K98 Safe to Shoot?

-Z/28- · Mar 16, 2012

Ok long story short my K98 was a beater when I bought it (aside from the shiny sharp bore), so I bought it just to have a high power bolt gun for the range. I wanted a scope on it so I used an ATI mount that goes around the barrel. This required cutting a recess out of the stock for the clamp to go in.

Now I want it back in military form. I intend to eventually replace my beater stock with a new repro, but for the moment I want to know if it's safe to shoot with this recess in the stock right in front of the chamber? Should I try and fill it in with something?

Sorry for crapo phone pics.

j8064 · Mar 16, 2012

It would probably be fine because the material you removed is in front of the crossbolt. Bubba takes entire forestocks off some rifles. :sad20:

If it was me, I'd epoxy some additional wood back in the hole and brace it with a couple of embedded brass screw shafts in epoxy parallel to the crossbolt. That would give the stock some additional strength in the spot and wouldn't be difficult or visible. Here's a repair on a badly broken Turk mauser I did a couple of years ago to show you what I mean. This was to reinforce the shattered area behind the crossbolt after the pieces were epoxied back in place.

Good luck.

screamingeagle · Mar 16, 2012

I see no problem shooting it since you didn't fiddle with the receiver or anything mechanical .

wilcam47 · Mar 16, 2012

if gas pressure is coming out of there you have problems...the stock is just support for the barrel. Its just cosmetic IMO...

j8064 · Mar 16, 2012

-Z/28-
As I said, the material you removed isn't a huge issue. Better, tho, to fill in the recess for strength IMHO.

It's a beater stock. It's been through a lot of firing in its life. Your pics aren't all that clear, but the spot I outlined does cause me concern. If the shadows/lines I see are cracks in the area directly behind the crossbolt, it's a bigger issue.

Cracks in that area are common in old mauser stocks. That spot absorbs a huge amount of the recoil energy the crossbolt receives as it spreads that energy into the buttstock. AND that spot should be rock solid.

If the lines I see in your pic are indeed cracks, I would not fire the rifle in that stock until the cracks are repaired. Again, it's not a difficult fix, but a very necessary safety step I'd take. Here's another pic from the Turk mauser repair showing the cracks it had. They are why the reinforcing screw shaft was added to the stock after repairs to the cracks were completed.

It's your rifle. And I know you'd want to be 100% certain it's safe to shoot before you pull the trigger.

-Z/28- · Mar 16, 2012

Thanks for the help. I will give that spot a double check. I definitely don't feel like taking wood splinters to the face in big kaboom.

wilcam47 · Mar 16, 2012

-Z/28- said:
Thanks for the help. I will give that spot a double check. I definitely don't feel like taking wood splinters to the face in big kaboom.

if its going to blow out splinters thats the least of your worries...seriously...

-Z/28- · Mar 16, 2012

wilcam47 said:
if its going to blow out splinters thats the least of your worries...seriously...

True. My initial concern though was that the recoil might crack the stock apart.

j8064 · Mar 16, 2012

-Z/28- said:
True. My initial concern though was that the recoil might crack the stock apart.

Exactly my point.

On firing, the crossbolt is forced rearward by the the recoil. The lug is supported by a lot of wood it on both sides of the rifle. Once cracks begin to form in the area directly behind the crossbolt, the stock's sides must absorb the recoil. Cracks from behind can radiate to the sides. We're talking about old wood here. Why take the risk?

wilcam47 · Mar 17, 2012

-Z/28- said:
True. My initial concern though was that the recoil might crack the stock apart.

I really see no difference between when the scope mount was on and now that its off...with the exception of the gap...Unless the mount was wrapped around the stock supporting it...if it didnt break before it shouldnt now...just my 2 cents...

VTX1800 · Mar 17, 2012

-Z/28- said:
Now I want it back in military form. I intend to eventually replace my beater stock with a new repro,

Sorry for crapo phone pics.

Why buy a repro...what year/code is your K98k ?
I may have a very nice (Not RC) WaA655 waffen stamped K98k laminated stock for sale soon that would be correct for a 1940 "42 code" K98k Mauser.

-Z/28- · Mar 17, 2012

VTX1800 said:
Why buy a repro...what year/code is your K98k ?
I may have a very nice (Not RC) WaA655 waffen stamped K98k laminated stock for sale soon that would be correct for a 1940 "42 code" K98k Mauser.

Well that's the thing; I don't know. It's a Yugo capture, so the numbers don't match and the German markings on top the receiver were filled and replaced with a Yugo seal. Still has the Mod98 on the side and all the markings on the underside, but I've got no clue what they all mean. I'll attach a pic of them, maybe you guys can tell me something.

@j8064, I checked that spot and it's just a discoloration not a crack.

K98 Safe to Shoot?

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