I currently have 4 Husqvarna rifles, two built on the FN98 action, and two on Husqvarna's own 1600 action. Three of the four were Tradex puchases, and I am considering another from them, a 30-06, for one of my grand kids who is keen hunter. I know the aftermarket and replacement parts market for the 98 is huge, but I do like the feel of the less weighty, and to my touch at least, smoother 1600. Wondering which direction others might lean, and why.
Which Husqvarna ?
- Thread starter icedog
- Start date
Backcountryal
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Zealand
Gotta love the 1600/1640's, lightweight before anybody knew what lightweight was, very well made, easily scoped, and usually pretty accurate. And in 30-06, its a go to, lifetime hunting rifle. I would scope it with a classic older Kahles 4x scope, give it to your grandson, and then go start accumulating some memories with him.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Might want to consider the Husqvarna 4100 (or 4000, if you prefer a Monte Carlo comb). 520 mm barrel (20 1/2") on that 1600 series action. Quite slim stock with a schnabel at the forearm tip. I have one in 7x57 - in the process of installing a 4x32 Hesholdt Diatal scope - just pure 1955 "goodness". I would think perfect for a beginner, and not to shabby for an old guy like me. One curiosity of the Husqvarna (and Schultz and Larsen) rifles of that era - they seemed to install 1-12" twist rifling on many of their 7 mm rifles, which is a bit different than today?? Seems to work fine with 140 grain Partitions, though. Hard to beat a 30-06 chambering, though, with 600mm barrel, if going to start out and own just one hunting rifle.
I've got one of those too. Do you hand load or have you found a satisfactory factory load? I bought two boxes of Remington loads with 175 grain bullets at the last gun show I went to. Still haven't tried them. I normally shoot 139 grain bullets out of it.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
That 12" twist in 7mms is just a product of the times. The Old Man had a 7Wby built in 1961 and it has a 12" twist too. That was just the twist back then. These days 10" twist is standard though I doubt very much you'll have difficulty with getting anything in the 140-160gr range to shoot well, with the possible exception of the monometal bullets. I'd be willing to bet that they're too long but you don't know until you send some down range.
Another problem with the 7x57 is that a lot of them had longer throats for 175gr bullets causing them to not shoot 140s well.
I've owned a number of Husky's, including a lightweight 1600 in my safe now. Overall I prefer the original M98 design. Most (all?) of the 98 based Husky's I've had required an aftermarket safety to be scope compatible. The 1600 has a side safety. Trigger kind of sucks... creepy and a bit heavy. The M98's will accept the commonly available Timney trigger. My 1600 is only 7 1/2 lbs scoped, but you notice that from the bench too. With the judicious use of some emery cloth, the Mausers can be made to run very smoothly.
I have two of those lightweights; one in 270 and one in 7x57.
I kind of like the trigger on the 7x57, it's got a bit of take-up slack like a military trigger and on the 270, my 'smith polished some facing surfaces. They are each different from the other though, so I have to remember which does what when shooting.
Not sure why HVA went with 1/12 on the 7x57, certainly not the norm for the time period. Even the 7mm mags were 1/9 in the same time zone they produced.
They made very few 7x64 but I'm not sure the twist rate in those, but should be faster then 1/9.
I only have 3 1600 series, early 30/06 with steel trigger guard, later 30-06 with alloy guard, and my favorite a late model (skogis) Dahlberg in 6.5x55 with 21" barrel. It's not blingy like the majority of the Dahlberg styles, pure hunting style with a flat recessed cheek piece, short LOP, and light weight. When you think about it, a Monte Carlo cheek piece pushes your face away from scope alignment, Dahlberg as strange as he was had the idea to slope the cheek piece the other way for better scope alignment. It works well, and I'm surprised nobody else has ever picked this up.
Few pics here, I like it more for function then uniqueness. And I don't find the triggers bad at all for hunting, bit heavy, but nothing intolerable.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...-####-ALL-MODELS!!!/page33?highlight=Dahlberg
They made very few 7x64 but I'm not sure the twist rate in those, but should be faster then 1/9.
I only have 3 1600 series, early 30/06 with steel trigger guard, later 30-06 with alloy guard, and my favorite a late model (skogis) Dahlberg in 6.5x55 with 21" barrel. It's not blingy like the majority of the Dahlberg styles, pure hunting style with a flat recessed cheek piece, short LOP, and light weight. When you think about it, a Monte Carlo cheek piece pushes your face away from scope alignment, Dahlberg as strange as he was had the idea to slope the cheek piece the other way for better scope alignment. It works well, and I'm surprised nobody else has ever picked this up.
Few pics here, I like it more for function then uniqueness. And I don't find the triggers bad at all for hunting, bit heavy, but nothing intolerable.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...-####-ALL-MODELS!!!/page33?highlight=Dahlberg
Please help me understand what the benefit of a 1/12 twist in the 7x57 barrel would be. I have a Husqvarna 7x57 1600 lightweight.
I believe they have a long throat, is that right?
Is there a bullet weight that would perform better or worse in that configuration? I've been shooting 139 gr. bullets but I have two boxes of commercial loads with 175 gr. bullets plus a box of 100 175 grain bullets for handloading with my little Class Lee Loader kit. I'm eager to try 'em.
