K98k...clumsy?
Hmmm...theres a first time you hear anything, I guess.
While I agree with you that the 1911 is overrated and there are other worthy target pistols as you stated earlier (oooh...there...I said it...the Jeff Cooper deciplse are gonna thrash me for sure! sorry, the 1911 has never been a good shooter in my hands), I tend to disagree on the 98K being a clumsy rifle.
While its not as graceful and beautifully crafted as the Swedish M-96 or M-38(or as accurate), the early WWII 98Ks I have handled/shot were much more easy to handle than other military long arms of the time. The Mosin Nagant and Lee Enfield (while good shooters) are MUCH more clumsy to me than any 98K variant I have shot. Ditto for the semi-autos, like the SVT, Garand and G-43. I own several Mosins, Enfields and Mauser variants, so I have some expereince in this area. I also own a Garand, Carbine and SVT-40 as well.
I have an early Nazi-occupation Czech made 98K that in far from clumsy and is actually an excellent shooter. Still, I believe the most accurate and finely-crafted military bolt actions of that period have to be the Swedish M-96 & M-38s, the Swiss K-31 Schmidt-Rubins and the pre WWII Type 38 Japanese Arisakas. Those three will gladly out-shoot ANYTHING else I own in military trim....by a long shot.
Flame away, if you must...but I disagree on the clumsiness of the 98K Mauser. Compared to other long arms of its time, it was one of the best.
-SA
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