Swedish Mauser 6.5x55 Carl Gustafson action, is it good? What caliber build?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Shootist43, thank you kindly for your input , it is much appreciated...the only reason I am looking at this AI Improve is as follows:
I can buy a AI Improve reamer for the same price.
The real advantage of an AI Improve system is that the barrel life is increased, chamber lower pressure ...
Here is some info by another member on a forum" Don't forget though, some of the best benefits aren't on the performance side but have to do with increased barrel/throat life, longer case life, and more consistent burns. All very good things in addition to the potential velocity gains. And with the PO you can shoot the standard cartridge in the new chamber to fire form and usually still get fine accuracy. With Ackley improvements the datum line stays the same for head-spacing. This makes fire forming very easy and also allows the use of store bought ammo if needed.
Sources indicate that you can only expect about 12% increase in muzzle velocity...which is not much , the advantages in a longer barrel life makes it an exceptable issue to me ..

Gerry
I don't know where you got the 12% from but the rule is for every 4% increase in powder you get a 1% increase in velocity. Usually AI cartridges get 50 to 150 fps gains in velocity.
Cheers
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

In their early days Kimber made and sold a lot of rifles with Swedish Mauser actions, but I don't know what calibers they were.

Shootist43
Kimber made a lot of 257 Roberts, some 7X57s and 243s if my memory serves me correctly.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Thank you kindly members, your input is always much appreciated ...I was a bit busy the past few months and did not get time for work on the 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser , I will commence again working on the Swedish Mauser build as from next week

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

The action I want to use is a Carl Gustafson 1917 action..were there any actions build after 1917??

I saw one on Gunbroker that was 1919.

According to Wikipedia:
The Model 1896 rifle in 6.5×55mm (6,5 mm Gevär m/96) was adopted in 1896 for infantry use, replacing the Model 1867–1889 Remington rolling block rifle in 8×58mmR Danish Krag. Swedish production (under license) started in 1898 at Carl Gustafs, but additional rifles were produced by Mauser during 1899 and 1900 because of delays in shipping additional production machinery from Germany to Sweden.[7]

Standard production at Carl Gustafs continued until 1925, but approximately 18,000 m/96 rifles were manufactured by Husqvarna Vapenfabriks AB during World War II for civilian marksmanship training.[8]

Mauser produced 40,000 m/1896 long rifles between 1899 and 1900, Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori 475,000 m/1896 between 1896 and 1932 and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks AB 20,000 m/1896 between 1942 and 1944. Giving a total of 535,000 m/96 long rifles.[1]

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

While busy with this project I was thinking what type of scope to fit to the 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser? What good clear quality scope will be functional on this rifle?? I really would appreciate suggestions from hunters who have this caliber and use it to hunt with it as well as doing paper patching at life size game animals at their hunting /shooting club days...the longest shots/table is 300 meters when we shoot on these days ...

Gert
If you are going to the trouble of building a good rifle I would top it with a 3X10 Meopta or a 4X12 Zies.
Either would be good out past the 300 yard distance you want as well as being good for hunting
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Bob for this rifle I bought a Minox 4-20 X 50

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Members, at last I am going to commence working on my two rifle builds next week>>the 8X68S and the 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser..

 

[nztimb]

What about the mag mauser action you were "printing" and getting cast??

 

[Gert Odendaal]

What about the mag mauser action you were "printing" and getting cast??

Von Gruff, I did receive the samples, unfortunately they were below specifications...ended up with smaller Mauser 98 versions...still it is a project I will keep working on..my son is studying at Potchefstroom University currently, his aim is to do a project using a 3D steel printer to see if he can produce such a complete altered magnum type Mauser action..I still am contemplating new methods to be successfully cast such an action

 

[nztimb]

Ok, there are often setbacks in projects but at least you have these two to keep playing with.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Thank you Von Gruff, lately it seems there is just not enough time to get to all the projects and complete them ...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I made progress building the Swedish Mauser 6.5 x 55 :
There are still a lot of work left.. my aim is to build a slim lined rifle stock to compliment the 6.5 x 55 caliber .

 

[Shootist43]

Girt, I really like the addition of the Cartridge Storage in the stock. My drilling has that feature but none of my other rifles do. Did you do all of that stock work by hand or was some of it done on a duplicator of some sort?

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Shootist, this stock I did with a duplicator..the 8x68S is a blank I need to work into a rifle , like the 6.5 x 55

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I made progress building the Swedish Mauser 6.5 x 55 :
There are still a lot of work left.. my aim is to build a slim lined rifle stock to compliment the 6.5 x 55 caliber .
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@Gert Odendaal
I took like it will be a beautiful rifle when it is finished. The spare cartridges in the but trap is a great custom touch
Bob

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Good, I spend today working down the front part of the stock to a slimline shape. I usually commence on the ejector side of the rifle..the ejector box is a guide for me to do flat filing work to the end of the muzzle and barrel. I still need to work away a lot of wood on the cheekpiece side . I commenced with raising the grain procedure as well.. this will ensure a great sealed surface on the rifle stock and work to a fine, fine sanded surface across the whole stock surface.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Raising the "hair on the stock"
I wet the stock, when it dry , you will see a lot of course strands. This you start to sand with 120 gn sanding paper in circular motion, the dust that you work up is sanded back into the open pores of the wood..thus the proses to have a complete sealed surface started..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Commenced with the recoil-pad fitting procedures. I will need to fit a medium size recoil pad. Packmyer re-coil pad is the most expensive but excellent quality, I will fit a Packmyer recoil pad.

I still need to buy a recoil pad to complete this procedure, but I already did the measurements and cut it to the correct size to fit for my wife and daughter.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I did some more sanding work, I am down to 120 grain sanding paper, it will take a while to get to the 600 grain sanding paper sanding work, at least then the wood grain will be closed up. Then it is time to put the sanding sealer on the stock..

 

[Shootist43]

Girt, I had no idea you were building this for someone other than yourself. Knowing that, I'm going to have to pester you until you get another Swede for yourself.