6.5-55 Swedish M.1896 Mauser Rifle
06-20-2008, 11:00 AM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,476
RE: 6.5-55 Swedish M.1896 Mauser Rifle
You stole it. Or maybe you'd rather I'd say "got a great deal". 
I recently paid $75.00 just for a Swede bolt-complete, in very good condition. It was a high price, but I needed it and was a cheap way to add a useful truck-gun to my collection.
It's your gun and you can do with it as you wish. I have sporterized a few Swedes myself, but I had over 6 of them at the time in various conditions.
For what it's worth I want to suggest an idea for you to chew on. If you have no feelings for having military weapons for fun and shooting then ignore this, .. but....
By the time you pay a reputable smith to cut and turn the bolt, drill and tap the receiver, buy a scope, shorten the barrel and recrown (or replace), swap out the trigger and safety for whatever you want for a replacement.... by the time you have all that done to turn it into a fully sporterized weapon, you will have enough invested to have purchased a good condition used hunting rifle all ready to go.
And the flip side is that if you found a decent Military Swede 96 stock with all hardware you might only have to invest about $75.00 or less.
Check out this link http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=102570412
It's your money and your gun and you'll love owning and shooting it no matter which direction you go.... but you can't add the metal back after you jimmy with it. And these nice Swede's in full military configuration are not as easy to find as they once were, and the price just keeps creeping up on them. They are not exactly extremely rare, but definitely becoming harder to snag at a decent price.
Used hunting rigs, on the other hand, are still in abundance and some very good deals are out there.
Very Nice purchase and good luck with your decision.
I recently paid $75.00 just for a Swede bolt-complete, in very good condition. It was a high price, but I needed it and was a cheap way to add a useful truck-gun to my collection.
It's your gun and you can do with it as you wish. I have sporterized a few Swedes myself, but I had over 6 of them at the time in various conditions.
For what it's worth I want to suggest an idea for you to chew on. If you have no feelings for having military weapons for fun and shooting then ignore this, .. but....
By the time you pay a reputable smith to cut and turn the bolt, drill and tap the receiver, buy a scope, shorten the barrel and recrown (or replace), swap out the trigger and safety for whatever you want for a replacement.... by the time you have all that done to turn it into a fully sporterized weapon, you will have enough invested to have purchased a good condition used hunting rifle all ready to go.
And the flip side is that if you found a decent Military Swede 96 stock with all hardware you might only have to invest about $75.00 or less.
Check out this link http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=102570412
It's your money and your gun and you'll love owning and shooting it no matter which direction you go.... but you can't add the metal back after you jimmy with it. And these nice Swede's in full military configuration are not as easy to find as they once were, and the price just keeps creeping up on them. They are not exactly extremely rare, but definitely becoming harder to snag at a decent price.
Used hunting rigs, on the other hand, are still in abundance and some very good deals are out there.
Very Nice purchase and good luck with your decision.
06-30-2008, 12:27 PM
#16
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3,145
RE: 6.5-55 Swedish M.1896 Mauser Rifle
It's not impossible, just really difficult.
If I didn't live so far away, I'd meet you at the border for that one. It's a beautiful weapon, I wouldn't change much. You really lucked out, enjoy it.
If I didn't live so far away, I'd meet you at the border for that one. It's a beautiful weapon, I wouldn't change much. You really lucked out, enjoy it.
07-01-2008, 12:19 PM
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 2,186
RE: 6.5-55 Swedish M.1896 Mauser Rifle
The 6.5x55 Se was the rifle that pushed me into hand loading. I inherited it and could not find ammo locally. Mine isan excellent shooting model from about 1932. In fact it is the tightest grouping rifle that I currently own. Killed many deer with it. It is my No.1 "lender".Everyone that has used it hasquestioned the cartridge becasue it is not common, but all have been pleased with the result ... meat on the table.Buy it. If the action is in great shape, that alone is worth the price.
07-01-2008, 01:19 PM
#18
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Body in SE WI, mind in U.P.
Posts: 4,781
RE: 6.5-55 Swedish M.1896 Mauser Rifle
Mine isan excellent shooting model from about 1932.
Everyone that has used it hasquestioned the cartridge becasue it is not common, but all have been pleased with the result
07-01-2008, 02:37 PM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,476
RE: 6.5-55 Swedish M.1896 Mauser Rifle
ORIGINAL: Briman
A little know secret is that the 6.5x55 is one of the best balanced cartridges- ever.
A little know secret is that the 6.5x55 is one of the best balanced cartridges- ever.
My grandfather was a gunsmith that made the lion's share of his business in the 50's and 60's and 70's sporterizing military rifles into deer tools ..... He mostly dealt with Mauser 98's but also played around with Japanese, and Steyr rifles.
Around 1968 he obtained a large # of complete Swede 96's and 38's. Both myself and younger brother were the recipients of his projects before he passed away. And while he was no premier handloader, he knew his way around a loading press, and dealt with a few wildcats in his day.
He was absolutely in love with the 6.5 X 55 Swede b/c of it's terminal performance with mild recoil.
He said more than once that it was the best deer cartridge he ever played with.
