Opinion on possible buy dou 44 k98 converted to hunting rifle

Usmc03

Member
hello gents looking at this k98 dou 44 its been “sporterized” Id like to slowly bring it back to looking like a ww2 rifle, could be a fun project. What you think.
 

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That thing isnt sporterized, it’s butchered. Would cost a lot to make it “look” the part and even then won’t be right or valuable. Rear sight base handguard lip is ground off. Bolt is massacred by bubba. Thing is drilled and tapped to hell….
 
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it’d have to have a really nice bore & be inexpensive, if it’s the fun you’re after, OK but it will never be worth the $$$ you put into it. as it is, a decent deer/elk/moose/bear or range rifle.
 
I wouldn't even bother man.... You'd spend more money trying to get it into military configuration than it will ever be worth. If you want a proper 98k in original configuration, buy one.
 
it would be a matter of finding & switching parts, EXCEPT for the rear sight base, looks like the front lip that retains the hand guard has been removed, so in order to have the oem style hand guard on there, you’d have to replace that. Meaning remove the front sight blade, loosen the screw underneath, heat, melt solder, remove front sight base; repeat for rear sight base, but takes more heat. install unaltered rear sight base, making sure of alignment, repeat for front sight base. you’ll need a complete rear sight assembly because parts of yours are missing.

you’ll need: stock (cupped butt plate type, assuming it comes w/butt plate, recoil lug & bayonet lug) & hand guard, front & rear bands, band spring, rear sight assembly, bolt body (think you can re-use the striker assembly) K98k sling. looks like a stamped trigger guard & floor plate,( if not ww2 German, add to list) trigger looks oem, so OK. little tiny short set screws to fill the scope mount holes.

i’ve rescued a few, it’s fun, you’ll learn how they are put together. it will take years to assemble parts w/the correct inspection stamps, & the serial number, forget it. some parts on a ‘44 rifle may be un numbered, so that helps a little bit. as it is, it’s perfect for hunting or load development, if less than $300, i’d buy it for those uses, less than $400, maybe……i’ve been there & done that. still have my 1st, a sportered 1909 Argentine cavalry carbine, sights replaced. sits in a military stock, but it’s my rainy day deer rifle, beyond restoring.
 
The receiver has been cut on. It's a total write off. There might be guns worth going to extremes to try and save in this condition, but a DOU44 isn't that.
 
it would be a matter of finding & switching parts, EXCEPT for the rear sight base, looks like the front lip that retains the hand guard has been removed, so in order to have the oem style hand guard on there, you’d have to replace that. Meaning remove the front sight blade, loosen the screw underneath, heat, melt solder, remove front sight base; repeat for rear sight base, but takes more heat. install unaltered rear sight base, making sure of alignment, repeat for front sight base. you’ll need a complete rear sight assembly because parts of yours are missing.

you’ll need: stock (cupped butt plate type, assuming it comes w/butt plate, recoil lug & bayonet lug) & hand guard, front & rear bands, band spring, rear sight assembly, bolt body (think you can re-use the striker assembly) K98k sling. looks like a stamped trigger guard & floor plate,( if not ww2 German, add to list) trigger looks oem, so OK. little tiny short set screws to fill the scope mount holes.

i’ve rescued a few, it’s fun, you’ll learn how they are put together. it will take years to assemble parts w/the correct inspection stamps, & the serial number, forget it. some parts on a ‘44 rifle may be un numbered, so that helps a little bit. as it is, it’s perfect for hunting or load development, if less than $300, i’d buy it for those uses, less than $400, maybe……i’ve been there & done that. still have my 1st, a sportered 1909 Argentine cavalry carbine, sights replaced. sits in a military stock, but it’s my rainy day deer rifle, beyond restoring.
Well when you put it like that , I think ill save my money , thank you for the help. If it was just a matter of buying pieces slowly over time that would fit , It would be more appealing, but when you’re saying all that has to be done just so the hand guard would fit , ill pass on this one
 
none of us is trying to rain on your parade, we enjoy your excitement in this. what Cyrano is referring to is the right rear corner of the receiver has been ground/notched so that the swept back bolt would fit. like the drilling & tapping, the rifle will still work that way if ‘restored’ but it will never look right.

yes, save your $$$ for a better one. you’ve learned some things to look out for & the more K98ks you see & handle, the better informed shopping you’ll do.
 
I really appreciate the help , rather have my parade rained on then waste my $

If you are trying to do this on a budget, look for one with unmolested metal and maybe a matching bolt. Second best would be a barelled action where you can get a replacement bolt. D&T is not a killer if you are thinking of making a sniper clone. In all of this, this is a rifle, so you will want a decent bore because a good looking sewer pipe is just that, a sewer pipe and not a rifle.

Here is a sporter rescue project I did, with a $375 base rifle: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/update-shes-back-matching-but-refinished-sporter-jps-375-would-you.60940/#post-477391
 
Tha
If you are trying to do this on a budget, look for one with unmolested metal and maybe a matching bolt. Second best would be a barelled action where you can get a replacement bolt. D&T is not a killer if you are thinking of making a sniper clone. In all of this, this is a rifle, so you will want a decent bore because a good looking sewer pipe is just that, a sewer pipe and not a rifle.

Here is a sporter rescue project I did, with a $375 base rifle: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/update-shes-back-matching-but-refinished-sporter-jps-375-would-you.60940/#post-47739
That came out awsome
 
Tha

That came out awsome
Totally agree with you, BUT. Look at how much matching (albeit polished) of original rifle he started with for $375 and that he already had a correct JPS stock and bands. This is a large part of what guys are talking about and it's the fiscal wisdom of doing it. In his case it was 100% worth it IMHO. On the sporter posted above, not so much.
 
i didn’t bring up the sniper clone idea because i didn’t think Povazska Bystrica had made any turret rifles.
Well, there are clones and then there are clones.

You can do it with a correct base rifle etc., or you can do it with whatever sporterized action you have at hand and make something that is sniper-k98k shaped enough for range fun and to be broadly representative with the understanding that it is an approximation and won't impress anyone who's deep into these rifles.

edit: and that's not speaking ill of the latter. I think they're a great way to salvage guns that are otherwise just deer rifles and a good way to scratch that sniper 98k itch without a) laying out the money for a legit one and b) screwing up a rifle that doesn't need to be screwed up.
 
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