Can anyone tell me more about the Carl Gustav rifles in 6.5x55? I saw a very nicely sporterized one at a gunstore today for, what seems to me, a fair price. The action looks like a M98, but from a google search it appears the Gustav's are a M96. Rifle has original stepped barrel, but has an aftermarket bent bolt handle installed plus a darn pretty custom stock with some nice fiddleback in it. Tag said the action was built in 1915.

Never seen it. Can't comment knowledgeably about that specific rifle. But I can tell you you're gonna buy it by just the way you describe it. Moreover, what makes you think you'll get rational, unbiased advice from this forum of enablers? When you bring it home post some pics to soothe any post-purchase dissonance. Of which there'll be none - only our envy.

99% of the Swedes I've shot are accurate, be they 94's, 96's or 38's from all arsenal/makers.

The thing to remember about the pre-98 Mausers is-- they do not handle the gas of a case rupture/pierced primer/ etc as the 98's do.

That said I have built customs on them in several calibers--

AND the 6.5 is SWEET

In Texas a "sporter" runs about $250 & up,a non-sporter more, customs--up to your imagination and budget.

quote:

they do not handle the gas of a case rupture/pierced primer/ etc as the 98's do.

Can you elaborate on this, please? The 6.5x55 seems like a cartridge that shines with handloads, which seems like where the above mentioned would become an issue.

The Mauser 98's direct escaping gases away from the shooters face, where the 96 doesn't do this. As far as handloading goes if you don't try to push the established loads you shouldn't have a problem with any of the above. It would probably be a great shooter, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it if the price was right.

quote:

Originally posted by Sevens:

quote:

they do not handle the gas of a case rupture/pierced primer/ etc as the 98's do.

Can you elaborate on this, please? The 6.5x55 seems like a cartridge that shines with handloads, which seems like where the above mentioned would become an issue.

Occurrence--RARE

When it occurrs--BAD

To extend what taylorce1 said --the bolt shroud and bolt venting are specifically designed on the 98 to handle this POTENTIAL
problem to vent gas down and laterally and not into your eyes/face.

Is there a way to make the action safer?

A gas shield can be fabricated and welded to the bolt shroud to mimic the M98.

http://www.mausercentral.com/98izingapre98bolt.htm

The bolt can be forged or welded so that the base of the bolt handle is notched into the receiver; making it a safety lug. Gas vent holes can be drilled into the left and right receiver ring and an extra gas vent hole can be drilled in the bolt body just aft of the extractor collar. That will get you pretty close to the M98. They were proofed for use with rounds exerting pressures around 5,000-10,000 psi lower than the 8x57 and .30-06. However you will see them chambered for those as well as the .308 Win. If you handload, don't hot-rod it and you should be fine.

Here is a pic I got from another site of a M93 blowup. This one had been re-barreled to .308 Win. Ammo used was not known. Looks like a case head failure. You can see how the ring failed either initially in the thin area at the extractor groove on the right side or at the top. Then it peeled apart to the left. I think this was a reason Mauser increased the ring diameter so as to beef-up that area. Excessive chamber mouth chamfering may have contributed by reducing case head support.



Here is another pic I found of a M96 with a similar failure:



A gas vent hole might help to relieve pressure in a case like this. Ammo was claimed to be surplus Swedish 6.5x55. The blood was said to be from a forehead cut received from the broken extractor as it was propelled backwards. The remaining stub can still be seen in the rear bridge raceway.

What is notable is that the lugs held in both cases although the upper lug seat was blown away.

Wow, thanks Bobster for the info. I'm learning a heck of a lot about rifles here.

I believe it's Roy Dunlap in his book "Modern Gunsmithing" that said....." There are no strong Mausers prior to the model of the 1898"

The above photos was what he was referring to....

There is still a lot of folks using those older Mausers.....I'm not one of them!

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:

The thing to remember about the pre-98 Mausers is-- they do not handle the gas of a case rupture/pierced primer/ etc as the 98's do.

That said I have built customs on them in several calibers--

Yeah, neither does a pre-64 model 70. Yet, that doesn't seem to stop many folks from building or shooting pre-64's.

quote:

Originally posted by taylorce1:
The Mauser 98's direct escaping gases away from the shooters face, where the 96 doesn't do this.

It would be more accurate to say they don't do it as well as a 98.

The Swedish built Mausers are the only pre-1898 military actions that I use for custom rifles. Sweden always use 1st class materials, put together by educated, skilled, craftsmen. I am currently in the process of putting together a trio of sporterized Sweds in 22-250, 243, and 308, using recycled 24" Remington 700 SPS barrels, SNs 10676x, 19718x, and 64739x.

I do 3 things with my Swedish military Mauser actions;

1. I replace the bolt shroud with an aftermarket commercial style unit that has a larger gas shield. Brownell's part # 100-001-866 or 078-100-096.
2. I install a Dayton-Traister cock-on-opening kit, since I don't care for the cock-on-closing arrangement. Brownell's part #240-150-096.
3. I install a Bold or Timney trigger with a safety.

Jeff

The photographs are telling, and not to be ignored- however, these rifles were designed in an era when ammunition was manufactured at a lower standard. The ammo improved through the years as the materials, engineering, and technology did.

The Krag, '03, and the Mex have "recockable" cocking pieces, I suppose to take a second try at a dud- says something about the ammo of their eras.

My point is the ammo was, in the past, more likely to fail.

All other arguments apply.

Sevens, the 6.5 Sweeds are real shooter. Just keep your loads to reasonable pressures and you will be fine. Take a good look at the actions, many of the sporterize sweed have some of the afore mentioned safety features already added. A few years back, Kimber sporterized a couple boat loads of these. If they had that nice stock you are describing, and not the cheap tuperware, one would of probably come home with me.

quote:

Originally posted by Sevens:
Is there a way to make the action safer?

Believe Ed LaPour's three way model 70 safety includes a shroud designed to improve gas handling. Same for his design for the pre-64 M70.

I wonder if anyone has compared the 1903 Springfield action specs to the pre-1898 and post-1898 military Mauser actions? IIRC, the Sprinfield's front receiver ring is about the same diameter as the small ring Mausers, both pre and post 1898 designs, and they don't have as large a gas shield as the 1898 design.

Not saying that the 1903 Springfield isn't a good design, but wondering how it compares to the contemporary military Mausers.

Jeff