I recently found a Mauser Wehrmanns gewehr listed here locally. From the serial number it is a 1939/1940 production rifle and is all matching. 30 Years ago I acquired one here that is a true single-shot action with a solid bottom receiver. This one is manufactured on a K98 receiver with the cut side wall and a magazine. It is fitted with a wooden block filling the magazine that serves as a loading trough. The rifle has a few external flecks to the finish but is in outstanding condition considering its age and the fact that it apparently never left Germany. My other rifle has the so-called "duffelbag cut" indicating it was exported by a GI following WWII. This one has never been cut. A German collector I know says he believes the rifle was hidden away at the end of the war and the spotting in the bluing is evidence of that. Regardless, it has a nice bore and I am very anxious to shoot it but before I can I need to get a set of dies. The other rifle is in the US along with a set of dies so I need to buy another set.

I had one that I let go unfortunately. However mine was built on a much earlier rifle, WWI era, and had the “ski slope” rear sight.

Yamoon, it is almost certainly a 8.15x46r, as was mine. I deeply regret selling mine, but so it goes…..

SS
I have a similar rifle with a proof date of June 1924. Like your rifle it is a converted m-98 but doesn't have the wood loading block or any bolt face alteration.
I think that nearly all of these rifles were chambered for the 8.15x46R. My rifle shoots better than the shooter and is a pleasure to shoot.
Does your rifle have the bolt face alteration? If so can you post a photo?
Otto

8.15x46r is my favorite target round. I have several schuetzen and a couple of stalking rifles. I do own a couple of 98 sporters, but they are chambered for 8x57i (j). I hunt with them. I have often wandered if the 98 chambered for 8.15x46r was a result of the schuetzenfest of the 30s becoming more military oriented, and the rifle should be like the army issue rifle. Just a thought.
Mike

Always best to try the 30-30 rim thickness before thinning, as some chambers will accept the thicker rims.
I've stayed away from deepening the chamber to allow for increased rim thickness, as there is a wide variety of chambers, despite the early normalization of the round, as well as the risk of damage to the existing chamber.
I've always thinned the rims as needed. The formed cases seem to last forever with the 8.15x46R.
The extraction problem is as stated by Frank. Attached is a photo of an altered extractor designed for the 8.15x46R.
Another solution, suggested by Pete Grisel and similar to Frank's idea above, was to alter the M-98 claw to allow it to move sideways and slip over the rim. I wish I could remember how he did the modification but can't find it in my notes.
It's my understanding, that the strict limits on German military arms after WW-1, lead to a surplus of altered military M-98 actions, which could be converted for shooting the most popular target cartridge. The militarization in the 1930's further increased the popularity of a military type firearm.
Otto   

chipmaker wrote on Feb 24^th, 2026 at 12:53pm:


Mine is not a converted military rifle, the action was pulled from the K98 production line, that is why it has a turned down bolt handle.

The ribbed bolt does not have a fully enclosed face, the cartridge feeds from the loading block up under the extractor. Out of curiousity I placed a 308 case on the bolt face, the extractor has very little engagement with the 308 rim, doubt it would pull it out. 

Again this is an original Mauser product, not a conversion. The 6-digit number is from 1939-1940.

I also have a 1935 Model Mauser stamped with the Mauser Banner which was manufactured in 1938 at Oberndorf for Brazil.

Mine was unfired except for the three shots used to check the sights.

I also had the matching new bayonet, cleaning rod, new sling and the factory target as well.