Hey guys! So my FID is coming in a few weeks, and I already have a rifle waiting for me at my FFL.

 

I got a Yugo M24/47 Mauser from GunBroker for pretty cheap, around $200, and it's in great shape. It's got some mismatched serial numbers though, and the stock has been refinished, so it's not a collectable by any means.

 

I'm thinking of possibly sporterizing it. I heard of some good, yet reversible, things that could really improve the rifle.

 

1. Putting in either Mojo sights OR a S&K mount with a scout scope.

2. Replacing the trigger with a Timney trigger.

3. Replacing the stock with a sporter stock to reduce the weight.

 

I've also considered re-barreling it into a different caliber (maybe .308?) but this would be pretty costly and I'd need a gunsmith to do it.

 

What are your thoughts, guys? How would you sporter a Yugo Mauser?

I would leave the Mauser alone. Add up what you'd spend for machine work, rebarrell, stock, etc and you're probably close to the price of a new Savage or Mossberg bolt action in 308. You can find a used one for under $300 if you look.

He'll no. If its not collectible just leave as it and shoot the snot out of it. Sporterizing is a crime

8mm mauser is still a pretty popular caliber available as surplus AND as a commercially available cartridge. I think reversible changes (ie stocks, sights, etc) retain the spirit of the original incarnation without destroying any historical value.

 

Just my opinion though.

For $300 you can pick a Stevens (which is Savage 110/10, just the previous model and a superb rifle). It will cost you that much for the Mauser and a stock. If you sell it you will get less for the modified gun then you payed for the rifle unmodified.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Mausers, just leave it alone and shoot it, if you want lighter gun then get a lighter gun. Custom rifles are almost never worth it unless you know exactly what you want, no one makes it, and you never plan to sell it, because they will only be worth it to you an no one else.

Sporterizing..............JUST SAY NO!

Thanks for the input guys.

 

I've decided to just leave as is for now, and will only consider reversible modifications if my funds permit it.

 

This is getting me in the mood for a mummified, unissued Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk II. My God, I need some money for this new hobby!!!

If you are going to sporterize a Mauser you need to do it right and keep the essence of what the rifle once was. I am not a big fan of hacking up mil surplus rifles but there is a right way to do it if you choose to. Here is one I came across and had to have because it was done so well. Barrel was cut down, recrowned and site was reinstalled, Stock & upper hand guard were cut down and correctly recapped. Receiver was drilled and tapped for scope mount.

 

This is an all matching 1891 Argentein in 7.62x53, the work appears to be done by a more then compedient smith and most likely a long time ago. There are no import marks on the rifle so this was most likley a vet bring back who decided to make it more usefull for his day to day life and sporterized it. The looks of the modifications match what would have been done after wwI and or wwII. The last rifle in the 2nd picture is a 1891 I purchased from Junkmanted a few weeks back, It's all matching including the cleaning rod except for the Magazine.