M96 Swede question...

Sun_and_Steel_77

Sun_and_Steel_77

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I'm posting to ask the more knowledgable CGN'ers the value of a Carl Gustafs 1901 6.5x55 Swede that I just received from an older gent who no longer wanted it around.
I'm not being lazy, I searched the EE and did much Googling but can't seem to come-up with a solid idea of what this rifle is worth. I went to Tradex as well and found plenty of CG "target" rifles but no sporters to speak of.
Anyways, to the details. The numbers match on the receiver and bolt as well as the magazine floorplate and bolt release. The bore is shiny and the rifling sharp and crisp. Wood has no cracks or damage, lots of bluing wear with some loss but no pitting anywhere on the rifle to speak of. It is drilled and tapped for weaver bases.
I took it out earlier today and was grouping three into two inches at fifty yards with the irons pretty consistently.
Long story short, I don't want to sit on this one for any length of time and am asking you fellas what you think is a good price on the EE to get it sold?
Thanks in advance for any info guys, I appreciate it!

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You will find a lot of "sporterized" m/96 Swedish Mausers in Trade-Ex. Look in the "Hunting and Sporting Rifles" section.

Most of these sporterized rifles run from $200 to $300. Your rifle has a fairly nice sporting stock, has been drilled and tapped for scope mounts, (probably Weaver bases,) and has a side safety. It is a typical conversion with the original stepped barrel. The downside is that the bluing is worn in several places and especially where the rear sight base was.

Trade-Ex is offering Husqvarna Commercial rifles for about $250, most of them in 8x57 Mauser calibre. These are in excellent shape. Based on this, and the condition of your rifle, about $200-$250 is a realistic amount.
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Well said. New firearms are so cheap now that sporterizing makes no economic sense - it's driven by wanting something unique. That is unique and has some things going for it as mentionned, but $300 is a stretch target IMO.
 
I think that the above described and pictured 6.5x55mm rifle is worth $300 no problem. Trade-Ex has no more of these 6.5x55mm M96 Mauser sporters (sold out), and when they have them they sell at the rate of 4 to 1 compared to the 8x57mm and 30-06 versions of the same rifle, this is the main reason I say you can not compare a nice one of these rifles in 6.5x55mm to the other less desirable calibre ones.

More people are after these sporter rifles in 6.5x55mm than you might think! I had a few that I sold recently and they flew off the EE, 3 sold in under 1 hour and they were all over $300.
 
Thanks to all who took the time to reply, you've given me a rough idea of what to expect.
When on the Tradex site I really didn't see any sporters chambered in 6.5mm, saw bazillions of 8mm though.
Although my knowledge of these rifles is limited I do know the 6.5X55 is a much loved chambering in any hunting rifle.
 
I'm going to say a solid $240, $225 if you want it to sell any time in the near future.
6.5x55 is a decent cartridge....mainly sought after by those seeking low recoil
The commercially available ammunition is lack luster performance (2550fps/24"barrel) and is only available in 140gr soft point. Though lapua does offer 160gr soft points for about $56 a box.
The ammunition is not available at many stores and is comparatively pricey (40-50/20box) to other more modern cartridges of similar ballistic performance ( 243, 260, 7-08)
Components are also expensive and not as widely available.
The gun has been drilled and tapped but without the bases it will likely need gunsmithing in order to mount a scope and an non adjustable iron sighted sporter mil-surp is not a sought after thing.
As a hunting rifle it is pretty basic I'd be tempted to buy a savage axis in 260Rem with a 3-9x32 scope factory mounted for $300 before I bought a gun in this condition.
It is also a hundred year old 96 mauser not a commercial 98 mauser so not as attractive to those looking to buy it for the action.
The stock appears to be in decent shape but from the pictures I can see that it has some inleting inconsistencies that probably need addressing and no doubt some bedding will bed needed.
The side safety makes me think that it more than likely has a reworked military trigger, this may be a decent trigger or it may be an accident waiting to happen if the sear and trigger meet as evenly as the stock and action do. (negative angles of contact are inconsistent at best and dangerous at worst)
In short, it is a decent 96 sweed in need of a little TLC before it sees a hunting trip and its price should reflect this.

Just my $0.02

For the record I'm not trying to talk the price down as I already own an M70 in 6.5x55. You pointed out all the pros. I evaluated and pointed out the cons. Now its up to you
 
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mkrnel said:
I think that the above described and pictured 6.5x55mm rifle is worth $300 no problem. Trade-Ex has no more of these 6.5x55mm M96 Mauser sporters (sold out), and when they have them they sell at the rate of 4 to 1 compared to the 8x57mm and 30-06 versions of the same rifle, this is the main reason I say you can not compare a nice one of these rifles in 6.5x55mm to the other less desirable calibre ones.

More people are after these sporter rifles in 6.5x55mm than you might think! I had a few that I sold recently and they flew off the EE, 3 sold in under 1 hour and they were all over $300.
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All right, there Bubba I can see where you are coming from. Do you use a hacksaw or just go at it with a plasma cutter?
 
mkrnel said:
And they make such nice sporters too when you get rid of all that silly extra wood and drill and tap them for scopes!
Click to expand...

By the way, I don't want to sound like a ass but this is the Milsurp section and I was just pointing out that you can still get a rifle in original wood for less than your sporter price
 
I attend to agree "Mr e. Moose" I would head to trade ex for a $300 full military M38 for sure.
Ash stock
Adjustable rear sight
No holes to fill and then re-tap (good luck finding a rear sight)
No trigger concerns
 
mr.e moose said:
By the way, I don't want to sound like a ass but this is the Milsurp section and I was just pointing out that you can still get a rifle in original wood for less than your sporter price
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Don't worry about it, I was not having a dig at you, more of the fact that this is what the original owner who worked on the above rifle was thinking when he modified it. I know that the members who hang around this forum would never take a unaltered military rifle to turn it into one like above.

But they can still make decent hunting rifles after the fact.
 
mkrnel said:
Don't worry about it, I was not having a dig at you, more of the fact that this is what the original owner who worked on the above rifle was thinking when he modified it. I know that the members who hang around this forum would never take a unaltered military rifle to turn it into one like above.

But they can still make decent hunting rifles after the fact.
Click to expand...

...If you want to spend the time and money on them.
 
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Actually, I am of the opinion that this rifle was sporterized in Sweden. The solid rear sight and adjustable trigger are typical of the "small gun shop" Swedish conversions. This is a "lower end" conversion, a "utility rifle" if you look at it, rather than a "higher end" Husqvarna, Stiga or other gunshop that did take a bit more care. The fact that the barrel is left as is, with the "step" in it shows this. The removal of the original rear sight was not done in the best fashion. The side safety looks typical of the ones done in Sweden, and most of these are safe and functional, although probably not adjustable. Many of them block the sear and trigger when set to safe, and it is more convenient when a scope is mounted.

This rifle is what it is, and it should be a good rifle for hunting, a "truck gun", or general shooting. If we think of it in the terms of a "sporterized Swedish Lee Enfield", then that is probably closer to the type and be appraised accordingly. I love the 6.5x55 calibre, and most of my Swedes are in that calibre, but is is not "magical". Realistically, if I were to choose a hunting rifle from the available stock at Trade-Ex, it would be one of the later model Husqvarna COMMERCIAL action models with the solid left side wall without a thumb cut, and a factory sporter stock, and probably in 8x57 Mauser calibre. It would have been drilled and tapped for bases, and have a side safety and turned down bolt handle. While the 8x57 loaded in North America is underloaded, European loadings equal or top 30-06 loads.

As pointed out, when you get to the $300 mark, there are newer current rifles available that are good for hunting.
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No expert here, but my Father and Uncle have well done tricked out bubba'd M96's.
We are prairie dwellers and the 6.5 does awesome double duty as an deer/coyote rifle. For larger game I'd lean toward Buffdog's opinion of an 8mm. So it depends on what your intended usage is I suppose.
Value; 250 $ in person...maybe 225 $ or 200 $ on a internet deal. That'd be what it's worth to me.
Twisted logic but the 6.5 X 55 in original full dress is hampered by the irons IMO. I've got one dressed as such and for Coyotes the iron's trim about 200 yds of off the effective range. Wouldn't dream of D & T'ing it, but the scoped Sniper Swedes must have been awesome units.
As Prairie guns the Swede's compare well with 25-06 or 270 win IMO; does the same job with less fanfare. Like dissing a .308 as compared to a 30-06, they are so close that it's not worth arguing about.
Although there will be lots who will argue anyhow.
Stay Safe
tokguy
 
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