I want to put a scope on my Mauser 98k without "damaging" it.?

Question

I bought a very nice, original, Mauser 98k with all the "world war two" marks still on it. I bought it to own a piece of history. I have cleaned and kept it very well and it shoots very nice. Every couple years I do go deer hunting in Wisconsin and then need the use of a rifle. I would like to put a scope on my Masuer without drilling, filing or otherwise damaging it. I want to keep it in original condition but I want to be able to hunt with it from time to time. I found a couple scope mounts that attach to the rear sights, do these work well? Other options? Please help! Personal expierence a PLUS!

Answer 1

Please DO NOT drill and tap that 98k!!!!!

If you want to build a sporting rifle on a Mauser action, there are plenty of actions available for you to do this. Please don't destroy a complete intact one.

That said, you do have several choices for more accurate shooting without permanent modifications to your historical firearm.

First, hopefully you have shot your 98 frequently and become a good shot with it. Those Mauser sights have a tiny notch on the rear, don't they? You wonder how the rifle got such a reputation for accuracy. Well, the soldiers who used them were well trained on that sight system and they were good.

The first option you should consider is replacing the rear sight with an aperture sight like a Mojo. I have one of these on my Yugo 48, a copy of the 98k, and have become at least twice as accurate with it. I would not hesitate to take a deer kill shot up to 200 yards, that's how confident I am with it. It eliminates all of the pain in the butt BS that goes with glass optics, IMO, but then I'm biased that way.

http://www.mojosights.com/index.html

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/mojot38/index.asp


Second, this may be the one you heard about: I have not used the Iron Elite mount, but many on the forums I frequent report excellent results.

http://www.iron-elite.com/k98k.html

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=36303

Next, another option referred to as a Scout Mount. This is a scope mount that will mount on to the rifle after removing the rear sight. The Scout Rifle Scope concept was one developed by famed gun writer and hunter Jeff Cooper and his team a few decades back and it's application to hunting was revolutionary. I have built several Scout-type rifles on military rifle bases, Mausers and others, and there are some things you need to know before going there.

It is different most dramatically in that it uses a Long Eye Relief scope (LER) also commonly called a Pistol scope. Using a scope like this has several key benefits in the field but it is quite different than using a standard scope. Read my quote below.

I do have some experience with these mounts and they are variable. Be careful and do your research well. Many do not hold the scope securely enough due to either poor design or construction and as a result are junk. Others are well made and in one case I've built a Scout rifle just for hogs and would now not think of using anything else in the brush. Darrell's Scout Mounts and S&K are the top brands in my experience. The cheap one are junk, stay away. Burris makes a quality fixed 2x LER scope that cannot nbe beat.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2005/sk98kmount/index.asp

I have a lot more info but no time now......write me and I will help as I can. Please don't drill that 98!!!!

Answer 2

Mauser Scope Mount

Answer 3

I have been buying and refinishing mausers for over a year now; I go in cycles; first it was 03A3s, then, 1917 Enfields, then Garands, then SKSs, the AKs, then the mauser bug bit me. Anyway, I acquired a Persian Mauser and due to its perfect nature I bought another one so I could have it scoped for hunting. Then I realized that doing so would be as sacrilegious as denouncing mother, apple pie and baseball. So, I went and bought one that had already been butchered and had a scope put on it. It is a well done scope setup; the charge slot was milled down and it was drilled and tapped for the scope base and looks just fine. I have seen some scope bases advertised that somehow attach to the rear sight assembly in front of the receiver and it extends back over the bolt; you might inquire in "Hunting" if anybody has acquired and installed one of these. It looks a little rube goldberg to me but may be perfectly okay. The 8mm is probably the best caliber ever made for hunting I have ever seen; love it dearly.

Answer 4

Model 98 Mauser

Answer 5

You need a no-gunsmith scope mount.

Trouble is, most for the K98 are setup to replace the rear sight and only work with long eye relief scopes. This is still a lot of work and expensive. Realistically after buying the mount, rings and a long eye relief scope; you almost would be better off buying an additional rifle.

I have never seen one that was solid enough for my liking. Zero would wander with most moutns I used. Plus, I can't stand the narrow field of vision on these scopes. I can't imagine one would work well for hunting. By the way, I am from wisconsin and around in most counties that allow rifle usage, they are heavily wooded and I would be skeptical of the gain of using a scope. Most of my shots are taken from 30-75 yards. Heck, I even use just a smooth bore shotgun with slugs, the additional range of the rifle has never been useful to me.

It just my thinking here, but a red dot sight might be more practical. It would look quite bizarre on a K98 but may work well. The red dot not being quite so precise, wouldn't affected as much by poor mounting.

Answer 6

You want an original Carl Zeiss scope. Difficult to mount to say the least. You have to have a GS that really knows what they are doing. To mount the scope, you have to braze it on. You can get reproduction glass and scope rings instead and that would be the way to go. The original scopes were only numbered around 1400 made. At about $2000 each now in 2014. If it is for deer, go with the aftermarket reproduction. You can still shoot vintage matches with that rifle as per CMP rules.

Answer 7

Martin..There is a simple solution that I have used myself just for what you are asking about. There is a company called S & K Rifle Mounts, that makes a NO DRILL,NO TAP scope mount for the Model 96 & Model 98 Mauser. They come complete with rings and will let you mount any 1" tube scope with NO DAMAGE what-so-ever to your collectable gun. These mounts allow you to use normal eye relief scopes instead of mid range barrel scopes, that require you use only extended or long eye relief scopes . You don't have to mount or disassemble your rear sight or take anything off your existing rifle. They are also designed to mount your scope high enough that the bolt will not interfere as you work the action. These are a little pricey, but worth every penny to preserve your rifle intact.Info below: (Mounts are IN STOCK)
I personally have 4 rifles with the S & K mounts on them (2 K-98's) and they are GREAT!

Contact Brownells (Gun Parts Distributor) Montezuma,Iowa
Phone # [phone] or brownells.com on-line
Refer to -Catalog page 346 stock#794-000-003

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Martin,

If you bought that rifle as a collectible, why are you going to risk damage by taking it to the woods?

Even if you get the No Drill/No Tap scope mounts JD mentioned, there is nothing that will protect your rifle from the dents and dings any hunting rifle will accumulate.

My advise is to leave the K-98 at home, except when you take it to a nice dry range, and buy another rifle for hunting.

Doc

Answer 10

I have seen tapless mounts available for these in shotgun news,(walmart carrys it,among others),I think they screw into the iron mount holes,but don't mark my word on this,plus I have no idea if they hold the zero or not.,but please under no circumstances drill an original 98k,you will totally destroy its value.also check DJ's recomendations,as most of these are where I snoop around for info,also I wouldn't worry too much about being in the woods with it,I have used my M1 Garand for deer hunting a time or two,just give it an extensive cleaning and oiling if conditions are adverse,after all,during the war thses rifles were shot on nasty days,not just sunny ones.

Boris