I was out at the range today, trying an '06 Swede i picked up a while ago. i was trying it at 100 yds., but given that the rear sight elevator starts at 300, it was a bit of a PITA, so I took a piece of poster board I had, painted a circle about 10" and set it up at 300. I fired the 6 shells I had left. Hit the paper all 6 times, 2 groups about 6" each. Can't wait to do some more load development and play around some more. i can't see my groups improving much, as that's the limit of my old eyes, but if i can consistently group 6", and keep them in the circle, i'll be happy as a pig in a Liberal convention.
Ah, those beautiful Swedes
- Thread starter Papaclaude
- Start date
Swedes
The basic Swedish Mauser rifles come in three models, the 1894 Carbine, the 1896 Rifle and the 1938 Short Rifle. They were designed as a BATTLE rifle, and with the minimum 300 yard sight setting, it was made for hitting a large human target, not a smaller paper target.
The original calibre was 6.5x55 Mauser for Military purposes. However, these actions have been built or modified for other calibres, such as 30-06, 8mm Mauser, 9.3x57 Mauser, and others for use as hunting rifles.
Generally, they are well built, with old world craftsmanship. They are accurate, as you have found out, but when used for target shooting, the sights were replaced with sights designed to hit targets, not enemy soldiers. The longer barreled M96 FSR rifles, the CG-63 or CG-80 rifles, and a few other variations can give even more accuracy.
These rifles were designed for 160 grain round nosed, and 139 grain spitzer MILITARY loads. The Comercial hunting soft point loads can differ quite a bit, and different Manufacturers ammunition can give different accuracy results.
Reloading is the best way to get the most accuracy out of these rifles. A good 140 grain bullet can give you fine target accuracy. There are also TWO sets of sights found on the M-96 Mausers, one for the 160 grain round nosed bullet, and one for the 139 grain spitzer, the latter being marked with a "T" on them. If your rifle was built in 1906, then it would have sights designed for the 160 grain round nosed bullet.
While to you, the sights might be a PITA, to a Swedish soldier, they are just what he needed to do his job, for over a time span of 80+ years when it was in Service.
If you really want to get serious about shooting the Swede, you can replace the front sight with a higher one for 100 yard shooting, but then your longer range sight markings will not be accurate. You could buy a FSR rifle, with the target Diopter sight mounted on the receiver and a front target sight on it, or you could find a VAASTERAS rear micrometer sight that simply replaces your rear sight, and is graduated from 100 to 600 meters. These can be found on E-Bay and usually go for $50-$75.
.
The basic Swedish Mauser rifles come in three models, the 1894 Carbine, the 1896 Rifle and the 1938 Short Rifle. They were designed as a BATTLE rifle, and with the minimum 300 yard sight setting, it was made for hitting a large human target, not a smaller paper target.
The original calibre was 6.5x55 Mauser for Military purposes. However, these actions have been built or modified for other calibres, such as 30-06, 8mm Mauser, 9.3x57 Mauser, and others for use as hunting rifles.
Generally, they are well built, with old world craftsmanship. They are accurate, as you have found out, but when used for target shooting, the sights were replaced with sights designed to hit targets, not enemy soldiers. The longer barreled M96 FSR rifles, the CG-63 or CG-80 rifles, and a few other variations can give even more accuracy.
These rifles were designed for 160 grain round nosed, and 139 grain spitzer MILITARY loads. The Comercial hunting soft point loads can differ quite a bit, and different Manufacturers ammunition can give different accuracy results.
Reloading is the best way to get the most accuracy out of these rifles. A good 140 grain bullet can give you fine target accuracy. There are also TWO sets of sights found on the M-96 Mausers, one for the 160 grain round nosed bullet, and one for the 139 grain spitzer, the latter being marked with a "T" on them. If your rifle was built in 1906, then it would have sights designed for the 160 grain round nosed bullet.
While to you, the sights might be a PITA, to a Swedish soldier, they are just what he needed to do his job, for over a time span of 80+ years when it was in Service.
If you really want to get serious about shooting the Swede, you can replace the front sight with a higher one for 100 yard shooting, but then your longer range sight markings will not be accurate. You could buy a FSR rifle, with the target Diopter sight mounted on the receiver and a front target sight on it, or you could find a VAASTERAS rear micrometer sight that simply replaces your rear sight, and is graduated from 100 to 600 meters. These can be found on E-Bay and usually go for $50-$75.
.
Carbine, rifle and short rifles are all excellent shooter with reloads. I happen to be fortunate enough to have acquired all three with extensive searching and can confirm that with reloads (139 gr Lapua bullets) these rifles are capable of 1/2" five shot groups at 100 yds if I do my part. I also have a Husquvarna short rifle that I have replaced the rear sights with an Accumount base and have mounted a Burris Scout scope. Sure is easier on these old eyes.
FYI, the accumount does NOT require any drilling or tapping of the rifle and it's quiet easy to reinstall the original rear sights.
Enjoy your rifle and take some time to develope accurate loads.
Let us know how it works out for you.
FYI, the accumount does NOT require any drilling or tapping of the rifle and it's quiet easy to reinstall the original rear sights.
Enjoy your rifle and take some time to develope accurate loads.
Let us know how it works out for you.
