Optics on a M24/52-c Mauser?

[Bully]

It looks like I'll be picking back up on this since I find myself with a bunch of time on my hands...

I have a (I believe) Yugo Mauser M24/52c. I'm looking at re-barreling it. I'm thinking .243 would be a nice way to go, but will make that determination in a bit. Rifle will go in to a new stock and will be used for eastern hardwood whitetail hunting.

My biggest issue is that I'd love to add an optic on the rifle and am looking for suggestions. Can I drill/tap for a scope mount? Do I need to figure out a scout type of set up?

Any suggestions for aftermarket stocks for this action?

Suggestions, pictures and anecdotes are welcome.

 

[butchlambert]

View attachment 1178748 It looks like I'll be picking back up on this since I find myself with a bunch of time on my hands...

I have a (I believe) Yugo Mauser M24/52c. I'm looking at re-barreling it. I'm thinking .243 would be a nice way to go, but will make that determination in a bit. Rifle will go in to a new stock and will be used for eastern hardwood whitetail hunting.

My biggest issue is that I'd love to add an optic on the rifle and am looking for suggestions. Can I drill/tap for a scope mount? Do I need to figure out a scout type of set up?

Any suggestions for aftermarket stocks for this action?

Suggestions, pictures and anecdotes are welcome.

Ain't nothing but money. A new Remington would be cheaper and more accurate. Receiver can be drilled and tapped.

 

[Bully]

Ain't nothing but money. A new Remington would be cheaper and more accurate. Receiver can be drilled and tapped.

Thank you sir. Any suggestions on rings to use? Or is it dealer's choice?

 

[drover]

Ain't nothing but money. A new Remington would be cheaper and more accurate. Receiver can be drilled and tapped.

Listen to what Butch has to say. You are starting down the road to a money pit when you start modifying your Mauser to a sporting rifle. Sell it to a Mauser fan and buy yourself a sporter. There are a lot of good shooting rifles available in the $300 - $400 range, you will have that much in the Mauser before it is even close to being ready to shoot.

drover

 

[Bully]

Listen to what Butch has to say. You are starting down the road to a money pit when you start modifying your Mauser to a sporting rifle. Sell it to a Mauser fan and buy yourself a sporter. There are a lot of good shooting rifles available in the $300 - $400 range, you will have that much in the Mauser before it is even close to being ready to shoot.

drover

I have the machines and am doing it as a project.

 

[Ggmac]

I have the machines and am doing it as a project.

Find a Redfield, leupold steel one piece base and Redfield rings . These are the kind that have WINDAGE adjustment on the rear ring . That should be an intermediate action ( fn-24 ) so get the appropriate base , drill tap and go for it . Expensive project . Turning a good military gun into a sporter , 30-40 yrs ago every one was doing it . Of course factory guns were expensive and Mausers were $20 . It would be best to trade that military gun for 2 sporters and go from there. Sporters at gunshows bring $75 to $150 depending on how bubba they are but you usually get a adjustable trigger , aftermarket barrel and stock , plus drilled and tapped and bolt handle bent .
Don't plan on bending the bolt handle , it'll end up kinda short. It's better to weld on a new one . Brownells has them . Also have the set up for drilling . Midway use to have the drilling jig but I think they dropped the less expensive one the good one is a forester and is pricey .
If it was a 48 yugo , they have a unique extractor cut in the barrel like the Winchester or Springfied but it's not necessary.
Yous should be conventional.
I've got dozens of new old stock barrels , I've got one ( I think ) 243 let weight .
I'd go old school , 257 Roberts or keep the original 8mm and go European MANNLICHER.
The 8mm is an excellent cartridge and accurate .

 

[Ggmac]

Just adding up the costs , rough idea .
Barrel $200
Reamer and gauge rental $70
Truing receiver mandrel $50 $30 if homemade
Drill and tap $100
Base and rings $65-75
Bolt handle and install $100 or self $60
Trigger $85
Stock $100-300
Bluing and polish $125 or $50 paint and bake
Receiver wrench $35 if homemade $65 if bought
Stoning , adjusting extractor , feeding alterations to shorter cartridge, lapping lugs or at least checking ( you don't want to lap to get 100 percent you could wear thru the case hardening) making a hinged floor plate , profiling trigger guard , and sights all are recommended and some are definitely needed.
Being a fn that was remarked , it could be soft . Have it tested for lug set back before you disassemble.
Yugo 24-47 were usually fn 24s that had the crest either removed and the communist crest applied or other that I can't remember . I do remember having dozens of lugs set back on the 24s.
Good luck .

 

[butchlambert]

Listen to Gary. I have several nice Mauser customs, but it takes a few thou to get them in shape. They are beautiful, but shoot no better than a good Savage or Rem. 700.
I do have a nice machine shop, but have no desire to try to build a $300+ Mauser because I have the tools.

 

[Stan Taylor]

I have to concur with @butchlambert. On this have done a ton of them back in the day just not cost effective today.

 

[Bully]

I would love to sell or trade this for almost anything else. I've posted it in the past with zero interest both here and locally. Hence me thinking about the project.

It's all apart and ready to be scrubbed of the cosmoline. Maybe I'll do that and see how I feel afterward. I don't have any love for the mil-surp stuff. So I really don't care about it from a "history" perspective and I really love the way the actions look. I figured I'd take something I'm not using and turn it in to something I will.

 

[Ggmac]

I would try walking around gun shows , waiting awhile as thousands were imported BUT prices are going up on them .
If you lived closer I've got a hundred or more of sporterized Mausers . Most with new barrels . I've had trouble selling them for $250-300 when I have almost $400-500 in parts .
I forgot to add the commercial bolt shroud $45
Clean it and enjoy shooting. They do make a no drill scope mount that works , not the cheap rear sight thingy . The no drill is a great alternative also they made a stock and scope set up for about $100 . It makes it look like a Steyr. I'll get the names for ya .

 

[Ggmac]

Think about it . It's almost akin to using a collectible coin to buy a bag of chips .

 

[tobnpr]

M24/52's have little true "collector" value (like M24/47's), they're refurbs of original M24's used in wartime and far as I know, never saw any action. Unlike the oddball M48 length action, they're true K98k length actions and IMO these actions might have a place where SA's are a bit too short on mag length- and a LA is more than what's needed.

In any case, not a cheap project but they can be fun to do. Likely no issues with lug setback (which can be a problem with Mausers due to the case hardening of the actions) as yours is a refurb, and probably never fired, but the action needs to be modified to accept ring mounts- and I didn't see it mentioned above- you also need to modify the cocking piece/safety to a Buehler/low profile, swing style to clear the scope.

 

[shortgrass]

Bolt handle, trigger, drilling and taping, a safety if you use a trigger without one, commercial bolt shroud if you use a trigger with a safety, bottom metal if you don't want to use the military issue, the sky is the limit when sporterizing a Mauser these days.

 

[Shawnba67]

Weaver makes a set of bases where you dont have to grind the clip bump, Ive got them in my 98 like em. Check ebay for bolts already modded for scope. Can a 7mm Mauser be cleaned up with a 280AI chamber?
Id bet a good crown and chamber that factory tube would be accurate enough to be fun.
I had an 8-06AI on a factory tube that was sub moa easily

 

[Bully]

Weaver makes a set of bases where you dont have to grind the clip bump, Ive got them in my 98 like em. Check ebay for bolts already modded for scope. Can a 7mm Mauser be cleaned up with a 280AI chamber?
Id bet a good crown and chamber that factory tube would be accurate enough to be fun.
I had an 8-06AI on a factory tube that was sub moa easily

It's an 8mm.
I think I'd rather sell or trade. Thank you for the tips though. Much appreciated.