M96 From Tradex - Now With Range Report

mmattockx

mmattockx

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I figured I would start a clean thread showing the M96 I got from Tradex, instead of continuing the questions thread I had going.

I ordered an M96 Swede sporter last monday and received it yesterday, for a week total from order to receipt. Not bad, I figure. The gun was listed in "good" condition with a very good bore. I would agree with that description. The stock is fairly rough, with many notches cut all along the forearm, and both on top and bottom of the buttstock. Bluing is pretty thin and worn off on much of the barrel and action, but the steel is in good shape with no corrosion anywhere. The bore is indeed very good, being shiny all the way through with sharp rifling. It has definitely been used, but not abused.

The action was very dirty and gummed up with oil, so I pulled the bolt and soaked it in a bucket of varsol while I cleaned out the crud from as many nooks and crannies as I could get into. All cleaned up, it is now smooth and easy to cycle.

Pics:

As received
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With Bushnell 3200 3-9x40 scope mounted
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Range report to follow, hopefully this weekend if time and weather permit. I have ordered a new stock to replace the original and will post pics when that arrives and I have it fitted and finished.

Mark
 
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Ghostsaww said:
Those are kill notches! Must've been a damn good hunter, or soldier...
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I know. There must be 45-50 at least, in total. I would have preferred if the previous owner hadn't kept his count on the stock, but that is the way it goes. The stock is pretty low for a scope anyway, and I found a beautiful black walnut stock for a reasonable price at Great American Gunstocks Co. This is the one I ordered:

ht tp://www.gunstocks.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=7017

Total was $146USD with shipping. Hopefully it looks as good in person as in the pic.

When I am finished I will have a real wood stock and old world craftsmanship in a great deer rifle for only slightly more than a new Stevens 200.


Mark
 
mmattockx said:
I know. There must be 45-50 at least, in total. I would have preferred if the previous owner hadn't kept his count on the stock, but that is the way it goes. The stock is pretty low for a scope anyway, and I found a beautiful black walnut stock for a reasonable price at Great American Gunstocks Co. This is the one I ordered:

ht tp://www.gunstocks.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=7017

Total was $146USD with shipping. Hopefully it looks as good in person as in the pic.

When I am finished I will have a real wood stock and old world craftsmanship in a great deer rifle for only slightly more than a new Stevens 200.


Mark
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I count 37...LOL

Enjoy it. Nice rifle.
 
humptyjumped said:
I count 37...LOL

Enjoy it. Nice rifle.
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There are more under the butt and maybe 7-8 on the front of the comb as well. They are all over the thing. Either this rifle has shot a lot of game or the guy just liked to brag. Hopefully, it has lots of experience because this will be my first big game hunting season and I can use all the help I can get to bag my first deer.:D

Mark
 
Range report

So I played hooky from work today and went out to the range to help with construction work on the new 300yd range. That went poorly and I had more time left over than I expected, so I pulled out a couple of rifles and touched off a few rounds.

Conditions were a balmy 3C, with drizzle and rain and a gusty 30+kmh crosswind. Perfect for sighting in a new rifle!:D

After getting the POI dialed fairly close at 50yds, I set up at 100yds and shot 4 x 5 shot groups. None of that wussy 3 shot stuff here...

Overall target:

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Best group at 100yds:

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Not particularly happy with that, I decided to put one up at 200yds and see what happened.

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Best group at 200yds:

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Considering the conditions, just over 3" at 200yds with el cheapo Federal 140gr. soft points isn't bad. Some handload development and less hurricane like conditions should see sub-MOA groups at 100 and 200yds. Note that el cheapo Federal ammo isn't really, it was $30/box at WSS in Calgary. Winchester was $31/box and I plan to buy a couple boxes of that and see if it does any better.

The gun functioned flawlessly, fed easily and the trigger was not bad for a tired old military 2 stage. A bit heavy, but it broke clean with no creep. Overall I am satisfied at this point and will be looking forward to some hand loads to see if I can get it down under 1" at 100yds.

Mark
 
About those notches! Wow that's a hard one. Assuming each is a kill and as seen with your targets (accurate shooting) well, to me that makes your rifle a good gun.

If you wanted to remove them, you could take a bit of wood off of the bottom and just thin it out. Looks to be enought to do that. Or.... leave it as is...it is a hunter.

Thanks for the range report.

Pete
 
Swede model 96

Well I have to say it's refreshing to see a report like this.
Most rifles on this forum shoot 1/4".
Anyway, I'm betting with some reloading you will shrink those groups a bit. After that you should be able to find a stock in better condition. Don't know if the marks meant anything, possibly gave the shooter a better grip on the forarm with mitts on.
Enjoy Bill
 
I have had several rifles from Tradeex[all were accurately described-and extra pictures sent for any requested detail]Generally the Husqvarnas had good walnut for stocks,and even many of the bumps and dings came out with a wet cloth and a hot iron-then sanding down and refinishing brought them back really nice.

I think these Husqvarna sporting rifles offer the best bang for the buck there is on todays market-you'd be hard pressed to match it for quality at double or triple the price in another rifle
 
heavyBullet said:
Were those notches mentioned in the ad ??
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Yes they were. Maybe not as many as there are, but they were definitely mentioned. I am not too upset about the stock, it is too low for the scope and I bought a new stock blank from Great American Stock Company. I expected to replace the stock all along, so this is not the end of the world. This is the stock I bought:

ht tp://www.gunstocks.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=7017


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b72471 said:
Well I have to say it's refreshing to see a report like this.
Most rifles on this forum shoot 1/4".
Anyway, I'm betting with some reloading you will shrink those groups a bit. After that you should be able to find a stock in better condition.
Click to expand...

So true.:D

I expect a bit of practice and handload development will get me very close to or under 1" at 100yds on a good day. There aren't many hunting rifles out there that do any better, regardless of what people like to say. I was shooting 5 shot groups, too. I could have been close to 1" in the horrible conditions if I only used 3 shots and spent more time between shots to keep the barrel cool. It just isn't that important for me to worry about it. The fact that groups got better at 200yds is encouraging, the 6.5x55 calibre is known to be an excellent long range choice. It will definitely be enough for the deer I plan to shoot this fall.

When all is said and done, I will have a great hunting rifle for less than the cheapest Savage and it will have a beautiful wood stock with old time crafstmanship. I am very content with that, it was all I was looking for. If things go right, my kids will still be shooting game with this rifle well after I have moved on.

Mark
 
Now there you go, Show me another stock web site and now I have to finish my 375 H&H project......

When you finish your project. Please post more picts.

Pete
 
Pblatzz said:
That's a nice stock, I assume it's semi inletted?
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Supposed to be inletted to around .005-.007" undersized. I will need to do a bit of sanding to get the action to fit, the bottom metal needs final inletting and I am not sure what the barrel channel is going to look like. I will also need to cut around 1/2" off the butt, it is cut at 14" LOP as it sits and that will be a bit too long for me when I add a recoil pad.

Yes, you should order a stock from them and finish your 375H&H, that is always a great project calibre.:D

Mark
 
Don't know what the inside of the barrel looks like but it should shoot better groups than that with a 3x9 on it? Try handloading for it using either IMR 4350 for the 140-160gr and RE#22 for the 140's.Should be able to make MOA or better.IMR 4831 is good with the 120-130gr bullet....................Nice caliber though I have a couple Husky 1942 and Win FWT**** son has a T3 **Mine liked 42gr of IMR4350 or N204 and a 156gr SAKO/or 160 Hornady 1/2 " or better groups and 45.5 gr RE22/140gr bullet same groups........Harold
 
mbogo3 said:
Don't know what the inside of the barrel looks like but it should shoot better groups than that with a 3x9 on it? Try handloading for it using either IMR 4350 for the 140-160gr and RE#22 for the 140's.Should be able to make MOA or better.IMR 4831 is good with the 120-130gr bullet....................Nice caliber though I have a couple Husky 1942 and Win FWT**** son has a T3 **Mine liked 42gr of IMR4350 or N204 and a 156gr SAKO/or 160 Hornady 1/2 " or better groups and 45.5 gr RE22/140gr bullet same groups........Harold
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The barrel is very shiny with strong rifling. I expect handloads will get it close to 1" groups. Conditions sucked, it was factory ammo and it was the first time I used it. All things that will improve with some time. I plan to try RL-22 and some Hornady SST 140gr. bullets first in the quest for better accuracy.

Mark
 
Considering 30kph crosswinds, 3C temp and I assume warm, heavy clothing, those groups are just fine and would tighten up a lot with better conditions.

That stock has some nice figure in it and should make that old girl look like she's all dressed up for saturday night. Are you going to glass bed it? Glass bedding is easy to do and will certainly give you a lot more consistancy in a new stock.

I'm probably nto telling you anything new, just making a suggestion.

That is a very nice rifle by the way. I picked one up from a fellow that brought it to Canada with him and instead of notches, the club he belonged to in Finland would issue sterling silver tacks, with heads in the shape of elk and moose. It was in 8x57 and would shoot factory 150gn Norma into 1 1/2 in regularly. I sold it before I hunted with it. Oh well.

Have fun with that rifle, I'm sure it will do everything you ask of her if you do your part. You may also want to do a trigger job on it. The one I had came with a 6-7 pound pull.
 
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