What K98 do you have? and does it hit?

[Kai-Steffen M.]

I just wondered how many and what K98 you own.

I have only one- a 1936 S42 Mauser/ Oberndorf a.N. with the number 1468G.

And how does yours shoot- on 100m i can make 70-80mm streukreis with 10 shots- doesnt reach my mosin-nagant by far- can make 40-50mm with that one....(even with bad surplus ammo it is below 100mm- the k98 goes up to 170-180mm then)
i know you have to shoot slowly because it heats up so much and still i wouldnt be able to do a headshot on 300m....

opinions?

Gruß,
KSM

[Kai-Steffen M.]

come on people- someone here must be shooting with his k98 and not just look at it hanging on the wall

Gruß,
KSM

[Gene]

I have two Luftwaffe marked K98's and they are just fine sitting there looking pretty. I have no desire to shoot these even though they're 100% shootable. I think most of us K98 owners here opt to keep them as pristine as possible and not bother shooting them. Just my 2 Pfennigs.

[Kai-Steffen M.]

thats fine for me if you prefer that- but i think of rifles just like i think of cars- they are there to be used (with care)- even when they are old and precious- and remember there were over 14 million produced- its not that a rare item- at least here in germany it isnt- you can get a good one for less than 100$...
in the sportshooting discipline "ordonannzgewehr" most people shoot mosin-nagant, swedish mauser, swiss k31 and k98.
maybe pristine is also the wrong word- at least when i look at mine it is in good but obviously used condition (looks as if more than one russian got beat over the head with it )
anyone else? shoot it or put it on display?

Gruß,
KSM

[Gene]

I disagree. Just because I own such rifles I am not compelled to shoot them. I also don't use my RAD EM hewer to hack meat nor do I cut apples with a Luftwaffe close combat knife. Sure, they can be used for these purposes but I appreciate them more by regarding them as pieces of history rather than as still-useable tools.

[Willi Z.]

I agree with Gene, in a sense. The key is between a "shootable" or a "collectible" rifle. As a shooter and collector, I have both. I have "shootable" k98s that are not matching.......these are not worth much. But, most here have "collectible" k98s ......matching numbered ones (with matching stocks and all).....mint ones,...ones that cost over $1000 now. Would be foolish to shoot an all original piece that a GI brought home. Nice original k98s that have not been played with, stocks replced, etc, are rare and valuable. Even rarer in Europe. I have a pre-war Luftwaffe marked one that is all matching...I would not dare shoot it.....if that matching numbered firing pin breaks, the gun is worth alot less as a collectible.

On KSM's other comments, I have always had trouble shooting well with a k98. I do much better with a M1 Garand or '03A3. I enjoy shooting my Enfield sniper quite a bit too. Am afraid that the k98's trigger and sights, along with surplus ammo, don't allow it to shoot a 1" group at 100 yards.

Willi

[Kai-Steffen M.]

a- would you think then maybe it is a mistake to shoot with mine? it is a matching one as for as i can see- stock also- but i never totally disassembled because it was totally reworked by a gunsmith when i purchased it...
all parts i checked so far are numbered 1468G...(paid 260€ for it)

1'' in 100yards- that would be 25mm on 90 meters right? then aoure right thats totally impossible- best i did on 100meter was about 40mm with reaaaaally expensive ammo! as i said- a grouping like that is no problem with my mosin-nagant. but i dont think the sights are a problem- i heard the same from people with ZF41 or ZF39 mounted on it...

Gruß,
KSM

[GerColctor]

Never shoot my matched guns

I own 6 totally matched 98k rifles and would never consider shooting one of them. All of the parts on these weapons are numbered to the gun and I would not want to risk one of these metal parts breaking from the shock of the discharge. I know the possiblity is rather remote, but why risk it.

I also a nice import 98k, with a mismatched bolt. That is the rifle that I shoot. If something happens, it is not a big loss.

I also never fire my matched Lugers, but instead use a mismatched P-08, which gives the shooter the same impression.
Joe

[Willi Z.]

KSM, if you have a true all matching 1936 dated k98, then you have a very valuable rifle. But, you mentioned a gunsmith "reworked" it. Not sure what that means. If it was refinished, an import, etc, then it is not worth nearly the same as an untouched one. The stock should be walnut, not have a cupped buttplate, etc. Advanced collectors of k98s can easily tell if the rifle has been messed with,and if it came out of Russia (or elsewhere) recently, then it has been messed with at some point.

Willi

[chris ulkesh]

i shoot everything. if i may extend the analogy: i am into kool old cars. a few years ago i was at a show with my '67 GTO convertible. one of the spectators asked if i drove it. i pointed to the rear wheel wells and showed the melted rubber caked there and said "of course i do, and then some...". there are some guns where they may be too valuable to shoot. fair enough. but when a posession owns me i sell it. what are you saving it for? the pharaohs of ancient egypt couldn't take their stuff with them, and they were more squared away than i am! all military stuff is "shot", so shoot it! if i bugs you, then sell it and get something you can shoot. what are you saving it for................?

[Kai-Steffen M.]

with "reworked" i mean he took it apart- cleaned it- checked if everything worked etc. he didnt "mess" with it, added nothing and took nothing away - and i think it came from a bundeswehr depot in Mosbach... some (since the war) unused rifles come out of there now and then. as i said as far as i can see it is matching, and yes- it has the original "Nussbaum" stock (with some dents from russians head or something )- but then the price would not be explainable so something must be wrong, no??
willi- can i send you some photos and you tell me what you think?

Gruß,
KSM

[Gene]

Hell yeah Chris! Your post wants to me me denazify my splinter jump smock and wear it to paint houses. And while I'm at it, do I really need a double decal para helmet? Heck no! It would ably serve as a soup bowl once I rip out that useless liner and weld up the holes. Since I/we can't take it to the grave, let's have other forms of fun with it rather than just admiring or appreciating it as a relic of history. They've outlived their purpose by what, 58 years or so?

[chris ulkesh]

non sequitur! aw, come on gene, we're talking guns here, not rare uniform items! it doesn't hurt them to shoot a couple times a year. i like to shoot cool old stuff. when i have a piece that may be considered "too nice to shoot", i sell it to someone who collects them. man, all that sarcasm directed at me 'cuz i enjoy shooting historic stuff. sheesh!

[Gene]

I can't bring myself to shooting my WW2 guns. I know they're completely functional and will handle today's ammo, but there is zero appeal in taking these out and seeing what they can do. They suffice just being on display, in pristine condition. To each his own, I guess.

[chris ulkesh]

yeah, like i said, i understand that there are pieces that are too rare to shoot. afterall, the owner of the "only 1 in the world .45acp luger that's worth 1million(!) dollars" let "guns&ammo" magazine shoot IT! i'm not saying drag your all matching k98 behind the car, just if you have a nice example and you're okay with it, shoot it once in a while. geeze, i didn't mean to cause a ruckuss!