My experience with my 8mm mauser

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

So I'd like to start with saying this, previous to this project I didn't know much about the mauser and all of the 98k variants. Nor have I done any sort of "build". That being said. I recently picked up a Spanish m43 8mm mauser. It had the full military stock with the slide iron sights, all in really really good shape in comparison with a majority of the mausers I've seen online. I'll make a new post for all the different steps I did with pictures.

First thing I did was put a scope on itView attachment 1320987

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

Next thing I wanted to do was sporterize it. So I ordered the heritage stock from Brownell's. I'll never order from them again. The stock came unfinished, i wanted to make it look great myself. But the stock had tons of fitment issues. The barrel channel wasn't machined at all. So I had to do that as well. Not one part of this stock fit when I got it. (More on this later)

I finally got it all put together and I thought it looked great. I burnt the woodgrain with a torch and stained it barn red with poly clear coat.

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

Next, in thinking it was the end of my little project I went out to test fire it. I ran about 5 shots through it and then the stock split in a couple spots on the grip. Now my assumption is, that because of all the fitment issues things fit tightly and probably put stress on certain spots that shouldn't have.

I contacted Brownell's and sent it back. But because I opened the barrel channel and modified a few spots to make everything fit, which I had no choice but to do, they wouldn't offer a new stock or refund. Ok,whatever. I'll get one that fits better somewhere else.

 

[Ggmac]

you should have had some insight on how to fit a stock .
you took a fairly valuable military piece and devalued it , there are literally hundreds or even thousands of sporterized mausers in need of a new owner .
many books have been written on sporterizing a military rifle and how to fit a sporter stock . Brownells is and has been a reputable supplier for generations.
plenty of knowledge out there , learning the hardway can be dangerous and very expensive.
Gary MacDonald

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

Next I found a beautiful looking stock from Boyd's that I wanted. But I wasn't paying around about getting the right stock. This is where I landed the most about the mauser.

I didn't realize that there were so many different types of mauser, large ring small ring etc. Through days or research and a list of measurements provided by Boyds.com, I could came to the conclusion that I had a large ring mauser (I DID order the correct stock from Brownell's btw)

So I got my new classic nutmeg stock from Boyd's. It came and every part fit perfectly except where the rear iron sight was that I chose to keep. I had to open that section up just a little and I knew I would have to when I ordered it.

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

you should have had some insight on how to fit a stock .
you took a fairly valuable military piece and devalued it , there are literally hundreds or even thousands of sporterized mausers in need of a new owner .
many books have been written on sporterizing a military rifle and how to fit a sporter stock . Brownells is and has been a reputable supplier for generations.
plenty of knowledge out there , learning the hardway can be dangerous and very expensive.
Gary MacDonald

Obviously I wasn't sure of what I was getting into. And personally I don't care if I devalued it. It's mine, I'm not selling it. And this is what I wanted. Also, I never said Brownell's wasn't reputable. All I said is that they didn't offer a solution and that I was fine with that.

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

All in all, there was a huge learning curve and in the end I was happy with the results. I realize some people think it's awful to demilitarize these. If you don't like what I did there's other threads to read. I just wanted to share my experience with this project.

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

Obviously I wasn't sure of what I was getting into. And personally I don't care if I devalued it. It's mine, I'm not selling it. And this is what I wanted. Also, I never said Brownell's wasn't reputable. All I said is that they didn't offer a solution and that I was fine with that.

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

They aren't all that valuable either. You can get mausers all day for 200 bucks. Which is what I paid. And after seeing a couple pics after I was finished, the guy that sold it to me offered 600 to buy it back. So the devalued comment is more of an opinion. And it's not like I couldn't put the old stock back on.

 

[Ggmac]

just trying to help , it may not seem like it but going blindly into the fog only leads to a sinking vessel . It is yours , you have proudly bolted to pieces together, after a large fail . If you want to learn , revisit your first stock , repair the wrist , glass bed , and truly start your venture into the world of mausers and hopefully gunsmithing . Your first stock is a good light weight walnut sporter , you did alot of work on it , Ive ordered dozens of them , they can be made very nice . You could learn to checker the stock .
Ive got many books to recommend, if you’re truly interested.

 

[Ggmac]

They aren't all that valuable either. You can get mausers all day for 200 bucks. Which is what I paid. And after seeing a couple pics after I was finished, the guy that sold it to me offered 600 to buy it back. So the devalued comment is more of an opinion. And it's not like I couldn't put the old stock back on.

You should of sold it ! Ive got a few hundred , make that nearly 8 hundred that Id gladly sell for $600 and they arent spanish !

 

[Ggmac]

If you cant take some constructive criticism from a guy who’s been doing this his entire life , you will not learn ! Please be safe , the spanish mausers are hit or miss when it comes to strength, lug setback can become a problem. .

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

You should of sold it ! Ive got a few hundred , make that nearly 8 hundred that Id gladly sell for $600 and they arent spanish !

I'm not interested in selling. But thanks.

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

just trying to help , it may not seem like it but going blindly into the fog only leads to a sinking vessel . It is yours , you have proudly bolted to pieces together, after a large fail . If you want to learn , revisit your first stock , repair the wrist , glass bed , and truly start your venture into the world of mausers and hopefully gunsmithing . Your first stock is a good light weight walnut sporter , you did alot of work on it , Ive ordered dozens of them , they can be made very nice . You could learn to checker the stock .
Ive got many books to recommend, if you’re truly interested.

That sounds great! What books? And I'm sorry if I came off a little abrasive. It just seemed like the first comment I got was negative.
I've been doing some light reading on glass bedding and wouldn't mind taking a Crack at it with my old stock. Any advice?

 

[Ggmac]

All in all, there was a huge learning curve and in the end I was happy with the results. I realize some people think it's awful to demilitarize these. If you don't like what I did there's other threads to read. I just wanted to share my experience with this project.View attachment 1320996View attachment 1320997View attachment 1320998View attachment 1320999View attachment 1321000

Sorry but in the real world, not every one that enters the contest wins the prize!

 

[Ggmac]

That sounds great! What books? And I'm sorry if I came off a little abrasive. It just seemed like the first comment I got was negative.
I've been doing some light reading on glass bedding and wouldn't mind taking a Crack at it with my old stock. Any advice?

I will get a list together ! Great to have some new blood interested in old mausers . Im sorry also , old man without coffee , someday you’ll understand.

 

[Iheart2ndAmendment]

I will get a list together ! Great to have some new blood interested in old mausers . Im sorry also , old man without coffee , someday you’ll understand.

Thank you

 

[Ggmac]

Here is just a quick picture of books , the NRA has a great one also .

 

[Fuj]

Ahh, the days when you could walk into a shop and pick
and choose a surplus 98 for 35 bucks. And Carcano's
for 25 bucks. And the crown jewel was finding a Jap
rifle that did not have the chrysanthemum ground off.

 

[Ggmac]

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