I have been thinking about customizing a military mauser 98 for a long time and reading the content on this website is just fueling the fire. All I know about Mauser 98's is that it is the best bolt action ever made and not much more.

I have been looking at different websites for available military actions and have found a few but I don't know which one to choose. I am asking the experts on this site for help.

Available actions are

1) German K98
2) Yugo 24/47
3) Persian 98/29

I assume the numbers 47 and 29 in the model numbers are the year of manufacture?

I am thinking about chambering in .30-06 or .270. From the above mentioned actions, which one would you choose and why?

Keep in mind that the persian is about twice the price of Yugo and K98 so if I choose the later, I can buy two actions, one for now and one for a future project. (atleast I am realistic that once I get into this, I'll be craving for more)

I am not an expert, but I can tell you that almost all military 98s were originally chambered for either 7 x 57 of 8 x 57. As such, the 270 and 30-06 are a bit long for the action without a little bit of tinkering. And the Yugo is shorter than the standard 98 so I don't think you would want to put a 270 or 30-06 into that action.

If you really want a military 98, then the best you could do would probably be a 1935 Chilean or a 1935 Brazilian. both made by Mauser Oberndorf. Next in line might be a VZ 24 in good condition made at the BRNO factory is the Czek Republic. Then, you might consider a 1909 Argentine made in DWM in Berlin or a 1908 Brazilian made at the same factory. Another good action is the 1909 Peruvian, which was made by Mauser Oberndorf.

Have any action you choose checked for lug setback and go with the recommendations of a good smith as to whether it should be recarburized.

If you want to save a few bucks, look for a commercial actioin such as an FN or a Mark X.

Thank you for your response.

Aren't Persian 98 and VZ 24 made to same specs and measurements? I always thought you could do 06 length cartridges on Persian 98's without much work.

Most Persian mausers available in the market are in new or as new condition since they never saw any wartime work.

May I ask what the asking price is for the 3 actions you mentioned.

Harris

Certainly, any 98 can be used for a 30-06 or a 270. If you will recall, I said "with a little bit of tinkering". More than likely the action will be okay, but the magazine box will be a bit short, and of course if you lengthen the magazine box then you will have to open up the mortise in the action so that the cartriges will feed properly, and then you may have to change the angle of the feed ramp as well. 98 actions have been used extensively for the Winchester Magnum calibers such as the 300 winnie, the 338 and the 458 winnie, and some have even gotten away with using them for the 404 Jeffrey and the like.

The question is, what are you going to use the rifle for. If all you want is a deer gun, then I don't see how you could beat a 7 x 57 in a 98 action. good bullets and keep your shots under 300 yards and away you go!!!! I think you could even get by with using the little seven for elk if you used a really good bullet and kept the distance of your shots reasonable.

Otherwise, with a few bucks, a 98 can be turned into a real nice .338 winniemag. David Miller made many of them on reworked 1909 argentines.

yugo
358 winchester
no problems on feeding

jeffe

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 22WRF:
Harris
"More than likely the action will be okay, but the magazine box will be a bit short, and of course if you lengthen the magazine box then you will have to open up the mortise in the action so that the cartriges will feed properly, and then you may have to change the angle of the feed ramp as well."


To make standard M-98 bottom metal fit a 3.340 length cartridge all that is necessary is a new file and 30 minites of elbo grease. Remove more from the rear of mag well than the front. I don't recall the amount .050 or .060? Match the edge of the ramp to the new box length .020 or .030? Keep the back corners square!! All is good!!

Hey Jeffe, .376 Steyr on a 24-47 or a m-48?

I converted a millitary 98 to 30-06 and the only modifications I had to do to make it feed was change the bottom metal to a commercial hinged floorplate type. Worked and feeds perfectly. I used the numrich $60 version and polished it up, reblued with the action and it is great.