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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:11:49 PM EDT
[#1]
My grandfather on my father's side bought a bunch of those in the 1960s and sporterized them. With the barrels cut down to 20" or less and a sporter stock, they made for a light, handy carbine that a young hunter could shoot with confidence. My uncle has one with a Mannlicher stock that is a thing of beauty.
FWIW, my family always used Norma ammo/brass for them. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:19:53 PM EDT
[#2]
have a 1914 Carl.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:22:58 PM EDT
[#3]
I've been wishing people would do this kind of write-up in a major publication for a while. It might invigorate interest in older designs and free us from the monotony of the writers trying to tell us that every gun that comes out is worth buying.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:23:07 PM EDT
[#4]
That's a nice looking rifle, sir. They are a joy to own and shoot. The 6.5 Swedish is a great round. Thanks for your post.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:26:41 PM EDT
[#5]
Every part on that rifle looks gorgeous
 How much did you pay for it, if you don't mind me asking? Damn fine shooting, O_P |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:28:23 PM EDT
[#6]
I LOVE Swedish mausers (hell I love mausers in general) these are accurate as hell and a pleasure to shoot.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:34:11 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Excellent rifles. The later shorter models with the bent bolt handle are often more popular, but I like the "old" long version of the rifles better myself. Mine is from 1899, but doesn't look anywhere near as beautiful as the example Old_Painless has.
When I was a kid in Denmark, the 6.5x55mm round was the standard rifle round for competition shooting. My club had a bunch of old Mauser actions (German, not Swedish), with heavy barrels in 6.5mm, and nice competition stocks. Those were super-sweet rifles!! Fantastic accuracy at 200 and 300 m. W. D. M. "Karamojo" Bell, shot more than 1,000 elephants in the period 1895-1930 using a Mannlicher in 6.5 x 54. Just goes to show that "hitting the right spot" is more important than "power". 
Although the 6.5 swede is a great cartridge, I believe Bell preferred the 7x57mm mauser and used it to kill all those elephinks. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:35:14 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
Excellent rifles. The later shorter models with the bent bolt handle are often more popular, but I like the "old" long version of the rifles better myself. Mine is from 1899, but doesn't look anywhere near as beautiful as the example Old_Painless has.
When I was a kid in Denmark, the 6.5x55mm round was the standard rifle round for competition shooting. My club had a bunch of old Mauser actions (German, not Swedish), with heavy barrels in 6.5mm, and nice competition stocks. Those were super-sweet rifles!! Fantastic accuracy at 200 and 300 m. I just picked up one of those competition rifles on the German Mauser receiver. Schultz & Larsen did the rebarrel and they also added a free float stock and match trigger. I think the Danish designation is M52, at least that's what the importer marked on the barrel. I changed the front sight ( globe type, easy to change) and sighted it in. All 5 shots thru one hole at 50 yards. Taking it to the longer range next week. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:35:48 PM EDT
[#9]
Ted is a fool. That is indeed anice rifle! I've been looking for the carbine version myself but can't find one for the love of me.
Note to self: Need to get more foolish friends with guns |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:37:30 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Although the 6.5 swede is a great cartridge, I believe Bell preferred the 7x57mm mauser and used it to kill all those elephinks. No sir, he killed 1,000 elephants with the 6.5 before going to a bigger rifle. 
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:40:01 PM EDT
[#11]
O_P, that thing is just pure sexy.
Thank you for the great images of it. Enjoy! |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:40:02 PM EDT
[#12]
Apology accepted.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:40:47 PM EDT
[#13]
That's a gorgeous specimen!
The Model 96 is one of my favorite rifles. I own seven of them. 
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:42:52 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Every part on that rifle looks gorgeous
How much did you pay for it, if you don't mind me asking? Right around $300. Damn fine shooting, O_P
Thanks. With that rifle, it was easy.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:48:18 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
I've been wishing people would do this kind of write-up in a major publication for a while. It might invigorate interest in older designs and free us from the monotony of the writers trying to tell us that every gun that comes out is worth buying. I was telling Vern today, "There are not many modern rifles coming off the assembly line today, that can keep up with this 92 year-old rifle."
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:52:39 PM EDT
[#16]
And it takes stripper clips!
That bullet must have a BC in the low 500s, even though it is only moving at 2750 FPS, it retains the velocity nicely. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:53:46 PM EDT
[#17]
The first weapon I ever fired was a M96. No other rifle comes close to it.
Quoted:
That ammo is NOT corrosive, sir. This. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:57:23 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
And it takes stripper clips! That bullet must have a BC in the low 500s, even though it is only moving at 2750 FPS, it retains the velocity nicely. The Speer 140 grain Spitzer has a BC of 0.498. That's pretty good.
And I see that the Hornady 140 grain A-MAX has a BC of .550.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 12:58:04 PM EDT
[#19]
Quoted:
The first weapon I ever fired was a M96. No other rifle comes close to it.
Quoted:
That ammo is NOT corrosive, sir. This. Somehow, I figured you might like this write-up.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:01:32 PM EDT
[#20]
Nice rifle - I have one manufactured in 1909.
The Gustav was the more numerous of the two production lines and used a better quality steel. They often are still found in excellent condition. The wood looks to be in excellent condition for a rifle of that age - do you have providence of the rifle's history or do you believe it has been re-stocked? Either way - it's a lovely rifle to shoot and has exelent handling characteristics. I have found mine shoots very well with a 139gn Scenar and Hodgedon 4895.... |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:03:39 PM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
Quoted:
The first weapon I ever fired was a M96. No other rifle comes close to it.
Quoted:
That ammo is NOT corrosive, sir. This. Somehow, I figured you might like this write-up.
I sure did. When I have a little extra cash I'm gonna buy one. They're pretty cheap over here. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:06:03 PM EDT
[#22]
OP, don't know if you saw my earlier post about what the other stock disk numbers mean, or if you already knew... The AG42b has the same system.
The Swede '96 Mauser is a lot more timeless design than the '42, as when you fire them, they still feel relevant. The AG42b feels like 'SemiAuto Rifle V1.0'... My milsurp preference is a Pattern 1914, a #3 or #4 Enfield, then a K31 then the M38 Swede... 
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:11:48 PM EDT
[#23]
Quoted:
OP, don't know if you saw my earlier post about what the other stock disk numbers mean, or if you already knew... The AG42b has the same system. The Swede '96 Mauser is a lot more timeless design than the '42, as when you fire them, they still feel relevant. The AG42b feels like 'SemiAuto Rifle V1.0'... My milsurp preference is a Pattern 1914, a #3 or #4 Enfield, then a K31 then the M38 Swede... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/DriftPunch/ag42b.jpg I did see it, but didn't get around to replying yet.
And I have been reading about the disc information, as it is very detailed. Your preferences are very similar to mine.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:12:24 PM EDT
[#24]
Very nice write up. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I'm definitely gonna have to find me one of those. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:13:18 PM EDT
[#25]
Beside the aesthetics of that example ( it is an eyegrabber ) , it takes a while for it to sink in the rifle is almost 100 years old, and the ammo is military surplus and made in the '70's. If you ever get the chance, try the 156 grain M94 original. Some have found it shoots better, and that is hard to imagine.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:14:38 PM EDT
[#26]
Hint:
Sierra 140gr GameKing in Norma brass, standard CCI primers and 36.6 gr of Reloder 17.
My pet hunting load, I've even shot high power matches with it. That should shrink your groups nicely.
BTW: Sierra also makes an awesome little 85gr hollowpoint that's worked very well in the past and if you can find it in a back shelf somewhere, there is a discontinued 170 gr roundnose (Speer iirc) that would make an awesome elk or moose round. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:20:43 PM EDT
[#27]
Thank you for your report on such an interesting rifle. We all appreciate your time and effort.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:41:07 PM EDT
[#28]
Quoted:
I have found mine shoots very well with a 139gn Scenar and Hodgedon 4895.... My friend has had great luck with Hodgdon 4831SC.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:44:27 PM EDT
[#29]
Congrats, OP, she's a beauty.
I got mine some years ago, a coworker had one. I kept pestering him to sell it to me, offering as much as $250, but he refused (he'd paid like $70 for it in some small town hardware store). Finally he said he'd trade for it, namely for a... (wait for it) .40 Hi Point carbine. LOL I bought one for $170 and made the deal. He even had the bayonet to go with the rifle. With the blade on it's a mile and a half long. They do shoot high at 100 yds, mine about 8". I wound up putting an extra high front sight on mine, and filed it down 'til I was 3" high at 100.
The Swedish surplus ammo is supposedly noncorrosive, though I've noticed a trace of light brown funk in the bore after shooting. And no, it doesn't do well in the AG42B Ljungman I got to go with the M96; I tore the rims from a few cases, and now save the old stuff for the Mauser. I've also tried tumbling it, it cleaned up somewhat, maybe not worth the doing. You might like to know that Prvi Partizan makes great new 6.5x55 ammunition, not expensive either. It shoots as well or better than the Swedish stuff. 6.5x55 is my favorite long gun caliber. Soft recoil, flat shooting... I like it so much I picked up a CZ 550 in 6.5 too. I need an M38 to round out the collection. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:55:55 PM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
Beside the aesthetics of that example ( it is an eyegrabber ) , it takes a while for it to sink in the rifle is almost 100 years old, and the ammo is military surplus and made in the '70's. If you ever get the chance, try the 156 grain M94 original. Some have found it shoots better, and that is hard to imagine. Mine was made in 1917. That happens to be the year in which my Dad was born. Nice coincidence.
And if that original ammo shoots better than this stuff, it's going to take a better shot than me to tell any improvement.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 1:57:51 PM EDT
[#31]
I have never seen one that clean. Beautiful rifle!!
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:00:46 PM EDT
[#32]
Nice rifle and review, thanks.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:02:18 PM EDT
[#33]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Beside the aesthetics of that example ( it is an eyegrabber ) , it takes a while for it to sink in the rifle is almost 100 years old, and the ammo is military surplus and made in the '70's. If you ever get the chance, try the 156 grain M94 original. Some have found it shoots better, and that is hard to imagine. Mine was made in 1917. That happens to be the year in which my Dad was born. Nice coincidence.
And if that original ammo shoots better than this stuff, it's going to take a better shot than me to tell any improvement.
One note, Numrich about 15yrs ago sold a front sight regulated for 100yds that was less than half the width of the stock sight. It made a very nice sight picture for match shooting. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:03:30 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted: Hint: Sierra 140gr GameKing in Norma brass, standard CCI primers and 36.6 gr of Reloder 17. My pet hunting load, I've even shot high power matches with it. That should shrink your groups nicely. BTW: Sierra also makes an awesome little 85gr hollowpoint that's worked very well in the past and if you can find it in a back shelf somewhere, there is a discontinued 170 gr roundnose (Speer iirc) that would make an awesome elk or moose round. Hornady makes a 160 round nose. I don't think a 170 was ever made. The 160 works great at typical velocities, about 2400 FPS. It will penetrate very deep, at least 28" in wet phone books. Most of these bullets are constructed for higher velocities. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:05:02 PM EDT
[#35]
Great post on a great rifle.
I've always wanted a M38, but the prices are a bit too much these days. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:05:44 PM EDT
[#36]
Here's an older review of the target version of the Swedish Mauser:
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/swedetarget/index.asp |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:09:32 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Hint: Sierra 140gr GameKing in Norma brass, standard CCI primers and 36.6 gr of Reloder 17.
My pet hunting load, I've even shot high power matches with it. That should shrink your groups nicely.
BTW: Sierra also makes an awesome little 85gr hollowpoint that's worked very well in the past and if you can find it in a back shelf somewhere, there is a discontinued 170 gr roundnose (Speer iirc) that would make an awesome elk or moose round. Hornady makes a 160 round nose. I don't think a 170 was ever made. The 160 works great at typical velocities, about 2400 FPS. It will penetrate very deep, at least 28" in wet phone books. Most of these bullets are constructed for higher velocities. I'm mainly working off of memory here, but I'll look thru my records. I'm 99% sure I've reloaded them in the past. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:33:17 PM EDT
[#38]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Hint: Sierra 140gr GameKing in Norma brass, standard CCI primers and 36.6 gr of Reloder 17.
My pet hunting load, I've even shot high power matches with it. That should shrink your groups nicely.
BTW: Sierra also makes an awesome little 85gr hollowpoint that's worked very well in the past and if you can find it in a back shelf somewhere, there is a discontinued 170 gr roundnose (Speer iirc) that would make an awesome elk or moose round. Hornady makes a 160 round nose. I don't think a 170 was ever made. The 160 works great at typical velocities, about 2400 FPS. It will penetrate very deep, at least 28" in wet phone books. Most of these bullets are constructed for higher velocities. I'm mainly working off of memory here, but I'll look thru my records. I'm 99% sure I've reloaded them in the past. I've loaded the Hornady 160 gr round nose in 6.5 x 55. It hits hard. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:41:49 PM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Hint: Sierra 140gr GameKing in Norma brass, standard CCI primers and 36.6 gr of Reloder 17.
My pet hunting load, I've even shot high power matches with it. That should shrink your groups nicely.
BTW: Sierra also makes an awesome little 85gr hollowpoint that's worked very well in the past and if you can find it in a back shelf somewhere, there is a discontinued 170 gr roundnose (Speer iirc) that would make an awesome elk or moose round. Hornady makes a 160 round nose. I don't think a 170 was ever made. The 160 works great at typical velocities, about 2400 FPS. It will penetrate very deep, at least 28" in wet phone books. Most of these bullets are constructed for higher velocities. I'm mainly working off of memory here, but I'll look thru my records. I'm 99% sure I've reloaded them in the past. I've loaded the Hornady 160 gr round nose in 6.5 x 55. It hits hard. Those heavy bullets have a reputation of deep penetration and being killers on game.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 2:59:38 PM EDT
[#40]
Quoted:
I LOVE Swedish mausers (hell I love mausers in general) these are accurate as hell and a pleasure to shoot. I was surprised at both the accuracy and the lack of a kick. Nice shooting rifle, for sure.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 3:08:31 PM EDT
[#41]
Keith is right, and my memory isn't. The 170gr 6.5 roundnose bullet is a CAST bullet with a gas check. The 160gr is the jacketed hunting round.
It's hell getting old. 
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Posted: 10/14/2009 3:17:08 PM EDT
[#42]
The big bullets also spare meat yet kill great. You won't recover the bullets.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 3:26:40 PM EDT
[#43]
Quoted:
The big bullets also spare meat yet kill great. You won't recover the bullets. As old Elmer Keith used to say, "Won't blood-shoot the meat. You can eat the meat right up to the hole."
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Posted: 10/14/2009 3:39:44 PM EDT
[#44]
Great looking rifle! I love my swedes.
Here is my 1900 Mauser Oberndorf M96 that I refinished. The previous owner had it slathered in a thick, runny, glossy coat of polyurethane.  I stripped it down and refinished it with tung oil.
I call it my "blond swede" since it has a very light walnut stock. 
I later added a 1942 Husqvarna M38 carbine to my collection, its wood was a bit dinged up, but the finish was in good shape so I left it alone except for a good cleaning. 
I mostly shoot FNM target ammo that I got a great deal on a few years ago, but I load plinking ammo with the 140gr Rem Core-loks and some IMR4895. I reload the FNM or Prvi brass. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 3:46:58 PM EDT
[#45]
Quoted:
Great looking rifle! I love my swedes.
Here is my 1900 Mauser Oberndorf M96 that I refinished. The previous owner had it slathered in a thick, runny, glossy coat of polyurethane.[img] <snip> I mostly shoot FNM target ammo that I got a great deal on a few years ago, but I load plinking ammo with the 140gr Rem Core-loks and some IMR4895. I reload the FNM or Prvi brass. Those are a couple of fine looking rifles. I bet they shoot great.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 3:50:47 PM EDT
[#46]
I've got two Swedish Mausers (plus two other rifles in 6.5x55). Great rifles. For the shooter, I HIGHLY recommend the Mojo Snap Sights! You'll be shooting groups like that at 100 yards and beyond with the Mojos.
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Posted: 10/14/2009 3:53:50 PM EDT
[#47]
Thanks again O-P for whetting our appetite for GOOD ole guns;
I've never fired that flavor, but here's some #'s you may be able to draw some comparisons to; .223 55gr @ 3200 FPS = 7.4 Recoil Velocity 6.5 x 55 150gr @ 2650 fps = 8.7 270 150 gr@ 2900 fps = 11.7 30-30 170 gr @ 2200 = 9.7 308 150 gr @ 2800 = 11.7 30-06 180 gr @ 2700fps = 12.8 figures are from Chuck Hawk webpage; he sez the info was from various Load books & manufactures. Just grist for the mill; here's the link to the page with other flavors & an explanation of what it means- http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 4:00:00 PM EDT
[#48]
Quoted: Congrats, OP, she's a beauty. I got mine some years ago, a coworker had one. I kept pestering him to sell it to me, offering as much as $250, but he refused (he'd paid like $70 for it in some small town hardware store). Finally he said he'd trade for it, namely for a... (wait for it) .40 Hi Point carbine. LOL I bought one for $170 and made the deal. He even had the bayonet to go with the rifle. With the blade on it's a mile and a half long. They do shoot high at 100 yds, mine about 8". I wound up putting an extra high front sight on mine, and filed it down 'til I was 3" high at 100. The Swedish surplus ammo is supposedly noncorrosive, though I've noticed a trace of light brown funk in the bore after shooting. And no, it doesn't do well in the AG42B Ljungman I got to go with the M96; I tore the rims from a few cases, and now save the old stuff for the Mauser. I've also tried tumbling it, it cleaned up somewhat, maybe not worth the doing. You might like to know that Prvi Partizan makes great new 6.5x55 ammunition, not expensive either. It shoots as well or better than the Swedish stuff. 6.5x55 is my favorite long gun caliber. Soft recoil, flat shooting... I like it so much I picked up a CZ 550 in 6.5 too. I need an M38 to round out the collection. Well, I beg to differ, as it does do well in the AG42b (It is the ammo that was intended for that rifle and was used in that rifle). What the Swedes used to espouse to improve reliability in the AG42b was to "lightly oil" the cartridges before loading. (I know...goes against everything you'd want to believe in a combat rifle, but...). If you wipe the rounds with a lightly oiled cloth, the reliability and function of the rifle will improve. Sub 2" groups are fairly common with the Ljungman and M/41 ammo.  Seems to be an issue peculiar to the AG42 though, as none of the other "Ljungman Family" rifles are so affected....  But if you have better luck with other ammo, by all means save the Swede surplus for the bolt guns It makes my 96's, 96/38's, and 94 run like a thoroughbred. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 4:09:10 PM EDT
[#49]
Nice.
I have a 1901 and a 1923 Carl Gustafs. Never fired either one of them, but for 65 bucks each I had to buy them. |
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Posted: 10/14/2009 4:17:13 PM EDT
[#50]
Quoted:
Thanks again O-P for whetting our appetite for GOOD ole guns; I've never fired that flavor, but here's some #'s you may be able to draw some comparisons to; .223 55gr @ 3200 FPS = 7.4 Recoil Velocity 6.5 x 55 150gr @ 2650 fps = 8.7 270 150 gr@ 2900 fps = 11.7 30-30 170 gr @ 2200 = 9.7 308 150 gr @ 2800 = 11.7 30-06 180 gr @ 2700fps = 12.8 figures are from Chuck Hawk webpage; he sez the info was from various Load books & manufactures. Just grist for the mill; here's the link to the page with other flavors & an explanation of what it means- http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm Interesting. I couldn't help but notice the very pleasant recoil today.
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