Printable View
Has anybody at this forum had any experience with the Mitchell "Tanker" Mauser? I am not sure if this is the proper forum to ask this question because it is not an original milsurp, but I know there are a lot of people at this site with a wealth of knowledge and I am sure somebody has an informed opionion. I was batting around the idea of getting one in 308 as it seems a good scout gun, but I would like to educate myself about them before spending money on one.
Huge article and review here: http://www.mauser.net/firearms/rifle...tledarling.pdf
Mitchell's doesn't get a lot of respect with military collectors because they destroy the collectability of the rifles they market. These rifles however are new production. They look nice. Drawbacks are they will not be as accurate or as long ranged as the full barreled versions. 30-06 will most likely have excessive recoil, the 308 possibly so for those not used to shooting high power rifles. The 243 should be fine for most shooters. The article compares the handling characteristics to the Winchester 94 which is 30-30 and not comparable to any of the production calibers so the hard butt plate could cause some bruising with the 308 and 30-06.
Personally, if I wanted a scout rifle for hunting, I'd get the Winchester 94. A lever action is going to be much better than a bolt action, but that's me. Bolts are often preferred for accuracy at long ranges but the deer woods are usually less than 100 yards for the vast majority of shots. I generally carry either a 99 Savage in 243 or a 94 Winchester in 356 caliber. That kicks like a mule but it has a one inch rubber butt pad.
At $500, it's pretty pricey. Savage 111's can be purchased for $150-$200 less and are designed for hunting.
Thanks for the input Aragorn243. My interest in it is not so much the collectability of it as a milsurp, but rather I thought it was an interesting rifle (carbine I quess) and I like the look of it. Another attractive feature is the calibers that it comes in. 8MM Mauser is not that common in my area. My main concern is the quality of manufacture. Speaking for myself, a drawback is the sights. I understand that it has a 200 meter zero and most of my shooting is in the 50 to 100 yard range. I will continue to research it...
I had a MEXICAN mauser that was a very close copy of what you are looking at . It was a wonderfull gun, well used but fun to shoot, handy in the field, and powerful.
If you like this gun then I would get it and enjoy it...Unless you intend to shoot fairly large animals( larger than deer) and at longer ranges were a large scope might be in order. In that case more gun might be a better idea, however short of that get what you like , if you have to , put a three power leupold or so on it and dont look back. Enjoy!!!
If you get it & it shoots high, put a taller front sight on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by .45s r best
As I understand it(this came directly from Mitchells Mausers) the tanker carbines are new production and are made to different specs than the average original garden variety mauser 98. So, if a part breaks it may be difficult to find a replacement. If your interested in an 8x57 carbine save your change and find an original Persian Mauser carbine, costs about the same as a Mitchells but it will be worth more in the long run.
I have one in 8mm, and it is quite fun to shoot. I've not taken it shooting over 100 yards, but at 100yds or less, it shoots fine.
Article in this months American Rifleman about Mitchells although some might say it is propaganda.
Thanks for all the imput from everybody! Yes, I have heard a company makes taller sights that fit it. From what I gather, it is the opinion of some that Mitchell's engages in a little hype with their advertising and that they are pricey, thats fine with me so long as it is a quality piece. I have heard about Persian Mausers and I have seen a few, although not lately. Again, the attraction for me is the calibers it comes in and the fact that I like carbines in general.
Find an Enfield No 5 Mk 1 or a Mosin 38 or 44 carbine. If you like carbines you will Love these two.Quote:
Originally Posted by .45s r best
A gunshop by me had an Enfield No 5 mk1...for about a day! Beautiful piece!
Did you note the year/price? If I find another I may be compelled to purchase it.Quote:
Originally Posted by .45s r best
Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOKED ON HISTORY
Everything in the article is hype. The price is ridiculous.
To the collectors on here the price is ridiculous but there is a market for these things. A Mitchell's at auction here will bring double what a Russian capture will bring. Cabela's had 4 of those nasty ugly Yugo Mausers a week ago and now only has 1 and they were on "clearance" for $399. These being a new rifle, they are probably having no trouble getting it.
I haven't seen the American Rifleman - Did they actually do an article about Mitchell Mausers??
I thought it was shameful they even had the old deceptive Mitchell Mauser ads.
I used to get the American Rifleman but I let my membership (to everything) lapse when times got really tough after a long hospital stay.
Does anyone know if the article is on-line anywhere?
Thus the propaganda word. The relationship between AR and Mitchell's has always seemed odd to me as the jury seems to be back on the (at best ) misleading aderatisments in AR by Mitchell's.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Rammel
You mean to imply the ads they had for years saying huge quantities of brand new condition, all matching, WWII vintage German K98 Mausers, untouched since the end of WWII were found hidden away in a closed factory in the Ukraine wasn't 100% true?
Say it isn't so, Joe! :lol:
The ads reminded me of the ads that used to be on the back page of the Sgt Rock comics I read in the 60's where if you bought greeting cards and then sold them they would send you a 6 ft long submarine. (Right under the ad for the 'X-ray glasses' that shows a creepy smirking guy looking through a lady's skirt)
[QUOTE=Harlan;207936]You mean to imply the ads they had for years saying huge quantities of brand new condition, all matching, WWII vintage German K98 Mausers, untouched since the end of WWII were found hidden away in a closed factory in the Ukraine wasn't 100% true?
That is the ones.
Five Pinocchios on that add.
Love the comedy with refrences to my childhood memories.
Getting way off target but I always wanted the D-Day invasion set complete with German bunkers and about 5000 toy soldiers.
I think you get that set free with the purchase of a Mitchells's Mauser. You must pay S&H .
:lol: - You guys must be about my age. I found my old comics and made several scans of some of the ads - Not to wreck this thread any more than I have, I started to new thread on the general discussion forum to post the scans. I hope the other guys have you guys sense of humor!
Mitchell Mauser VS Comic Book Ads
All that I have ever heard about Mitchells is bad, a lot of original rifles get destroyed in the making of their "tankers; and such.
If I wanted a shooter, a Mitchells would do, if I want a collector, I would look elsewhere.
You got that right!Quote:
Originally Posted by 303carbine
If you want a different caliber as a shooter and have the money, buy one. Many don't want to mess around with 303s or 7.5s or 7.62 x whatever. They just want a rifle they can buy ammo for and go shoot it. Also, the American Rifleman article was favorable as to quality and production values. I don't see that as 'propaganda' and there is no evidence for such. If its cheap, American Riflman says its cheap.
As a collector I could say buy a Swiss K31 because bla bla bla or my M39 will outshoot bla bla bla or an Ishapore 308 is cheap and will be better than bla bla bla. That is not an answer to your question.
Note - no one here has a Mitchell or has said they have even shot one, so take all the advice in accord with that fact.
An owner of a Mitchell's tanker carbine has already weighed in on page one. He likes it.
The American Rifleman is the mouthpiece of the NRA, a political organization. Mitchell's has had a full page ad in the American Rifleman nearly every month for years. It is where I personally was first exposed to Mitchell's. In that I had respect for the NRA, I assumed that any product they would advertise would be from an honorable company. I have since learned otherwise specifically again by Mitchell's. It is not an honorable company. They have very misleading adds, are known to renumber rifles to make them "match" and they clean and refinish weapons they claim were found that way in warehouses from WWII. That knowledge alone has made be question why the NRA carries their ads. It does not make me question why they would give them a favorable review. They have paid for it with their full page ads.
By no means am I against anyone buying a Mitchell's. I just want people to know what they are buying and if they are happy with that knowledge, more power to them. I happen to like the way most of them look, I think they are a quality product, they simply have no collectability left and are on the expensive side when compared to an original weapon in many instances. If you want a "new" rifle however, they are very nice.
As an example. I could have bought a K98 from Mitchells for $500. Instead I bought an RC K98 at a gun shop for $200. I brought it home stripped and cleaned the stock with about $5 worth of cleaning products, gave it a couple dozen coats of linseed oil and bought a front sight cover for $10 and I ended up with a rifle that looks almost exactly like a Mitchell's. The stock is not as bleached or as new looking but still very nice. Nicer to me in that it looks original to the rifle. So the definition of cheap to me does not fit the Mitchell's product.
Aragorn243 summed up why I might think propaganda would be an appropriate term in refrence to the Mitchells/ NRA relationship. I have read the article and think it is pretty objective but the misleading ads run in American Rifleman seem to tarnish the NRA a bit in my book.