Carl Gustaf 1896 Swedish Mauser

[Quaticman]

I went out to the range today with my 123 year old M96 chambered in 6.5 x 55 Swede. I had loaded up some rounds using Lapua brass, 142 SMK's and H4831SC. 100 yards, 200 yards, 300 yards, 500 yards, it didn't matter, shot after shot the rounds rattled off the steel gongs. Man I'm telling you, these rifles just plain out shoot. They are a well crafted piece of machinery with outstanding fit and finish and cycle flawlessly. What's not to like.
Every serious rifleman owes it to himself to have at least one Swede in his gunsafe.

 

[Sarg]

I was just given one without a bolt & found a bolt in my parts draw with a broken bolt handle, so now need to find a replacement handle, fit & I can shoot the old girl !

 

[jtb]

As long as the bore is in good shape, they're one of the most accurate military rifles ever made. I have several M96's and M38's in my collection.

 

[Shootist43]

Shhhh! If everybody knew how well these "old" guns shoot, they would buy them, and the price will go up. Ammo is already hard to find. BTW I'm not in the least bit surprised, mine all shoot just as well. The 6.5 Man-Bun shooters have a great selection of factory loaded ammo available and the guys that reload for them must also be buying up all of the projectiles.

 

[Shootist43]

Quaticman, what load do you use in your Swede?

 

[Quaticman]

H4831SC or Reloder 22 with pretty much any 140 grain bullet.

 

[Shootist43]

Quanticman, I use 140 Gr. bullets for practice most of the time. Several years ago, I got 6 boxes of 156 Gr. Norma Oryx that shoot very well also. I've been using H-4350.

 

[rdog]

When the M96 & M38 Swedes come to australia in about 1980 you could buy a near new one for about $100.00 now a reasonable one is about $1200.00. Wonderful rifles i still have a excellent orignal M38, a lot were sporterised some great jobs ,some turned into junk what a shame.

 

[CJW]

Funny you post this. A LGS has one in very good shape and a very nice bore. I'm still mulling it over. I just can't believe the prices these days. For $750 it better be a shooter or I will be very upset. Debating selling my Mosin to offset some cost.

 

[Frederik]

My sporterized M96 Carl Gustav as accounted for 80% of the game in my fridge shot the last 5 years.

Swopped bullets to use 160gr Hornady Interlocks now. Performance on game alsmost doubled it hits them very hard.

140gr Bulltes I will use for longer shots on game in open areas but that 160gr is devastating up to 200 meters. I topped the rifle with Nikon Monarch Mildot ans use it for the bullet drop. So if I have to I can stretch the 160gr bullet to kill at 300 meters.

Last two kills with the Swede.

 

[Shootist43]

CJW, The trick is to look for one that has been sporterized in some manner. A good rifle in Military guise is selling for $850 or better. As a sporter they go for $350 - $400. If possible, try to find one with a 24" barrel rather than a 22 incher. You get a scooch more velocity out of the longer barrel. My first Swede had a 22" barrel, its' accuracy is what convinced me to get more of them.

 

[CJW]

CJW, The trick is to look for one that has been sporterized in some manner. A good rifle in Military guise is selling for $850 or better. As a sporter they go for $350 - $400. If possible, try to find one with a 24" barrel rather than a 22 incher. You get a scooch more velocity out of the longer barrel. My first Swede had a 22" barrel, its' accuracy is what convinced me to get more of them.

Yeah I've thought about that as well. I've also thought about finding one and doing a budget build with a nice piece of wood for my nephew as a gift in about 3 years. Low recoil and good accuracy would be a good combo for a kid.

 

[Shootist43]

The Swede has been my go- to deer rifle for twenty-five years now. I've given one to each of my older grandsons. The youngest grandson took a nice doe at the age of nine with a Swede that has been cut down for a youngster. The "grandkid's" gun as it is called will be kept in the family for future generations to use. I did everything I could to mitigate recoil including a muzzle break. Two years ago, we had 5 Swedes in Deer camp.

 

[hawkeyesatx]

Speaking of well done Sporter Swedes, I was lucky enough to grab one this last Saturday.
It was done by a highly knowledgeable gunsmith, and it’s a top notch job.
It was an M96, barrel shortened to 23 inches. Put into a Ramline Mauser stock. It has an alright Simmons AETEC 3.8-12x44mm scope on it, but I’m going to get a much clearer one, like a Burris, or SIG Whiskey that has a BDC.


Hawk

 

[rdog]

Speaking of well done Sporter Swedes, I was lucky enough to grab one this last Saturday.
It was done by a highly knowledgeable gunsmith, and it’s a top notch job.
It was an M96, barrel shortened to 23 inches. Put into a Ramline Mauser stock. It has an alright Simmons AETEC 3.8-12x44mm scope on it, but I’m going to get a much clearer one, like a Burris, or SIG Whiskey that has a BDC.


Hawk
View attachment 460357
View attachment 460358

I am jealous,that looks good they are a great rifle.

 

[Frederik]

Two pictures of my sporterized M96 also sporting a 23" barrel.
A joy to carry light and deadly.
Its not me holding the rifle wit the impala ewe.

 

[hawkeyesatx]

View attachment 460382View attachment 460381

Two pictures of my sporterized M96 also sporting a 23" barrel.
A joy to carry light and deadly.
Its not me holding the rifle wit the impala ewe.

That’s a beautiful rifle you have there!

Congratulations on the successful hunts!!

The 6.5x55 is an excellent game round, and it punches far above the paper ballistics.
It shoots flat, and hits hard, digs like a brand new auger!

Hawk

 

[Rob404]

I picked up a lightly sporterized Swede a few years back and the accuracy impressed me, unfortunately haven't taken it to the range in years

 

[Nevada Mike]

They are very accurate rifles. I bought mine a LONG tima ago, when I was a young teen. I 'sporterized' it due to the 29" barrel, which ended up 21". Stocked it full length and put a 4X scope on it. Mine would shoot almost any factory ammo into MOA. Even tighter with handloads. Killed a lot of deer with it but have not shot it for years due to the bolt being on the wrong side...

Gave it to my hunting partner's SIL - his first rifle.

 

[Frederik]

Thank you Hawkeye,

In the past 7 years I have own the rifle it has killed quite a few of animals especially impala.

List of species:
Kudu bull
Eland Cow
Nyala bull
warthogs
Blesbucks
Springbuck
Steenbuck
Common Reedbuck
Plenty of impala around 30 odd