Stock for M48A Mauser?

[Guyon]

I bought an M48A way back when AIM Surplus was selling these rifles for a song. I have a bunch of 8mm Turkish ammo in my closet.

I still haven't shot the rifle.

That's because it's been disassembled since I bought it. I haven't reassembled the gun (hope I still remember how) because I'm STILL working on the stock. On hot days, I've sweated it in the car a few times. I've sweated it on the oven door countless times. The thing is still full of cosmoline.

I've tried short soaks in extremely hot water. I've tried heat. I've tried Purple Power. Still cosmoline seems to seep out anytime I place the stock in front of a heat source (usually the baking element on my oven).

I'm about ready to give up on this stock and just buy a new one. Any advice here?

 

[telewinz]

The stock will continue to "sweat" no matter what you do. The pores have had years to soak-up the grease. I have a garand stock that does the same thing in the summer, I just wipe it off when I'm done. Its only a minor pain, maybe 50 years from now you grand kids will enjoy a 'dry stock'.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy
I have an old mauser like that. I think mine is one of the East Europeon style like the 24 and 48. (Large ring, 3 lug, but 7 5/8" between screws.) The best thing I found to clean it up with is to use about 1/4 cup powder wall paper remover in 2 quarts very hot water. It is called TSP Wall Paper Remover. Scrub it down with a Scotch type pad and that and let it dry 3 or 4 days. Put a coat of cheap pollyurathane on it and redo it next year if you have to. An old German veteran told me they used to finish there rifle stocks with a light coat of motor oil. Good luck
Wyo

 

[Jack19]

Don't give up. Sometimes these things just take awhile. You can get the cosmo out of your stock and reoil it so it won't bleed.

Build yourself a stock heater out of furnace duct pipe and a ceramic heater. It works MUCH better than leaving the stock in a car. I built one in about 5 minutes after a trip to Lowes.

Go here and check it out:

Stock heater

Parallax's forum will tell you everything you ever wanted to know.

If you can't remember how to get it back together, go here, he's got VERY detailed assembly instructions including movies!! (Very cool):

The Surplus Rifle

Regards.

 

[Guyon]

Jack19: Great links! Thanks.