swedish mauser question

[FryeGuy]

ok, I am looking at a Carl Gustaf M96. Just another toy I guess. I have looked for these for a couple of years now, but they have all been out of the price range I am willing to pay for a 100yr old military gun. I found one now, but have a concern before purchasing it. all the serial numbers match on each piece, except for the safety & bolt. In fact, neither one is stamped at all. It still operates as it should, cocks on close, safety works, trigger is functional, etc. Just wondering if this was a common thing with some of these swedish mausers (replacing bolt)?? Would this create a headspace problem? Do you guys think this was done while still in service in swedish military? I guess there is no way of know for sure?? Were they built close enough to each other, so that bolt replacement wouldn't kill the proper headspace? everyone has told me these things shoot great, any personal experience from anyone out there?

 

[swampshooter]

Definitely affects headspace. Headspace should be checked by a gunsmith before shooting, but then headspace should be checked before shooting any surplus rifle.

 

[FryeGuy]

well, that's what I thought. called several of my gun buddys, they all think the same thing. It will get the pass. by the time I had everything checked out, I would be better off just buying a better gun to start with.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

The bolts were always stamped with the serial number so having one with out it means it was changed after service due to wear and tear or loss. I have an all matching one but the stock was cut down. Almost every single peice on the 96 is staped with the last 3 digits of the serial and the crown.

 

[yat3b35]

what kind of price is on the rifle if you don't mind telling me ? I have a model 38 Swedish Mauser chambered for the 6.5X55 and all numbers match. It looks like it has never seen use , stock is pristeen, blueing is also pristeen with the exception of small amount of rust toward the muzzel.
I'm trying to find the value of the rifle for a friend.

Thanks John

 

[FryeGuy]

they had 239.99 on it. it was in pristine shape. even the bolt was in great shape. but it wasn't stamped with the last 3#'s of serial number, which I knew to look for. the swedes I find at g-shows that are all matching are anywhere from $250 to $500, depending on shape they are in. I kind of regret not buying those I saw for $250.

I guess for another $200 or so dollars I can find a nice used rem 700, or even a new t/c venture. I could eat up $200 or more dollars just having the mauser checked out, and what if the headspace is off? well, I guess I will keep looking.

 

[2644ever]

What kind of gunsmith would charge $200 just for checking headspace? Check it yourself: get new brass and stick a round piece of tape over the markings, now close the bolt. If you can close it effortlessly over 2 layers of tape, you got a headspace problem. This can be corrected by the average gunsmith for those $200 you were about to waste. It involves pulling the barrel, removing about .1 on threads, barrel face and shoulder, reaming the missing portion of the chamber and indexing the barrel. The rifle should shoot just great after that surgery.

 

[shortgrass]

Tape on brass will only tell you that tape will stick to brass. Gauges are $30-$35 each, and cheap for what they tell you. Setting a barrel back on a mlitary rifle that has sights, such as the Mausers do, requires a complete turn so the the sights are back to 12 o'clock, when the barrel is torqued, where they should be. Military chambers can be quite generous, hopefully a 'modern' reamer would 'clean it up' . Heck, I think you can rent a set of guages from 4-D or somebody like that, that rents reamers and gauges. The best reason to buy a Mauser these days is because you want to have one in (as close as possible) original condition. If a sporter is your desire, buy a modern sporting rifle. It'll be much cheaper in the end!

 

[jmm03]

Hi, the original swedish headspace gauges are different than the SAAMI spec gauges that we use here. If you measure a military swede with it it will usually close on the no go. If it does not close on a field gauge you are usually safe,although as with any milsurp of "advanced age" it is better to err on the side of caution.
Another good resource is the swede mauser forum on www.gunboards.com,a very knowlegeable bunch. Jim

 

[shortgrass]

Hmmmm! On both of mine the bolt will only close half way (one just a tad more than the other, but, nowhere near being 'closed') on the NO-GO gauge. Purchased both rifles at the same time nearly 30 years ago. All numbers match on both.

 

[TonyR]

Wouldn't the usual "false shoulder" method fireform handloads to chambers of these rifles regardless of the headspace as long as there is enough to close the bolt?? I can see where there would be a problem with "factory" ammo.

 

[2644ever]

Case in point: Today I finally managed to get a bolt for a Kimber barreled M-96 action in .22-250.
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php/topic,3768332.0.html
The bolt is in great shape and the safety has been upgraded in order not to be a nuisance should you mount a scope. The pleasant surprise with those non matching number parts is that headspace is OK... The bolt will close on one piece of tape but not on two and as a bonus Kimber's chambering is extra tight at the case head location (I hate the industry standard bulge on the case head even with mild loads)
Was I lucky? I guess so.

 

[FryeGuy]

I had thought about the tape on the case deal. I was just trying to figure out if it's worth $240, then not really like open sights, so I would have to drill & tap it, bend the bolt handle, change out the safety, replace the horrible trigger, have the headspace checked, if it is off, then there goes a set-back on it. I just don't see any of that under the $200 dollar range. but maybe I would like open sights, and the headspace is ok? then, the $240 is worth it. I am going back up there saturday, and do the tape thing if they have any cases around. that would get me in the ballpark. thanks for all the advice.

 

[acloco]

The triggers on Swede (and other military rifles) are two stage. All four of my Swedes break clean, but definitely not a varmint or benchrest trigger.

Timney makes a great aftermarket trigger.

If you are planning on applying a scope, you might as well buy a modern action.

With original milsurp ammo in a M96, rang the plate at 1260 yards five out of six times. Four in a row, a miss (my fault), and a final hit.....with the original sites.

With a sling and some practice, you might be slightly amazed at what these long creatures will do as is.