My Schultz & Larsen M69 -- UPDATED with an easy reference list of TRADEEX rifles

I found a few hours to kill at the range this afternoon, even though there was off and on light rain.

I only did the 50 metre range as I spent a good chunk of time adjusting ("zeroing in") the darn dioptor sight, something I am a total newbie with.

In the end, I put 40 rounds down the tube: Prvi Partizan 139 grain FMJ BT. Probably not the best commerical ammo out there, and certainly not match grade, but it was clean burning and seemed to perform ok. Of course, the brass is good quality and suitable for reloading.

My last 20 rounds were spent actually trying to make an effort to get used to dioptor sights. Let me tell you, I have a new found respect for competition target shooters! Even at 50 metres, I could barely see the little faces on my "Darkotic troll" target! Luckily, I was able to pull a used target out of the trash that had a larger orange center (I used that for my last 10 shots). There were slug holes all over it, but nothing in the bullseye. I covered the slug holes with toonies, as in the photos below.

I don't know what happened to 1 of the 10 shots. It might have passed through one of the slug holes (likely) or passed through an existing bullet hole. :)

This is going to be a slow learning process! :)

The rifle itself was very nice. I was able to get a good cheek weld without straining, felt recoil was minimal, even after 40 rounds. The action was smooth, and overall, it felt like a very solid rifle.

14983286335_899c23f4af_b.jpg


14983283125_b4a3bb0f43_b.jpg
 
Quiet said:
So I'll open a can of worms.

Is an m69 a milsurp, or a bubba?

Collectables in their own right, or suitable candidates for harvesting parts and/or drilling & tapping for a scope?
Click to expand...

These are not bubba rifles by any means. They are high quality rifles built for target shooting.

Personally I would have no trouble shooting one of these but I also think they are collectible. I definitely wouldn't be d&t'ing one. There are lots of M98 actions out there already d&t'd or suitable for building a target rifle on without modifying an original M69.

My opinion any way.
 
The Kurgan said:
BTW, I can see the temptation to drill and tap and mount a scope. Aperture sights are challenging. :)
Click to expand...

I think you did pretty good your first time out. Stick with the sights and do a bit more practicing. While I'm more of a scope guy myself I can also shoot aperture sights pretty well and have seen what a well practiced marksman can do with them.

The challenge is part of the fun.
 
Challenge = time = fun
My problem is the middle part of the equation.

Yes, I like this rifle and will keep practicing. I also bought an expensive box of Norma ammo that I will try next.

I am also going to find a more suitable target with a large, brightly coloured center. I might just make them out of cardboard and fluorescent orange spray paint.

I also need to keep reminding myself NOT to strip, steam, and tung oil the stock. I am so tempted as the stock's grain is just gorgeous, but I also know it will kill it's collector value.
 
jbmauser said:
These are not bubba rifles by any means. They are high quality rifles built for target shooting.

Personally I would have no trouble shooting one of these but I also think they are collectible. I definitely wouldn't be d&t'ing one. There are lots of M98 actions out there already d&t'd or suitable for building a target rifle on without modifying an original M69.

My opinion any way.
Click to expand...

Certainly no "bubba"...

14799077710_272605bcb8_b.jpg
 
Hi.-

Find a target with solid black center, just to fill the front sight aperture at 100 yards, leaving a small white space all around when you will see thru the front sight aperture.

Take your sights, and skeeze gently the trigger.

You will made a better group than at 50 yards.
 
So..... did you buy the Deutsche Waffen Und Munitionsfabriken Berlin rifle like you threatened to??? What's the best bullseye diameter for these sights?
 
The Kurgan said:
I found a few hours to kill at the range this afternoon, even though there was off and on light rain.

I only did the 50 metre range as I spent a good chunk of time adjusting ("zeroing in") the darn dioptor sight, something I am a total newbie with.

In the end, I put 40 rounds down the tube: Prvi Partizan 139 grain FMJ BT. Probably not the best commerical ammo out there, and certainly not match grade, but it was clean burning and seemed to perform ok. Of course, the brass is good quality and suitable for reloading.

My last 20 rounds were spent actually trying to make an effort to get used to dioptor sights. Let me tell you, I have a new found respect for competition target shooters! Even at 50 metres, I could barely see the little faces on my "Darkotic troll" target! Luckily, I was able to pull a used target out of the trash that had a larger orange center (I used that for my last 10 shots). There were slug holes all over it, but nothing in the bullseye. I covered the slug holes with toonies, as in the photos below.

I don't know what happened to 1 of the 10 shots. It might have passed through one of the slug holes (likely) or passed through an existing bullet hole. :)

This is going to be a slow learning process! :)

The rifle itself was very nice. I was able to get a good cheek weld without straining, felt recoil was minimal, even after 40 rounds. The action was smooth, and overall, it felt like a very solid rifle.

14983286335_899c23f4af_b.jpg


14983283125_b4a3bb0f43_b.jpg
Click to expand...


Very good shooting for your first time out. You and your rifle are showing consistency at this point.

I tend to shoot poorly at the color orange but like others have mentioned black seems to work best for me. I shoot black squares with my diopter equipped rifles. I line up the square with the 4 points touching the circle in the diopter.

With some good handloads and a black target I cut my groups down by a third and find that my Swede FSR target rifle often will hold a 1"-1.5" 10 shot group out to 200 yards.
 
I bought 500 rounds of the Prvi 139 grain FMJ BT, and it seems very good. I have always had good luck with Prvi 123 grain SP out of my SKS.
Which rifle did you buy so that I can strike it off the list.
 
Now that I'm keeping my rifle (as I sold enough "extra" toys)... I decided to freshen her up a bit...

She's now sitting with a gunsmith with the following "to do" list:

1. Refinish the nicely grained beechwood stock (durable satin finish)
2. bead blast and re-blue all metal (hot blue)
3. high polish bolt and bolt handle (keep shroud and wing safety blued)
4. high polish and jewel the extractor
5. cut and re-chamber
6. re-crown to 11 degree target crown
7. glass bed action
8. new Timney trigger (set at 2 lbs)
9. install conventional sling swivel stud 4 inches below original swivel to accommodate Harris bipod
10. action screws "tidied up"
11. "new" Mauser capture screws (which I provided)

As difficult as it was for me, I decided to keep the convential diopter/globe sights instead of DT and scope. So, it will still be an M69 with new finishes and a better trigger.

Now how to pass the time until it's done next spring? (if I'm lucky).
 
Last edited:
The Kurgan said:
Now that I'm keeping my rifle (as I sold enough "extra" toys)... I decided to freshen her up a bit...

She's now sitting with a gunsmith with the following "to do" list:

1. Refinish the nicely grained beechwood stock (durable satin finish)
2. bead blast and re-blue all metal (hot blue)
3. high polish bolt and bolt handle (keep shroud and wing safety blued)
4. high polish and jewel the extractor
5. cut and re-chamber
6. re-crown to 11 degree target crown
7. glass bed action
8. new Timney trigger (set at 2 lbs)
9. install conventional sling swivel stud 4 inches below original swivel to accommodate Harris bipod
10. action screws "tidied up"
11. "new" Mauser capture screws (which I provided)

As difficult as it was for me, I decided to keep the convential diopter/globe sights instead of DT and scope. So, it will still be an M58 with new finishes and a better trigger. :) I guess it will be an M69 after all!

Now how to pass the time until it's done next spring? (if I'm lucky).
Click to expand...

now you call up those tradex fellas and buy a Schultz and Larsen M70 22 target rifle and a case of cheap rem target ammo and sit down and strain that poor old eyeball through those miserable diopter sights. that could help in making the final decision to jump in and have the rifle D&T'd for a scope.
i finally had Mr. Guntech D&T mine (the 22 - do not have the 6.5 yet!) and plop a target scope on and i have some catching up to do with the capabilities of this rifle. absolutely the very best $295 i have ever spent on a gun! i brought her to a 100 yd 22 benchrest shoot last month mainly to annoy the fellas with their Anschutz 54's; they were' too annoyed...just intrigued at this thing they have never seen before and can obviously shoot.
thanks for this thread!
 
jsdboy said:
now you call up those tradex fellas and buy a Schultz and Larsen M70 22 target rifle and a case of cheap rem target ammo and sit down and strain that poor old eyeball through those miserable diopter sights. that could help in making the final decision to jump in and have the rifle D&T'd for a scope.
i finally had Mr. Guntech D&T mine (the 22 - do not have the 6.5 yet!) and plop a target scope on and i have some catching up to do with the capabilities of this rifle. absolutely the very best $295 i have ever spent on a gun! i brought her to a 100 yd 22 benchrest shoot last month mainly to annoy the fellas with their Anschutz 54's; they were' too annoyed...just intrigued at this thing they have never seen before and can obviously shoot.
thanks for this thread!
Click to expand...

Did you leave your front sight in place?
 
The Kurgan said:
Did you leave your front sight in place?
Click to expand...

I did - i have a neck like a blue heron so i put high or xhigh rings on all my pea shooters and that monster front sight of the M70 is not an issue at all (if that is what you were getting at??)

have you seen the thread from years ago where a Mr. "hitzy" cut his barrel down to 20"? if not i can look for you and he made one sweet rifle. "Hitzy" was also a big help for which Weaver base to use too (#45 front and rear)

i see that tradex has sold all but 12 of the M70's, they are maybe starting to catch on, dunno. the one i have has a kinda beat up stock, but a fellow named Anthony snooped for me with his bore scope and got me one with a perfect bore and a trigger that I think is remarkable. i have never dealt with such accommodating people really

hope this helps and cheers!
jsd
 
Updated. See page #2

btw, most, if not all rifles listed are Danish M58's. In some cases, the stocks were upgraded to M69 type heavy target stocks.
 
Hi, beautiful rifle, congrats.

Received mine today, bought it from a fellow CGNer. I don't pretend to know much about these rifles, so, I want to ask you a couple of questions, please don't mind if they sound silly. First, what is an approximate value of one click on the sights adjustment knobs? 1/4", 1/2", 1", etc.? Second, how do you compensate for the distance to the target by the adjusting the elevation knob - what do the gradation figures on the right side of the sights mean? For example, if you want to shoot to 300 yards, do you just rotate the elevation knob until the 300 mark meets the little tick on the plate?

And lastly, it does not look like the magazine floor plate is removable or swings away. How do you unload unused rounds from the mag? By cycling the action?

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom