Tomorrow I collect

[tacfoley]

a new-to-me Swedish Mauser.

It's a 1898 Carl Gustav converted sometime in 1938 to the shorter version, the so-called m/96-38. Unlike the later Husqvarna versions, this one still has the straight bolt handle, and looks pretty much the same as it did back in 1938 for reasons that are not clear to me. I suspect that it had been gathering dust in a CMP-style armoury someplace.

All will be revealed tomorrow, I hope. It will join my three Swiss [two in 7.5x55 and the target rifle in .308Win], my two Mausers [1897 Boer Carbine and 1912 Model B, both 7x57] and my Krico 650SS [.308win].

Sorry I don't have anything spiffy to brag about, gentlemen, just a load of old stuff, mostly past it, like their owner.

tac

 

[Nabs]

First year of production for Carl Gustav as far as the receiver goes. I happen to have your sister rifle from one year later though she wasn't converted to the M38 pattern.

You'll be impressed with how well Swedes shoot on iron sights. I have yet to try my M96 out but I had a chance to try a friend's M38 and my god did it blow the competition away.

 

[tacfoley]

Can't but agree with you. I shot my first and only elg/moose in 1990 with an as-issued HVA m/38 belonging to our interpreter. The 140gr Norma on a slight downward trajectory destroyed heart and lungs and dropped him where he stood at just about 75m. He was pretty thin for a beast so early on in the winter, hence the need to cull him to save him starving. He topped out at 910 pounds.

Before that I had been shooting a Kongsberg sniping rifle in 6.5x55 in biathlon comps for almost fourteen years - so the 6.5x55 and I are old friends, but this will be my first, and probably, given the gun laws here in yUK, my only one.

Best

tac