Hello all. I require the privilage of your collective knowlege. I have just aquired my winter project. It is an old 6.5x55 Swedish mauser, but unfortunatly, I do not have it right in front of me, I left it at the shop. The problem is, I don't know what it is. I am aware, there were apperantly 3 versions of the military rifle. 2 long barrels, and a short 18" carbine. Mine is the carbine. On the bbl, there is a VT stamped on it, at first I thought Vermont, but thats just silly. All thats there is the barreled action. It's not pretty, but it functions. I fell in love with the little model 70 and 77 compacts. I think this will be the ideal little action to base my compact rifle on. I'm not sure as to what I'll do for a scope mount yet. I don't like side mounts, but the reciever is slotted directly on top, on the rear half where the bolt passes through. Perhaps a foward mount with an extended eye relief scope (?). If anyone has a similar rifle, let me know please, and how you managed to mount optics. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this post.

If it is a true "shorty" Swede it is known as the 94. The 96 was the longer 29" length barrel, the model 38's barrel was somewhere around 25.5 inches (I think) but the original 94 was VERY short....either 17.5 or 18.2 ...somthin like that.
Make sure you have it checked out by a competent smith......many of the really old shortys will not stand up to heavy pressure. That doesn't mean it wouldn't be a sweet carbine for modest speeds.

The model 94 Mauser had a 1/2" piece added to the barrel to make it 18" long . That was required by the BATF when they were first brought into this country. It is a weak action as 8MM/06 said . My model 38 has a 23 1/2 " barrel .

There were many versions of the mauser 96 in Swedish service, most of them made in 3 arsenals in Sweden (Carl Gustav, Husqvarna and Göteborg royal navy arsenal [3 crowns over an anchor] too, large numbers of Oberndorf Mausers and Kongsberg rifles were imported)

Most carbines were made from rifles, but carbines were never widely used (only horse cavalry and later armoured car troops were issued them) Special forces, marines and mountain-troops were issued either the short rifle (equal in appearance to the CG M38) or used a full sized battle-rifle. Basically, the 96 action is not a weak action, neither is the 94. compared to a 98 action ANYTHING is weak and then again, most of these rifles are well passed into retirement age.

Any load deemed safe by commercial manufacturers can safely be fired in a properly functioning m94/96.m38 because these rifles are not the minimum standard for this caliber, the Krag-Jorgensen & Krag-Petersen rifles are. And compared to the Mauser action, the Krag is weaker, but still a very strong action in all respects.

There is however one issue to take to heart, and that is if your barrel is being tested for "Torped pryttskytte / VT" (the old pre 1909 torpedo style long bullets) if so, your barrel is also usable for spitzers, but could be very inaccurate. Some barrels don't like them, due to the twistrate, which is apparantly too slow for short bullets.

One other thing is the issue of fast follow up shots, don't overdo it, the barrelcrown is easily burned out. Allow the barrel to cool, after all, the bullet is a pretty fast one.

The Swedish army prided itself in the marksmanship of the troops and the choice of rifle is because of that, more a precision rifle than a fast operating one. The side mount works great, but some Carl Gustav actions were fitted with tapped holes for the mounting of a scope. Again, a great multitude of models were in use, If I recall correctly a 3.5 power scope was somewhat of a "standard"


Good luck,

Vesi

Thank you, 8mm/06, Halcon, and Vesi for your help. I will be sure to test this thing out as safely as I can, and will keep you updated. Vesi, thanks again for clearing up the VT issue, I dont think the long bullets will be an issue. This is the reason I like the 6.5...I think the old long bullets are sweet. And will probably shoot them exclusivly, provided they shoot well enough. Thanks again to all, and feel free to add to this as much information as your fingers will type.

Good stuff Vesi

I have a few questions...
Weren't most of the rifles built for the ogive tip bullets of approximately 160gr and then the Swedes changed over the pryttskytte spitzer bullet of about 143 gr later? The range plates on the stocks are there because the sights are calibrated for the older ogive bullet but shows sighting adjustments when using the newer bullet.

VT- if its struck on theleft side of the receiver in very crisp deep letters with serifs, it probably is an inspector's mark. If the lettering doesn't look to be the same quality as the rest of the markings on the rifle- if its crooked, shallow, has peened edges, sans serif, its probably an import marking- Typically something like St Albans, CAI VT, Century VT etc.

If its a mauser 94, I wouldn't worry, it would make a great hunting rifle. Don't worry about the ammo having too much pressure- the 6.5x55 is a relatively low pressure round, all of the commercial ammo is good in it, with the possible exception of PMC brand which is known to range from very- to too hot for mausers. I have 2 boxes of this stuff that I have to pull down because I shot a few rounds of it and had high pressure signs.
If you reload, keep the velocities and loadings sane, Remember these rifles came around about the same time as the Ford Model T, the Model T will get you where you want to go so long as you don't try to hotrod it and get it up to 100 mph.

Briman,

Yes, most IMPORTED (imported into Sweden, that is) rifles of pre 1909 manufacture were made to take the old roundnose bullet, but nevertheless some rifles could be used with both with equal succes, most carbines were less happy with spitzers for some reason. Swedish made rifles were all made to use spitzers, Norwegian Krags were all made for roundnose bullets. Actually the twistrate of the barrels made for roundnoses are lower than those for spitzers. Accuracywise they don't differ that much though, I've shot Mausers, Carl Gustavs and Krags and all shoot well with both types of ammo, though a M38 for exampe is less easy to cycle roundnose than earlier rifles.

Actually the name pryttskytte means presision rifle ammunition (sniper round, usually with a gilding metal jacketed projectile which looks like its nickel-plated) and was and is used for all rifle ammunition (for battle use). The old roundnose bullet stayed in use throughout the use of the M38, only being abandoned when Sweden adopted the Ljungmann self-loader, which would not cycle reliabily with the round bullet. Yes, the stockplates are meant for recalibrating the sights, btw.

as for the VT mark, to the best of my knowledge it stands for "Värja Typ", meaning Defence Model, but you could just as well be right.


Kind regards,

Vesi

As long as we're kicking around shared info on this military weapon and it's many sub-species...anybody have any input on the Model 38 variant produced by the Oberndorf arsenal. I have 2 of these actions with bolt that I have been saving for projects. I also have 1 Swede barrel, new in the white, and am considering installing this 6.5 x 55 barrel on one of the actions but am curious as to how hot a cartridge I could SAFELY propel from these Oberndorf actions?
Any suggestions?

Carl Gustav and Husqvarna M38 actions are much stronger than German actions, not only because of construction, but mainly because of the steel used and the more recent date of manufacture. An M38 action is actually an improvement over the original Mauser 1894/96 types. They are not the same actions! Oberndorf = Mauser, M38 is Swedish national production.

Its unsafe to push this cartridge beyond Military specifications and totally useless to do so. The 6.5 x 55 will not be very much more effective, its rather good as it was designed.

Old parts & and more power usually don't add up to a good idea, remember the 94/96 have the nasty habbit of NOT directing hot gasses away from your face when a primer ruptures. Powder burns don't win you beauty-contests and hurt like @#4!!!&the rest!

kind regards,

Vesi

Well that answers my main question then. The one Oberndorf action will wear my military 6.5 x 55 barrel...and the other will wear a barrel of a mild pressure deer round. I've been interested in playing with the old .25-35 Winchester round since I was a kid. My grandfather had an old Winchester High Wall in this round that he kept in the car at all times. It was a fun gun at the gravel pit when I was growing up and was capable of taking deer with a well placed shot. Might be fun.