Posted on 03/28/2016 9:26:09 AM PDT by w1n1
"I'll take a semiautomatic rifle any day of the week over a boltaction, and twice on Sunday." That's what my husband told me when I confessed my love of the Mauser M98 bolt-action. A discussion ensued, and we were not talking hunting – we were discussing war. Our passion for rifles and history often leads to a great deal of research and conversation. Neither of us has served in the military, but the conversation thankfully extends beyond the theoretics of our living room to those who have first-hand experience to tell it how it is, or was. Speaking with veterans is an opportunity neither of us will ever turn down. Our veterans, after all, are our heroes.
Battle rifles deserve a comparison that includes details of their intended purpose and the battle strategy for implementing that purpose. After all, isn’t a perfect rifle one that reliably performs as it was intended in an effective and efficient manner?
THE GERMAN MAUSER KARABINER 98 KURZ, or K98k, is a true phoenix from the ashes of WWI, and despite the challenges faced by its creators, it fulfilled its purpose during WWII, is respected by gun enthusiasts around the world and has served as a stable platform for the development of modern rifles for almost 100 years.
American military planners studied the effectiveness of bolt-action repeating rifles, and concluded there was a need to develop a semiautomatic infantry rifle. The Germans, on the other hand, were saddled with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The signing of the treaty on June 28, 1919, not only officially ended World War I, but restricted the German army to 100,000 men and forbade the country from producing military weaponry.
Like a Porsche, the K98k is German perfection in design and engineering, and carries this ideal through multiple features, but its heart and soul is its Mauser M98 action. Why is the Mauser action so much better than other bolt-action systems? It exemplifies two words: strength and reliability.
Read the rest of the Mauser Karabiner 98 story here.
Here’s Alex Kincaid on FoxNews less than two weeks ago: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4800640873001/alleged-isis-supporter-stands-trial-in-arizona/?playlist_id=930909808001#sp=show-clips
I was lucky enough to obtain a WWII pickup of a K98K that is positively cherry and original made in the Mauser Oberndorf factory in 1934/35 that has no Nazi markings. Excellent specimen with the right wear and aging of a champion.
Every metal part on it is serialized and they match completely.
I even bought a compendium that details the weapon made in that factory completely.
It is one of my most prized battle rifles.
Mr. Megan has a K98K that has the scope with it...and the scope and the rifle have the same serial numbers. He never uses it.
Myself, I have my Remington 700 SPS .308 and I like it a lot more than the Ar-15. I can kill coyotes out to 1,000 yards with the 700 and the Ar-15 is good out to around 400 yards.
I have a K98K marked DOU 44.Even at that late stage of the war the quality remained about the same.Shoots really well with cast bullets and jacketed.
If you're a novice, have unlimited ammo, and only want your enemy to keep his head down, go full auto.
For precision and economy of valuable cartridges, bolt-action is better (assuming there's only one target, and you can hit it in one shot).
Semi-auto falls in between the two extremes
I agree. A trained sniper that plans on shooting nothing closer than 1000 meters is going to want the bolt action. Even if the choice is between an AR-10 chambered in .308 vs. a Remington 700 chambered in the same caliber.
Do you know if it has a true laminated stock? Those are the early ones. Also, the earlier ones can be differentiated from later ones on whether their butt stock plates are flatter profile (early) or cupped and formed (later).
I think it is a solid wood stock. Steve has called it ‘cheap’ in the past but he says so with a hint of admiration.
Also happy that they never had the BAR or that workhorse of killing, the .50 caliber M2.
Made it easier to beat them.
I have a lot of Mausers, from the GEW 1871 through the myriad contract rifles and the K98. I like them. They are sound, solid shooters. That said, I’d take a Garand over the K98 every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I would also take a Garand over my G43.
The K98s primary role was to support the MG42.
The Germans also fielded a good sub-machine gun in the MP38/40, so there were better alternatives to the K98 in house to house fighting. On the Eastern front, Germans were fond of captured Russian PPSh-41s and SVTs.
FYI, your rifle was made at Waffen Werke Brunn, Bystrica, circa 1944/45, part of 29,712 rifles.
:0)
Page 267, “Backbone of the Wermacht, the German K98K Rifle 1934-1945, Richard D. Law,
Thanks, regardless, any good condition K98K is a treasure to me. :0)
No doubt, the best mass produced bolt action rifle made during that time period, if you don’t count the K-31.
I own a 98k (Mauser/Oberndorf,Wa42,1940) captured by Norway and re-arsenaled to shoot .30-06.
It has more heft and a smoother action than my Remington 03A3, but is not quite as accurate with the Greek HXP I shoot.
The Norwegians used these as Home Guard rifles for some years before they hit the market.
Some are still in use as polar bear protection in Norway’s Arctic islands.
I had a friend in Alaska whose grandfather brought home a straight-bolt M98 from WWI that was roll-marked 1915 on the forward receiver ring. It had been bastardized with the installation of a cheesy-looking gloss-finish Monte-Carlo stock. The barrel was 29” long and stepped in diameter to the muzzle. Barleycorn front sight and a machined tangent rear sight graduated to 2000 meters that was a work of art. I bet it took a machinist hours to cut the pieces for that rear sight. We used to plink at ponds on the Palmer Hay Flats behind my house at 1300 and 1500 meters respectively using surplus 8mm Mauser ammo. Amazing rifle!
Thanks.My most unusual M98 is a Persian carbine in 8mm.Short 17.5 inch barrel,it’s LOUD.
The only other Mauser I have is a 1909 Mauser Argentino Modelo made in Berlin. A 7.65mm bore (shoots 7.65 Argentine) and I don’t think it was ever fired personally.
I own an Argentine Mauser version of the rifle. Good shooter !
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