Buying Yugo Mauser 24/47, what to inspect?

[charlisity]

My local Big 5 Sporting goods has the 24/47s from Numrich's for $99.00. Is there anything I should be looking for in this gun?

On a modern used gun, I would normally check the trigger, safety, rifling, crown, sloppyness in working the bolt and the snugness of the closed bolt and that's about it.

This is my first time buying a rifle as old as this. Is there anything else I should check or questions I should ask?

[97guns]

check the bore for shine and sharp rifling, youll need to run a patch to do this. without running a patch it will look like a terrible bore. check the muzzle for any dings/dents, check the receiver area for any pitting, check the wood, and look at the serial numbers on the receiver/bolt - matching numbers are a prference for myself.

[nognig]

Originally posted by charlisity
On a modern used gun, I would normally check the trigger, safety, rifling, crown, sloppyness in working the bolt and the snugness of the closed bolt and that's about it.


You've pretty much covered all the bases. One important thing to check on the Yugo 24/47s is the handgun (piece of wood above the barrel), these are prone to cracking. They are easy to repair using wood glue though.

Also, make sure the handgun and stock match in color. These are re-arsenaled guns, so often the handgun has been replaced and once you remove the cosmoline it can often come out quite a different color than the stock.

From what I've read and seen, most of the Yugo 24/47s have rough stocks. That is, the wood feels like the grain is raised. Kinda like when you stain wood and have to sand it between coats. Don't be surprised if you come across stocks like this. Again, I've left mine as is, but it's easily fixed if you want to refinish the stock.

NN

[charlisity]

Originally posted by nognig
Also, make sure the handgun and stock match in color. These are re-arsenaled guns, so often the handgun has been replaced and once you remove the cosmoline it can often come out quite a different color than the stock.

If removing the cosmoline can reveal different wood coloring, do you check the real color before purchasing by removing the handgun and looking underneath? I hope its a simple procedure, otherwise, I doubt Big 5 will allow that.

[97guns]

i wouldn't let the mismatched handguard sway your buying decision, if it bothers you that much it can be stained to match up pretty close. to remove the handguard you will have to fully dissassemble the gun. my main criteria for a gun is a nice bore and matching numbers.

[jack19512]

Matching numbers is nice but don't let that stop you from buying it. The rifle could still be a great shooter. I could be wrong but I think a lot of these rifles comes with a different colored handguard so it isn't that unusual.

[nognig]

Originally posted by charlisity
If removing the cosmoline can reveal different wood coloring, do you check the real color before purchasing by removing the handgun and looking underneath? I hope its a simple procedure, otherwise, I doubt Big 5 will allow that.

Let me put it this way, if it's important to you to have the handguard match, make sure they closely match when they still have cosmoline on it. Removing the cosmoline often will often make any differences much more noticable.

When I got my M24/47, the handguard was a perfect match (when soaked in cosmoline). After I removed it, the handguard was lighter than the stock, not by much, but by careful inspection you could tell.

So if you pick up one soaked in cosmoline and you see a diffence in the handgun stock color, be aware it could look quite different once the cosmoline is removed.

NN

[charlisity]

Thanks for that clarification. I would like the stock to match because I plan to remove the cosmoline and refinish it. I've seen pictures of these rifles refinished and I like the look of them. I'll take a really good look at the wood.

Thanks for sharing.:beer:

[paccw]

Things to expect with the 24/47

1 the wood will not match
2 the numbers will not match

The 24/47 are rebuilt guns BUT have been headspaced.I have 2 and they are a great buy.This is one gun that looks don't mean everything.I did a light stain on the wood to make it match and it really looks sharp now.

Out of all my C&R guns, these 2 shoot the best

[jack19512]

Also, $99.00 is a good price for these rifles. I paid $119.00 for each of mine and that didn't include shipping, tax and whatever.:)

[charlisity]

Originally posted by paccw
The 24/47 are rebuilt guns BUT have been headspaced.

Is this true for all 24/47s? That would be nice.

My local Big 5 sold out of the rifles today but they are getting more and gave me a rain check for the $99.00 sale price.

[nognig]

Originally posted by paccw
Things to expect with the 24/47

1 the wood will not match
2 the numbers will not match

Out of all my C&R guns, these 2 shoot the best

This isn't necessarily true. I've seen a few people post who got all matching M24/47s with matching wood.

NN

[nognig]

Originally posted by charlisity
Thanks for that clarification. I would like the stock to match because I plan to remove the cosmoline and refinish it. I've seen pictures of these rifles refinished and I like the look of them. I'll take a really good look at the wood.

Thanks for sharing.:beer:

If you are going to refinish, than it's not so important that the handguard and stock match perfectly. I removed all the cosmoline from my M24/47, so the wood is quite light and unfinished looking.

Refinishing these rifles isn't a bad idea. Like you said, they refinish wonderfully. The rough grain also gets a bit annoying with a cheek weld and the recoil.

NN

[jack19512]

The first 24/47 I got from AIM had all matching numbers but had the differn't colored handguard.

The second 24/47 I got from Centerfire Systems didn't have matching numbers but did have the matching wood.

[paccw]

Matching numbers?

Stamped in or electro penciled on?

My numbers match but the numbers are elctro penciled on.

Electro pen or whatever the scratched in numbers are called :freak:

[nognig]

Originally posted by paccw
Matching numbers?

Stamped in or electro penciled on?

My numbers match but the numbers are elctro penciled on.

Electro pen or whatever the scratched in numbers are called :freak:

I haven't heard of a lot of M24/47s with original matching numbers, but they are out there.

Mine has "forced match" electropenciled numbers too.

NN

[97guns]

Originally posted by jack19512
Also, $99.00 is a good price for these rifles. I paid $119.00 for each of mine and that didn't include shipping, tax and whatever.:)

it definatly "could" be a great shooter but from a collectors standpoint matching numbers are a HUGE positive.

[jack19512]

They are stamped in.

[jack19512]

Posted by 97guns

"it definatly "could" be a great shooter but from a collectors standpoint matching numbers are a HUGE positive."







I could be wrong and it's just my opinion but I don't see these rifles ever having any real collector value to them. When I buy these rifles I buy them for shooters only. :)

[jack19512]

I tried to take some pics but my camera isn't good at closeups. The pic of the stock came out good but all of the pics of the metal came out blurry.

My wife has a much better camera and later when she wakes up I will try and take some more pics and post them. I don't know if the numbers are all true matching or not but they are all stamped and none are electro penciled in.

[jack19512]

Heres some pics. It's the best I can do. First is the stock.

[jack19512]

Second is the bolt.

[jack19512]

Third id the reciever.

[jack19512]

Last is the bottom of the magazine.

[jack19512]

Well.... What do you guys think? Is this matching numbers or has the rifle just been stamped to make it look like matching numbers?:help:

[97guns]

those are matching numbers.