Diana K98 Mauser

[Grimnick]

Since my gf doesn't really share my enthousiasm for my latest acquisition I figured I'd share it here
Earlier this year I bought a Diana K98 because... I'm a sucker for the looks of the rifle.
In all honesty, that is really the only reason I bought the thing: the looks. I didn't really need it, I wanted it. For every niche role theres another rifle on my rack which does it better than the K98 does. If I want silky smooth accuracy I have my TX200HC. If I want some *umpf* I have my D54 Airking. If I want to plink all afternoon I have some old breakbarrels & co2 guns laying around.
I didn't have an excuse to justify the purchase of "yet another air rifle" _{( - my gf )}. So, I did what I usually do: spend a couple of months reading the reviews & oggling all the pretty pictures from time to time. And then it happened! One momentary lapse of weakness, and before I knew it I was in the store spending my pennies on something I didn't need. Oops, I guess I'll just have to live with that now.

At first I started shooting at close ranges. 10-20 meters with open sights at some reactive targets (as in: tin cans, nuts, suger cubes, spoilt fruit, etc.).
Just some 'authorative' plinking ^^ I don't know if you can really call it plinking if it goes *THWACK!* instead of *plink*
Or in other words, this thing has some serious power!

[Fans of militaria & authentic replicas, look away! Avert your eyes! Stop reading right now!]

With all that power comes a very proportionate soundreport. Even though I only have one neighbour and he doesn't really mind all that much I still prefer to keep the noise to a minimum.
The Diana K98 has a 1/2" UNF threaded muzzle, so I did the unthinkable and fitted a decimeater moderator on my K98.
I reduces the sound output ^(duh) but also helps with the balance & recoil of the rifle. I'd even go as far as to say it's more forgiving to shoot accurately with the extra weight on the muzzle.

Pretty soon I got tired of shooting open sights and I wanted to fit a decent sight on it. Preferably something with low magnification because I wanted to keep using it for close to mid-range plinking.
So I ended up ordering a Hawke 30mm red-dot sight. Because red-dots aren't known for lasting very long on springers, let alone a 30J springer, I mounted it on a spare 30mm Diana ZR bullseye mount I had laying around. The red-dot is performing exactly as I hoped it would and is absolutely perfect for what I'm using it for.




But there's a problem: the K98 stock was never designed with scopes in mind.
It's designed to be used with iron sights and has a horribly low stock-comb. (I read somewhere they're also this low to allow room for the bolt).
Even when I was shooting open sights I found myself hovering my head over the stock a bit. With the ZR mount, which is pretty high, you can imagine it was even worse.
So... one aliexpress-order later I had a nice leather cheek riser mounted on the rifle. It's a perfect fit and I now get a proper cheekweld when shouldering.
It has bullet loops though which I don't really really don't like the look of. I searched everywhere but couldn't find a single one which looked nice, was affordable and shipped to my location.
This was the best I could find so it's what I bought. I might try to repurpose the loops for something else or perhaps cover them up or something in the future.

Anyway, the rifle in itself weighs 4.3kg (9.5 lbs), add a moderator, all metal red-dot & mounts and a cheekriser to that and you've got a pretty hefty piece of kit.
So I did the most sensible thing to do and ordered another accessory to add to my little frankenstein monster: a sling!
It has sling-mounts just like the real thing so it was pretty easy to find reproduction slings for a K98 online.

So here it is, in all it's unholy glory:





I can hear the purist militaria collectors revving up their period-appropriate typewriters right about now to call me a heretic & my rifle an abomination 
Honestly, I don't really care. I don't see this as a mauser k98 replica, I find it lacks a bolt and the cutout in the stock where the closed bolt handle rests.
It lacks the distinctive bumpy profile of the receiver.
It lacks patiny, no bumps or scratches (yet).
It lacks a lot of things...
In my eyes this rifle is just what it is: an awesome-looking, fun-to-shoot, high-powered, accurate, underlever air-rifle, with bells & whistles which (almost) all have an actual purpose.
And that's all I need. The end

[Yogi]

Grimnick,

Nice addition!
I am a firm believer that stock can either be made to shoot with sights or with scopes.  As you found out, your head needs to be in a different place for each.
One size does not fit all!

Are you sure that you did not buy the Mauser just to wet off your GF?

-Y

[dtdtdtdt]

Very nice rifle!!!  Keep the rifle and the girl if she has other redeeming qualities.  My wife of 48 years has shot a gun exactly once!  (45 cal muzzle loader)  If the girl doesn't tolerate your hobbies as much as she expects you to tolerate hers trade her in and keep the rifle. It will never work in the very long term!!   In my wife's case, 50 period dressed dolls, thousands of garments made, tons of fabric, 30+ sewing machines. I actually encourage her!!  She has more invested in her hobbies by at least 5times what I have invested in guns.  I actually have fewer guns total than she has sewing machines when I include her antique ones that she collects.
 
There is a lace-on leather cheekpiece designed for use by early WWII snipers using an M1D or the O3 sniper version. .  Look on Ebay for a huge assortment.  Search for "M1 cheek piece" Reproductions anywhere from $13 made in India to real ones (used) at $69.

If you can find the M1 style, it doesn't have loops, laces on with a boot lace, fits the retro-style and allows you to get a decent cheek weld with a stock designed for a military rifle.  I have one in the box because it was too small for the target style stock on my rifle but worked well on a 03 that I once had.

I added a brown stretchy cheek piece that came with three thicknesses of neoprene to give you the RIGHT rise on my RWS 54.  It works well but doesn't fit the military style you are looking for.

By the way, trying to be helpful, most cheek pieces fit close to the hand grip rather than the butt so they don't interfere with your shoulder hold while shooting .  To see what I am talking about look at a rifle with a Monte-Carlo stock or one with the leather cheek piece I am suggesting.

[Steelontarget]

I also bought by Diana K98 for the cool factor.  It had some bugs that needed worked out.  Once I exterminated the bugs; it is a really nice air rifle.

The third photo is what the K98 will do to a tin can at 100 yards.  Yes, that is correct.  I said 100 yards.

[Jeff Marshall]

Your gun is pretty cool looking. I recommend using your ammo loops to hold ammo (7.92x57,AKA 8mm Mauser). (BTW, ammo is never called "bullets" except on television and by the Lone Ranger, He, He).

Your dot sight would look more "sniper rifle" correct if mounted to the extreme rear.

Sniper rifle scopes of the period were mounted very high to clear the bolt handle and the safety switch. Not all Mausers had a cut out under the bolt handle.
The comb was not low to clear the bolt, there are gazillions of sporterized Mausers with high comb stocks. The length of pull on military rifles trends towards being short to accommodate winter clothing.

Anschutz made a model 1954 air rifle to simulate the Hakim 8mm semi-auto for the Egyptian military.  They were very well made underlevers and had tap loading mechanisms that opened automatically when the rifle was cocked. There were a ton of them on the market 25ish years ago for about $100 each, most of them were pretty beat up. They had a cool skull and crossbones stamped on the receiver.
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2014/06/hakim-air-rifle-part-1/

   Diana made a underlever training air rifle (late '80's?) based on the late model Diana 50 (the late model 50 was based on the break barrel Diana 45 action). They were parkerized and came with a leather sling.
   They are rarely seen, and there seems to be little known about them     whether they were produced for a specific government contract or not. (I have one stashed away somewhere).

    Walther produced the KKJ .22 rimfire Mauser training rifle during the Nazi era.
   The Chinese company Norinco made a low cost modern .22 rimfire 98K rifle that was very similar to the Walther, and they also made a version that simulated the even shorter Mauser 98 "mountain rifle".
  The Norinco rifles used a copy of CZ .22 rimfire actions to build their rifles. The Walthers are very valuable now, and even the Norinco's price is trending up.

Have a good one! :-)

[HectorMedina]

Grimnick

First of all, I have to commend you on your English writing skills and your sense of humour. Well done, sir!

Second, I do agree that there are some "things" missing from the K98 to be a close replica, however, let me assure you that if a replica is what you want, DIANA is not too far off from bringing a bolt-action K-98. It won't be a "true" replica either, as the PCP bolts do not need to be as big as a centerfire bolt and the space/volume is better used to cover the different needs of the airgun, but I am sure you will like it, so start saving, LOL!

Third, methinks that you are located somewhere in central Europe and that your gun is a 5.5 mm's version, if this is so, then I would suggest you search for some plastic tubes/vials that fit into your "bullet loops"  and use them to store extra ammo, a foam filler can be used to prevent them from rattling and making noises. Perhaps someone you know with some lathe turning skills can even make some "pellet dispensers" that can hold the pellets with an Oring at the mouth and dispense them with the push of a button through the bottom of the "bullet loops".

;-)

Fourth, while your selection of a red-dot is good, you'ld be better off getting a crossbow scope, I particularly like the Sightmark's crossbow scopes, this one is relatively inexpensive:

http://sightmark.com/product.php?item=4

Crossbow scopes are built to withstand the vibrations produced by the string, and the reverse recoil of the prods (the bow limbs), so they do well in airguns and this one in particular can be mounted real low with fixed mounts.
Parallax is fixed at 30 yds, so it is a really useful scope for general shooting and "Thwacking" stuff and pests with airguns.

Anyway, congrats on a good writeup and on an excellent gun!






HM

[Yogi]

I also bought by Diana K98 for the cool factor.  It had some bugs that needed worked out.  Once I exterminated the bugs; it is a really nice air rifle.

The third photo is what the K98 will do to a tin can at 100 yards.  Yes, that is correct.  I said 100 yards.

Very nice for a Hundy.

I can't hit anything past 75.

-Y

[Steelontarget]

I also bought by Diana K98 for the cool factor.  It had some bugs that needed worked out.  Once I exterminated the bugs; it is a really nice air rifle.

The third photo is what the K98 will do to a tin can at 100 yards.  Yes, that is correct.  I said 100 yards.

Very nice for a Hundy.

I can't hit anything past 75.

-Y

I found the perfect bag to rest the rifle one.  I've used it with several rifles and it has definitely helped with bench-resting and accuracy.  Here's a link to a review of the Armageddon Gear Fat Bag:

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=147426.msg1500812#msg1500812

I also switched to the Leapers UTG 4X Tru-Hunter scope from PA.  Each dot is worth three mils not one.  That isn't so bad and actually a small advantage for shooting longer distances.

Here's a link to the scope that I am using.  I gave it 5 stars in my review. 

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/leapers-utg-4x32-ao-true-hunter-rifle-scope-mil-dot-reticle-1-4-moa-1?a=5797

[ranchibi]

Grimnick, beautiful K98! You have “created” a fit to you shooting machine! Enjoy shooting her or err...him .

[AG72]

These guns are so cool looking! I hope i will get my hands on one someday

[Airwoods]

These guns are so cool looking! I hope i will get my hands on one someday

Me too

[JnJHess]

Me 3 

[longhunter]

I picked one up, from Mike at Flying Dragon, with a full tune. It's been earning it's keep, in the woods, this year.
The squirrels hate it.

[uglymike]

A serious, purpose driven rifle setup to fit the owners wants and needs, excellent!   

[45flint]

Your gun is pretty cool looking. I recommend using your ammo loops to hold ammo (7.92x57,AKA 8mm Mauser). (BTW, ammo is never called "bullets" except on television and by the Lone Ranger, He, He).

Your dot sight would look more "sniper rifle" correct if mounted to the extreme rear.

Sniper rifle scopes of the period were mounted very high to clear the bolt handle and the safety switch. Not all Mausers had a cut out under the bolt handle.
The comb was not low to clear the bolt, there are gazillions of sporterized Mausers with high comb stocks. The length of pull on military rifles trends towards being short to accommodate winter clothing.

Anschutz made a model 1954 air rifle to simulate the Hakim 8mm semi-auto for the Egyptian military.  They were very well made underlevers and had tap loading mechanisms that opened automatically when the rifle was cocked. There were a ton of them on the market 25ish years ago for about $100 each, most of them were pretty beat up. They had a cool skull and crossbones stamped on the receiver.
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2014/06/hakim-air-rifle-part-1/

   Diana made a underlever training air rifle (late '80's?) based on the late model Diana 50 (the late model 50 was based on the break barrel Diana 45 action). They were parkerized and came with a leather sling.
   They are rarely seen, and there seems to be little known about them     whether they were produced for a specific government contract or not. (I have one stashed away somewhere).

    Walther produced the KKJ .22 rimfire Mauser training rifle during the Nazi era.
   The Chinese company Norinco made a low cost modern .22 rimfire 98K rifle that was very similar to the Walther, and they also made a version that simulated the even shorter Mauser 98 "mountain rifle".
  The Norinco rifles used a copy of CZ .22 rimfire actions to build their rifles. The Walthers are very valuable now, and even the Norinco's price is trending up.

Have a good one! :-)

Just picked up that 1980’s Parkerized Diana 50 on a auction site last week.  Still hasn’t arrived but should be fun.  I think they are pretty rare couldn’t even find a pic of one on the net.  Love tap loading rifles.

[mcoulter]

Great write up!  However, your last sentence confused me.  I have never read anything like this on an air gun forum...

And that's all I need. The end

Said no air gunner.

Ever.

 

[AG72]

Great write up!  However, your last sentence confused me.  I have never read anything like this on an air gun forum...

And that's all I need. The end

Said no air gunner.

Ever.

 

And if said so, changed realy fast when "she" passes by....

[Steelontarget]

Now that they've made an air rifle that resembles the K-98, I'd like to see one that resembles the 1903 Springfield or even an M-1 Garand.