Mauser 98K - Springer Conversion

[Ersatzjack]

Okay, this is my third effort. This time I tried using an actual 98K stock and my sacrificial lamb was a $145 Yugoslav produced 98K. I figured that the metal was all stamped with Yugo markings and that it didn't matter much as a historical loss. Hey, I would have torn up a war relic too since it's a free country. Anyway, this one is loaded with upgrade parts. I purchased the PDI precision trigger group because it doesn't have a safety and is thinner (thus allowing less wood to be removed from the stock in the crucially thin area where the bolt recess on the 98K stock is and also the PDI trigger group positions the trigger further forward for a more pleasingly centered trigger in the trigger guard. I also had to buy the reinforced bolt handle from Laylax. This is a must if you plan to craft a real looking bolt handle. The upgrade is metal and that allows a weld to be made. The cylinder is palsonite and upgraded and the barrel is an upgrade to match the upgraded receiver which while not steel is at least aircraft quality aluminum and a bit stronger. The barrel is a tightbore Laylax. So you get the idea, pricey. Anyway the pictures below will show that I pretty much followed the design of my second conversion. I was going to do a step by step but since every gun is slightly different that is impossible. Also, so much of this is dependent on the skills of the builder so you really have to want to finish the project. During my first Mauser conversion, I almost gave up and that was when I bought a G33 Tanaka just in case. As it ended up, I did succeed to my satisfaction and if you check the airsoft for sale thread you'll see my Tanaka is available. I just really like the springers. This one shoots real smooth and probably send the bb's out around 430-ft/sec. I am shooting .25 for accuracy and the coke can chrono is using the .20s for the test. Punches through the bottom and dings the inside of the top of the can. It is very comparable to my first conversion. That is the only one that has seen battle. I used it for the Easter weekend event and nailed three Americans and no one complained about getting hit too hard. Still, I won't be shooting this at anyone close.

Tips - If you are thinking about trying one of these then let me suggest that you really need the PDI trigger if you plan to use a 98K stock. If you use a M48 Yugo stock you can go with the thicker standard VSR trigger arrangement because you have more wood. My next and probably final Mauser conversion will incorporate my suggested best practices for these rifles. I have definite ideas now on how to make an accurate replica for the best price balancing quality and value (I didn't say cheapest) and will let you know what I find out. But due to operational security I can't say anything specific yet. But a hint, stick to the M48 stocks if you don't want to spend a lot on upgraded parts. Also I am not even considering the APS2 here and whatever I say applies only to the VSR type guns. Big tip-if you are doing this conversion use the rear bolt at the back of the trigger guard and the bolt hole at the back end of the receiver as your reference point. Make everything else fits from that point forward. Just work your way up. If that makes no sense to you, then study the pictures and if you are still in a quandary then wait for me to sell one. I plan to sell my oldest conversions as I build new ones. Part of my first in - first out inventory control plan.

Here are the pics:





My magazines are numbered for the gun since each one is custom and magazine detents will vary from gun to gun. Standard rifle load out will be 90-rounds. Then I'll be looking for somewhere quiet.















Okay, trying to fool you with angles. The picture below shows the one problem with the conversion and that is that the bolt doesn't line up with the recess and there is no good way around this. Either the trigger aligns or the bolt but not both.



Finally, a comparison of the second and third conversions. They both had more shallow stocks than my first and thus I had to adapt the magazine release in a similar fashion. I like it. It's quick. The trigger aligns better in Number 3 but not if you are wearing gloves. There are slight differences in lengths also.



Now I really need a battle to look forward to. - Otto.

P.S. - Franz has already staked a claim to the new one and so that is why I have to attempt number 4. Besides, it is great fun. I only had to see my eye doctor once for this conversion and he treated me for free. Well, not quite. He wants to bow hunt on my airsoft land. I figured it was a good trade. Oh... I was wearing eye protection but those nasty sparks got in somehow. I'm gonna work on that.

[azeeze]

Man that looks Awesome! Though there is supposed to be one on the market soon, not sure when or who will make it.
-Nick

[2nd Bat]

Wonderful work. Great to see folks making these and sharing and hopefully inspiring others. I have made four Springfields thus far and haven't quite been motivated enough to get my Mauser finished. The stock I have I'm quite sure is a Yugo but perhaps it's a carbine version The upper handguard extends back behind the ladder type site leaving a hole for the site housing. It also seems shorter then I had imagined. Certainly shorter then the Springfield. The stock is 36" from the butt plate to the front barrel band. In many ways it looks like it is going to be easier then the Springfields were. I hope I can get it to look as nice as yours.

[CharleyNovember]

They look great Jack.

[Nimlas]

Truly amazing!

[ersatzjack2]

I want, I want, I want... I get. That's how it works when you get to be the twin of Ersatzjack. Now I hear he's gonna work on another one. If it's better than this one I'll be PO'ed. Then I have to start begging all over again. Thanks for the rifle Otto. I got your back at the next event.

[mccallion]

looks awsome great ww2 airsoft gun
-mccallion

[jimseery]

Really wonderful workmanship!

[YankeeDiv26]

wow, very impressive. Hopefully the more you make the better they will get.

[KRaddatz]

looks great, would be nice to see more bolts at events.
good work,
Kyle

[schmitty]

Wow that looks amazing. Nice work indeed.

That appears to be a German made Kar98k. They where given to Yugoslavia after WWII where the German markings are ground off and Yugo markings stamped into the parts, You can often still find original waffenampt (German inspectors) markings on the metal parts hidden by the stock.

The M48 which looks very similar but not quite the same was produced post war in Yugoslavia.

Schmitty

[2nd Bat]

I think the stock that I have is an M-48 The upper hand guard surrounds the ladder site? Otherwise it appears identical.

[Ersatzjack]

Yep, I appreciate all the kind comments and even if they were criticisms (but valid, of course) I'd still appreciate the feedback. I am working on Number 4 right now and will even make a fifth one. Sorta have to since the gun shop owner that sold me the most recent Yugo K98 threw in a barrel. It was a real wreck but some cleaning and sanding and steel wool and some bluing and it is going to be the start of a fifth one. I will try something brand new for the fifth attempt. I want to get a Boyd's stock (reproduction new) and build it up from that so that the wood is like new. I inquired and they can't make me one and leave the bolt recess uncut. The CNC process won't allow it. So I guess all my springers will have the bolt handle slightly offset to the rear of that depression. Anyway, I'm real excited and can't even sleep tonight. Like a kid. Why?? Well FedEx is delivering my MG34 Replica Gun (real steel with a solid receiver) today and then after number four is finished I plan to tackle a Schmitty-like conversion of my own. I hope I get the semi/full auto feature working like he did. I'll post pics when I get it. Schmitty said he'd help me with advice when he wasn't busy on his Secret Project.

[Ersatzjack]

Okay - a little bit off topic ;D

I got my next project gun today. Yippie!!! Here are a few pictures and Franz just couldn't keep his hands off. BTW, Franz got a promotion. His tunic fits me better and my tunic fits him better so we swapped. At some point in the future I hope to be able to show the airsoft conversion of this beauty. I'll probably resurrect Schmitty's thread for that posting since it will be all the same topic.

The 9th SS rules!! We were a little down this month because we lost some members to the up and coming 17th SS but this acquisition might help future unit recruiting. Heh-heh-heh...





Sweet Loadout!!

[2ndranger]

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL CONGRATS!!!!

Franz

[TommyGunner]

Ok the allies have some serious problems, there will soon be an MG-42 and now and Mg-34, Damn we need some freakin 30cals, KILLBUCKET I NEED A BULK ORDER STAT! lol

Good luck to ya and keep us posted on the progress this will be awsome to see once its up and running.

TommyGunner

[Ersatzjack]

Well it is time to resurrect my favorite thread again. This time it is to show off my new Mauser. This is the fourth in my production line. It has been a lot of grinding and cutting in the process. This wasn't a complete Mauser to begin with but was parts picked up here and there and so everything had to be hand fit the hard way. The stock was the very last Numrich Gun Parts Co. 98K stock in their inventory. I was initially excited because they had it available for $50 although it didn't have the metal take-down disks in the back of the stock but I added those. The thing was it was a take your chances order and turned out they sent me a very usable Walnut stock of good size and thickness. I thought I had a ready supply for future guns but then within days I saw that they were out of stock on that item. Oh well. Upgrade parts include the Laylax tightbore barrel, and PDI trigger group with the Laylax Teflon cylinder. An absolute necessity for the bolt add-on was the reinforced Laylax bolt handle. The receiver and outer barrel were upgrades too. I reinforced the points holding the receiver to the stock even further as I just like a solid gun. The pictures don't show the insides but the insides are the same design I've used in other posts. The neat thing about this one (at least what has me excited) is the scope. It is a ZF-39 replica and sits in a fully releasable scope mount that retains zero. The ease with which it is removed is just by flipping two levers. The steel sights line up just fine with the scope removed and the mounts don't get in the way. Another improvement is the safety lever. It is saved from the real steel gun from a previous endeavor and was welded in for looks. I think it really adds. I will have to do that to Franz's 98K too. (I won't be able to stand the whining otherwise). I still have two Mausers left in me. I have a 98K laminated stock and real steel barrel sitting around for the start of another one and then I went and purchased a Boyd's 98K stock to try a new production version. The upgrade parts are up in the air for both of these rifles and I will mull it over. I would like to try one of them with an APS2 rifle and maybe stick a semi auto AEG into the other one. It would look like a 98K but fire like a G43. Would that be fair? Ha-ha. Just kidding. I won't mock the airsoft gods. Anyway, I hope you enjoy looking at it. It will get it's baptism of fire this weekend in New York. I plan to let the Allies there experience it's accuracy. ;D



This is the only picture I showed Ersatzjack2. This way he doesn't get jealous. I still incidentally think his rifle is nicer looking. When he asked about the scope mounts (he didn't call them that - he just said "what are those things?" real suspiciously, and I said that it was a defect in the receiver that I couldn't grind off completely. That seemed to satisfy him as he then smiled. Eventually, he will find out the truth, but by then at least I'll have been able to use it once myself.



I bought the scope mounts off the Internet in an auction and don't know who makes them. I had to grind the heck out of them to get them to fit. But they are the closest thing to turret mounts that this kid is going to have. They are 98K mounts. No manufacturer's name. Maybe someone out there knows where other's could get more.



A nice shot of the safety lever.



Another view of the safety. Ha, who am I kidding. You all know what this view is for. I need a rubber eyepiece yet.



Port side



Starboard

Oh, I feel that I should announce that my first two Mausers described in the Yugo- Mauser thread are now both For Sale. PM me if you are interested. I want $600 for the first one and $750 for the second one. The Tanaka is still for sale too. $425 and that's still posted. Help me out here. These are all comparable in performance BTW and they are all built to take a skirmish. Remember, I never built one of these for others but figured each one I made was for me. The trouble was that I just keep building new ones. It's like a sickness. That's it for now. - Otto Verkaufer, 3rd Panzergrenadier.

PS - New recruits to the 3rd PzGr can get a price break if you commit in a blood oath.

2nd UPDATE - The Tanaka and the $750 Mauser are sold. The $600 Mauser is now also sold. There might be more in the future but right now I have two orders I have to fill.

UPDATE - Jan 08 - This is SOLD to member in my group who will be doing sniper impression. His comments several days later in an email to me:

"I got to shoot it a little yesterday, and it was amazing!!! Feels, looks, power, and accuracy blows any other K98 out of the water!!!

Otto

[CharleyNovember]

Good work as usual Ersatz! Very reasonable pricing on upgraded K98's If I didn't make my own I would consider buying one.

[Lev]

Excellent work. That is an awfully pretty piece. Someday I hope to get one from you

[2nd Bat]

Beautiful work and a great value compared to custom offerings from KTW, Shoot n Scoot etc. Probably nicer for half as much!

[KRaddatz]

wow if thats as accurate and deadly as it looks then we better look out, amazing job!

[ersatzjack2]

You told me those bumps were receiver defects but now after the east coast event I really know what they were for. You know that I'll be wanting them. Get busy on it.

[schmitty]

Looks fantastic, I've got some catching up to do as nothing new has come out of Schmitt Werks G.B.H. for some time, I've kind of run out of gun project ideas as I have already made all the guns I really wanted, so the ones I'm interested in now are more obscure. Still have a few projects I never finished (some because I still haven't figured out how).

At least when you make obscure customs, there is less to no chance it will eventually become comercially available.

O.k. I got way off topic. Your customs and pics look amazing, great work!


Schmitty

[Gerry]

And they Shoot amazing too!

[Ersatzjack]

Gerry528's comments left me wondering how they really did shoot so this weekend, when I was up yonder enjoying the north-woods I performed a rather unscientific but practical range test with my newest (see above) sniper variant.

The conditions were 15-mph crosswind and sunny with a 25-pace step off to the target. I'm guessing the range was 75-feet to 90-feet. My pace was a long stretched out one. Hence, the 90-foot outside limit. My target was hit eight of ten times. I missed paper on the first shot but not by much and corrected for the next 9-shots. Somewhere along the way, I missed again. I only tried this once and said that a single trial without too much preparation was how I wanted to go. I wanted field conditions and not controlled wind-free shooting. I think to be honest, that I would have had ten hits on a real person. Don't worry, I'm not practicing face shots here. I would shoot center mass in a skirmish. Most of the time when fighting Allied troops though I only have their backs to shoot at. ;D

[2nd Bat]

I appreciate the candor of your willingness to show your results. 20 Gram or 25 gram Bbs? I ask because the effect of wind on the two is quite significant. Head and shoulder shots are often all that is afforded once people take cover and the fire fight is on. One more reason I strongly believe in full face masks. In fact if they use proper technique and fire from the sides of their cover it's usually only a half a face, a little bit of shoulder and arm.

With the slower rate of fire of a bolt action rifle you really have to make every shot count.

[Lev]

I can testify to the accuracy of these rifles as the proud owner of one of his first models. It's an excellent shooter and is very accurate, especially by airsoft standards.

While I agree that face-masks are probably a good idea, I just hate them. They are so hot and completely destroy any period look. Instead I chose to use my open face as added incentive not to get hit No pain no gain!

[Ersatzjack]

2nd bat - I used .20s. Biodegradable although they are Excel. I plan on looking into a better type of biodegradable for events. Anyhow, the post was mostly for my amusement. In my experience the only guys that get hit in the face/head are the new players. After you've been at a couple skirmishes you usually avoid those through an uncanny sixth sense. Naturally, it can still happen. - Otto

[2nd Bat]

When your dentists tells you the chipped tooth will cost 700.00 to fix I hope you remember that not wearing a face mask was your decision. I have first hand witnessed three of them so far and certainly heard of far far more. These were not hot guns and were not even at close range. There is something about the composition of airsoft BBs and tooth enamel that does not work well together even through lips. I have often had a clear shot at an exposed maskless face and decided (rightfully so) not to take the shot but I must admit it is annoying and in my opinion irresponsible on the part of my opponent. This is completely my opinion and I know many people disagree with it.

I agree that face masks lose some of the visual element that is so important in a reenactment event but I consider safety first and foremost and don't just say it to appease others or because I like the way it sounds, I mean it.

I certainly didn't mean to hijack the thread however. Head shots are very very common in pitched firefights both airsoft and actual and not just for the inexperienced players

If you go to .25 gram you will enjoy far more consistency in outside shots and surprisingly somewhat better range (On average another 20 feet or so) Your FPS at the muzzle will drop some but within a very short distance inertia will take over and your FPS will be higher after about 30 feet or so from the muzzle. People will feel the hits more readily at range which with a bolt action rifle is also a good thing.

Give it a try. Provided you have a good hop up system the hop up once set will also be more consistent. Some of the less expensive springer base guns only operate well with 20 grams however and if that's the case then clearly that is the way to go.

[jaeger]

I also don't want to hijack the thread, but 2nd Bat does have some good points about face protection. I generally carry a a mouth guard, which I pop in when the fighting gets too intense, etc. It provides at least some protection when I am in a position where it is likely I will get hit. Just a thought though...Plus it isn't 100% safer either, only a bit better.

Nick