Question on Swedish Mausers

p.Rundle

p.Rundle

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So I've always been a bit of a fan of the 6.5's of all varieties, Grendel, CM, etc. So I see a real, real purdy Swedish Mauser sporter on the EE, and I'm thinking about getting it, and I do some wikipedier research (as bill burr refers to it) and I see that most modern manufacturers produce 6.5's but they are too hot for surplus mausers and are only meant for modern rifles in the caliber. Is this for real? I don't handload (yet) so it's not as easy for me to just get a new caliber on a whim, especially if it isn't commercially viable in a surplus rifle.

Can you guys tell me if it's actually not safe to chuck modern manufactured ammo in a milsurp Swedish mauser?? Even if I don't buy this rifle (probably won't, saving for grad school) I have the intention to some day get into 6.5x55. The allure is real, so this info will eventually come in really handy. Thanks for any insight.
 
My sporter M96 will accept anything I feed it with no problem, and that is everything from hot hand loads to factory ammo. None of the cases show signs of overpressure and I've had no issues of any sort with the rifle. The only thing I'd do is have a competent gunsmith check the headspace and give the rifle a good going-over. I love mine and it's a treat to shoot. One word of warning regarding Sellier & Bellot ammunition. I've had serious issues with their ammo, and only their ammo, regarding quality control and case separations. If you wish, PM me and I'll send you the lot number. I contacted them but never heard a word back.
 
p.Rundle said:
So I've always been a bit of a fan of the 6.5's of all varieties, Grendel, CM, etc. So I see a real, real purdy Swedish Mauser sporter on the EE, and I'm thinking about getting it, and I do some wikipedier research (as bill burr refers to it) and I see that most modern manufacturers produce 6.5's but they are too hot for surplus mausers and are only meant for modern rifles in the caliber. Is this for real? I don't handload (yet) so it's not as easy for me to just get a new caliber on a whim, especially if it isn't commercially viable in a surplus rifle.

Can you guys tell me if it's actually not safe to chuck modern manufactured ammo in a milsurp Swedish mauser?? Even if I don't buy this rifle (probably won't, saving for grad school) I have the intention to some day get into 6.5x55. The allure is real, so this info will eventually come in really handy. Thanks for any insight.
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From the info I have read, north American manufacturers toned down their 6.5x55 loads for the 6.5 chambered Krag surplus rifles, not the swedes.

Some people have potential concerns that the model 96 isn't as overbuilt as the 98 mausers, so that if you're reloading with super hot loads you could run into some trouble. They are also 100 year old rifles, and as with any surplus rifles you don't know if it's been abused in the past, but these are separate issues.

The two seem to have been combined over the years into it not being safe to shoot normal power loads in the swedes. Anything that is shot out of a m96 in Europe is a full pressure round and you don't hear about them disintegrating in peoples hands.

There are some great experts here who can probably tell you in much more detail the specifics, but that's the gist of how I understand the (potential) myth on the swedes.
 
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Just make sure you buy a well done Sporter Swede, if you decide to buy one. Most of the ones I see on the EE are Bubba basement specials and the guys want more then a original all matching military example.
 
You might give Trade-Ex Canada a look-see. They are one of the CGN Sponsors and you can get their website from a link above --- TEC Tradex Canada -----grey box in the sponsors area.

Check out the "Hunting and Sporting Rifles." box.

I have never had any problems with shooting modern 6.5x55 ammo provided the Swedish Mauser rifle is in reasonably good shape.
 
While we have a Swedish mauser thread going... the father of a buddy of mine at work was thinking about a monte carlo stock for his. Anybody know of a good Canadian source for said stocks? If they exist?
 
SAAMI Pressure for the 6.5x55 is 51,000 PSI. CIP (not measured the same as SAAMI) is 55,000 PSI with a proof test of 65,996 PSI. Nothing sold over the counter is going to blow-up your rifle but a few reloading recipes can be more than you should use. As an example I used a Hodgdon load using IMR 7828 that showed distinct pressure signs and higher velocity than listed before reaching the max load in both an M96 and a CG63. That is why you always start low and work up. All Swedish Mauser barrels are made from Swedish Steel which is still regarded as very high quality today by today's standards. BTW don't overlook the CG63 and CG80 target rifles (Tradeex). They are real gems and very accurate. In my humble opinion they are a better start for a sporter conversion as they have been rebarreled, factory reconditioned and the actions tuned for target shooting. The 6.5x55 is my favourate calibre although I sometimes sneak out on it with my 7.5x55 K31. Swiss and Swedish so Sweet lol.
 
Just a "heads-up" for all my fellow 6.5 X 55 shooters out there. I've been having a problem with S & B soft point ammo (I started a thread about this some time back), specifically lot #457/30. Don't get me wrong; I like Sellier & Bellot ammo a lot and I've not had a problem with their 9mm, .308, .303 or .45, just this 140gr. No.2928 stuff. Some of the cases split almost completely about 1/2" up from the base upon first firing. Some are fine and are on their 3rd. or 4th. reload. Before you start telling me that maybe it's the rifle, I've measured the fired cases against the ones right out of the box and there's only a couple of thou difference. I did notice that some of the cases won't fit in the collet when I go to trim them and again some will, some won't. I took the micrometer to the new ammo in the box and found the rim diameter varied by 6 thou!! This is factory new ammo! Just thought I'd let you guys know.
 
Thankfully I still have lots of Norma brass as well as a few odd other brands that I have reloaded over the years. Never a problem in my '42 vintage Swede. Strong and smooth. Beautifully built.
 
Yes but if you must then they are half way there. To me both the original military configuration or the CG63/80 are just fine as they are. My only change to mine was to put a none gunsmith scout scope mount on the M96.
 
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