M48 Mauser

Infobox Weapon
name= Model 1948 Short Rifle


caption= M48BO Rifle
origin=flagcountry|Yugoslavia
type= Bolt-action rifle
service= 1935 – present
used_by= Yugoslavia
wars= Yugoslav wars
is_ranged=yes
design_date= 1948
production_date= 1950 – 1965
number= around 300,000
variants= M48, M48A, M48B, M48BO
weight= 3.9 kg (8.6 lb)
length= 1105 mm (43.5 in)
part_length= 597 mm (23.25 in)
cartridge= 7.92 x 57 mm IS (8 mm Mauser)
action= Bolt-action
velocity= 760 m/s
range= 500 m (547 yd) (with iron sights)
800+ m (875 yd) (with optics)
feed= 5-round stripper clip, internal magazine
sights= rear: standard V-notch, adjustable to 2,000 meters in 100 m increments
front: hooded, inverted V

The M48 Mauser is a post World War II Yugoslavian version of the German Mauser K98k. Although similar in general appearance to that of the German rifle, many of the parts of these two rifles are not interchangeable, such as the bolt. The main difference between the M48 and the K98k is that the M48 uses an intermediate-length receiver. They are usually easily identified by the top handguard which extends behind the rear sight, and ends just in front of the receiver ring although this feature exists on other models as well. M48's are regarded as a military surplus firearm and can be collected in the US at a generally cheap price due to the numbers recently imported from Europe.

Combat use

Most M48's were put into government storage shortly after they were manufactured. Most M48's that are encountered in the United States and Australia today show only slight wear - usually from storage. Many rifles are sold with accessories, including bayonet, bayonet sheath, frog holder, cleaning rod, and field cleaning kit. The rifles are normally sold coated in the protective grease 'cosmoline' which needs to be cleaned out before the rifle is fired.

As such, the M48 only saw limited use in the Yugoslav wars. Often the M48 was used as the basis for a sniper rifle, drilled and tapped for the ZRAK 4x32 telescopic sight and mounts. [ [http://www.texastradingpost.com/yugosniper/m48sniper.html M48 Mauser Sniper Rifle] ]

Variants

There are three main versions of the M48.

* M48: The initial version of the M48, with full crest and machined steel parts.
* M48A: Essentially similar to the M48, the M48A used sheet metal stampings for the magazine floorplate. These changes sped production while lowering cost. The critical bolt and receiver which contain the pressure of the burning propellant within the cartridge case retained the same material requirements and design tolerances (ie, were machined from forged steel) in the A and B variations. It is the most commonly encountered version of the M48.
* M48B: Additional sheet metal stampings incorporated.
* M48BO: "Without Markings" these are otherwise similar to the M48A, but without the Yugoslavian crest on the receiver. These were intended to be shipped to the Middle East, but the contract was never finalised. Some BO rifles have been found to incorporate salvaged, scrubbed, and remarked, captured German receivers from World War II. Some BO rifles were delivered to Syria, and after arrival the Syrians stamped the receivers with their own crest.

References

External links

* [http://www.marstar.ca/yugo-M1.htm Yugoslavian Mauser Rifles Explained]
* [http://mauser98k.internetdsl.pl/gyougoen.html M48 on the Mauser 98 website]
* [http://mauser98k.internetdsl.pl/download/Mauser%2098k%20-%20Model%2048%20Rifle%20(8mm)%20-%20Manual.pdf M48 owner's manual]