New to Mausers

[pax]

I'm sold by all the fine commentary regards the Swedes, and I've looked at the offerings at Samco's as well as a couple of listings at Empire. The consensus seems to be buy the best you can afford--or at least, the best. I was looking at a sniper at a local dealer ($1000) and the stock looked totally dried out as if it had been soaked in a stripping vat of caustic soda--or is this finish something one might expect? The sniper is interesting cause it might allow the use of a 12x scope I like to use, otherwise I would tempted to go with the peep sight model--or perhaps the peep sight can be added to any M96??
Another question?? Samco charges a premium for the Husqvarnas, is there a qualitative difference? or is it just a rarity issue?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for all the great posts--I wish it was a more popular forum so I could read more, but maybe that's a good thing.

[Schuetzenman]

Howdy PAX from Texas. The stocks on Swedes are usually a little dry looking. I don't think they stored their rifles in cosmoline like most countries did. Rather I think they oiled the steel and relied on dry storage conditions instead. Can't prove it but it's rare to see a stock that looks all dark and oil soaked on them.

$1,000 for a sniper 42B is cheap relatively, best check it out well to make sure it's not a faux sniper. Sampco has the real deal and I've not seen anybody else to have them.

On Husqvarnas, they are a little bit more rare as they are perhaps the last makers of the 96 rifle. I have one that is equipped with a marksman dial sight type of rear sight. It's like a large version of the Naval sight that is pictured in the Samco catalogue. Most of the Huskies I've seen have 43 and 44 dates on the receivers so they are the youngest of the Swedish Mausers and usually in the best shape I might add.

Is this what you were looking for as a reply?

[pax]

Yes sir, your response is on the mark, and I am glad for the opportunity to thank you for all the fine information you have provided to all respondents on these forums; very helpful.
I will take a closer look at the piece, especially the numbers--the scope should have matching numbers I understand, though I supposed that sort of thing could be faked. I've been admiring the beautiful finish on the rifles posted and I was thrown off by the dry-fence-post quality as presented. If memory serves, the metal work seemed to be entirely in the white, not polished in the least. Of course the dealers rep said "I don't think its ever been fired."
Thanks again sir.

[Schuetzenman]

Pax,
If the bolts in the white that's fine. But if the receiver and the barrel are in the white, somethings rotten in Denmark to borrow a line from the Bard.

Should be blued metal, and the bolt turned down of course.

[pax]

It may have been blued at one time. It's raining so hard I can't get to the dealer to see it today.
If I may continue to pester...what I'm after is a capable and presentable shooter that will at least retain its value and be scope-able, hence my interest in the sniper.
Another option perhaps?? Purchase the collector grade Persian 98/29 mauser AND a M96 barreled action which hopefully would be a drop in, proper fit in the Persian stock, then save the Persian barreled action as a collector piece for future sale. Would it be a proper fit: the Swede 6.5 action in the Persian stock?? If it would fit, whisper: the 6.5 action could be tapped for conventional scope mounts which might make for a better cheek weld than the sniper which sure looks like it's way too high above the stock. I wouldn't tap a complete rifle but a partial, barreled action, the gods could forgive??
I'm just worried that by the time I get a FFL copy mailed to Samco they'll all be gone.
What do you think, and thanks again.

[Schuetzenman]

Nope not compatiable as the Swedes are small ring Mausers and the Persians are Large ring Mausers. It would be very very loose in the stock.

If you want a scoped bolt gun might I direct you to the Scoped Mosin Nagant type M39 Finnish rifles with a PS0-1 Russian scope on it. They go for about $400 and are in mint condition. The only thing you give up is the 6.5 round.

[pax]

Doh!! Should have figured that small ring/large ring thing. Actually, it's got to be a Swede, aside from the aesthetics its that 6.5x55, though a nice large ring in 25-06 would do nicely.
Thanks again. On through the fog.

[pax]

I admit I had surgery last January with full anesthesia, and I don't think I had a stroke or anything but I can not explain what happened regards the Sniper I described in the previous posts: "dry as a fence post, rough stock, metal in the white", etc. I went back for another look, primarily to try the cheek weld before ordering one from Samco. Either I have completely lost my mind or they switched rifles, because what they handed me I would rate as 99% with only tiny bits of blue lost: a spot on the edge of the trigger guard, on what I take to be the rear retainer of the hand guard and a couple nicks on the exposed upper barrel. If the reddish shellac(?) on the beech stock (lots of small dents and negligible scratches) had not darkened with age I would say this piece was no more than 10 years old. It has 1909 on the breach. The only wear is on the metal buttstock strap and the rear face of the barrel where the bolt presses.
I inquired of its provenance ($5 please), sales guy said that it was a consignment piece a customer acquired from Samco earlier (unspecified) when the pickings were good (no kidding), it came with the scope case and two piece strap. He said that the owner had never fired it. I think one reason it was so "cheap" is that the bent bolt handel would bind with the scope when attempting to work the action. Apparently something the previous owner/collector couldn't be bothered with. Looking through the bore It was obvious that the windage was way off; once it was adjusted, no problem. Seems the original scope has about a 26+ mm tube so I had to wrap my 12X Leupold with paper to clamp in place and that long scope sure looks at home on there, and the cheek weld and eye relief are just fine. I couldn't be more pleased.
The single screw stock disc reads 6.51 with a 1 for the bore rust.
All of which goes to show what little worth eye witness testimony can be. I'm glad I wasn't under oath! Mercy.
Maybe a light touch with steel wool and the lemon oil thing is all it needs, though a conservator wouldn't even allow that.
Mr Schutezenman, I'm sure glad for your remark that a $1000 was cheap for a Sniper. If it wasn't for that remark, I might have blown it off. Like I said before: thanks again.

[Schuetzenman]

:cool: Hey take some picture of it and post them here. I think we would all love to seen your 42B Sniper Swed!

Your description from before sounded more like a Turk M38 Mauser rather than a Swed that's why I said beware it might be a faked sniper. Your description now sounds more typical of what the Swed Sniper should look like.

[pax]

Yes sir, I intend to get some pics up. I've been wanting to show off my SLR-100H too. You'd think that after thirty years as a photographer I'd have it together, but I don't have a digital camera--may have to rent one to do the deed.
I noticed some discoloration next to the butt plate from water. I removed the plate to see what the original finish looked like and was surprised to see how much lighter and red it was and how pale the unfinished wood is--man, I'd love to strip it to the light wood and spend a couple weeks with the tung oil routine. I mean one can only spend so much time at the range.
A question please--another gentleman reported trouble removing the screws fixing the action to the stock. I haven't tried, don't have the proper tool and don't want to mess up the screws, but am concerned that it might need some oil or CLP under there (aside from curiosity)-- no chance that it is a lefthand thread??
and-- when you lift the bolt it occasionally locks untill you press down on the safety tab, then it frees the bolt. Is there a spring or something inside the safety mechanism that needs attention?
Happy Independence Day!!

[pax]

This baby was putting three-in-1" every time I could stop shaking (Winchester @ 100yds.)--I'll bet a skilled shooter could make one-raggedy-hole-groups at will--something for me to work on.
Sadly the groups would move about the paper. Likely a scope mount problem.

[Schuetzenman]

No spring on safetys, it's merely a matter of camming action. Sounds like your safety is a little loose for some reason.

The screws are probably staked in place to prevent them from shaking loose. You might want to check the tightness of the scope rings. I saw one on a dealers table, (42B) at a show and the customer picked up the rifle to look at it and the scope fell out of the rings and onto the concrete floor. :eek:

Yes it cracked the optics! :eek: :mad:

Aside from that possibility your groups wander on the paper it could be thermal stress. After you check the scope in the rings to make sure it's not scooting under recoil, try shooting 3 shot groups and then let it sit for 15 minutes to cool down. Then repeat process. If the scope wasn't loose my guess is it'll be back where the first group is.

[pax]

Safety hasn't presented a problem after using it a bit--likely unfamiliarity.
The locking lever screw on the scope mount was loose, though the mount was still tight, still can't figure how the damn thing works (the cam action) I washed the threads with brake cleaner and gave it a drop of blue Locktite.
The problem is probably the heat, as you suggested, because it was after zeroing the scope and fireing 20+ rounds that the point of impact began to shift. I did let her cool down 5 or 10 min. and it was still to hot to touch the barrel.
Another possibility is the scope rings. My Leupold has a 1" tube and the rings are larger so I wrapped the scope with paper to take up the slack. I've tried searches for Jackenroll and Ajack and looked at the Numerich sight hopeing to find proper size rings. Any chance you could suggest a source or supplier.
Oh, I took the stock off and it's like new under there. Found the Samco M41B import marks discretely etched, and the matching number on the original barrel--cool. How can something 93 years old shoot like this with off the shelf ammo--it sure wasn't me. I had heart palpitations from the thrill of it, during and after.

[Schuetzenman]

Hum . . . paper shims. That could be it, paper is compressable. On where to find smaller rings, I don't know. I would suggest some steel shimstock cut with tin snips maybe. How much different are the rings than the 1 inch tube of your Leupold scope?

I wonder if a 30 mm scope would fit it?

[pax]

My micrometer stops at 1", but the original scope seems about 1 mm larger.

[clearblue]

While browsing through CDNN I came across these:

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/swedm96mausm.html

Has anyone bought one for their Swede yet?

[bear8mm]

That is a B-Square mount (mounts in place of your rear sight leaf) and they have been reported to have a problem holding zero. The original Ajack scopes are 26.5 mm diameter (1" = 25.4 mm) so you are looking at a difference of 1.1 mm (1mm = .039") for a total difference of .044". Some aluminum or steel shim stock of .020-.022 should do it, .022 would be best but hard to find, .020 is common sheet metal size. Buy several feeler guages and use the .022 leaves!