A large ring Mauser can be told by looking at the left side of the action. If there is a step between the left wall over the magazine well and the receiver ring itself, it is a large ring action. If it is a straight line from the bolt stop to the front of the receiver, it is a small ring. Measured diameters are 1.41" large and 1.30" small.
Not all small ring Mausers are pre-98 designs. There is such a thing as a small ring 98. When they were available cheap, the Brno G33/40 was popular for building lightweight sporters. You would need a real expert to say whether they are adequate for a .308 by current standards, but they were certainly good enough for 8mm European ammo which is much more heavily loaded than the US stuff.
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