Mauser 98 vs Lee-Enfield

[JohnRippert]

My favorite Mauser action battle rifle is a Spanish FR-8 in 7.62x51. I also have a few Enfields as well. A couple No1 MKIII's, a Savage No4, a No5 MK1 and a No2 MKIV in .22

Nothing beats the M1 Garand for me. Just a all around superb battle rifle.

 

[Rudi]

I'd have to go with a Kar98k.

 

[STCM(SW)]

"Nothing beats the M1 Garand for me. Just a all around superb battle rifle."

You got that right!

 

[JackM]

Well, the Brits ended up on the winning side, both times. That said, I would agree that, overall, the Mauser is the better rifle.

 

[sheepdawg]

I still own two 1937 Sauer & Sohn K98ks. There isn't a military bolt rifle on the planet that throws better than a matched bolt on a pre war Mauser.

Had a number 5 Jungle Carbine. My shoulder never forgave me for that one.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Back in the 60's we had access to cheap Mausers and Enfield's as surplus. You could mail order for either in VG condition for <20 Bucks.

My dad was a combat vet who went through Italy, France and Germany with the 3rd ID. In the 60's our family didn't have a lot of disposable cash so he decided to order a surplus bolt rifle to hunt deer with. He had a very high opinion of the Enfield because of the sights. He was used to the aperture sights on the Enfield having used those in combat. He bought an Enfield and made a sporter out of it for a deer rifle. 200 yds was a pretty easy shot for him with that rifle even though many seem to dislike the 303 cartridge. 7x57, 303 and 30-06 was the most popular rifle cartridges available in surplus rifles in the 60's.

I think it came down to the sights, not the cartridge, at least for him. So the Enfield can be a first rate sporter also.

 

[mtgianni]

Supposedly- according to reports and photos- he carried a Winchester lever Rifle.
But when you see his pic - look at the ammo he’s wearing.
He was a Super Ham for the camera, my guess is his men, who did typically use Mausers, hung ammo on him when he directed.

While Dorotea Arranga was an interesting individual he was also able to change his mind often. As you said "Super Ham" for Pancho Villa, may even be an understatement.

 

[LostintheOzone]

While Dorotea Arranga was an interesting individual he was also able to change his mind often. As you said "Super Ham" for Pancho Villa, may even be an understatement.

They used Mausers because Germany was funding their revolution and supplied them with rifles and ammo.

Remember that Pershing left MX to gear up for WW1 in Feb. 1917.

 

[USMCR79]

I took down my first deer in 1980 with a military version of the KAR 98. It was a little heavy but the action was smooth. My best rifle!

Bill

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I'm down to three guns in 303 British; a No4, a No5, and a 1903 Martini "Citadel" with Medford rifling. Medford rifling is for Black Powder and Copper jacketed Bullets. The original loading was a 200-208 grain jacketed RN bullet over 40ish grains of Black Powder My rifle has a tight enough bore to use.308" dia., 200 gr Hornady RN wit fair accuracy and .314" dia. Hornady Spitzer with excellent accuracy to 200 yards (the B.C. is so different, after 200 the sights don't match the flatter shooting ammo!)

The only 98 Mauser I have left is a Toledo, Spain model. Shoots Yugo ammo fantastic!

The only 1903 Springfield I have left is a National Ordinance 03A3 post war parts gun on sub-parr receivers.

Of those 5 guns for Targets out to 200, with iron sights, I'll take the Martini, hands down. For a battle rifle, I consider the No4 and the k98 to be a draw and the choice would be ammo availability! (Those being equal, I'll take the No4- there are several throughout the family!)

If it gets down to a guerrilla warfare situation, I'll take an SKS over an AR if ammo isn't a problem. Simplicity at its finest!

Ivan

 

[cruiserdan]

If a fellow happens to be left-handed, none of these bolt guns work well. I can run an M1 a whole lot better than any of them.
If I was right-handed I think I'd pick the 03-A3. I like those sights the best.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Speaking of Lefties- easy for me, I am one.
A while back met a super interesting dude, Wayne Bailey.
He and his wife were Indian Art Dealers.
In his younger days, Wayne was hired in the Border Patrol, discharged because of poor Spanish ability. Later he spoke excellent Spanish, traveled all over Mexico and talked to everyone.
Wayne made multiple trips into the Sierra Madre, buying fetishes from the Tarahumara Indians.
He would drive to a nearby Mexican Ranch and they would pack him into Copper Canyon.
Wayne, a lefty, would buy a Straight Bolt Mauser and take it to Mexico. He shot Lefthanded and went over the top to reach the straight bolt.
Often he would take deer and gift it to his Indian hosts.
But he never brought the Mauser back across the border. He would sell it or just gift it to the folks at the host ranch.
It widely known that those Mexican Folks love those Mausers.
And yes, this is the guy who told me about the Walker Colt in Cuba, NM.
‘We got to go up there and get that Walker.’

 

[cruiserdan]

Speaking of Lefties- easy for me, I am one.
A while back met a super interesting dude, Wayne Bailey.
He and his wife were Indian Art Dealers.
In his younger days, Wayne was hired in the Border Patrol, discharged because of poor Spanish ability. Later he spoke excellent Spanish, traveled all over Mexico and talked to everyone.
Wayne made multiple trips into the Sierra Madre, buying fetishes from the Tarahumara Indians.
He would drive to a nearby Mexican Ranch and they would pack him into Copper Canyon.
Wayne, a lefty, would buy a Straight Bolt Mauser and take it to Mexico.
Often he would take deer and gift it to his Indian hosts.
But he never brought the Mauser back across the border. He would sell it or just gift it to the folks at the host ranch.
It widely known that those Mexican Folks love those Mausers.
And yes, this is the guy who told me about the Walker Colt in Cuba, NM.
‘We got to go up there and get that Walker.’

There's a Walker in Cuba?
I pass through there quite often...

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Wayne was absolutely positive there is/was a Walker Colt in Cuba, NM.
I was never presented with convincing evidence.

 

[LostintheOzone]

If you know the story of Poncho Villas raid on the town of Columbus NM there's some interesting history there about the use of 1903 Springfield rifles. Seems the US troops were killing Ponchos men at 800 yds when they retreated. That's just a click under half a mile. Says something about the training and the rifle.

 

[moosedog]

Back to the OP, it's a Mauser K-98 for me as I have had many of both and there's no comparison for fit and quality, not to mention noticed recoil is worse with the Enfield's.

 

[dsf]

If a fellow happens to be left-handed, none of these bolt guns work well. I can run an M1 a whole lot better than any of them.
If I was right-handed I think I'd pick the 03-A3. I like those sights the best.

Granted the opportunity is limited, but as a "right handed left eye dominant" I shoot off the left shoulder. Off a bench or anything somewhat solid the Enfield is very fast to operate.

Keep the rifle on the left shoulder and on target, right hand on the bolt handle. The cock on closing helps a lot too.

 

[Warren Sear]

My favorite Mauser action battle rifle is a Spanish FR-8 in 7.62x51. I also have a few Enfields as well. A couple No1 MKIII's, a Savage No4, a No5 MK1 and a No2 MKIV in .22

Nothing beats the M1 Garand for me. Just a all around superb battle rifle.

I would take an AR-15 hands down for serious use.

 

[JohnRippert]

I would take an AR-15 hands down for serious use.

I have a few of those as well. Very utilitarian, boring guns. But for serious use, boring is good. I just like bigger, heavier bullets. Still have everything I need to put together a 'Tanker' Garand, which would suit me just fine. Plus there is the black tip .30-06 the CMP was selling a while back.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

I have a few of those as well. Very utilitarian, boring guns. But for serious use, boring is good. I just like bigger, heavier bullets. Still have everything I need to put together a 'Tanker' Garand, which would suit me just fine. Plus there is the black tip .30-06 the CMP was selling a while back.

Please don’t destroy a Garand to make a “Tanker”. They aren’t exactly making any new M1s.