1) With the rifle pointed in a safe direction, open the bolt and make sure the rifle is not loaded.
2) While holding the bolt stop out, remove the bolt from the receiver.
3) Depress the magazine floor plate catch.
4) Slide the magazine floor plate to the rear and out.
5) Slide the magazine spring into the slot in the bottom of the magazine floor plate.
6) Slide the magazine spring out of the slot in the bottom of the magazine follower.
7) Unscrew the cleaning rod.
8) Remove the cleaning rod.
9) I use a quick clamp to depress the band spring so I can have my hands free.
10) Tap the forward band forward. Note that I am using a non-marring plastic dowel.
11) Slide the forward band forward.
12) Slide the forward band off of the barrel.
13) Depress the band spring.
14) Slide the rear band forward.
15) Slide the rear band off of the barrel.
16) Remove the handguard.
Locking Screws
Most 98 type Military Mausers have locking screws that lock the trigger guard screws in place. The two figures to the left show the positions of the locking screws.
17) Unlock the locking screw.
18) Unscrew the forward guard screw.
19) Remove the forward guard screw.
20) Unlock the locking screw.
21) Unscrew the rear guard screw.
22) Remove the rear guard screw.
23) Remove the trigger guard. If the guard is difficult to remove you can turn the rifle over and tap the guard out from the top using a wooden dowel.
24) Lift the barreled receiver from the rifle stock.
25) Using a punch, tap out the rear sight pin.
26) It may be necessary to use a smaller diameter punch and push the pin the remainder of the distance through.
27) Remove the rear sight pin.
28) Not the two holes in the front sight screw. I found a very small pair of needle nose pliers will suffice to unscrew the screw without marring the finish or damaging the screw.
29) Unscrew the right hand rear sight screw.
30) Remove the right hand rear sight screw.
31) Unscrew the left hand rear sight screw.
32) Remove the left hand rear sight screw.
33) Press both slide assembly buttons and slide off the slide assembly.
34) Remove the rear sight ramp.
35) The slide assembly buttons are loosely held in place and are easily removed. Please be careful not to loose the small springs.
36) Remove both small springs. One spring per side of slide assembly.
37) Using a punch, tap out the sear pin.
38) Remove the sear pin.
39) Remove the sear spring from the sear.
40) Using a punch, tap out the trigger pin.
41) Separate the trigger and sear.
42) While holding the bolt stop in place, unscrew the bolt stop screw.
43) Remove the bolt stop screw.
44) Separate the bolt stop from the receiver.
45) To disassemble the bolt stop I use a padded vise or if you do not have one then wrap tape around the end of locking pliers and secure the bolt stop as shown in figure 45.
46) To remove the bolt stop cover you will need to tap downward on the section pointed to in figure 46.
47) Tap downward and then remove the bolt stop cover. Separate the ejector from the bolt stop.
48) Unscrew and remove the butt plate screws and then remove the butt plate.
49) Unscrew and remove the rear swivel screws and remove the rear swivel.
Reassembly Instructions
50) Install the rear swivel and install and tighten both screws.
51) Install the butt plate and install and tighten both screws.
52) Install the ejector in the bolt stop as shown in figure 52.
53) Slide the bolt stop cover into the channel on the back of the bolt stop while using your finger to keep the ejector in place.
54) Install the bolt stop. Install the bolt stop screw.
55) Tighten the bolt stop screw. Open and close the bolt stop a couple of times to make certain it is correctly installed and not binding.
56) Assemble the sear and trigger.
57) Install the trigger pin and with a punch, tap in the trigger pin.
58) Install the sear spring.
59) Position trigger assembly on receiver as shown in figure 59.
60) Using quick clamps, hold the trigger assembly in place so your hands can be left free to tap in the sear pin.
61) Insert the sear pin and tap into place.
62) Test the trigger to ensure it is assembled correctly and there is not binding.
63) Remove the rear sight ramp.
64) Insert the rear sight pin.
65) Tap in the rear sight pin.
66) Insert both springs into the rear sight slide assembly.
67) Insert both springs into the rear sight slide assembly.
68) Insert both rear sight slide buttons into the rear sight slide so they are positioned over the springs and as show in figure 68.
69) Place the rear sight slide assembly onto the sight base with the short end of the slide assembly facing forward.
70) Line up the holes in the slide with the channels in the side of the rear sight ramp.
71) Insert the right side ramp screw.
72) Insert the left side ramp screw.
73) Tighten the left and right side ramp screws.
74) Insert the barreled receiver into the rifle stock.
75) Replace the trigger guard.
76) Install the rear guard screw.
77) Install the forward guard screw.
78) Partially tighten the front guard screw.
79) Partially tighten the rear guard screw.
80) Fully tighten the front guard screw. Lock the locking screw.
81) Fully tighten the rear guard screw. Lock the locking screw.
82) Install the hand guard.
83) Slide the rear band over the barrel and secure in place with the rear band spring.
84) Slide the forward band onto the barrel.
85) Depress the forward band spring. A quick clamp would be very helpful as your hands could be free.
86) Slide the forward band into place so the forward band spring locks it into place as shown in figure 86.
87) Insert the cleaning rod.
88) Tighten the cleaning rod.
89) Slide the non-beveled end of the magazine spring into the magazine floor plate.
90) Figure 90 shows the beveled end of the magazine spring.
91) Slide the tapered part of the magazine spring into the magazine follower.
92) Install the magazine floor plate and follower.
93) Hook the front of the magazine floor plate into the groove in the front of the magazine well and then lock the magazine floor plate into place.
94) Swing out the bolt stop and insert the bolt.
95) You have completed the disassembly and reassembly of the GEW 98 Mauser.
