Ogredude wrote:
That's nice. The Mauser is one damned solid action. I wouldn't mind having one myself.
Be careful, though, as there's a qualifier there; the 98 Mauser actions are as solid as bank vaults. Pre-98's, including the really popular 96 Swedes, are strictly low-pressure items.
Mausers made during and before WW2 are made of low-carbon, case-hardened steel, for one thing; that means, basically, that you have fairly soft steel with a hard case or "shell." Modern guns, by contrast, are made of a homogenous, hard, high-carbon steel.
98 Mausers are strong enough for most modern cartridge by their design. They have a bigger receiver ring, thicker steel above the feed ramp, and a reinforcing ring behind the barrel. They also have a safety lug on the bolt, and a big flange in the bolt shroud that deflects any gas from a ruptered case away from your eyes.
The 88-91 Belgian/Argentine pattern, like the 93-95 Spanish guns, the 94 and 96 Swedes, and the really rare 97's are small ring guns. They have no reinforcing web and the receiver walls are thinner. Strictly 30k psi guns and lower.
In case anyone isn't sure how to tell the difference, there's one really easy way. Work the action. If the gun cocks on opening, it's a 98. If it cocks on closing - that is, if you have to push the bolt closed against the mainspring - it's a pre-98.
Pre-98's are still fine, well-made guns. I own several. You just have to mind their limitations, and load accordingly. I keep my loads for my 91 very mild, and it's very accurate, reliable and a pleasure to shoot.