Swedish M96 at 30.06
- Thread starter jeanlikethis
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Stiga was a company that converted surplus Swedish military rifles into sporters, much like Parker Hale, etc. did for Mauser rifles. The Stiga 30-06 that I just bought from TradeEx has a serial number on the receiver that can be looked up in various reference manuals. In my case, the receiver was an 1894 receiver made by Carl Gustaf armoury in 1916. That is correct - Swedes made both 1894 and 1896 rifle right on through the early 1930's. These rifle were surplused in the 1950's (when horse cavalry was eliminated from Swedish military), and company's like STIGA converted them to sporting arms. The 30-06 barrel on my rifle had the Danish Shultz and Larson proof marks showing that the barrel and the bolt/receiver assembly was proofed in the late 1950's for 30-06 in Denmark. See this thread for a recent discussion: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-Stiga-rifles-and-European-Nito-Proof-Testing
As far as the post about the 1600 model - it is not a Mauser 98 action, but duplicates some of the mauser 98 features. It is small ring, for
starters, compared to a mauser 98, the extractor slot is undercut on a 98 but not on a Husqvarna 1600 type, etc. etc. I have a number of American shooting buddies who constantly refer to their springfield's and pre-64 70's as "mausers" but they aren't - got most of the design points, but not actually 98 mausers with surface hardened (not heat tempered) actions.
30'06 and 60k psi is pushing the limits of the '96 action. The biggest concern or issue is how much metal gets removed from the lower receiver lug in order to get the 30'06 cartridge to fit and feed properly. That, and the gas handling if it does let go....
For $350-$400 you can usually get a '98 commercial sporter in 30'06 with all the smithing done to it already so it's optic ready. $450+ gets you into a 1600.
For $350-$400 you can usually get a '98 commercial sporter in 30'06 with all the smithing done to it already so it's optic ready. $450+ gets you into a 1600.
I am not concerned about the 30.06 in small ring...as people say small ring is weak compared to 98 and it is better not using the modern 6.5x55 commerial hunting rounds because of the "high psi" those rounds have.
But if the small ring could take 30.06, it must be ok to use those high pressure hunting rounds in my M96 though.
But if the small ring could take 30.06, it must be ok to use those high pressure hunting rounds in my M96 though.
Swede '96 actions are strong actions, and the steel is quite good quality, but converting to 30'06 required removal of material from the lower receiver lug which does weaken it.
Combine that with the poor gas handling of the '96 action and it would be the last firearm I would consider buying.
When they come apart, they REALLY come apart.
Well, actually, they have a very loooong throat which substantially lowers the initial pressure.
The top of the front receiver tearing off is always because of case head failure. This can happen because of SEE or headspace problem, or much over pressured ammo and this "weakness" is based on the material, but from the design of the older action, as it wasn't meant to handle escaping gases of a high pressure round. The pre-98 really lack the safety features the M98 carries, which makes it a much better action.
As for the "1600" it's a compound of '98 and '94 features using modern steel, as it keeps the breeching and bolt head of the '94, while also incorporating safety features of the '98 (bolt shroud, third lug).
The top of the front receiver tearing off is always because of case head failure. This can happen because of SEE or headspace problem, or much over pressured ammo and this "weakness" is based on the material, but from the design of the older action, as it wasn't meant to handle escaping gases of a high pressure round. The pre-98 really lack the safety features the M98 carries, which makes it a much better action.
As for the "1600" it's a compound of '98 and '94 features using modern steel, as it keeps the breeching and bolt head of the '94, while also incorporating safety features of the '98 (bolt shroud, third lug).
Swede '96 actions are strong actions, and the steel is quite good quality, but converting to 30'06 required removal of material from the lower receiver lug which does weaken it.
Combine that with the poor gas handling of the '96 action and it would be the last firearm I would consider buying.
When they come apart, they REALLY come apart.
Good Day,
The Swedish iron ore and its steel production is recognized as metallurgically excellent and has been in use for well of 150 yrs. Everything has a failure point and context in this instance is critical. I personally inspected the Swedish rifle I've pictured and know why it failed- wrong powder! The individual packed the case with what turned out to be something similar to black powder. Under a similar circumstance (through ignorance or disregard), any rifle can and will be pushed beyond its limits. With proper caution (powder/bullet weight), the Swedish Mauser can handle a 30-06 without issue.
Following WW2, Carl Gustaf Fabrikwerke produced an "Employee's Rifle" for its workers and for commercial consumption in both 6.5x66 and 30-06. Its unlikely that such a manufacture would have produced the Trapper Lyx or Trofe rifle series in large quantities* if there was concern that rifle could not handle the pressure gradient produced by a 30-06 (within normal limits). Again, as long as excessive loads are not used, the Swedish 94 action should be fine.
Regards,
Michael
*The exact number produced is unknown but Baribal has posit the number around 10,000.
The steel is good for sure, the action is strong no doubt, I've seen '96's converted to .308 target rifles that shot barrels out but the lugs weren't ground on those and every round was handloaded ammo, never factory.
I'm just stating to use caution, it's not a modern rifle, and there is factory 30'06 out there that is hot. If it was my rifle, I'd handload for it to moderate velocity with a medium/slow powder and never worry about it. I have a few '96 rifles and it's one of my favorite actions for the original chamberings (8x57, 6.5x55, 7x57).
Just don't want to see his happen to anyone....lol
I'm just stating to use caution, it's not a modern rifle, and there is factory 30'06 out there that is hot. If it was my rifle, I'd handload for it to moderate velocity with a medium/slow powder and never worry about it. I have a few '96 rifles and it's one of my favorite actions for the original chamberings (8x57, 6.5x55, 7x57).
Just don't want to see his happen to anyone....lol
As long as it keeps the original barrel with the very loooooooonnngg ! throat (and it's looooonnngg ! engagement cone) everything should be alright.
Just keep in mind those actions are made of mild steel (in the SAE 1022 / 1024 range) so the won't shatter into schrapnels if something bad happens. This means the deformation (headspace increase / lug set back) will hopefuly occur before case head failure. Laping the lugs of these actions isn't a good idea as the case hardening is never very deep.
While it's a known fact that these actions are strong, there are also enough proof that when something goes bad, it's not the safest action around to load a magnum round in, so it must be treated for what it is, a pre-98 action.
I'd also point that HVA never chambered their "commercial" M/38 (640 series) for anything above 3900 bars (56 600 PSI) - and even there, they also used very looooooonnngg ! throats.
Just keep in mind those actions are made of mild steel (in the SAE 1022 / 1024 range) so the won't shatter into schrapnels if something bad happens. This means the deformation (headspace increase / lug set back) will hopefuly occur before case head failure. Laping the lugs of these actions isn't a good idea as the case hardening is never very deep.
While it's a known fact that these actions are strong, there are also enough proof that when something goes bad, it's not the safest action around to load a magnum round in, so it must be treated for what it is, a pre-98 action.
I'd also point that HVA never chambered their "commercial" M/38 (640 series) for anything above 3900 bars (56 600 PSI) - and even there, they also used very looooooonnngg ! throats.
I'm in the process of having a 9.3x62 barrel installed on an HVA Commercial FN98 action, it was a complete 30'06 rifle from Tradex I got last year. It was in pretty decent shape, fixed 3 cracks in the stock....the recoil lug, the trigger cross block, and the buttstock. I only put 10 rounds through it, mild reloads just to see how well it shot, and it was decent.
Just got a call from the gunsmith that the receiver lugs are set back considerably, extractor notch is actually imprinted on the upper lug. He suspects it was fired a lot with some very hot loads, and when I think about the stock repairs I had to make that makes sense.... headspace of course was way out for 30'06 when he checked it after too.
Now I need to decide on a new receiver for this.... either a K98 or an 8x57 HVA FN98....going to be more work now however.
Just got a call from the gunsmith that the receiver lugs are set back considerably, extractor notch is actually imprinted on the upper lug. He suspects it was fired a lot with some very hot loads, and when I think about the stock repairs I had to make that makes sense.... headspace of course was way out for 30'06 when he checked it after too.
Now I need to decide on a new receiver for this.... either a K98 or an 8x57 HVA FN98....going to be more work now however.
