Small ring K98

[Thekid]

Ok so I have a Mauser K98 small ring that was sporterized when I got it. The problem is there is a nice chunk of the stock that has chipped out and I’d like to put it in a new stock... now normally I would just buy a small ring stock but everything else on this rifle is the same as a large ring... would I be better off getting a large ring stock and bedding it in?

Thank you!

[TNsailorman]

I sporterized a Turk model 98 stock that was on a Turk Model 98 large ring mauser with a small ring barrel on it. worked out fairly well except I inletted a rear sling swivel into the fore end and I would not do that again. Worked just fine but didn't look all that well to me . I will see if I can find it and put up a couple of pictures. I no longer have the rifle but I do have the stock somewhere. I later put a Boyd's stock on the rifle and my grandson has it now. james

[Der Gebirgsjager]

So the stock that's on it now is a sporterized military stock? How much time and money do you want to put into the project? Probably the easiest thing to do would be to replace the missing chip. And, the easiest way to do that would be to take the action out of the stock and put a blob of stained Accra-Glas Gel onto the area, and after it dries to sand it down to match the stock's contour. You could also do an ordnance-style repair by cutting out a little more of the chipped area to a nice square smooth area and glue in a block of wood, and then cut that down to fit.

In thinking about it, in the overall production of Mausers, there weren't that many small ring '98s. Another military stock might be hard to find, but you might turn up a civilian sporter semi-inletted somewhere. I've got a locker full of semi-inlets I'm going to sell off someday, but I don't think any of them are for a '98. Lots of 93/95, 96, large ring '98, etc. James' idea about using a Turk take-off might be the way to go. Here's a couple of photos of a blob repair job in progress. Usually I say, "I wish I would have taken a before photo." This time I wish I would have taken an "after" photo. It did turn out well, and after the stock was stained dark walnut it was hard to see the repair.

[Rich/WIS]

Have you checked with replacement stock makers. IIRC years ago the small ring 98 was popular for making sporters and pre inlet stocks were available from Bishop, Fajen, Richards and others.

[Texas by God]

That is most likely a 98A short rifle. Bedding a LR stock will be the least expensive option I think. Boyd’s might fix you up correctly for a custom charge perhaps. You might get lucky and find a 98A military stock on eBay but it won’t be cheap.

[RustyReel]

Keep checking Ebay as they show up now and then. Also check Richards Microfit, they probably inlet for that stock but keep looking at their close-out list for a "bargain". If you do the colored epoxy repair you should also look at epoxying the recoil lug as well. Something caused that chip and the recoil lug or loose action screws are usually the cause.

I would probably go with the epoxy repair and then keep and eye out for a reasonably priced replacement.

[Thekid]

Thanks everyone! I’ll keep my eyes out for a stock. But I may just try a repair for now. I realized I never posted a picture of the whole rifle... it’s definitely been in a civilian sporter stock the whole time I have owned it...

[pietro]

Ok so I have a Mauser K98 small ring that was sporterized when I got it.

The problem is there is a nice chunk of the stock that has chipped out and I’d like to put it in a new stock...

now normally I would just buy a small ring stock but everything else on this rifle is the same as a large ring...

would I be better off getting a large ring stock and bedding it in?

The answer is no...………… any stock meant for a Small Ring Model 98 will fit with minor fudging.

The only difference between a Large Model 98 & a Small Ring Model 98 is the diameter of the front receiver ring - so, yes, the rest of the rifle is the same as a Large Ring..

Something caused that chip and the recoil lug or loose action screws are usually the cause.

+1 - Quite often, the reason behind the tang chipping out the stock is that the recoil lug recess in the stock has battered over the years, allowing the action to shift rearward under recoil.

IF you want to fix up the original stock, a glass-bedding job should be able (if done properly) fix the issue.

If you glass bed the stock, be sure to add a layer of clearance tape, temporarily, on the bottom, forward face & both sides of the recoil lug - and also at the rear of the tang prior to applying the bedding compound.
(don't forget to apply a coat of paste wax over ALL the metal & taped areas and fill any recess' with the wax prior to dropping the barreled action into the stock/bedding)


.

[Thekid]

Pietro, it’s been like this for about 15 years just setting in my safe but I do remember it was loose in the stock when I was trying to figure out what was wrong. I was also shooting 1940 vintage Turkish ammo and thought that may have had something to do with it. I was quite inexperienced with military rifles at the time. And I was looking for a new project when I remembered that I needed to fix this old rifle up.

[Texas by God]

It should have the back guard screw sleeve in place as well. Bubba has been known to leave that part out but it is important. After seeing your pic, I’d fix it and bed it and enjoy. Yes, that Turk ammo was Hot- we chrono’d some from a Hakim and the average of ten was 2950 FPS- and the estimated velocity of the ejecting brass was 500 FPS

[Urny]

Richards does still offer a small ring 98 stock, listed on their action inlet page. Rifle-stocks.com.

TbG, I chono'd several lots of that ammo too, in a 29" barreled Turk and got similar results. The bolt was frequently stiff to open after firing, so I pulled most of them down and reduced the powder charge a bit. They shot a little more accurately with the lighter charge.

I see kens already provided the Richards info on the other iteration of this thread. Should have read it first, I reckon.

[444ttd]

https://manitoucustomguns.com/

[skeet1]

I believe a good gunsmith could put a new chip in the place where yours is lacking wood. If done right you would not be able to notice it.

Ken