Is there a way to adjust the sights on a German K98 Mauser?

Question

I was shooting my German K98 Mauser today at a 15"x15" plywood board at 50 yards and out of 20 shots four hit the very right side of the target on the board at the top. Is there anyway to adjust the iron sights on my gun left and right or up and down? I didn't see any adjustment screws on the sights. I would like to hunt deer with it if I could get it sighted in.

Answer 1

The Mauser K-98 doesn't have windage adjustable rear sights, just up and down elevation adjustments. The front sight is dovetailed and the sight blade can be drifted using a BRASS (Only) flat nosed punch, left or right a little distance either way. No way of knowing if the front sight blade being moved would solve your problem or not. Worth a try though.

Answer 2

Don't use who won the war or total number of kills to determine the better rifle. Other factors like armor, artillery, machine guns, air power, tactics, and resources had much more of factor in those results than which rifle was used. The simple act of thinning gun oil with gasoline made the difference in whether a rifle would work or not in the dead of winter. Both guns will do the jobs you require. The German Mauser is overall a better engineered rifle. The bolt design has been copied and reused, from the Springfield 1903 to modern hunting rifles. One the on the other hand the Mosin Nagant design was the predominant rifle used by the to 10 snipers of WWII. The answer really comes down to the condition of the rifle, which can very greatly, particularly with the amount of money paid. Because German Mausers are more collectable and were not necessarily preserved at the end of the war, you are going to pay a lot more for a kar 98k than a Mosin Nagant. In fact you are going to pay so much for a decent condition Mauser then you could be buy a new entry-level rifle in a common caliber (Ruger American, for example) with a decent scope that will be superior to a surplus rifle in almost every way. Yes, the kar 98k is a better rifle in general, but if all you have is $200, then you will find a Mosin Nagant in much better condition and if you are lucky, reasonable accurate even with iron sights. If you have $450, then consider a modern rifle, unless you want the novelty of a surplus WW II rifle.

Answer 3

Mauser Sights

Answer 4

Very simple. Right double oh seven, now pay attention. Put the tip end of your barrel in a vice if you have one, use wood or padding to protect the metal. To move your point of impact to the left (center) use a brass punch and drift the front sight blade to the right about the thickness of a dime for 7 1/2 inches at 50 yards. You will probably have to move it a smidgen and fire three rounds to check; and move it again. If you have a bore sighter you can use it but if not it just takes you a little longer. As for the heighth, at 50 yards being that high is no biggie; about normal. If you move to 100 yards it should be about dead center for heighth. That 8mm is a heck of a good caliber for anything on the north american continent. S&B makes a good 196 shell that has the same basic balistics as the 30-06; only pushing out a bigger bullet.

Answer 5

Out of 20 shots 4 hit to the right. Ok well where did the other 16 go? If they were centered ok, you may just be yanking on the trigger as you pull it, which would put them to the right. Or if they are the only ones on target at all, again you may just be yanking on the trigger. Go shoot again and use basic fundamentals and see if it improves at all. I've never had a problem with my K98.

Answer 6

JD is right

but don't tell kjh4129 that I hunt with a M1 Garand almost every year
also here is the MI definition of a legal rifle:
Shell Capacity for Shotguns and Centerfire Rifles
It is unlawful to hunt with a semi-automatic shotgun or semi-automatic rifle,other than a .22 caliber rimfire, that can hold more than six shells in the barrel and magazine combined. Fully automatic firearms are illegal. All shotguns used
for migratory game birds (including woodcock) must be plugged so the total capacity of the shotgun does not exceed three shells.
so a M1 garand with a 5round clip perfectly legal try reading your own states laws kjh4129

Answer 7

I guess I'll wade in too

Most state laws, as stated in one of the other answers, concerns how many cartridges are available. Most states limit rifles/shotguns to five rounds for deer hunting, shotgun- 3 rounds for waterfowl, five rounds to upland bird. Check with your state Game commision to ensure you are legal.

8mm x57 is for sure an excellant cartridge for deer. K98 Mausers typically only hold 5 rounds in the magazine. It is a bolt action rifle, so usually not restricted like semi autos might be in some states. However, if you use a 8mm make sure you buy hunting ammo, not the FMJ surplus ammo available at gun shows. In most all states I know of, FMJ ammo is illegal to hunt with and full metal jacket (FMJ) ammo is NOT a humane ammo to use. It tends to go through deer, rather than expand like you want. Deer are wounded and will walk away only to die a lingering death. Put them down quickly and humanly, please. Be an ethical hunter.

Remember the Mauser K98 was a battle rifle originally, intended for shooting at ranges of 100 -500 meters. Many of the tactics called for volley fire at 300-400 meters, which is basically supression fire to keep the other side hunkered down in their trenches. The sights are set that way. Windage can be adjusted at the front site as described by others here, and actually, elevation can be fixed too if different blade heights for the front sight are used. With a different blade height you can get the point of aim to match the point of impact at 100 yards or 200 yards, etc.

Otherwise, you'll have to go to the range and see where your rifle shoots at 100 yards. If it regulary shoots 6 inches high at 100 yards (I have one that shoots 8 inches high) then you'll have to compensate for that when you hunt. Learn the size range of the deer in your area. There will be a certain number of inches that comprise the kill zone. Normally the center of that kill zone is ideal. You'll want your bullet impact to hit that area, but remember you'll have to aim low if you rifle shoots high. Be sure to also compensate for range and how much plus or minus your rifle shoots different from point of impact. That's kind of known as Kentucky windage (or Kentucky elevation).
That's actually pretty common for really long range shots, that even people using scopes must compensate for bullet drop for shots outside the 100 yards or 200 yards their rifle is sighted in for.

I think you'll find it worth while to find a front site blade that matches point of aim with point of impact much more enjoyable. Any good gunsmith can solve that problem for you.

There are scope mounts you can get for the Mauser which mount using the base of the rear military sight without drilling. I've heard they work pretty good if you are trying to preserve it in original condition.

Answer 8

Wow Your gun is realy offf. THe person above me doesn't have a clue what they are talking about... As long as you can rifle hunt in your state all is good. Anyway There are ways to change the back sights but realy you should take it to a gun smith.
Or
Have a scope mounted.

Awlpike

Answer 9

Hey uhhhh.....KJH Tell me just how you gonna kick his asss? I would like to see this. What, are you gonna jump into the computer screen, figure out how to turn yourself into a bit, traverse the very many stages of a wan and exit through his computer?

This I gotta see! I would pay money....

Edit** JD is right again. Make double sure it is a brass punch and not some brad nailer punch.

Answer 10

I don't know what State you're in but in some states it would be unlawful to use a German 8mm Mauser from WWII as a Deer Rifle. But the later versions had windage sites. The model you have must be an earlier model. The G43 which was the Semi auto AFRIKA KORP VERFOLG and was left hand bolt also had windage sights but those are very hard to find.....

EDIT: Don't tell me what I know asshole...Some states have very strict regulations on using Military War Relics as Hunting Rifles. You CANNOT Use That Weapon or an M1 Gerand Rifle, Carbine, etc...in the State of Michigan for example. Don't ever tell somebody else what they know MF'r or you might get your **s kicked.

EDIT2: I haven't hunted in 30 years and laws are always changing so...........
As for **** Face, What idiot would think I meant that I was going to Kick HIS ***? I meant for future Edification....You all are a bunch of Fulbright Scholars aren't You????