German G98/40

The story of the G98/40 starts with Hungary's adoption of the 35M rifle. The 35M was based on the Mannlicher-Schoenauer but was chambered in 8x56mmR and used the standard 5-shot enbloc as the M95 Mannlicher rifles. When Hungary joined the axis in 1940, Germany was desperate for arms. Looking at the 35M, a request was made to change the 35M into a substitute standard for the Wehrmacht.

The G98/40 uses the standard side sling of the K98k and has the same attachment for use with German 84/98 bayonet.

The Mannlicher magazine of the 35M was changed to a Mauser-style magazine. The gun was also chambered for the German standard 7.92x57mm, and the rifle can accept standard Mauser 1898 stripper clips.

The 2-piece stock is very similar to the Lee Enfield stock arraignment. The bolt on the G98/40 was belt compared to the 35M's straight bolt handle.

On the side of the receiver you can see the rifle's designation. It might look familiar to you as there are 2 other XX/40 rifles, the 29/40 and the 33/40. All 3 of these rifles are made outside of Germany for the Wehrmacht.

The G98/40's cocking piece has an extension, borrowed from the M95 Mannlicher, that lets you easily recock or decock the striker. The safety was copied from the Mauser rifle and was obviously easy for German troops to recognize. On the receiver, JHV is the German code for the FEG factory in Hungary.

Overall, the shooting experience of the G98/40 is very similar to other Mannlicher-Schoenauer-type rifles. The bent bolt handle, being forward of the receiver bridge, doesn't feel as natural as bent bolts behind the receiver bridge. The bolt operation is smooth and it firing without any trouble to me. The G98/40 isn't a rifle I would choose to take to the range over a K98k unless for the novelty of it.

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