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General Milsurp Weapons => Milsurp Rifles & Carbines => Mauser (non-German) => Topic started by: Cz315 on May 12, 2021, 11:13:53 AM

Title: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on May 12, 2021, 11:13:53 AM
I just committed to get this one

 https://www.gunboards.com/threads/wts-two-nice-swede-m96-long-rifles.1191244/

A bit more than what I wanted to pay, but it looks ok. What do you think?
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: 1mlt on May 12, 2021, 11:19:00 AM
That site wants me to sign-up. No thank you.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 12, 2021, 12:29:33 PM
I see you took #2, the 1900 CG M/96b. That was the clear winner of the two to me thumb1

From a collecting perspective: All matching metal parts thumb1 The stock has never been sanded, as indicated by the nice sharp-edged grasping grooves and the rear tang isn't sitting proud of the wood, like the 1917. 1900 is not a rare year (23K made), but I think it's an interesting year, and about 1/2 as many made as in 1917 (44K), which was the highest production year.

From a shooting perspective: The bores are nominally 6.50 (.256") when new, though some are tighter. Yours gauged at 6.53mm (.257") the last time a Swedish armorer examined it, which is really only very slightly worn when you consider that the bullets are 6.70mm (.264"). A bore corrosion rating of 2 (out of 3, "4" was replace the barrel) is still very good since Swedish armorers were very conservative in their ratings. The Swedes never used corrosive potassium chlorate primers, so they were used to looking at excellent bores.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on May 12, 2021, 12:42:34 PM
Thanks, 32P!

I thought #2 was a bit more interesting but this is my first Swede so I don't know much about those. Glad to see an expert agree!

Once I get my hands on it I'll post more pics. Along with a range report. I need to read up on the use of modern ammo in those swedes. I recall reading somewhere that one needs to be careful with it.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 12, 2021, 01:11:05 PM
Thanks, 32P!

I thought #2 was a bit more interesting but this is my first Swede so I don't know much about those. Glad to see an expert agree!

Once I get my hands on it I'll post more pics. Along with a range report. I need to read up on the use of modern ammo in those swedes. I recall reading somewhere that one needs to be careful with it.

Ammo loaded to mil spec should be fine. There are a lot of modern rifles still chambered in 6.5x55mm, since it's a great round. Hunting ammo marketed for those modern guns may need to be avoided. I haven't bought any or looked into their specifications. If the ammo manufacturers have their specs available on their websites, you can check the ballistic energy vs. m/41 specs with the equation E = 0.5m*v^2 (half the mass, times velocity squared). That won't account for possible increased initial pressure build up with a heavy bullet, so you might avoid much heavier bullets too. Swedish military surplus m/41 out of the long barrel of the M/96 has a nominal velocity of 790m/s and a bullet weight of 9.0g (139gr), so the ballistic energy 2808J (Joules).  Personally, I stick with 139-142gr offerings from PPU, Norma etc. and I have quite a bit of milsurp Swedish 139gr, which like the Swiss GP11 for their rifles, is basically match grade. You can't go wrong with PPU standard or match grade ammo.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 12, 2021, 01:49:59 PM
By the way, the Swedish Mausers, despite being small ring Mausers, are extremely strong. Swedish steel makers made (make) the best steel in the world (e.g. Sandvik) and when the first M/94s and M/96s were made under contract by Mauser Oberndorf, the Swedish government specified a particular Swedish steel formulation. The Swedish Mausers are also very well made, partly because they were always made under peace time or neutrality conditions, so no time-saving measures needed to be introduced. Granted, manufacture certainly picked up during WWI and WWII, in case they were drawn into the conflicts, but it wasn't an astounding increase in numbers, like that seen in the combatant countries like the US, Germany, UK, Russia, etc.

COI statement: I'm half Swedish and half Norwegian by ancestry, so I may be a little biased...but it doesn't mean I'm incorrect  rofl
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: running-man on May 12, 2021, 04:13:15 PM
You got a nice one CZ!  She's going to be a great shooter for certain!

I got mine way back in November 2013 for something like $250 on Gunbroker.  Mine is a 1916 with a disc reading of #3 / 6.50 and a stock that looks like it was chewed on by a rabid beaver.  Yours is head and shoulders above mine.  I heard from a Swede guru that many of the imports from the early 2000's and 2010's were strapped loose onto pallets and shipped this way so the stocks really got roughed up on the trip across the Atlantic.  It still shoots so much better than I can with my poor eyesight. 

6.5 Swede is really quite a pleasure to shoot.  Way back when, Samco had crates and crates of 6.5 Swede wooden blank rounds for something like 4 cents a round.  I absolutely loaded up and the primed cases are perfect for handloads.  I doubt if any of that stuff still floats around today, but PPU and Norma are darn near impossible to find in stock nowadays.  All the primers and powder seem to be diverted to the more popular rounds anymore.   dntknw1
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 12, 2021, 05:39:32 PM
You got a nice one CZ!  She's going to be a great shooter for certain!

I got mine way back in November 2013 for something like $250 on Gunbroker.  Mine is a 1916 with a disc reading of #3 / 6.50 and a stock that looks like it was chewed on by a rabid beaver.  Yours is head and shoulders above mine.  I heard from a Swede guru that many of the imports from the early 2000's and 2010's were strapped loose onto pallets and shipped this way so the stocks really got roughed up on the trip across the Atlantic.  It still shoots so much better than I can with my poor eyesight. 

6.5 Swede is really quite a pleasure to shoot.  Way back when, Samco had crates and crates of 6.5 Swede wooden blank rounds for something like 4 cents a round.  I absolutely loaded up and the primed cases are perfect for handloads.  I doubt if any of that stuff still floats around today, but PPU and Norma are darn near impossible to find in stock nowadays.  All the primers and powder seem to be diverted to the more popular rounds anymore.   dntknw1

J&G Sales still has the M/14 ammo  thumb1 If you're nearby it's 4 cpr...shipped, it would depend on your locale

https://www.jgsales.com/6.5x55-swedish-m14-blank,-wooden-projectile,-4800rds.-p-92711.html

P.S. they're just covering their derriere (unnecessarily) by saying "We recommend treating this ammo as corrosive." It's Swedish surplus ammo, so it's not corrosive.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: running-man on May 12, 2021, 06:21:56 PM
Nice P32!  thumb1

I wonder if that's Samco's remaining inventory they are simply trying to unload?
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on May 13, 2021, 12:39:41 AM
Thanks!

Hopefully I'll get it soon - the seller promised to ship tomorrow. Maybe early next week I can post some pics.

And thanks for the lead on the M14! Shipping costs on that much ammo is estimated to be $220 for me  :o making it ~9cpr Still not bad, I'm trying to decide whether I need so many blanks...

I do have some Lapua and Sellier and Bellot 6.5x55 from the pre crazy days when I decided that I like Swedes. I guess I also had some pre crazy days ideas on pricing, so I didn't get a refle for a while. But at this point I gave up on that  :( and pounced on this when I saw it come with a decent bayonet and sling.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on May 19, 2021, 05:05:05 PM
Got it today. Looks nice overall. Beautiful smooth Mauser action. There is a tiny barely noticeable hairline crack off the tang (see the pic below). The seller assured me that there was no cracks but it is possible he had not noticed it. You need to look very carefully to notice it. I think I'll let it slide this time. Damn cracks are the bane of my existence.
(https://i.ibb.co/jyy531H/IMG-9790-copy.jpg) (https://ibb.co/D99bwSL)
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 19, 2021, 10:10:48 PM
If I clicked on the picture to open the link, and then hit the magnifying glass...I think I could see it  :))

I think you're good to go  thumb1
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on May 19, 2021, 11:57:47 PM
Yeah, it's not something I'm going to raise hell about :) Will post some more pics and a hopefully a range report soon.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on May 22, 2021, 10:07:56 PM
Here are more pics. Despite my ****ing I really like it. Base on the number of holes in the bolt it must have been rearsenalized. Am I right in seeing an early buttplate on it? It's kind of really deep into the wood, can it be a replacement stock? Also what do you think the wood is? Based on the date it's supposed to be walnut.

Also any hint on taking off the sling? It's old and fragile but I need to take it out if I want to take the rifle apart...

(https://i.ibb.co/7vvR1gm/IMG-9811.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BLLrC4M)

(https://i.ibb.co/StZc1Kq/IMG-9812.jpg) (https://ibb.co/T4N1nHz)

(https://i.ibb.co/dGqJQCS/IMG-9813.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Rzm4Cr1)

(https://i.ibb.co/FVdp5y9/IMG-9814.jpg) (https://ibb.co/L5sKxcM)

(https://i.ibb.co/3cHkjbq/IMG-9815.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VT83zGZ)

(https://i.ibb.co/G26jVs5/IMG-9816.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3N3H0fC)

(https://i.ibb.co/hdNLf6s/IMG-9817.jpg) (https://ibb.co/940ctDn)

(https://i.ibb.co/ctbknqx/IMG-9818.jpg) (https://ibb.co/82zNZkX)

(https://i.ibb.co/KwBw34K/IMG-9819.jpg) (https://ibb.co/C242TCP)

(https://i.ibb.co/Y496YPN/IMG-9820.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JWLN0mc)

(https://i.ibb.co/BqBt3jQ/IMG-9821.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QrMfQnT)
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Bob_The_Student on May 23, 2021, 08:36:29 AM
Looks really nice Cz. Do ALL of the numbers match (beside cleaning rod)?
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on May 23, 2021, 02:09:25 PM
Looks really nice Cz. Do ALL of the numbers match (beside cleaning rod)?

So far all I've seen (a total of 12 - 2 barrel bands, the receiver, 3 on the rear sight, mag plate, bolt release, cocking piece, safety, one more bolt piece, buttplate) do match. I haven't taken't apart the bolt to check the firing pin yet and the stock. The rod is unnumbered.

The bayo is not matching, but I knew that. Doubt they are too many matching bayo's out there. 

I thought the Soviets went crazy on labeling all SKS pieces, but Swedes put them to shame!
 
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Greasemonkey on May 23, 2021, 02:17:12 PM
Should see some German numbering..  thumb1

Nice Swede.  thumb1
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on May 23, 2021, 03:53:29 PM
Looks good!

A bit of mink oil or similar around the stud should help ease it out of the slot without tearing it, depending on how aged it is. Liberty Tree Collectors still has Swedish slings if you can't save it.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: sheepdog on May 31, 2021, 01:21:07 PM
Definitely a replacement stock, the original would have been in walnut, not beech, with an 85 degree cut to the butt. See if there's a crown behind the trigger guard with a letter under it, that will tell you which arsenal rebuilt it. There should be 19 numbered pieces. Cleaning rods never match and are not counted as a numbered part. Stay way from American 6.5X55, PPU is perfect, reloading better still. Sling removal is easy, getting it back on correctly isn't, simple but those brass studs are tough to get on.

(https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2010/09/200610420339_sling2520m96a-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Larry D. on June 02, 2021, 01:30:50 AM
I'll have to look around, I may have a couple of those slings in the odd parts box.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Bob_The_Student on June 02, 2021, 06:22:36 AM
Definitely a replacement stock, the original would have been in walnut, not beech, with an 85 degree cut to the butt. See if there's a crown behind the trigger guard with a letter under it, that will tell you which arsenal rebuilt it. There should be 19 numbered pieces. Cleaning rods never match and are not counted as a numbered part. Stay way from American 6.5X55, PPU is perfect, reloading better still. Sling removal is easy, getting it back on correctly isn't, simple but those brass studs are tough to get on.

(https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2010/09/200610420339_sling2520m96a-1.jpg)


Good info, I never knew that about these.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on June 02, 2021, 10:15:42 AM
Yes, thanks to Sheepdog  thumb1 I now know that the sling was put up incorrectly. Waiting on mink oil to try to take it off. It is fragile. I think I might have to buy a quick release version - this one may not survive multiple cycles of on and off.

The rifle does have a Carl Gustav (crowned C) rebuild mark by the trigger guard.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: sheepdog on June 03, 2021, 01:23:59 PM
Yes, thanks to Sheepdog  thumb1 I now know that the sling was put up incorrectly. Waiting on mink oil to try to take it off. It is fragile. I think I might have to buy a quick release version - this one may not survive multiple cycles of on and off.

The rifle does have a Carl Gustav (crowned C) rebuild mark by the trigger guard.

Rebuilt at the Carl Gustafs factory. Check under the wood and see if there's are Crown C stamp and see if the serial number's font on the barrel matches the font on the receiver. Often when a major rebuild was done the rifle got a new barrell too.

Here's a great reference site for Swedish Mausers. Three of mine are in the survey at the bottom which hasn't been added to in years.

http://dutchman.rebooty.com/wrist.html
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on July 10, 2021, 09:34:06 AM
It took three applications of mink oil, but I was able to take it off (just as I was about to give up). The rear band gave me some trouble too, but I managed. The seller was truthful - he never fired it - the whole action and the underside of the barrel was still in cosmoline! I doubt he ever took it apart. The workmanship on this one was the best I've seen on any milsurp. Very impressive. All the numbers match including the one on the stock - no numbers on the hand guard. I guess the barrel stamp has a different font (see the pics), so it must be a replacement? 

(https://i.ibb.co/Hd0mvW9/IMG-0110.jpg) (https://ibb.co/q5zbGt2)

(https://i.ibb.co/BNt2LDC/IMG-0113.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Qdfv9BK)

(https://i.ibb.co/442mCJ0/IMG-0112.jpg) (https://ibb.co/P1MmJtV)

(https://i.ibb.co/8KyJYp5/IMG-0111.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LkTMNWt)
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: BMont on September 19, 2021, 11:47:53 AM
Late to the thread... but you have a great rifle there.  Nice.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Larry D. on September 19, 2021, 11:19:59 PM
A true beauty.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on September 20, 2021, 11:12:06 AM
Thanks you, gentlemen. Mausers are really growing on me now....
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on September 27, 2021, 12:24:15 PM
Thanks you, gentlemen. Mausers are really growing on me now....

Damn Mausers. I'm the idiot who overpaid for this one.  Hopefully it'll turn out ok in real life.

https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Military-Artifacts/Firearms/Argentine-Berlin-Mauser-1909-7-65x53mm-Bolt-Action-Rifle/lotInformation/63705827&rfpb=0#Top
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: running-man on September 27, 2021, 01:40:11 PM
I don’t know about overpaid, but that’s a darn fine looking firearm.  Have much 7.62 argentine do you have?  I was going to get an Argentine Navy FN49 way back when with the 20 round detachable magazine but the price as well as the caliber conversion from argentine to 7.62 NATO scared me away. Kind of wish i had gotten it these days though.  dntknw1
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on September 27, 2021, 02:33:17 PM
I have zero Arg 7.65 ammo on hand, but it is still produced so I'll land some eventually. I was looking for a nice 98 pattern Mauser for a while and I figured if I wanted a really nice one that I can afford it'll have to be a South American one. Also I king of dig their stamps and crests :) . The prices on Argentine Mausers went up a lot lately  :( Just like everything else, I suppose. But you get a hell of a rifle for your money in those Mausers. I really liked the wood on this one, looks like there is some rust on the barrel, hopefully it's not too bad... I was hoping to get it cheaper but I wasn't the only one interested and a bidding war ensued.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on September 27, 2021, 04:27:17 PM
That is a beauty CZ! Matching down to the muzzle guard  :o The Argentine contract DWM Model 1909s are really nice, being a large ring Mauser of the Gew98 lineage and often in really good condition, having been produced at the German DWM facility before WWI broke out. The addition of the Riccheri device for attaching M1891 style Argentine bayonets is a nice feature as well.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on September 27, 2021, 04:28:32 PM
I was going to get an Argentine Navy FN49 way back when with the 20 round detachable magazine but the price as well as the caliber conversion from argentine to 7.62 NATO scared me away. Kind of wish i had gotten it these days though.  dntknw1

That is one of the pricier (non-scoped) FN49 variants. I'd love to have one. A cool post-FAL era conversion.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on September 27, 2021, 08:22:34 PM
Thank you, Gentlemen! Fingers crossed there won't be any nasty surprises when I get it. I also liked the fact that the muzzle cover was matching.

Interestingly enough the lot before was possibly a SCW Mosin with a sanded stock. I let it go. I think somebody got a decent deal on it.
https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Military-Artifacts/Firearms/Mosin-Nagant-1891-7-65x54R-Russian-Bolt-Action-Rifle/lotInformation/63705825
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Larry D. on September 28, 2021, 02:03:42 PM
Guys.
I do have a couple of those slings if anyone is in need.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on October 04, 2021, 12:51:24 PM
The Argentino is here. Unfortunately its showed up with a broken safety - snapped in half. There is some damage to the box, so I'm guessing it's Fedex's fault. Had to be quite a hit for it to dislodge like that.... Thankfully it is not a serialized part on those (unlike the Swedes). Any tips on filing the claim with Fedex? The seller is an auction house, so I guess making them do that is going to be counterproductive....

Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on October 04, 2021, 12:58:28 PM
The shipper usually has to initiate insurance claims. I'd reach out to them. It's likely to soak up way more than $5-10 of your time to get any satisfaction but at least worth it to reach out to the auction house. I'm guessing they shipped it with the bolt in the rifle, right?
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on October 04, 2021, 01:21:56 PM
I'm guessing they shipped it with the bolt in the rifle, right?

Yep.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Cz315 on October 04, 2021, 01:28:17 PM
Also noticed tiny but long hairline cracks off the wrist (on the bottom). Not a biggie and could have been there before (sort of classic locations for those), but I suppose it could have been also the result of shipping issues.

it looks like fedex allows for the recipient to initiate the claim too. But I'll reach out to the seller anyway.

EDIT: I stand corrected. Only the sender can initiate the claim for FedEx Ground.
Title: Re: Swedish Mauser
Post by: Phosphorus32 on October 04, 2021, 06:35:15 PM
I'm guessing they shipped it with the bolt in the rifle, right?

Yep.

Yup, rookie move. Never ship a bolt action rifle with the bolt in it.