I've got this pretty original Gustav Mauser M96 in 6.5 Swede. I don't shoot it too often but today was the day.

Every case bar none came out with soot marks down the neck and body of the case and it looks to me like a headspace problem. I was shooting some old ammo which was reloaded for it by a previous owner so it might just be a sizing problem but that'd have to be very big and well, frankly I'm hoping against hope.

I don't want to get it deactivated so what are the possibilities guys?
It ought to be worht saving IF whatever work would remedy the problem would cost less than a replacement.

You should know better than to shoot someone else's reloads. Chances are that the reloads generate too little pressure and the case isn't expanding enough to seal the chamber hence the soot on the case.

First off, get it properly headspaced. If it checks out, then try some factory ammo. I'll bet you see the soot go away.

Hello Pete,

Take it to a gunsmith and have him look it over. It may well be something else. I have 3 of these M96's and a commercial Remington Classic, all in 6.5x55, and I've never had a headspace problem in any of them. My Swedish M96's are from 1900, 1907, and 1917 so I'd probably have experienced it by now if it was common. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I agree-have it headspaced. Probably underpowered reloads if sooty. Of course,that is better than overpowered reloads. Likewise to previous poster-"never shoot someone elses reloads".

Were the primers flat or were they backed out?

As stated previously, the reloads are not generating enough pressure or the brass is old and becoming brittle or a combination of both.
I would suspect some fresh brass, and a reasonable 40000psi load will solve the problem.
I have 20+ milsurp rifles of various origins.
I shoot them all and have never had any hint of a headspace problem. Besides, a headspace problem would immediately show its results just above the web of the case.

Yep, they're under powered loads alright. If the serial number on the bolt matches the rifle don't worry about headspace. Of course, like everbody said, it's a good idea to get it checked but I haven't met a Swede yet that had problems and if it were me I wouldn't worry about it. Pull the bullets and reload with a good known load. Try Hornady 140 grain bullets and you should be happy...Gary D.

Thanks guys - especially (I hope ) that it's a load and NOT a headspace problem.

The load in question is 40gn of Reloader 12 pushing a Sierra Matchking 140gn bullet.

As to the rifle, all numbers match.
The primers aren't backing out of the Lapua brass - I'm going to measure a fired case against some new S & B brass and some f/l and neck sized Lapua brass tonight.

Do you still think it's the load?

And, no I haven't yet run them over the chrono - this weekend if there's enough daylight.

You can check headspace yourself, very easily.

Just put a small dab of grease on the shoulder of a cartridge, and chamber it. If the grease is smashed completely flat, and the bolt closes, your headspace is OK. Be sure to clean up the grease when you're done.

Reloder 12 is a very poor match to a 140 grain bullet.

Neck size some of the brass you just shot, and try working up to about 46.5 grains of RL22, or and see what it gives you. The 4350's are also excellent for 140 grains. I use 44 grains of AA4350, for about 2800 fps in a 29" barrel.

Well, a trip to my zeroing range has seen an end to this worry. All the brass which I'd shot and subsequently necksized came out of the chamber perfectly clean so I reckon the former owner, who full length sized, was sizing them a bit hard.

Interestingly of Vectan SP7 and Hodg H4350 the best, best load was 34gn of SP7. Printing 8" high from the milspec open sights at 100yards, an average velocity of 2435 game me a half inch group. Pleased or what?

Thanks for the input guys.

agree with Zach - pressure is TOO LOW!!