Both guns are my favorites. I cant decide which one to get and i can't get both. Which one prevails?

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/New_Rifles_.html

As a rifle, the Mauser's better (My opinion, don't want to get into a "this vs that" pissing contest) However, 308 ammo is everywhere and still fairly cheap.

If this is your only rifle for ahwile, I'd get the Enfield for cheap, accurate, and widely availible ammo. If you've already got several, get the Mauser (and possible send it out for a professional refinish) as IMO it's the better rifle.

Just from ammo alone I'd say Enfield.

But the Mauser is a good rifle like Practice_Freedom said.

It really depends what you want it for. If you're gonna take it hunting, it might be tough to find 8mm soft points. If just plinking then both are fine.

If you're plinking however then you want to shoot the rifle, and you can't do that without ammo, so if you can't find 8mm ammo you don't wanna buy an 8mm rifle.

I'd go with the Enfield as well. The ad is careful to mention the bore condition of the Enfields, and then sort of glosses over the Mausers. Makes one wonder what condition it will be in.

The ammo considerations aside, the Enfield action is a lot faster, and the sights on the later models (No. 4 Mk I and up) are a lot more user-friendly than the barleycorns found on the Mauser 98.

The No4 Enfields have great sights, but I'm not so fond of those on the SMLE in comparison.

Samco Global Arms has cheap .303 for sale.

But, the 8mm surplus ammo for the Mauser is even cheaper, and much easier to find. .303 tends to periodically dry up and vanish. The price of good hunting ammo is about the same for both.

The Enfield is probably a better shooter, due to recoil and the sights, but I really like the Mausers as well.

JG Sales has No 4s on sale. I got mine from there, and its excellent for what I paid.

This is going to be my first rifle that i own. I already have a H&K .40 compact and i have been wanting a rifle for hunting and target shooting for a really long time. (as well as the pure fun of it)

Second question, if i buy the mauser, will surplus ammo be reliable and safe for my rifle? (same site sells 8mm for 3.95 for 20 rounds of "1970 slav surplus")

and third, what will be harder to get in about 2-3 years, because i'm planning to buy another rifle.

too many guns, too little money.

Since you said this is your 1st and only rifle for 2-3 years (and it has to be one of these 2) get the Enfield.

Surplus ammo is almost always reliable and safe for a bolt gun. SOMETIMES cheap and/or corrosive, requiring careful cleaning. The biggest problem with surp ammo is availibility. I once bought 10K (308 South African surplus) from that place (aimsuplus) at ~ <14 cents a round. After I shot it up, I looked for more, but there is NO .308 surplus anymore (unless you cound that Indian garbage or stuff hoarders sell at gunshows for ~50 cents+ per round.)
It's not the end of the world, commercial 308 ammo is everywhere---even walmart. But 8mm Mauser, once it's surplus is gone..... Never buy a gun and think surplus will always be available and dirt cheap. Surplus is just that, surplus; extra ammo being sold off for a low price. Buy your rifle with the knowledge of the cost of the commercial ammo you'll be using when the surplus stuff runs out.


As far as which rifle will still be available.....Well, both will be available somewhere, but there are many more 8mm Mausers, than Enfields converted to 308 win (probably a 1000:1 ratio), so Mausers SHOULD be cheaper assuming similar condition.

good deal. i'll let you know what happens.

i'd be 100% in favor of the mauser, not that the enfield is no good but the mauser is one of the best bolt actions ever(next to the model 70),bolt locking safety, claw extractor, blade type ejector...damn nice gun

we are talking about a mauser model 98 right?

Go for whichever feels better in your hand.

You can get around a thousand rounds of 8mm for US$100.

.303 costs more.

I'd get the Mauser because of the cost of ammo. But thats me, and the Mauser might feel awful for you.