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If you are looking at a m/96 Mauser for a hunting rifle, why buy a military rifle and try to sporterize it, drill and tap for possible scope, and do things that will lessen it's value?
Weaver bases will NOT fit any existing sight holes. There were six different common diopters available and four different common hole patterns.
Why not go to the Trade-Ex website's section on "Hunting and Sporting Rifles." According to your post, your criteria is for a HUNTING rifle and rifles in this section are more suitable for hunting than a regular standard Milsurp, and possibly even less expensive.
If you want a m/96 Mauser, then choose one of a suitable calibre for hunting such as 6.5x55 or 8x57 Mauser. Next READ the description of the individual rifle. Anthony is very fair and conservative with his descriptions and his "good" would be "very good" from most other dealers. Choose one that already has Weaver bases installed, and more important, a SIDE SAFETY as the military safety is much slower to operate, and requires a very high scope mounting. Most of these rifles come with open sights, but if you want a rear peep sight, one can easily be installed. Make sure that the bolt handle is already bent down for scope use.
Most of these sporterized rifles use surplus Carl Gustaf actions, but if you READ the descriptions, some of them are later made Husqvarna rifles with a high left side wall. These are actions without the thumb cut in the left side wall and are a bit stiffer action but most of them are in 8x57 Mauser calibre. A lot of people shy away from this calibre, but it has much more power than a .308 Winchester and approaches or equals the 30-06 in some loads. Reloading is best as North American ammo for this calibre is underloaded.
By buying a SPORTING rifle, you will save money if you have to mount a scope on it. It would probably cost you another $100 to $200 to have a gunsmith drill and tap the receiver, buy the bases, bend the bolt, and make the military safety more suitable for hunting purposes.
When Trade-Ex lists a rifle as "m/96 Sporter" it is usually a Carl Gustafs action, when listed as "Husqvarna Sporter" it is usually a HVA military action, and when listed as a "Husqvarna COMMERCIAL Sporter" it is a HVA high side wall sporting action made between 1944 and 1950.
Save your self some grief and disappointment by purchasing a Sporter for a HUNTING rifle in the first place, rather than a Military rifle and trying to sporterize it yourself. You will be a lot better off and happier with one that already has the work done for you and is a lot more suitable for your purpose.
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