USR-11>>>Kar98 (Yugo)

[Ersatzjack]

I finished (almost) the skirmish Kar98 I was working on. I am still waiting for the new piston and weaker spring. When I pull the gun apart I want to do a little more sanding of the upper handguard by the front sight and will get rid of any gap between the wood. Then add the sling and cleaning rod and it will go to the field. Hopefully for the April event in Chicago. I want to thank jimseery for pointing out the info about the shortened handguard. That did make things simpler and I was stuck on thinking the handguard should look like the Yugo version. I did use a Yugo Mauser and had to add the metal disks behind the rear sling strap opening in the stock. The notch for the bolt handle wasn't attempted as the wood gets thin with this base gun in that area. I wonder if a Kar98 stock with the notch is even going to work? Anyway I had two failures. I was going to try and use the actual bolt handle but broke the tap off trying to thread it. That was enough to tell me to go with the stock bolt. The other mistake was jabbing a wood chisel under my nail with the end in sight. Kids, don't try this at home. E-yowww!!, Ouch!

The project was loads of fun and I think it is pretty solid. I tried to build it for strength. I even recessed the bolt going into the magazine well and this allowed for an extra anchoring point to the gun. (actually, just the same number as the stock version.) I don't think a blow by blow instruction guide is up my alley. You need experience with projects but like others have stated, the project can be accomplished without a welder (although I might resort to one if the magazine well bolt "L" metal inserted for the recessed bolt doesn't hold - it is JB welded right now). It is worth the work however because of the feeling you get when finished.

I won't list my expenses either like jcthorn did in his thread on the Vz.24. Why you ask? Because I think I spent more than I want to tell and even though I think it's worth it, I don't want others to know just how cheaply I value my discretionary dollars.

Here are the Pictures. I hope you enjoy them. I think next I'll start on a real Kar98 with maybe an APS2 like allamericandan had. Hmmm!!













Wanted to provide a business end view for my allied friends

[click]

Stunning. Just stunning.....

Click

[biged]

Great work !! Bummer about the bolt handle.
Breaking a tapp off sucks. Getting it out is even worse..
Whenever I tapp a deep hole in hardened steel. I drop down one extra 64th of a inch on the drill bit index and use alot of oil.

It's a great feeling finishing a project.

///ed///

[Sturmmann13]

Wow beautiful, good job

[TommyGunner]

Hey Im glad to see everything worked out good for you, and it looks stunning, fantastic job there. Cant wait to see it on the field, I just might come up against you with my Springfield and we can fight it out.

TommyGunner

[Cpl. Hicks]

Great job!
Two thumbs up!

[jaeger]

Very Nice!

[29ththerealpimps]

Awesome! What was the total cost?

[Ersatzjack]

The total cost is still classified as I stated above. With the coming of daylight I test fired it and checked the magazine functioning and accuracy which I had no idea what to expect. I wanted to see what would be the best position for the hop-up slider but haven't been able to follow a bb with my naked eye! I pull the trigger and whap! - the tree emits a satisfying smack. I have to get weaker parts in this thing if I plan to use it. I'm a happy camper but no one getting hit would be.

[ersatzjack2]

Great job! What a genius you are. I'm proud to be related to you. ;D I think I like your new rifle almost as much as the Tanaka G33/40 (g version) that you just sold me for $800. I'm glad you discounted $200 because it was missing the front sight hood. Sucker...

[ncthorn]

Very very nice! We K98 builders should start some form of club lol. Of course AAdan and Schmitty could lead becasue they were the first two of us and did awesome jobs. We might let 2nd bat in for his Springfields. Its awesome to see everyone adding their own touches to these custom k98 variants. Personally, I think I may scratch the Delisle idea as Im not sure it was going to be possible anyway and begin building another '98. The next one I do will likely use an M48 as a base like you have but I will combinr he base M48 stock with a K98 hanguard and rings. Thus I will essentially have a true K98 without paying big bucks for the stock. ;D

[jimseery]

Another wonderful job, I'm glad I could contribute to one small part of it.

[spitfire740]

Excellent work! I am glad to see that we are getting some custom jobs here in the MidWest! It looks excellent!

[shellshokt]

WOW! fantastic work.
Not even finished my M1 aeg and now I want a K98 springer as well

[Ersatzjack]

Can I reply to my own thread? Hmmm? Anyways, there's nothing like adding to my own favorite thread, especially when I have more pics. I finished the final touches and installed my upgrade parts and decided that the piston was a waste of money. I think the only thing that these USR-11's need to make them scary on the battlefield is a steel spring guide on a ball bearing (essential) and a 130 spring. I still haven't had it chronographed yet (that will happen in April) but the coke can chrono test says over 385 and less than 450. I added these pics because it's done now and I won't think about this one again. The problem (and believe me, I'm not complaining) with having a twin is that now he wants one and so I'm starting the second one as soon as the Yugo gets here. Oh... back to the pics. The first pic:



a better picture of the magazine well as those in the initial post didn't show this area well. This is the tricky part in getting this conversion to work and you have to be real careful with your carving and sanding. My mags could have been painted lighter but I'm still using up the "expresso" paint



This area I changed to better resemble the Kar98 furniture. If the black paint doesn't hold up I think I'll end up using a black wire tie. I just don't have any laying around. Notice the gap is gone between the upper and lower handguards. (More sanding)

Finally,



I had to show it one more time. Oh I know the scope is Flaggrantly Wrong but couldn't resist. I want to mix in some FUN. The truth is that it probably is better off without the scope tactically speaking as target aquistion is faster and the steel sights are right on. Hey, it's Enemy at the Gates time. ;D

[applestrudel]

Wow Makes me want to do a k98 conversion.

[2ndranger]

Good thing hes on our team that makes us both snipers, good job!

Schutze

[Capt. Zak]

AWESOME! Very nice job. Can't wait to get mine started. Thanks for the inspiration.

[schmitty]

Fantastic!!! Extremely well done. It is great to see projects like this getting done. Note to everyone: Don't wait for Japan or China to produce the weapon you've been wanting. Start building it yourself right now!!

Schmitty

[ersatzjack2]

Would you quit patting yourself on the back and quit wasting all the time on the posts. That time should be put to use on building me one too. Waaahh!!!

[Sturmmann13]

Man, you have convinced me, I am going to make a USR-11/ Kar 98 conversion. anybody got a stock they want to give me?

[applestrudel]

on a scale of 1 to 10 how hard was this build?

[Ersatzjack]

Pm'ed applestrudel.

[applestrudel]

Thanks Ersatzjack

[Ersatzjack]

Hey all - I'm back with Mauser Number Two. Since this is also based on the M48 Yugo stock I decided to keep it in the same thread. Everyone knows how I like this thread . The second version incorporates some structural improvements over the first one that are hidden inside the rifle and this second project also opened my eyes concerning the fact that all real steel gun stocks are not identical. #2 was considerably less deep in the magazine area of the stock (1cm) (this wasn't something I noticed right away and surprised me when I did) and this meant that the USR-11/VSR-10 magazine couldn't be fitted the same as I did on the first gun. I solved the problem using spring steel and while it isn't as nice as the first gun in this area cosmetically, I don't think it is noticeable and is actually faster to change magazines now. Comments made by another visitor on this site, Valtteri are spot on concerning the VSR-10 magazine complications when doing one of these conversions. I plan to use a APS2 for my fourth attempt as I plan to make four of these before moving on to a different conversion. My next conversion will be a USR-11 into the K-98 stock (hence a new thread) and I'll try my best at a step by step guide. Number three will be the next one and it will contain a slew of upgrade parts that I think will allow me to use a K-98 stock. The PDI precision trigger goes into #3 and has an advantage of no safety lever so I won't have to carve out the area by the bolt handle and thus the recessed bolt area on the K-98 should be okay. The PDI trigger also moves forward a bit for a more centered trigger. I plan to use the upgraded receiver (aircraft aluminum) and so the strength will be there from the start and I won't have to shore up the spots where the screws go into the receiver and hold the gun to the stock. The MP001 is better in this department too and has much stronger anchor points then the USR-11. I don't know what the VSR looks like in this critical area and I wonder how strong the APS receiver is for those connection points. But I'll report on Number Three next time. This is a post for Number Two and so here are some of the particulars. The base gun was a USR-11 and I used a Yugo Mauser rifle for the conversion. I upgraded the internals with a spring guide on a bearing and a PSS 130 spring. I also put in the PSS tightbore barrel. Shoots real nice on the coke can chrono by piercing the bottom of the can and denting the other side. 430 ft-sec? Who knows. I need a chronograph. The price was a point of interest last time so here is an estimate
$125 USR-11, $170 Yugo, $15 spring, $25 spring guide, $65 tightbore, $15 cleaning rod, $5 sight hood, $20 sling, and $90 for gunsmithing (drilling the barrel and bluing) Those are quick estimates and I tried to remember shipping charges. Let's see that makes $540 + materials ($10) so about $550 would cover my costs. No bargain but hey, I like the way it feels in my hands. That's worth plenty. Looks like Ersatzjack2 gets the first one and I'll keep this one. Number Three is next and the custom parts alone took me over the price of this one and that's before I do anything. Then I'll try my hand at an APS2. For those that haven't started this project yet but are considering it I would also recommend the APS2. The gun costs a little more but I bet has huge advantages. You get what you pay for as they say. Anyway I hope you enjoy the pictures. Now I just need an event to look forward to.


A good view of the magazine area. As the stock is shallower, the magazine sticks out the bottom slightly.


I'm holding the gun at an angle. The sights line up real nice - nicer then the picture shows






Oh, the bolt was fabricated and if it fails I have the stock bolt to fall back on but all looks well for now. A good skirmish will tell the tale. This time I didn't break the tap and didn't cut myself either but had to have a piece of metal taken out of my cornea by my optometrist (I was wearing safety glasses but the culprit got in underneath). That hurt. Maybe I'm not really cut out for this roll as craftsman? Nevertheless, I really don't have an option but to continue building these as Ersatzjack2's appetite for Customs is ravenous.

[click]

ersatzjack said:

Let's see that makes $490 + materials ($10) so about $550 would cover my costs.

490 plus 10 equals 550? lol

Anyway on to what I think of your rifle.

BEE-YOU-TEE-FULL!! I really like it. Makes me want to do one myself. ;D

I think I like the look of this one better than your 1st one. I think the thing that looks better is the stock, it is dark and that makes it look different from all of the stained Tanaka Kar98s. I also like the flor of the wood grain.

One question: It wasnt really clear to me, which gun did you use for a base?

Click

[Ersatzjack]

click said:

ersatzjack said:

490 plus 10 equals 550? lol

One question: It wasnt really clear to me, which gun did you use for a base?

Click

Okay, I fixed the math. I think I should get partial credit.
I indicated the base gun in the price list and that was a USR-11. I haven't converted anything else but my son bought an MP001 and thus I was able to examine it. I haven't seen a VSR-10 or an APS2 so take anything I say about these for what it is worth. Glad you liked the gun. I think you should definitely try your own. Great satisfaction and you will find it a prized possession. My Tanaka is going up for sale and it was never used once. I just like the springers.

[Sturmmann13]

sorry about the metal in the eye, that must have sucked, can you still see out of it?


...... I think you should were a full coverage helmet and face-mask with a pair of iron gauntlets when you work on the BEAUTIFULL Kars

[CharleyNovember]

I agree great job Jack! I have worked with all three guns the APS2 the VSR10 and the USR11. There are pluses and minuses to APS2 and VSR's The APS2 you will find is 100% easier to fit the mag well into the stock The catch on the APS2 is on the mag not a button on your stock. Two vertical peices screw directly into the reciever and form a mag well. You just measure and cut the slot where this would go. One more thing you should find with the APS2 barrel you will not have to bore out a realsteel barrel.

Back to your newest gun I like the stain on the gun nice warm color to it. Did you fabricate the bolt handle or have it done? The mag sticking out the bottom is not that noticeable and the spring clip is a good solution to your problem.

[2nd Bat]

Two cautionary notes that I know have been shared by Schmitty and obviously Ersaztjack in the past but bear repeating. When you're working with a dremel or sander. Wear eye protection and a breathing mask. Dremels kick small particles in every direction and when those little wheels break yipee! Things can get exciting! The breathing mask is self evident but it's amazing how much dust gets kicked up as your doing your finishing work.

I'm delighter to hear so many folks are taking these projects on and love seeing the results of your labor. Something that has been expressed but can't be emphasized enough is how cool it is to hold and shoot these products of your own labor.