The thread here lately on Bubba'd milurps got me thinking and caressing my straight-bolt M96/M38 Carl Gustafs / Husqvarna frankensporter...
I bought a sad, cheap Swede here a few years ago for $150 that was supposed to have a good bore and go bang -- thinking that it was an inexpensive way to see if I really wanted one -- and if not, I could always sell it on. Well, it arrived and it was ugly. The nasty, greasy, missing-hand-guard stock was grim... but the action and the bore -- and the overall quality was beautiful -- and it all matched except for the bolt stop box and the horrid stock . No wonder guys like these things. The stock, however, was so bad that I never wanted to pick it up. If I were to keep it, it had to not be super ugly -- so I hunted TradeEx to find a decent milsurp replacement.
I never meant to end up with a Bubba Milsurp (edit: I know it's too nice for that) -- but when I found an old-school Husqvarna M96/M38 sporter stock at TradeEx that exactly matched my favourite gun (an old Deluxe Husqvarna single-shot 22), I paid the $80. I didn't even know if it would fit (being a Husqvarna... and me not knowing much about M96/M38 Mausers). So, the stock arrived and in a few minutes... Holy crap! This thing is nice! Bubba, I never knew. I immediately bought a brand new Bold trigger with a side safety here for $70 shipped (What a nice trigger!). The investment is up to $340. $50 of that is shipping.
So... Pics:
Step brothers:
The stock isn't a perfect fit up past the receiver.... but I make musical instruments for a living, so I'm not too scared of making it perfect. I'll get to it eventually if I decide that this is my hunting rifle and I stop with the Tikka and Cooper ####.... There is some proud metal at the back of the receiver too... I hesitate to grind a bevel there quite yet.
The forward end of the barrel is dinged up -- but I'm almost glad that it's not such a precious thing that I don't want to put down on a rock...
The problem now is that I have further plans for it. Ugh.... I almost wish I didn't. I want a bent bolt handle... Or do I? Straight is cool, but it's so damned pokey. I'll either find one -- which means possible/probable headspacing.... or I'll cut / bend / TIG-weld this one (not just bend) (and being super careful to not anneal what should not be annealed with copper heat sinks... paste... wet cloths... patient welding... the works). And maybe a low-power 20mm optic.... but I don't want holes in the receiver... and iron sights are so easy... But maybe a scout scope if I mill a mount that clamps to the sight base... so then I should cut the muzzle end off to rid the front sight... and cut the barrel to a Tikka-like 570mm (current 600mm) to make it as compact as possible without losing ballistics... Maybe buy a sightless surplus barrel and go with the normal optic... and target chamber it... and then it would be way more accurate than it needs to be. Being a tinkering guy is a lot of work. Plus, I still want an original one.
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