Mauser 8mm or Arisaka 7.7mm

[jimmyraythomason]

A cheap plastic stock is another $100.

CDNN has them for $39.

Now, what do you have for your nearly $400 investment? A ten to eleven pound chopped up military rifle with a less than sterling two stage trigger pull.

It ain't about the money! Bold fully adjustable triggers with side safety run less than $40.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Deleted as irrelevant to thread.

 

[RickMD]

Bold fully adjustable triggers with side safety run less than $40.

OK. Then you're up to nearly $450 and still have a chopped up 11 pound Bubba rifle. Did you ever see or handle that $39 stock from CDNN? I have and it's a piece of crap.

I know, "It ain't about the money!" Like I said before, if you enjoy standing in the bathroom flushing hundred dollar bills down the toilet, you're going to love fixing up old military rifles. By the time you're done you could have bought a new Savage or a nice used Remington 700 or Winchester Model 70.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

you're going to love fixing up old military rifles

Why yes,yes I do and have immensely enjoyed it for the last 40 years.

By the time you're done you could have bought a new Savage or a nice used Remington 700 or Winchester Model 70.

Actually I do have these rifles plus Howa and Churchill Highlander. Guess what rifles get to go hunting or shooting and which ones get to chill out in the safe.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Did you ever see or handle that $39 stock from CDNN? I have and it's a piece of crap.

As is yes it leaves a lot to be desired BUT it can be made into a very workable stock with just a little work and material. The Great Stuff was about $10 at the hardware store and Acraglas was $14 from Brownell's.

 

[aka108]

I bought 4 nasty shot out cracked stocks non matching part numbered 98K's. Very cheap at the time. Then obtained new surplus barrels in 8mm, 30-06 and 308. Repaired the stocks, disgarded the handguards, kept the orig sights. Screwed on the new barrels cut the front of the stocks off and rounded them off. Kept one in 8mm and sold the rest for 175 bucks each. I had about 50 bucks in each rifle. Nice rifles for hunting in the N. Fl woods where most whitetail are taken at short ranges and if the rifle falls in the creek or gets banged up its no big deal.

 

[Papa_Woody]

I own plenty of scopes I just need a mount. The Mauser is never issued and the jap, well I think I am going with the Mauser. Clearing the bolt won't be an issue. I am not getting rid of either of them and if I go gun shopping it will be for a superior gun not a 400 dollar replacement for something I already have. What is with people automatically coming up with reasons why I should throw it away. I am not trying to sell either of them cause I won't get enough to outweigh the benefit of having a good strong rifle. A 20 dollar mount (again) is an acceptable investment on any gun. I am just trying to get some range out of one of them.

I am sorry that my firearms are less superior than yours. I'll get to addressing that here soon.

 

[RickMD]

I've never understood why people on these forums ask for an opinion and then get royally P.O.'d when the opinions offered don't mesh with their already predetermined intentions...

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I've never understood why people on these forums ask for an opinion and then get royally P.O.'d when the opinions offered don't mesh with their already predetermined intentions...

It's easy when the opinions offered don't answer the original question.

Mauser 8mm or Arisaka 7.7mm

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I've got both of these and I want to make one a hunter. The Mauser is actually a Yugoslav m48 and the Arisaka is on a funky stock. Neither have scopes only the m48 has iron sights (and a pig sticker woohoo! ). I have a couple questions for someone who knows these old girls pretty well.

Which is truly the better action?

Which round is more versatile in N. America? Since parting with my Savage .270 I have not had a scoped long range rifle. I frequent the entirety of this grand union frequently so versatility is a must.

Which is more practical to modify? The Arisaka is on what looks to be a sad attempt at sporterizing a stock already. Neither have a place really to put a weaver. Is there maybe a place to get a synthetic replacement?

Nowhere does the OP ask for an opinion of "should I" or "is it worth it" or "what do you think of sporterized mil-surps". He simply asked whick one is better to sporterize.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Update the Mauser.

Ammo is more available, as should be aftermarket stocks, etc.

The M48 is not collectible and has very little historical value.

I have one that I removed the top wood and installed a proper blade front sight that I filed to correctly regulate the sights... as it shot WAY high with the factory sights. The top wood being squeezed onto the barrel also caused some pretty atrocious groups.

I now have a robust hunting rifle that will ring steel gongs out to 400 yards, whereas before I had a very common and factory correct recoil machine that was almost worthless in the woods or on the range.

 

[RickMD]

Hey Jimmyray: He asked,

Which is more practical to modify?

The answer as far as I'm concerned is neither. You stated that money and resale wasn't an issue to you. Good for you. It is to most folks who read these boards.

I don't know how sophisticated the OP is, whether he just picked up several old military rifles, where he lives, or what and where he intends to hunt. Usually someone who needs to modify an old military rifle to be able to hunt doesn't have the "big bucks" like you. I've had more than a dozen of these things built and unless you're willing and able to spend in excess of a grand each you're not going to end up with much. Furthermore, the pictures of rifles you own don't even remotely depict anything close to what the guy wants to do with his and are totally irrelevant to the post.

The only reasonable alternative is to do like IndianaBoy and make them into iron sighted hunting rifles at little or no expense.

 

[Papa_Woody]

Now you make me sound like a rich snob. I'm just interested in which has the better action. Check thank you. Which had the more versatile ammo. Check on that 8mm. Been seeing it at Wally world plus my 2,785 of 8mm surplus ammo and so far local gun shows are the only place I have found 7.7jap. And finally which has a more readily available selection of parts/options etc. Found some interesting stuff in some of the links thanks very much.
One more thing; I keep saying Mauser but as I have stars it is an m48. Other than the obvious are there any real differences or will whatever fits the k98 fit the m48

 

[jimmyraythomason]

whatever fits the k98 fit the m48
__________________

No. The M48 is an intermediate action. You will need an M48 specific stock. It also has a shorter bolt but unless you are changing it (requiring the head space be check and possibly corrected). Other parts should interchange,triggers,low bolt safeties,etc...

 

[BrocLuno]

The 7.7 ammo is tough to find, but if you're willing to pay $50 a box Norma makes some excellent stuff.

There's a lot more 8x57JS and but keep in mind that the US made stuff is downloaded for obscure reasons. I believe you can find some non-corrosive SP from European makers for a semi-reasonable price.

I'd suggest forget the scope and just get some good 8x57JS soft point. Sight in your irons with a brass hammer and drift pin, find your zero and there you are. Ready to go. No reason for a scope at all unless your eyes are bad.

Not true. Just buy Prvi ammo from MrNambu at about $20 a box. Plenty of 7.7 if you know where to look.

I like the Arisaka, but I have 4 of them and only 1 Mauser. There are stocks and the original is pretty light when cut down - easy to tote. Williams make peeps that will fit. This ain't rocket science. The Arisaka is easy to field strip. Chamber is oversize, so your brass will fire form to that gun. 303 bullets are out there. Reloading is easy enough with simple Lee kit.

 

[451 Detonics]

If you're going to scope them it's just not a matter of buying mounts and rings. You're going to need a new safety installed as well. The stock military safety doesn't allow for the use of a low mounted scope. Then you're going to need to have the bolt handle turned down to clear the scope. By the way, you haven't mentioned the condition of the bore or whether you've checked the headspace. If the headspace is excessive you're going to need to have the barrel set back by a competent gunsmith. A scope isn't going to help much if the gun can't keep three shots on a pie plate at 100 yards.

Installing a new safety and turning down the bolt is going to cost you $100 (on a good day). A cheap plastic stock is another $100. Drilling and tapping for mounts $40. Low end mounts and rings $40. A cheap scope $100.

Now, what do you have for your nearly $400 investment? A ten to eleven pound chopped up military rifle with a less than sterling two stage trigger pull.

I have about $300 in the above Mauser in my post. If you shop around you can find deals, especially on places like gunbroker. My Mauser has a turned down bolt, low safety, Timney trigger, Tubbs Speed firing pin, Boyd Stock, and will shoot surplus into an 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards. And it weighs about 8 1/2 pounds with scope.

Sporterizing a military gun need not be expensive and it is a great way to end up with a very nice rifle for a bargain price, especially if you already own the base rifle.

 

[Storm]

My best advice is to go with the Mauser and get the scout mount that attaches to the rear sight. The old rear sight can be re-installed at any time to return the rifle to original condition if there comes a time that it suits you. Then, with the money that you will save by not shooting 7.7 get a nice extra eye relief scope (I really like my Nikon Monarch EER) and you will have a dandy rifle. I once bought a K98 with that type of mount, one made by B Square. I returned the rifle to original condition and sold the mount but it was rock solid.

BTW, your Mauser is already a fair amount shorter and lighter than a K98, so with the gun original with the scout mount you have a good start. Now that I think of it, XS Sight Systems also makes good no-gunsmithing mounts.

While I prefer my Yugo as is, it's your barbeque so do what makes you grin.

 

[Papa_Woody]

^^
Exactly the info I was searching for. Many many thanks it's been a huge help

 

[WardenWolf]

Arisaka ammo isn't THAT hard to find. Hornady makes the stuff, but it's not cheap. That said, if you reload, the action itself can handle nuclear loads. Tests proved the Arisaka 99 action to be stronger than any German Mauser. Mauser ammo is a lot easier to find, though. My honest opinion: buy yourself an already-modified Mauser and don't mess up a historical piece.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Tests proved the Arisaka 99 action to be stronger than any German Mauser.

A Mauser is strong enough to handle even the most powerful rifle rounds. The fact that the Arisaka is stronger doesn't matter much.

don't mess up a historical piece.

An M48 is not historical in the least.

 

[vellocet]

Post#18. Do the Mauser. Not the Arisaka. There is no rational reason for you to do the Arisaka, except to maybe buzz your hunting buddies. And remember, you should check, does that rifle have a chrome-lined barrel? Many of the 7.7 do, and that might affect accuracy.

 

[ray r]

take your pick

done right either one can be a shooter and then some .r.r.

 

[22250Rem]

Either one could work; but I'd go with the Mauser and here's why: Back in 1997 I picked up a WWII K98 as partial trade on a Garand. It had been rebuilt by Yugoslavia after the war; German markings ground off, etc. It was rebarrelled but was still 8x57. Turned out to be a great shooter. 8mm Mauser is a wonderful thing to handload. A few years ago it got a Leupold Scout Scope in an S&K no-gunsmithing mount. The gun doesn't have much collector value thanks to Yugoslavia and with just that scout scope & no gunsmithing mount I've got a darn accurate 8x57 hunting rifle with a superb action firing 150 gr. Hornadys at almost 2800 fps. and it hasn't really been Bubba'd. Many years ago P.O. Ackley proved that the Arisaka action was stronger, (see Vol. 2 of his HANDBOOK FOR SHOOTERS AND RELOADERS), but there's nothing wrong with a good Mod. 98 action. So I'd say go Mauser with just a scout scope or other type of mount that doesn't require hacking up the gun and I'd bet you're gonna like it. I sure am fond of mine.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Its not 1955 any more, sporting rifles don't cost a months pay and there's not a cheap gunsmith in every town to build you one from the Mauser you mail ordered for $12 out of the sears catalog.

my dad sporterized a post war Spanish K98 8mm back in the early 70's, he said even though it was cheap as dirt to buy to begin with he probably spent more money sporterizing it than it would have taken to buy a ready made Winchester M70. All he had done was, put on a sporting walnut stock, have the bolt turned down, have it glass bedded and drilled and tapped for scope mounts and a 2 position safety slapped on to clear the scope and I believe an adjustable trigger as well.

 

[vellocet]

That is a nice Arisaka hunter, ray r. Somebody knew what they were doing. But the OP is still better off with a mauser.

 

[BrocLuno]

I guess us Arisaka shooters will keep smiling and hunting