Mauser 98 Action (Without Bulb)

The History of Mauser

Back in 1811, Friedrich I of Wurttemberg launched an arms factory in Oberndorf, Germany. Employing 133 workers, the company officially started its business in the following year serving as the royal weapon forge. The initial moderate success of the company was refined in 1867 when Wilhelm and Paul Mauser came up with an innovative rotating bolt system used for breechloading rifles. Most of their rifles at the time were built around a 7.9x57J cartridge which eventually became known as the 8mm German cartridge.

Alongside the Model 93 release, the smaller, 7x57mm cartridge was introduced. The United States spotted the potential of German ingenuity; hence they incorporated many features of Mauser design into their 1903 Springfield and so did the United Kingdom with their SMLE rifle that was the standard of British infantry units up until the 1950s. Soon after, many countries around the world, such as Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Sweden and even China recognised the outstanding performance of Mauser 93 and began flooding the company with new orders.

Along with their rifle production success, Mauser also broke new ground in 1896 with the introduction of their autoloading C96 pistol which was produced up until 1936. In 1897 the Mauser family were given control over the factory and renamed it Waffenfabrik Mauser AG. Only a year later, one of the most recognisable Mauser rifles of all time was presented by the company – Mauser Gewehr 98. The rifle had been redesigned with some of the noticeable changes being better-ruptured case gas venting, a stronger receiver with a larger receiver ring and an extra third locking lug providing additional safety. In later years, numerous rifles were derived from the original Gewehr 98 design, a lot of them being manufactured by various German contractors.

In the first decades of the 20th century, Mauser introduced a myriad of hunting rifles such as Type A, Model B, Model K, Armee-Model C and Africa Model. Up until the 1960s, various other models were presented including M1916, Mauser 1925 Special range, Karabiner K98, Mauser KKW cadet rifle, Gewehr 41 etc. Alongside their rifle production, the company additionally focused on the production of hand and pocket pistols, with some of the most recognizable models being Mauser 1910, Mauser 1914, Model 1934, and Mauser HSc.

After World War II, when the company was seized by Allied forces and placed under French control, the factory was torn down, and its records were destroyed. The former Mauser engineers Edmund Heckler and Theodor Koch, together with their associate Aled Seidel founded Heckler and Koch arms firm in the following years, recovering some leftovers of Mauser company which remained in the arms of Allied forces until 1952 when it was again permitted to continue manufacturing firearms. In the second half of the 20th century, the company presented some new models such as Model 66, Model 77, Model 86SR, Mauser SP66, Models 94 and 96, Mauser SR 97, Mauser 90SA and Mauser 90DA.

The Rheinmetall Berlin AG bought the firearms division of the company in 1996 and renamed it to Mauser-Werke Oberndorf Waffensysteme GmbH. In 1999, part of the Mauser was sold to Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft company often referred to as SIG, which later became known as Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH.

Today, the company is under the parentage of the Blaser Group, which also manufactures rifles under the J.P. Sauer & Sohn brand. Mauser has presented some new models in the last few years, such as Mauser M03, M12, and M18, attesting to the company’s rich and successful history once again.

Mauser 98 Action (Without Bulb) Review

Mauser introduced their Gewehr 98 bolt action carabine back in 1898. It was generally used among German armed forces up until 1945; however, due to the ingenious design of the action system, the rifle quickly gained a lot of reputation, making it one of the most popular designs in history. After the Second World War, the Mauser company was reinstated and kept the production of firearms alive in West Germany. Having a major influence during both world wars, the 98 actions quickly became a worldwide known standard. With millions of weapons in circulation, countless manufacturers used the same action design (e.g., Yugoslavian Mauser, Husqvarna, Antonio Zoli, Turkish Mausers, Persian Mausers, Czech VZ-24 Mausers, Ferlach gunsmiths and many others). Oftentimes, these rifles are haphazardly called Mausers, just for borrowing the action design. The design was so popular, that many gun manufacturers still use the same, although slightly modified, system on their rifles today.

One such modification started appearing shortly after the end of World War II. Newer versions of these rifles that were primarily built for hunting purposes came without the bulb on the receiver. During the War, the bulb was used for loading the rifle via stripper clips, allowing for faster reloading during combat. Because most updated models come without a bulb, the mounting surface on the top of the receiver is larger compared to the older models, meaning that the scope mounts between the two are not interchangeable.

The receiver on Mauser 98 houses a bolt with three locking lugs, two on the front and one on the rear end of the bolt. Additionally, the bolt features gas vents that help move the gases away in case of a cartridge rupture. There is a two-row internal box magazine with a detachable floorplate that can hold up to five rounds. The rifle uses a large, non-rotating claw-controlled feed extractor which allows for fast primary extraction. Located on the left side of the receiver is a bolt-release lever which allows for the bolt group to be easily removed. There is a three-position safety catch which is positioned at the rear of the bolt, on the action tang.

A good example of a company using the Mauser 98 action system is the Slovenian gunsmith firm BOCK Kranj. One of their Mauser-inspired bolt-action repeaters can be seen in the picture below:

BOCK Kranj, using Mauser 98's action, chambered for .308 Win.

Figure 1: BOCK Kranj, using Mauser 98's action, chambered for .308 Win. (Source: http://bock.si/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=14&products_id=2450&osCsid=ehpq8hjjs83uvq62mmh4i5o045)

Calibers used on Mauser 98 Action

The original version of the rifle was primarily chambered for 7.92x57mm Mauser caliber.

However, that changed when the 98-action design started appearing on rifles produced under different brands. Numerous manufacturers such as Husqvarna, Antonio Zoli or John Rigby & Co. used the Mauser action on their rifles and decided to modify it to fit different calibers. Therefore, the caliber choice depends on the manufacturer and the specific rifle model.

The receivers based on Mauser 98 design feature four holes for mounting purposes, two on the front and two on the rear mounting surface. Newer versions of rifles that use the 98-action system come without the bulb on the receiver.

John Rigby Highland Stalker, chambered for .30-06 Spr., using Mauser 98 action system

Figure 2: John Rigby Highland Stalker, chambered for .30-06 Spr., using Mauser 98 action system (Source: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/928299253)

The Receiver of Mauser 98 Action

A: 22 mm

B: 101.7 mm

C: 12.7 mm

BHU: 4 mm

Ø: M3.5

R1: R14/30°

R2: R18

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Rifles Featuring Mauser 98 Action

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Mauser 98 Action

All the rifles listed in the category below have one-piece mounts interchangeable with rifles using Mauser 98-style action. For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifle with the same dimensions and mounting surface is:

Mauser M12 (pre-2019)

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Mauser 98 Action

All the rifles listed in the category below have two-piece mounts interchangeable with rifles using the Mauser 98-style action. To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. Rifles that meet such criteria are:

Remington 798
Kuffstein 2165 Voere
Zastava Mod 70
Parker Hale Safari 1200
Heym SR 20
Mauser M12 (pre-2019)

Which rifles Use Mauser 98 Actions

Throughout the years, Mauser 98 action proved itself worthy of its name. Being rigid and reliable, many pieces can still be found on the market today. Moreover, various manufacturers decided to stick with the simplicity and effectiveness of the 98-action system. From small gunsmith workshops making custom rifles to the larger arm manufacturers such as John Rigby & Co. or Holland & Holland – the list is almost impossible to fill. Nevertheless, here are some of the companies still relying on the Mauser action today:

Ferlach gunsmiths
Crvena Zastava
CZ
Winchester
Ruger
John Rigby & Co.
Holland & Holland
Remington
Kimber America
Empire Rifles
Husqvarna
Antonio Zoli

Best Scope Mounts for Rifles Using Mauser 98 Action (Without Bulb)

Fixed Scope Mounts for Rifles Using Mauser 98 Action (Without Bulb)

If you are looking for a fixed mounting solution, we recommend this reliable two-piece mount produced by the German company MAK that is made of steel and comes with a thirty-year warranty.

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts Using Mauser 98 Action (Without Bulb)

Detachable mounts can be easily installed and removed from the rifle which is especially useful for cleaning and maintenance purposes as well as versatility in using multiple optics on a single weapon. We recommend this detachable two-piece pivot mount made by the German company EAW that comes with a thirty-year warranty.

Picatinny Rails for Rifles Using Mauser 98-style Action (Without Bulb)

If you are looking for a reliable mounting solution that allows for numerous optics mounting possibilities, we recommend this Picatinny rail manufactured by the German company EAW. It is made of high-quality steel and comes with a thirty-year warranty.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards. Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu