Indians For Guns

Hello ! everyone
I seek your advise on whether a 8x57 mauser or a 30.06 eddystone rifle is a better weapon . . . if one gets to keep only one bolt action rifle. the primary purpose is self defence and a occasional deer hunt.
what would be the prevailing price of these guns - 80% grooves?

regards
Arjun401

Ballistically the 8x57 can do anything the .30-06 can and in some cases better. If the 8x57 is a k98 in decent condition made in 39 or 40 I would pick that.

How do you know the grooves are 80%? Without a borescope it is next to impossible to make that judgement.

My personal preference would be the K98 since it is a newer weapon and am not fond of the .30-06 in anything but a Garand.

In the US or India, I'd much rather have a .30-06, as ammo will be readily available. While you might be able to get 8 X 57 cartridges at the present time, will you be assured of its availability at all times? Since IOF makes .30-06 ammo, it will be the more readily available. A rifle without ammo is useless. Keep in mind that .30-06 ammo will be cheaper too. The .30-06 is also a very versatile cartridge and is available in many different loadings (at least in the US). Here, you can buy .30-06 ammo at any Walmart, sporting goods store and many gas stations.
8 X 57; not so much

While a K98 (assuming that the rifle in question is a K98) is probably the more modern rifle of the two, ammo availability would be what makes up my mind. However, while either of those rifles will work if they are in good condition, note that there are many other choices if you are not restricted to those two rifles.

As XL Target suggests, I would investigate the local cost and availability of ammunition and let that influence my decision.

Secondly, I would compare the individual guns but everything else being equal I would prefer a M1917 in 30-06 to a M98 in 8X57 but much of that is individual bias.

arjun401 wrote:Hello ! everyone
I seek your advise on whether a 8x57 mauser or a 30.06 eddystone rifle is a better weapon . . . if one gets to keep only one bolt action rifle. the primary purpose is self defence and a occasional deer hunt.
what would be the prevailing price of these guns - 80% grooves?

regards
Arjun401

friend,
are you in india?if so you are not supposed to hunt.
30 06 is the best option in india,
regards

I own a .30-06 Eddystone. Its current market price is inbetween 2.10 to 2.50 lacs. The barrel might be in good condition but I don't think it will bear 80% grooves. You can have a look at my Eddystone here http://www.indiansforguns.com/viewtopic ... 810#p70810

Comparing eddystone and k98 I like the looks of eddy and its action is very strong. Many magnums copied it latter. Despite being so much old, the action locks up very tight on mine rifle. Also its sights are excellent.

Although a normal rifle owner in India don't shoot much but availability of ammo is an important factor to consider when buying a rifle. As xl_target pointed out, 8x57 may be available today but the caliber, not being as popular as .30-06, chances are that with passage of time they may fade away from the market. This is less likely to happen to .30-06 as they are manufactured in India as well. The .30-06 ammo is available with almost all the dealers. For types and brands available you can check this page http://www.indiansforguns.com/viewtopic ... &start=480.

If you are not restricted to one of the two rifles that you have mentioned then you can also consider IOF .30-06. It is accurate enough. The only thing where the IOF rifle lacks behind is in fit and finish. But if you buy it then you will be able to save enough money to get it done according to your taste by a good gunsmith.

Vineet, you have a nice rifle:


One thing to consider when making a purchase, is this rifle is going to be worth a fair amount more in another 25 years than it is right now. I do not know if that will be the case with an IOF rifle.

Mark wrote: One thing to consider when making a purchase, is this rifle is going to be worth a fair amount more in another 25 years than it is right now. I do not know if that will be the case with an IOF rifle.

I bought this rifle for 1.83 L two years ago. A dealer last week offered me 2.40 L for it.
The price of IOF rifle will only rise if the IOF stops its production in the future as it has happened with the IOF pump action shotgun. When in production it was available for around 40K but now the second hands are selling in market for 1.40L.

A 8x57 K98 will also be worth a fair chunk of change in 25 years. It is a popular caliber, and several loads are available for it as well. Plus the Mauser action is reputed to be amongst the most reliable available on the market.

I don't know about ammo availability in India, but outside of India there is no dearth of it ranging from Milsurp to Match Grade.

Thanks! MoA,Vineet and all of you
The K 98 with its full butt looks like a less handy weapon and appears to be fit only for military use.
did mauser also produce a 30.06 bolt action rifle. i saw one such rifle and it had 30,10,06 written on the barrel in Kanpur.i suspect it is a convert.

arjun401 wrote:Thanks! MoA,Vineet and all of you
The K 98 with its full butt looks like a less handy weapon and appears to be fit only for military use.
did mauser also produce a 30.06 bolt action rifle. i saw one such rifle and it had 30,10,06 written on the barrel in Kanpur.i suspect it is a convert.

You could do the same thing that was done to the Enfield, cut down the forestock, and get rid of the handguard! Mauser produced sporters in .30-06, among many other chamberings. FN produced military Mausers in .30-06, among other calibers. "30,10,06" seems like an unlikely designation of caliber.

What do you think the Eddy is? A sporting rifle?

When the M98 Mauser came out, the British were using the SMLE and the USA was using the Krag. Both nations saw the superiority of the M98 design. Actually, the USA saw this in the Spanish American War, where they had to face Spanish troops armed with the M93 Mauser. Because the M93s were clip-loaded, where the Krags were loaded by the hand full, Spanish troops were able to keep up a greater rate of effective fire.

So, both Great Britain and the USA designed copies of the M98: The British came out with the P14 Enfield, and the Americans with the 1903 Springfield. The Enfield was a large, strong action, suitable for full length magnum cartridges, where the Springfield, which is more nearly the size of the M98, was not.

I think that the suggestion given to you about considering ammunition, and what you personally can get hold of more easily is a good one -- I would base my decision on that, if you do not already have a favorite.

MoA wrote:What do you think the Eddy is? A sporting rifle?

not at all ,but it is slightly better to handle than the k98(no offence intended)

the mauser 30.06 that i saw mentioned the bore on the barrel as 30,10.06 and the dealer told me that mauser does it this way only.

I also happened to see a few rifles in .275 caliber. a remington,a fn browning , 2 brnos in .275 the one with full stock was costing 20k more than the one with the regular stock.
is .275 a good bore and is the ammo easily available?

arjun401 wrote:
the mauser 30.06 that i saw mentioned the bore on the barrel as 30,10.06 and the dealer told me that mauser does it this way only.

I also happened to see a few rifles in .275 caliber. a remington,a fn browning , 2 brnos in .275 the one with full stock was costing 20k more than the one with the regular stock.
is .275 a good bore and is the ammo easily available?

I would have to differ on that one. I'd be willing to bet that Mauser never did it that way. Nor did anyone else who chambers rifles in .30-06.

The .275 (7x57mm Mauser) is an exceedingly good cartridge. But whether it is readily available, your dealer would have to tell you.