Swedish Mauser questions

[Glock22]

I was at Cabelas yesterday and they had a Swedish Mauser in the gun library for $400 dollars. As far I as could tell through the case the wood and the finish on the metal were amazingly good. The caliber was 6.5x55, I couldn't figure out it that was swede or if there was some kind of 6.5 Mauser round.

How available is ammunition for it and also does the price match the condition and the type of rifle?

 

[Outlaws]

6.5x55 Swede is what that shoots.

That is a little high for the price unless its in really great condition. I would tempted to remove the stock and make sure that every single number matches before I paid $400. I paid $300 for mine in what I though was extremely good condition. But I just found out last weekend when I took it apart the stock has a different number than the rest of the rifle, which means that the disc* is definitely meaningless. Not that it would still be the same as when the disc was added 50 years ago, but a different stock means the disc is from the wrong rifle. Still shoots extremely good.

There are too many variables to offer a complete opinion on the rifle here. But there is one constant to remember...Cabela's seems to be over priced on a lot of their used rifles. Something to keep in mind.

*The disc is what the Swedish used to mark the condition of the rifle before putting them into storage. They didn't store anything that wasn't up to their high standards. Just remember they have still been floating around for a upwards of 50 years so a lot could have happened since then.

 

[Hokkmike]

As far as the caliber goes it is ideal. It is not as ubiquitous as .243 or .270 but it is not rare or endangered. Swede ammo is manufactured by Winchester, Remington, Federal, Norma, and an goodly number of other off brands. It typically is a very accurate round suitable for shooting at groundhogs to moose. I have used the caliber for 30 years so I speak from experience.

 

[cracked butt]

What store was the rifle at? Was it here in Wisconsin- Richfield maybe?

The reason I ask is that there is currently one at the Richfield WI store for the same price. It has a muzzle brake screwed on to it which is actually an aftermarket part that can be added to M96bs. The M96b rifle was a M96 that had a threaded muzzle for a wooden bullet shredder. These rifles were used for training. I've never heard of one shooting bad, but valuewise they aren't worth nearly as much as a unthreaded M96. Even a M96 in excellent wouldn't bring anywhere near $400 unless it had a stock with considerable figure to it and all of the serial numbers matched.

 

[cracked butt]

Here's one that someone obviously thought was worth a lot more. Then again it has pretty much every desirable feature one could want in a Swede Mauser:
-[SA] marked, meaning that it was used by Finnish troops during the Winter War.
-Made in 1925 which was a very low production year and the final year they were made at Carl Gustav (Husqvarna made some during the 1940s)
-All parts are matching
-Excellent condition
-Stock has very nice figure to it.

You can typically find a rifle with one of the above conditions, they would sell for $250-350 but a rifle with all of those conditions is a rare bird.

Edit: Oops forgot to post the link: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=73451037

 

[Glock22]

What store was the rifle at? Was it here in Wisconsin- Richfield maybe?

Yes it was.

 

[rangerruck]

I love anything in 6.5, the best round , pound for pound out there. The benchrest guys love them, because you can get them in vld form and they have a b.c. of almost .6, which is totally sick, it is like shooting a looonnnggg javelin, just slices through the atmosphere. The 6.5 swede is no slouch for that matter, either. Every place on the internet will have it, all gunshops will have it, and all gunshows will have it. Wolf is supposed to be making it regularly right now, also S#B makes it, so does PRVI partisan. At gunshows, you should be able to find it in milsurp form as well, for about the equivalent of 5 to 7 dollars a box.

 

[atomchaser]

$400 is a little pricey unless it is a great or unusal specimen. 6.5 x55 is a great shooting round. Mild recoil and great accuracy. Lots of commerical ammo available. Surplus ammo is very good but not as plentiful or inexpensive as some calibers.

 

[44AMP]

My Swede sure shoots fine, but then again....

I haven't grouped it on paper, just repaeted hits on the 450yard gong! With the sights set as low as they go!

Be aware that the M96 Swede were "zeroed" for something beyond 300 meters, and will shoot way high at closer ranges, unless you replace the front sight blade. My rifle is a 1917 Carl Gustav, straight bolt, 29" barrel, and it just loves Speer 140gr and IMR 4320 in reasonable amounts.

Had it out to the range on Father's Day, and the only reason I missed the 450 yd gong was occassional gusts of wind. And when I did miss, it wasn't by much! Light recoil too!

 

[Bob F.]

Have 2 '96's, one of which I've sporterized (read Bubba'd). Barrel cut to 22". A few yrs back I bought 3 Model '96's, all Gustavs, $100 each. Traded one off to my cousin/shooting buddy. Picked up a Model 38 (?) carbine for $250 IIRC. 2 of the 96's were all matching numbers. What powder for the shorter barrels?
They all shoot great, but always manage to get a flyer. Also is Lapau brass long enough? I bought 100 Win cases and they don't make "trim to" length. Those sucker have Lllooooonnggggg throats!! Gonna load up some Speer 120's. We have a steel gong at 500yds, maybe 30" dia. What a hoot to bang it with some regularity!!

Thanks guys.
Bob

 

[jefnvk]

Only gun that beats it out for my favorite is the Garand. Love both my m96 nd my Rem 700 in 6.5x55 Swede.

That said, price is a bit up there.

 

[Spiggy]

piggybacking on (not to threadjack, but it's relavent to the thread), what if it's about $450 for a X-VG '38 carbine with an appropriate bayonet and random accessories?

 

[TimboKhan]

I love my swedish mauser. Smoothest action of all my milsurps, and darn near the smoothest action I have period. The 6.5x55 is a great round too. Ruger chambered the M77 in that for awhile, and if I could find one, I would buy it.

 

[HorseSoldier]

piggybacking on (not to threadjack, but it's relavent to the thread), what if it's about $450 for a X-VG '38 carbine with an appropriate bayonet and random accessories?

I've seen them running as much as $350 or so for the rifle by itself at gun shows lately (apparently price has gone up a bunch and back when I could have cared less they were dirt cheap ). I think bayonets run from about $30 and up . . . guess it basically comes down to whether you think you're getting at least $100 worth of accessories along with the rifle.

 

[cracked butt]

$450 for a M38 is a little high, though a Husquvarna could easily fetch that much. If its in excellent shape, it will be worth that much in a few years- the value of these rifles will never go down.

 

[jkingrph]

Probably high, but remember condition and all matching is everything. Leave origional to maintain/increase value.

That said I have a '98CG not all matching, that was in horrible shape appearance wise. I let the guy that got it for me reblue, and I refinished the stock, otherwise no changes or mods. It's a great shooter and still probably worth a lot more than the $69 I paid back in 91.

I picked up a 96/38, one of the arsenal shortened rifles at a gunshow a couple of years ago all matching, lightly tiger striped walnut stock, two digit serial number, Orbendorf receiver, 1900. The year indicates that it is a replacement receiver serial numbered to the rest of the gun, as two digit numbers were CG guns made in 1898. The Swedes did this if there was a problem with a part, numbering replacement to the rest of the gun. Makes for an interesting piece. I have no idea what this oddity would be worth to a collector.

Initally I did not care for the close on cocking action, but after shooting and using for a bit, I find I prefer the '96 to the later '98, the action is much smoother.

 

[Spiggy]

right, condition is VG, it is all matched and of husquarvna(sp?) manufacture. The stock is blonde and lightly rippled.

the price includes postage from across the continent- so maybe I was a bit rash when I saw it... you don't see many good rifles here

 

[PGroenewold]

OK, like everyone else has said the price seems a little high. On the other hand, they're great rifles. My M96 dates from 1911, and despite its age is one of the most accurate rifles I own. The fit and finish is impressive, and I think it's fun to shoot as the recoil is minimal.

Since you're in WI, you'll want to know that you may still be able to find surplus 6.5x55 ammo at Dunhams Sports. I have gotten 1" 3-shot groups at 100 yards off the bench with this stuff, and someone with younger eyes should be able to do better.

Last but not least, if the brass unit disc is still installed on the stock, it contains some useful trivia. I think the forums at Gunboards.com had a thread showing what the various codes on the disc meant. I'm by no means a Swede milsurp guru, so take these comments for whatever they're worth.

 

[Spiggy]

great, thanks just checking *goes to bank*

 

[Smokey Joe]

Amazing!!

A thread on the Swedish Mauser, 6.5x55, with 19 posts, and Wildswedishmauserloveralaska has yet to chime in on it!

 

[Brian Williams]

Wildtain'therenomo'alaska
Tain't for a while.
b

6.5s are nice, I would like one.

 

[Redbeard55]

It was only 15 years ago when you could purchase Swedish Mausers in the $60-$100 range. Realized they were a great buy at the time and bought several. Some of the better buys I ever made considering the current prices. Even ended up with 1 of the pre-1900 models with tiger striped walnut. Refinishing the stock was probably a stupid idea if I ever planned on seling them, but I would rather have the nice stock,

 

[cracked butt]

It was only 15 years ago when you could purchase Swedish Mausers in the $60-$100 range. Realized they were a great buy at the time and bought several. Some of the better buys I ever made considering the current prices. Even ended up with 1 of the pre-1900 models with tiger striped walnut

I ordered a few about 5 or 6 years ago at around $165/ea. With great trepidation I spent an extra $10 on one to get an Oberndorf. I ended up with this 1899. Probably the best $10 spent on gun stuff ever.

 

[jkingrph]

ordered a few about 5 or 6 years ago at around $165/ea. With great trepidation I spent an extra $10 on one to get an Oberndorf. I ended up with this 1899. Probably the best $10 spent on gun stuff ever.

Man, I wish mine were half that pretty. Nice!!

 

[Jspy]

I'm also a big fan of the 6.5x55. I found a box of ammo at one of my local shops, Hornady's 6.5x55 "Light Magnums" on the shelf. I was curious if anyone might know whats the scoop on these.