Need to choose between rifles

Ky_Collector · November 5, 2014, 10:10 PM

A local gun shop has a Chinese Norinco SKS with a nice light brown stock. It looks to be in very good shape. They also have a K98 Israeli Mauser that was converted to fire 7.62 ammo. It looks to be in very good shape as well. It still has the original waffenamp stamps (acceptance stamps). The milsurp rifles are being picked up quickly in this area. If you had to make a choice, which would you choose?

**4V50 Gary** · November 5, 2014, 10:22 PM

K98 Israeli Mauser. I prefer to reach out.
SKS for truck gun.

tahunua001 · November 6, 2014, 12:55 AM

I would probably take the mauser. now that they are C&Rs, the chinese SKS have been slowly coming back and will be coming in by the millions before all is said and done. the isreali mausers on the other hand were not made in large numbers and are not nearly as common. I don't like the cock on close mausers and I kindof detest the ole 308 crowd(I have a half dozen 30 calibers but apparently they are all second fiddle to 308), but if for no other reason than it's an investment for future generations, I'd take the mauser... that and I've yet to add an isreali gun to my milsurp collection.

adrians · November 6, 2014, 06:55 AM

I'm partial to 7.62x51 , so K98 for me,,,,

Jimro · November 6, 2014, 08:31 AM

If the barrel is good and you want a shooter, Israeli Mauser.

If you want a collector, Israeli Mauser.

If you want cheap ammo, SKS.

Jimro

kilimanjaro · November 6, 2014, 09:45 AM

You'll see a dozen SKS rifles in a year, and maybe two K98s.

Condition is everything, but the Mauser is a good investment. The SKS is not.

mag1911 · November 7, 2014, 06:38 AM

Have the shop check headspace on the Mauser especially if the bolt is mismatched. I bought several 7.62 milsurp type rifles over several years: FR-8, Ishapore, FN Israeli. The only one I kept was the Israeli; mismatched bolt but it passed headspace.

**44 AMP** · November 7, 2014, 11:37 AM

For me, its easy, I have no use for a CHi-Com semi auto that doesn't quite match the .30-30's performance. But that's just me...

I've shot them, and can even ring the 300 meter gong, but accuracy isn't impressive (although better than the AKs I've shot).

So, that vs. a .308 Win bolt gun. The mauser has "been to the wars" and survived. Maybe its worn out, maybe not, can't tell from here, but if you are looking for a rifle (not a carbine, and I'm talking in terms of cartridge power here) the Mauser, as long as the action is intact, either is, or can be rebuilt into a better rifle than any SKS.

If you want apples, get apples, don't get a tomato, and expect it to be an apple. (and this works both ways)

emcon5 · November 7, 2014, 11:57 AM

The K98 in a heartbeat.

Buzzcook · November 8, 2014, 12:48 AM

The collectability of the Israeli k-98 is much much higher.

Ky_Collector · November 8, 2014, 08:09 PM

I wasn't sure if the fact that it was converted to 7.62 by the Israelis hurt it or made more collectible. I guess maybe the history behind it makes it worthwhile to add to my Mausers. I really didn't know a lot about the Israeli conversions. That would be pretty cool or ironic for it to have a Star of David next to the Nazi waffenamts. I didn't know to check that on the rifle the other day.

tahunua001 · November 8, 2014, 09:11 PM

as long as it can actually be traced to the isrealis it makes it very collectable. it's the difference between bubba converting a type38 arisaka to shoot 7.62x39mm and the chinese government, the former is likely unsafe to shoot and not worth a C-note, the other is worth several thousand no matter the condition.

emcon5 · November 9, 2014, 01:20 AM

Quote:

as long as it can actually be traced to the isrealis it makes it very collectable. it's the difference between bubba converting a type38 arisaka to shoot 7.62x39mm and the chinese government, the former is likely unsafe to shoot and not worth a C-note, the other is worth several thousand no matter the condition.

The IDF conversions are pretty obvious. The enormous 7.62 on the receiver ring is a pretty sure sign:

They will generally be in a Kriegsmodel-ish stock, without a take-down disk, but with a cupped butt plate with takedown holes on both sides:

You can't see it in that photo, but the heel of the stock will often have "7.62" burned in (Liberty Tree collectors is selling some IDF K98 stocks here, you can see the 7.62 stock marking). The action probably has a 6 pointed IDF star (mine is only halfway stamped), the barrel will have 7.62 and possibly the date, plus the Hebrew proof mark (the letter "Gimmel"), next to the 7.62 on my rifle:

They are also not worth "several thousand", probably more in the $400 to $600 range, depending on condition.

Here are a few examples that sold recently:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=435240752
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=435392003
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=433826395

Ky_Collector · November 9, 2014, 09:27 AM

That is it exactly. It has the "7.62" in listed on the receiver. I did not know to look for the Star of David on it earlier. It actually loos just like the one that you posted. It is in really good condition. I'm going back up there to get it. I will post a pic of it.

Thanks

smarquez · November 19, 2014, 11:49 AM

Why limit yourself? Get both, just decide what you want first. Roll the dice and see if the SKS if available when your budget allows.
What is the price on the SKS vs. 98?
I really like my Norinco SKS. It is very reliable reasonably accurate and smoother than I thought it would be. It really feels like a way more expensive gun than it is.

jersurf101 · November 20, 2014, 09:57 PM

I have held two Israeli Mausers and thought about buying one when I was looking for a .308 bolt gun. I detest Mauser sights and didn't want to bubba the rifle. Depends a lot on what you are looking for. Safe queen, shooter, blaster, collector's piece?

November 5, 2014, 10:10 PM	#1
Ky_Collector Member Join Date: November 3, 2014 Posts: 28	Need to choose between rifles A local gun shop has a Chinese Norinco SKS with a nice light brown stock. It looks to be in very good shape. They also have a K98 Israeli Mauser that was converted to fire 7.62 ammo. It looks to be in very good shape as well. It still has the original waffenamp stamps (acceptance stamps). The milsurp rifles are being picked up quickly in this area. If you had to make a choice, which would you choose?

November 5, 2014, 10:22 PM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	K98 Israeli Mauser. I prefer to reach out. SKS for truck gun. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 6, 2014, 12:55 AM	#3
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	I would probably take the mauser. now that they are C&Rs, the chinese SKS have been slowly coming back and will be coming in by the millions before all is said and done. the isreali mausers on the other hand were not made in large numbers and are not nearly as common. I don't like the cock on close mausers and I kindof detest the ole 308 crowd(I have a half dozen 30 calibers but apparently they are all second fiddle to 308), but if for no other reason than it's an investment for future generations, I'd take the mauser... that and I've yet to add an isreali gun to my milsurp collection. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

November 6, 2014, 06:55 AM	#4
adrians Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2010 Location: mountain view ,ar. Posts: 184	I'm partial to 7.62x51 , so K98 for me,,,, __________________ instant karma's gonna get you , knock you right in the face...... j.w.l.

November 6, 2014, 08:31 AM	#5
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	If the barrel is good and you want a shooter, Israeli Mauser. If you want a collector, Israeli Mauser. If you want cheap ammo, SKS. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

November 6, 2014, 09:45 AM	#6
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	You'll see a dozen SKS rifles in a year, and maybe two K98s. Condition is everything, but the Mauser is a good investment. The SKS is not.

November 7, 2014, 06:38 AM	#7
mag1911 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2011 Posts: 140	Have the shop check headspace on the Mauser especially if the bolt is mismatched. I bought several 7.62 milsurp type rifles over several years: FR-8, Ishapore, FN Israeli. The only one I kept was the Israeli; mismatched bolt but it passed headspace.

November 7, 2014, 11:37 AM	#8
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	For me, its easy, I have no use for a CHi-Com semi auto that doesn't quite match the .30-30's performance. But that's just me... I've shot them, and can even ring the 300 meter gong, but accuracy isn't impressive (although better than the AKs I've shot). So, that vs. a .308 Win bolt gun. The mauser has "been to the wars" and survived. Maybe its worn out, maybe not, can't tell from here, but if you are looking for a rifle (not a carbine, and I'm talking in terms of cartridge power here) the Mauser, as long as the action is intact, either is, or can be rebuilt into a better rifle than any SKS. If you want apples, get apples, don't get a tomato, and expect it to be an apple. (and this works both ways) __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

November 7, 2014, 11:57 AM	#9
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	The K98 in a heartbeat.

November 8, 2014, 12:48 AM	#10
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	The collectability of the Israeli k-98 is much much higher.

November 8, 2014, 08:09 PM	#11
Ky_Collector Member Join Date: November 3, 2014 Posts: 28	I wasn't sure if the fact that it was converted to 7.62 by the Israelis hurt it or made more collectible. I guess maybe the history behind it makes it worthwhile to add to my Mausers. I really didn't know a lot about the Israeli conversions. That would be pretty cool or ironic for it to have a Star of David next to the Nazi waffenamts. I didn't know to check that on the rifle the other day.

November 8, 2014, 09:11 PM	#12
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	as long as it can actually be traced to the isrealis it makes it very collectable. it's the difference between bubba converting a type38 arisaka to shoot 7.62x39mm and the chinese government, the former is likely unsafe to shoot and not worth a C-note, the other is worth several thousand no matter the condition. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

November 9, 2014, 09:27 AM	#14
Ky_Collector Member Join Date: November 3, 2014 Posts: 28	That is it exactly. It has the "7.62" in listed on the receiver. I did not know to look for the Star of David on it earlier. It actually loos just like the one that you posted. It is in really good condition. I'm going back up there to get it. I will post a pic of it. Thanks

November 19, 2014, 11:49 AM	#15
smarquez Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2011 Posts: 135	Why limit yourself? Get both, just decide what you want first. Roll the dice and see if the SKS if available when your budget allows. What is the price on the SKS vs. 98? I really like my Norinco SKS. It is very reliable reasonably accurate and smoother than I thought it would be. It really feels like a way more expensive gun than it is.

November 20, 2014, 09:57 PM	#16
jersurf101 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 553	I have held two Israeli Mausers and thought about buying one when I was looking for a .308 bolt gun. I detest Mauser sights and didn't want to bubba the rifle. Depends a lot on what you are looking for. Safe queen, shooter, blaster, collector's piece?