be the reason the 404 became so much more popular than the Rigby.

If the 404 Kynoch ammo had used solids as stoutly built and reliable as those for the Rigby, the 416 would most likely have been a small footnote in African history.

Wow, there's two that evaded the usual Rustoleum treatment, thank goodness :-)

rustoleum is just a special treatment I give my good guns

The Vickers Mauser made for Manton & Co. about 1925 was advertised in 404 Jeffery at 8.5 pounds on a standard Mauser 98.
The .416 Rigby they offered was 10.0 pounds, using a "Heavy Mauser" action, I presume was a magnum Mauser 98.
That is from the Manton's Centenary Price List, catalog of 1925: Rupees in Calcutta


Another 8.5 pounds of 404 Jeffery (without the scope), this one is a Winchester M70, delivered in May of 2004:

Now that looks like a serious using 404. I may have to paint this one to pretty it up next time Biebs comes up

Would rather have the Mauser than the Rigby and in 500 J not 416 or that 450 Dakota ,especially if i was looking at the Buffalo in the pic