Hi guys
I got lucky the importers here just landed a shipment. They have a single square bridge big game PH in 416.
They are busy unpacking and will let me know to what level of poverty it will relegate me to.
Rookhawk I am not looking at the London best rifles they are way out of my league! I did however build one one there site and my price with all the extras was a mere 52 775 Pounds Sterling.
Veto Dog they got some Mauser M98's in as well. What's your thoughts on the "new M98"
Hi again Roan,
Had to google the "new M98" as I did not know they are back in production now.
The article I just now read (authored in 2015 ?), was a little vague about the scope mounting design.
It possibly is now standard for Mauser to mill the bridges for pivot rings / twist-off style rings on this latest M98 ?
These probably work fine but, my preference for an extremely fine rifle, specifically such as this one, would definitely be either claw mounts or, possibly all steel, vintage Griffin & Howe side mount.
I prefer scopes on my rifles, usually only in calibers including .375 and under.
For my usage, I probably would not scope a .416 Rigby caliber rifle.
Well anyway, to answer your question (finally .... sheesh), I feel the "new M98" looks to be approximately as good as the Pre-War Oberndorf Magnum Mauser 98 was.
IMO, the Model 98 Mauser is the finest hunting rifle in the history of the world.
Furthermore, the only real improvement beyond the original M98s made in the Pre-War Oberndorf factory, has been only the "Model-70 safety" design, pertaining to scope usage these days.
All other design changes from the original appear to me to be nothing more than manufacturer's cost cutting ideas.
If scoping is not intended, then the original Mauser "flag safety" is at least as good as the Model 70 Winchester type "safety" design (again just IMO).
Cheers,
Velo Dog.