Hey Failsafe. don`t worry what others say. If you like it shoot it & do it to it. I bought a Turk 03/38 8mm a while back. I over paid for it, but what I liked about it was all matching #`s including the bolt, pristine bore, & it had a Tiger stripe stock on it. I`m not a Mauser collecter, I have a 30-06 & a 270w & I wanted an 8mm shooter also. So I cut the barrel down to 22in & recrowned it & cut thestock to the end of barrel. Now it`s a Manlicher style rifle.. I change the sights also. I put a long ramp sight on the front & a Lyman peep on the receiver. I have to say it is one hell of a shooter. At 100yds with my reloads I can put 5 in a 3in bull. I get some flack every so often at the range why I cut it down, but it`s mine to do as I see fit.