Returning my M 96 Swedish Mauser to service

Ever have a rifle you wanted to sell, to make room in your gun safe for example? Well, that was what I was going to do 2 years ago with my all matching, as issued M-96 Swedish Mauser, but the deal fell through even though I sold off everything related to it: brass, molds, dies, etc. Several weeks ago I got the idea to put that rifle back in service with, gulp, jacketed bullets and ordered dies, brass & bullets. Then Al Nelson (NOE) announced a July 4th mold sale, so I took a look. As luck would have it, he had 1 6.5mm "Kurtz" aluminum 2 cavity mold left, but 1 cavity was plain base, while the other was for GC's...which I didn't want (hard to find 6.5mm GC's + they're pricey). When I ordered, I asked Al to make both cavities plain base. Fast forward to late last week: Got the mold, heat cycled it as per instructions, and cast with it: Extremely pleased with the results. Btw, I was fortunate enough to have a new Lyman .266" H & I (sizing) die lying around, but it needed to be lapped out to .267" to suit the gun, which I did via Buckshot's method (maybe still in Castpics?).

Today I went to the 50 yd. range and tested the new, sized to .267" NOE/Kurtz plain base CB's using what I thought might be suitable loads, namely 6gr. - 9gr. of Alliant Unique (10 loads of each charge for a total of 40 + 2 fouling shots). Why 50 yd.? Because at that distance, I can see the target well with the as issued sights and because I'm fairly certain that aiming errors are fewest. Also, for the 25 yrs. I've owned the rifle, better than 90% of the shooting was at that range.
I'm happy to say there was a trend in that the rifle shot better when the powder charge was raised from 6gr. to 8gr. Unique, with the latter leaving only a slight wash of lead in the bore. Unfortunately, that wasn't so with the 9gr. charge, which was almost as accurate as 8grs., in spite of the bore leading. I'll retest these in the coming weeks and maybe fine tune them by going to 7.5gr. and then 8.5gr. Unique. I've attached pics of the two most accurate loads.

I should add that all charges were thrown using fixed rotors in a Lyman pistol powder measure, and rounded up slightly. Also, this was the first time in ~1 year that I did any bench shooting as I've been trying to improve my offhand skill for various black powder events I participate in. (I still suck at offhand shooting, btw.)

Never tried PB in my Swede. Looks good.

Dangit. I saw you mention that rifle for sale a while back and almost pm'd you about it because I could give it a good home. I'll just leave that offer on the table and if you get tired of it, contact me.

Ian said:

Dangit. I saw you mention that rifle for sale a while back and almost pm'd you about it because I could give it a good home. I'll just leave that offer on the table and if you get tired of it, contact me.

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I will most certainly keep you in mind, Ian! Btw, the rifle is in excellent condition, but I may be willing to part with it.

All, After I posted the results of today's "frolic," I went back to my shooters' log (thinking I deep sixed all my 6.5 x 55mm data), and found the attached target from July, 2006. It too was shot with a Lee 6.5mm Kurtz gas checked CB. Lee offered those in both single cav. & 6 cav. versions. I had both. Not entirely to my surprise, the gas checked version, also sized to .267", yielded a 13 shot group that was ~half the size of my best efforts today. The powder type and charge was different as well: 15gr. WC 820 (AA #9 burn rate).

Let me clarify: the Lee CB in the blue target (below) had a GC shank and wore a GC. Those I used for the targets in post #1 had neither a gas check shank nor a GC.

Maven,
I truly regret not going through with that deal!
Back then I just got the shock of my life when I had to go on unemployment after 40 + years at my profession. However now I'm busier then I have been in 8 years......so I just want you to know I'm back in the running when this one goes up for sale !
Great shooting!
Jim

JWFilips said:

Maven,
I truly regret not going through with that deal!
Back then I just got the shock of my life when I had to go on unemployment after 40 + years at my profession. However now I'm busier then I have been in 8 years......so I just want you to know I'm back in the running when this one goes up for sale !
Great shooting!
Jim

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Thanks, Jim! Btw, the brass is all prepped for retesting & fine tuning those loads. I even cast a bunch more plain base "Kurtz" CB's today, which reminds me that I should post a pic of them.

After a several-years hiatus, I'm getting back to my Swede, too. It is dated 1901, is non-matching, and requires a .269" cast bullet.

However, I'm going another route. Because my vision and Mauser sights have become non-compatible, I installed a non-drill and tap scout scope base and a long eye relief scope, and will be testing it later in the week.

If the project pans out, I've a very early and matching 1895 Chilean Mauser that may get the same treatment.

Last week I had a chance to retest some of the loads I mentioned in my 1st post, namely 8- and 8.5gr. Unique (both weighed), but with a wrinkle: One of the 8gr. loads was fired with the NOE PB Kurtz CB @ .268" & tumble lubed instead of .267" (no photos yet). Outcome: the gun clearly likes CB's sized to .267" better! Moreover, the 8gr. loads, regardless of CB diameter, grouped to the right of the target as they did initially, but not as tightly as I had hoped. The 8.5gr. .267" dis. loads, OTOH, grouped to the center and significantly better than the 8gr, loads, and not so differently than those on the blue, Hand Loader target (above). Bore leading, both ahead of the chamber and midway up the bbl. was present, but strangely didn't erase accuracy. I'll post target pics soon.

I have parted with nearly all my milsurps, including an all matching Swede. But (like an idiot, WAY back when - almost 30 yrs ago!), I still have a project sportered Swede (it WAS an all matching 1901... yeah, just KICK me!) yet to be finished... I am to the point I have the Boyd stock. I want to get it to Ben to bed and set up. Just can't seem to get there...

oft, I'm tempted to sell my milsurps as well, mostly because I need the room in my gun safe and the cash in my pocket (LOL).

All, Here are the pics I promised in post #9. Btw, the green hits on the 8.5gr. target were foulers: