That attached photo is a 8x57-JS Mauser 98 smuggled out of Poland, sans furniture, in the early 1980's. A friend gave it to me, said that her grandfather, a mid-grade Polish Cavalry Officer, took it from a German sniper during the Warsaw uprising in August 1944, after he killed the sniper with his bare hands. She had the rifle gussied up with a new stock, otherwise the rifle is in near mint condition, all numbers match.
As result of the gift have done some research on the Mauser 98, and have found the most all "surplus" rifles have had the bolts mixed in storage, shipment and etc., many, many are unsafe even at the lowest chamber pressures. To add to the potential for mishap, the original 98 was .318 in dia. later .323 was adopted, or the JS. Careful inspection by a qualified gunsmith is in order before firing an unknown 98. Would not touch the Mitchells.
Fly: Agree. Greek Surplus is available, Olympic as i recall, something on the order of 40C a round. Would never use that crap. I reload my own, when I can get 150 grain bullets, I load with 51 grains of IMR 4064 smokeless, figure that give me about 3,000 FPS mzl vel. Otherwise I use 170 grain bullets 49 grains IMR 4064 load giving about 2750 fps. Very accurate weapon. Smooth as silk
As result of the gift have done some research on the Mauser 98, and have found the most all "surplus" rifles have had the bolts mixed in storage, shipment and etc., many, many are unsafe even at the lowest chamber pressures. To add to the potential for mishap, the original 98 was .318 in dia. later .323 was adopted, or the JS. Careful inspection by a qualified gunsmith is in order before firing an unknown 98. Would not touch the Mitchells.
Fly: Agree. Greek Surplus is available, Olympic as i recall, something on the order of 40C a round. Would never use that crap. I reload my own, when I can get 150 grain bullets, I load with 51 grains of IMR 4064 smokeless, figure that give me about 3,000 FPS mzl vel. Otherwise I use 170 grain bullets 49 grains IMR 4064 load giving about 2750 fps. Very accurate weapon. Smooth as silk
