I seem to be reading about all sorts of calibres being built on swedish mausers, especially 9.3x62. Are these model 96's, which I didn't think was strong enough, or are they talking about a different swedish mauser ??

Roger

IMO a good 96 is plenty strong enough for a 9.3x62. Many such 9.3x62 and 9.3x57 96s have been used for many decades in Sweden, also 96s in 7x64 & other high-performance cartridges. I'm hoarding a nice Swede action right now, actually it's really an 1894 since it's dated 1895 on the ring but it's the same action except for the straight bolt handle. Even installed modified 1909 bottom metal and a PME 3-position bolt sleeve safety and Kimber lever QD rings, it's hanging on my project wall right now. Eventual plans are for a Lothar Walther bbl in 9.3x62 but Brownell's doesn't offer this bore size...

Swedes got a bad rep in recent years because of the abundance of rather pitiful & even unsafe rebuilds done by a firm in the Northwest, but IMO the problem was the rebuilder and not the action. I've built several 1894/96 Swedes and 1895 Chileans and 1891 Argies in hign-performance calibers with no problems other than magazine length. My personal plains rifle is an 1895 Chilean Mauser in 280 Rem, this rifle actually has an 1898 intermediate-length bolt installed in it but the receiver was made by Loewe in 1895. My light varminter is an 1891 Loewe-made Argie in 223 Rem with flush magazine, 1909 floorplate, DSTs and upcock conversion.

Receivers on some of these actions are soft but so are plenty of 1898s. Doesn't cost much to have the receiver and/or bolt casehardened and the colors can look SUPER on the right rifle.
Regards, Joe