Raupleminze
Senior Member
Hey guys,
I recently got this build back from the gunsmith and am quite pleased! I figured that I would share it with you guys. For those of you not familiar there is proof that the German Wehrmacht used captured Soviet mounts and optics on the eastern front in WW2. Some of you may be familiar with this image that clearly shows an example of such a rifle:
Well after seeing that picture and realizing that I had never really seen anybody post an example of such a rifle I knew I wanted one. The combination of the K98's great design and the ballistics of the 8mm round are a great platform. Then to combine that platform with the wonderful Soviet PEM scope with a sharp pointed reticle and easy to adjust windage and elevation turrets to me is genius.
So the search began for a nice example of a K98 capture rifle. I was able to find a nice DOU 43 from a member of Snipershide.com for a great price. The rifles receiver code wasn't of any importance since it wouldn't be a factory build so I thought it would work fine. It came with an aftermarket SSR cut stock that I will use for a future build and a bunch of other misc. parts.
I wasn't a big fan of the darker "dot" cupped buttplate stock that was on it initially so I sold that one to pay for a beat up reddish laminate stock. I made that purchase from a friend on Gunboards.com (bolt56) and I think it matches the theme of the rifle more. It even has some initials carved into it.
Next on the list was to find a reproduction PEM mount. An original was going to be very expensive and hard to find. Not to mention an original should most likely be used for a restoration and not a "tribute build". I had remembered using an "Igor" mount for the '42 PEM build and was pleased so I ended up purchasing a couple of the last remaining mounts he had.
I had initially planned on using a Coles Distributing Ukrainian reproduction PE scope. However the fine adjustment ring prohibits the scopes recoil ring from seating against the front scope mount ring (I was informed of this while the build was underway). So I sold that scope to help fund an original. I was luckily able to find an original 1939 PEM scope that had a great "been there, done that" look to it. Besides a couple of extra (original) action screws the parts list was complete for the build.
The next step was to see how the rifle shot in the newly acquired stock. So I shot a box of Hornady 196gr FMJ 8mm Vintage Match through the rifle to see how it grouped. Results were not stellar by any means, but I figured the stock would probably need some fitting. The rifle was grouping 2-1/8" @ 50 yards with 1-2 minutes between shots.
I decided to move forward with the build and have the gunsmith put the stock and receiver into factory "specifications" or a "sniper tune". All of the pieces were packaged safely and shipped to the builder.
I recently got this build back from the gunsmith and am quite pleased! I figured that I would share it with you guys. For those of you not familiar there is proof that the German Wehrmacht used captured Soviet mounts and optics on the eastern front in WW2. Some of you may be familiar with this image that clearly shows an example of such a rifle:
Well after seeing that picture and realizing that I had never really seen anybody post an example of such a rifle I knew I wanted one. The combination of the K98's great design and the ballistics of the 8mm round are a great platform. Then to combine that platform with the wonderful Soviet PEM scope with a sharp pointed reticle and easy to adjust windage and elevation turrets to me is genius.
So the search began for a nice example of a K98 capture rifle. I was able to find a nice DOU 43 from a member of Snipershide.com for a great price. The rifles receiver code wasn't of any importance since it wouldn't be a factory build so I thought it would work fine. It came with an aftermarket SSR cut stock that I will use for a future build and a bunch of other misc. parts.
I wasn't a big fan of the darker "dot" cupped buttplate stock that was on it initially so I sold that one to pay for a beat up reddish laminate stock. I made that purchase from a friend on Gunboards.com (bolt56) and I think it matches the theme of the rifle more. It even has some initials carved into it.
Next on the list was to find a reproduction PEM mount. An original was going to be very expensive and hard to find. Not to mention an original should most likely be used for a restoration and not a "tribute build". I had remembered using an "Igor" mount for the '42 PEM build and was pleased so I ended up purchasing a couple of the last remaining mounts he had.
I had initially planned on using a Coles Distributing Ukrainian reproduction PE scope. However the fine adjustment ring prohibits the scopes recoil ring from seating against the front scope mount ring (I was informed of this while the build was underway). So I sold that scope to help fund an original. I was luckily able to find an original 1939 PEM scope that had a great "been there, done that" look to it. Besides a couple of extra (original) action screws the parts list was complete for the build.
The next step was to see how the rifle shot in the newly acquired stock. So I shot a box of Hornady 196gr FMJ 8mm Vintage Match through the rifle to see how it grouped. Results were not stellar by any means, but I figured the stock would probably need some fitting. The rifle was grouping 2-1/8" @ 50 yards with 1-2 minutes between shots.
I decided to move forward with the build and have the gunsmith put the stock and receiver into factory "specifications" or a "sniper tune". All of the pieces were packaged safely and shipped to the builder.
thanks for sharing it
