I like my M39's but......

[BusterBrown]

I just shot a Carl Gustav M96 I scored at an auction and I absolutely love it. Having read people's reviews about Swedes, I've been pretty interested in one, but I've never been interested enough to pay ~$200 and adopt a new caliber to stock ammo in.
I've always liked my M39's, but I've never been crazy about their trigger (long trigger pull, one is wwwaaayyy long). The Swede had a wonderful trigger, shouldered well, and had a very light recoil. I haven't benched it yet, but it was shooting pretty well offhand.

One thing that struck me about the gun was how many parts were #'ed. I mean, they went kind of crazy numbering everything (did they really need to number the tab on the rear sight?)

Well, anyways, I saw there were no recent posts here, so hopefully I'll resurrect this part of the forum.

BB out

[smittylite]

Thanks for posting the report, you will truly love it. If you get a chance post some pics of your Swede.

I don't think many people bite on the Swedes because of what you mentioned, unavailability of cheap ammo. Most that have them begin handloading.

[Schuetzenman]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Swedish Mausers BusterBrown. They are my favorite Mauser but as Smittylite pointed out most of us handload as cheap surplus is nonexistant. I have a reload that costs me about $4.25 a box of 20 to reload. Remington PSP 140 grain 6.5 bullet, large magnum primer and WW760 powder. Reloader 15 is also a good powder for this grain weight bullet.

[BusterBrown]

Thanks for the replies Schuetzenman and smittylite. I haven't gotten into relodaing because most of my long guns are in 7.62 X 54 and 7.62 X39, but maybe I should. I got a couple of boxes on Igman (not sure if I spelled that right) ammo, I think it was 140 grain soft point (does that sound right) for $8 a box of 20. I'm no ballistics expert, but it seems to me that the long 6.5X55 round would be kind of stable over longer ranges, does that make sense to you?
A funny thing when I bought the gun, they had it labelled as "Carl Gustav 8mm", I think that's why no one else really bid on it.

I don't have a digital camera, but maybe I can borrow the one from work one day.

Thanks again
BB

[Schuetzenman]

Yes BB the long bullet relative to the diameter make the 6.5 rounds very ballistically efficient. The 6.5 bullet loaded into a .284 Win. case is used a lot by modern competitve shooters for long range competition.

Igman is correct. I've shot it and it's pretty good for the money, especially if you're going to hunt with it. The Igman FMJ did will in one of my 96 rifles as well. $8 a box is a good standard price for it. But like I said, you can reload it for under $4.50 / 20 round box. If you don't already reload, you will have to consider the "Start Up" cost of getting your equipment.

Reloading can be as interesting, fun and rewarding as shooting the rifles and collecting them. I see it as another facet of the total gem that is gun collecting. :D

[cowdawg]

I am a BIG fan of those sweet sweet swedes, They are so smooth and nice to handle(I am refering to the rifles arn't I )

They sure do shoot nice. Just wish I could still get that super cheap mil-surp ammo I shot so much of.
Oh well S&B makes nice ammo.

And yes I do roll my own also. Much much cheaper and I just plain enjoy reloading.

[BusterBrown]

Did I mention I got it for $70:)

[Schuetzenman]

Originally posted by BusterBrown
Did I mention I got it for $70:)

:doh: :thud: Man you stole that puppy!

[geojap]

You dog. $70 is a steal. I have a few Swedes and I think their craftsmanship is only rivaled by the Persian mausers. I don't shoot my Swedes that much because of the ammo issue.

Enjoy it.

[smittylite]

Originally posted by Schuetzenman
:doh: :thud: Man you stole that puppy!

I don't know guys, we still haven't seen it....... ;)

[BusterBrown]

Well, like my grandpap said: "Even a blind dog like me finds a bone every once in a while":D

[BusterBrown]

I forgot to mention, it's all matching except for the cleaning rod. There's some wear on the metal (I'm not good at %'s but I'd say >50% remains), the bore is beautiful and the stock is really nice too.:)

[smittylite]

quit teasing, get some pics and post 'em. :D

[BusterBrown]

Alright, alright.....it might take a while though. (come to think about, I dated a few girls who teased like this:D )

[Kahouna]

If you guys look in the FAC catalog that just arrived, FNM out of Yugo. is manufacturing new reloadable ammo in 6.6X55. This might be another horse to add to the stable now that someone else is making ammo for it.

[flintnapr]

this month, December, Century has 6.5 ammo for $5 a box. Soft point or FMJ.

[BusterBrown]

What's the make on the ammo? That sounds like a pretty good deal if it's non corrosive. How much do you have to buy to get that deal?

Thanks,

BB

[Schuetzenman]

I think it's the Hot Shot brand which is from Bosnia. It's noncorrosive and boxer primed. It's about the same as Igman. They have a minimum purchase dollar amount which I think is $50 bucks. I could be wrong on this. Plust a $12.50 shipping charge.

[geojap]

I just bought 300 rounds of the Hotshot $5/box from Century today. Along with 3000 rounds of Turk 8mm, but that's another story. I'll post a review of the Hot Shot after I shoot it in one of my Swedes.

[BusterBrown]

Thanks for the info Schuetzenman, I'd ask for it for Christmas, but I think it's a little late. Well, I know what to get as soon as I climb out of Christmas debt in the next few weeks.

I look forward to your review geojap, I hope it does well.

O.T., but I'll post it whilt I'm here, do one of you guys know how to decock a Browning A-5? I scored one yesterday as my Christmas present (price was too good to pass up) and I'm not sure how to decock it without dry-firing it.

Thanks

BB