New Swedish M96

[Calfed]

I recently won this M96 at an on-line auction. It looks to be in extremely good shape and these are becoming a little pricey here in California. Thought I better get it while the getting it is still good.

It is not "all matching", but isn't a total mix-master, either. The receiver, bolt, all bolt parts, buttplate and stock are all matching. The floor plate, bolt release, barrel bands are not. Stock disc is marked "1" in the barrel condition segment.

Did Swedish armories play "mix and match" with these rifles when they were in for service, or was this likely put together with non-matching parts after it was imported?

I'll try to get a bore picture posted.

[BudT]

Nice piece Calfed. I would like to find one already butchered up but in good condition to put into use as a hunting sporter.

[4F4Nam]

Looks like a really nice piece! Good find.

Ed

[Calfed]

Thanks, Ed and Bud

hoping to shoot it this week sometime.

[Calfed]

If there was a forum for Swiss rifles on this website, I would post pics of the 3 Swiss rifles I also got at the auction.

[Griff Murphey]

Swiss rifles shoot too well and ought to be illegal in CMP competition for MILITARY rifles.... They never saw combat!

[Calfed]

lol--so too then the Swede Mauser

[milsurpman]

'If there was a forum for Swiss rifles on this website, I would post pics of the 3 Swiss rifles I also got at the auction'


Post em up! would love to see them. Put them up on guntalk.

[Calfed]

You're on!

http://www.jouster.com/forums/showth...483#post249483

[jon_norstog]

Calfed,

The Swedes I've owned all had 100% matching numbers. The floor plate is something they definitely would have kept with it's original rifle, ditto the bolt release. Something happened. At the same time it looks like a rifle that never saw service. I've seen that finish on the stock before, most recently on my mint Ljungman that I sold like a fool.

Parts may have been robbed from your rifle and sent to field units ... and then when the '96es were finally sold off, your partial gun got whatever was available.

BTW, the Swedes were death on Norwegian resistance fighters. Even after the war, my grandmother was briefly a POW in a border incident. She told the story funny, but it was live ammo.

jn

[Highpower]

I feel your pain. I have a very nice M96 that is matching except for the bolt (which matches itself) and the buttplate. It also has a "1" bore and is drilled and tapped for the Swedish target sight.

[Calfed]

Calfed,

The Swedes I've owned all had 100% matching numbers. The floor plate is something they definitely would have kept with it's original rifle, ditto the bolt release. Something happened. At the same time it looks like a rifle that never saw service. I've seen that finish on the stock before, most recently on my mint Ljungman that I sold like a fool.

Parts may have been robbed from your rifle and sent to field units ... and then when the '96es were finally sold off, your partial gun got whatever was available.

BTW, the Swedes were death on Norwegian resistance fighters. Even after the war, my grandmother was briefly a POW in a border incident. She told the story funny, but it was live ammo.

jn

Jon, thanks for the feedback

Most of my Swedish Mausers are matching also. This one, while not matching, is in great shape and I believe it will be a good shooter.

I found an arsenal stamp on the underside of the stock, behind the trigger guard indicating that it underwent repair/rebuild at at the Tygstation (Army Armory workshop) in Östersund.



A number of posters on other sites have suggested that it may have received a new stock and other parts at the repair facility.

I'm planning on shooting in a vintage military silhouette match this weekend and may use this rifle. I took it to the range yesterday along with a few other rifles and tried a few rounds of different types of ammo. The group wasn't bad, especially considering that I was shooting 2 rounds each of three different types of ammo.

[Calfed]

I know this doesn't prove much, but here is the target I shot with the M96 yesterday. two rounds each of Fiocci, Hornady and Prvi match ammo @ 100 yards. Main thing for me was to find out if the windage was on and to fire the thing and make sure it hit paper.



Considering that it was three different brands and bullet weights, I was surprised that the group was as good as it was.

I'll see what I have left over after the match tomorrow and try for a real group.

[Calfed]

I feel your pain. I have a very nice M96 that is matching except for the bolt (which matches itself) and the buttplate. It also has a "1" bore and is drilled and tapped for the Swedish target sight.

Nice looking M96, HP. How does it shoot?

[jon_norstog]

I know this doesn't prove much, but here is the target I shot with the M96 yesterday. two rounds each of Fiocci, Hornady and Prvi match ammo @ 100 yards........

Calfed,

That's a pretty typical group for a Swede. Every one I ever had strung shots vertically. But once the barrel heats up, then you start getting these one-ragged-hole groups. Too bad that kind of shooting burns up a barrel.

The basic rifle is more accurate than almost any modern sporting rifle you can buy, out of the box. I think the military stock and hardware are what cause vertical stringing as the barrel heats up. I've tried everything!

Good luck!

jn