Mauser models difference

Rockydoc

Rockydoc

Well-Known Member
When you think of cars, later models tend to be better than older models of the same brand. I have tended to think the same of Mauser models, 93, 95, 96, 98 etc, with each succeeding model being “better” than the last. I am beginning to get the idea that I am thinking that way due to ignorance. It may be that different models are just that, different.

Would someone please explain the differences between the different Mauser models.
 
L Ross

L Ross

Well-Known Member
Oh, cock on closing, fewer locking lugs, lower PSI capability on the non 98's. Mostly irrelevant. Oh, harder to get after markets parts than the more "desirable" 98's.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
No, there are still only 2 locking lugs on a '98, same as on anything from '93 forward. I can't recall if the '91s had 2 lugs or not. The difference is the 98's have a non bearing "safety lug" and different gas handling. And if we want to count lugs, the pre-98's have 3 and the 98's and after 4 since some folks count the bolt handle root, but only the bolt lugs are intended to bear pressure. As far as "lower PSI capability", ehhhhhhh! Consider the '95, '96 and '98 were all made concurrently in the same factories, some sources say along with '91's and '93's. Do we really think they used different material for the actions? I don't. Yes, to a degree a 98 might have more ability to stand an overload, but none of them were made to be abused. I personally don't think any of them are "safer" with oveloads than any other. Ackley and others have done the "test to destruction" stuff. The info is out there. I think the tale of 98's being massively "safer" than earlier models is right there with low numbered Springfields and Ross's killing multitudes of people. I've yet to see any documented proof anyone actually had a bolt fly through their head!

Cock on closing is a Ginger or Mary Ann or "who cares?" thing. For some it's preferred, for others hated and for a lot of us, who cares as long as it goes bang?!

Been through this discussion a buncha times before. The pre-98's have a couple of points going for them but the 98's and after are generally a bit more desirable. For most of us I doubt any of it matters much if the rifle is in decent shape. I'm happy with all of them, the more the merrier!!!
 
Missionary

Missionary

Well-Known Member
Well written Brad. I have seen few Mausers I thought were waiting to blowup someone.
Down here many 87 Mausers that were 7.65x53 are still re-cut to 308.
 
RBHarter

RBHarter

West Central AR
The big changes were from the small ring to large ring and not only how the case failure gas was handled but where it went .

The big problem looking at any particular one and saying this is a 9? is that they were made by like 80 licensed producers and liberties were taken by some more than others . See the Turk 98s for barrel examples and the 95s built in the same plants and runs with the 98s . There were square bolt 93s and 95s . 95,96,&98s can be found with and without the dual gas ports in the front ring and bolt ports . The 96' Swedes are almost their own rifle .
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
RBHarter said:
The big changes were from the small ring to large ring and not only how the case failure gas was handled but where it went .

The big problem looking at any particular one and saying this is a 9? is that they were made by like 80 licensed producers and liberties were taken by some more than others . See the Turk 98s for barrel examples and the 95s built in the same plants and runs with the 98s . There were square bolt 93s and 95s . 95,96,&98s can be found with and without the dual gas ports in the front ring and bolt ports . The 96' Swedes are almost their own rifle .
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And darn nice ones! A lot of those were made into 22-250's and sold commercially. In theory they should be "unsafe", but I've yet to read a story about some guy eating a bolt that flew out of a 96!

True enough on the "liberties were taken". But it's not like any of these are very late war 7.7 Ariskas made of cast. I think looking at each rifle as an individual is the best bet. I've seen a couple of big name US made commercial rifles I wasn't all too sure I'd take a chance on firing. There are surely unsafe Mausers, but as a breed they are all pretty good stuff. Of course, so are Enfields, SMLEs, Arisakas, etc.
 
462

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Then, there were the intermediate size actions -- FN's Model 24, the Yugos 24/47, 48, 48A, 52C, and their non-marked, BO export model.
 
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Dimner

Dimner

Named Man
I like the cock on close for hunting and the cock on open for range work. The cock on close just makes me feel nostalgic and happy I'm using something old.

However I do like the the later invention of a bent bolt. Not just for the sake of scopes, but so I can see down my sights as the bolt is open. When shooting I like the bolt open for cooling the barrel, but also like staying the the shooting position looking down the sights.
.

Of the mauser variants, I own a turkish, swede, chilean, 1903a4, type 99 and previously a k98 that was sporterized by voere Austria. So not as many as alot of you on the board here. I like them all in their own different ways. Hard to pick which is best.

I'd say the 1903a4 at the range.
The arisaka for hunting
The swede for one that is amazing at everything.
 
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R

richhodg66

Well-Known Member
I saw a nicely sporterized Arisaka the other day I have been trying to resist the urge to go back and buy. Hard to believe an Arisaka could look so nice.

I have become rather found of the small ring Mausers the past few years, a '98 just feels Godawful heavy and clunky nowadays.
 
Dimner

Dimner

Named Man
richhodg66 said:
I saw a nicely sporterized Arisaka the other day I have been trying to resist the urge to go back and buy. Hard to believe an Arisaka could look so nice.

I have become rather found of the small ring Mausers the past few years, a '98 just feels Godawful heavy and clunky nowadays.
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A real sporterized arisaka is high on my want list someday!
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
RBHarter said:
By liberties I meant mixing particulars from one model to the next .
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Gotcha. I thought you meant the finish and how some carried much cruder metal work, especially in the feed system than others. I have a $39.00 Turk that I'm going to do something with some day. Part of me wants to do a 7.62x39 and part wants a 45ACP. A third part says find a surplus 7x57 barrel and make weather proof tractor gun...like I NEED another tractor gun! ;)
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
RBHarter said:
By liberties I meant mixing particulars from one model to the next .
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I will try to remember to get a pic of my Mannlicher-ed Arisaka. It's one of the homeliest rifles you ever saw, while somehow being just so slim and trim and "right". I found the safety, which everyone gripes about, to be easily activated with my thumb with my hand on the pistol grip. Not sure if the spring has been lightened, but it works sweet. And it only weighs around 6 lbs!
 
Rick H

Rick H

Well-Known Member
As much as I like the concept of Mauser rifles, especially the availability of all those surplus rifles at decent prices years ago......they all had/have a fatal flaw. The bolt handle is on the wrong side. They just are not southpaw friendly.
 
R

richhodg66

Well-Known Member
There was a guy on the old handloads.com site who used to hunt with a real nicely sporterized one with the full stock which someone had rechambered to the 6.5x.257 Roberts chambering some war bring backs were converted to. Nice looking rifle and it apparently accounted for a lot of deer for him.

I want an Arisaka, but I kind of want one in full, unmolested military condition, but I have to admit I was tempted to pick the one I saw the other day up.
 
JonB

JonB

Halcyon member
Yep, an Arisaka can be prettied up.
Pictured below, my Custom type 38 (257Rx6.5 as stamped on the barrel).
Two things about this particular gun. The groove diameter of the barrel is .2685 and whoever cut (recut?) the chamber has the headspace right on spec, so the typical molds that are available for oversized bullets, typically have a over sized nose to fill the worn throat of a old war horse, which in turn, won't fit this gun. After buying 5 different molds, I finally found one design that worked. NOE's copy of the Lyman's loverin 266469 (NOE 270-149 RN ...and I think it's now called 270-151 RN). There is more than enough taper in the nose to achieve a good seating depth for my gun.

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Dimner

Dimner

Named Man
I have always been drawn to a mannlicher. I prefer them when they are done week.

JonB, that arisaka looks mighty nice. Very nice indeed.

I think milsurp sporters are my favorite type of rifles.
 
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