Re: Yugo Mauser M48 BO Optic...
Sax, the only way to test your rifle would be to be in a controlled lab and keep upping the load until it failed. Yes, that is not going to work.
The BO was made in the late 50's. They were the 4th generation of M48. Some folks say they were parts guns, other say they were scrubbed, and others say they are exactly as intended.
I am sure you had to clean layers upon layers of cosmo from the rifle. You should have seen the proof markings, the three dots for hardness and the assembly marks. Star over "T" and so forth. So the rifle should have been tested and proofed at the time of re-arsenal. Here is a link to some of the markings you may find
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/reply/224619/My-Yugo-Girlfriend-part-2 The last time I checked the privi were loaded to US specs, so if you feel safer, by all means shoot those with confidence. One of the reasons the US has lower specs is folks have a tendency to load hot rounds in a GEW88, or hot 7x57 rounds in a Spanish Mauser and blow themselves up.
To MLC's point, if all you have are milsurps, there is nothing wrong with a scout scope and an S&K type scout mount. Should be good enough for minute of deer. Also you can put the rifle back to its original config.
I am in no way a purist, just that I have spent lots of money on sporters, and I have one nice little scout Mauser in 7x57 and a small graveyard of bubba'd Mauser and Mosins.
BTW here is mine, I got it in full cosmo from big 5, almost all of the blue was removed. One of the guys in another forum said it may have been an inspection or parade rifle of sorts. The bore is sharp and shiny as well.
