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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Mauser Discussion Forum
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Joshua
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Reged: 01/03/16
Posts: 248
Loc: north carolina, usa
My first Mauser m96
      #295449 - 18/02/17 05:07 AM

Well guys I finally took the plunge and next weekend I will be the owner of a Mauser 96 in 6.5 Swedish. It is not all original but sits in an aftermarket stock. Everything else is original. So what should I know about the rifle? What are some loads you guys have had great luck with?

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Joshua
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Reged: 01/03/16
Posts: 248
Loc: north carolina, usa
Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #295451 - 18/02/17 05:21 AM

It sits in a butler Creek stock, bolt has been bent, and D/T. Any idea of the proper scope mounts?

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DarylS
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #295452 - 18/02/17 05:23 AM

Clean the bore well after you get it, Joshua. You need a one piece rod with one of the pokey-type jags fro square stick-on patches - NEVER use a bore snake - EVER. Patches go breech to muzzle, then fall off when you retract the rod.

Butches Bore shine or similar is good.

Best to remove the barreled action from the stock and check the bedding in around the recoil lug area and tang - for cracks and compression.

Some of us like to slug the bore to see what the groove diameter is, some don't care. If you want to use cast bullets, you need to know the groove diameter. If only shooting jacketed, the groove diameter is what it is - you use .264" bullets. My last 2 6.5's had .266" groove to groove diameters and they both shot 1 1/2" at 100 meters with the battle sights (milspec).

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Joshua
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Reged: 01/03/16
Posts: 248
Loc: north carolina, usa
Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: DarylS]
      #295459 - 18/02/17 06:52 AM

Thank you Daryl. Never have been a fan of the bore snakes. Always used a rod. My intention is later on to find a nice walnut stock for it. I was going to have my smith bed the action, and it will get a thorough cleaning. The original military rear sight will be removed if anyone has a use for it, just let me know and it is yours

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Joshua
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Reged: 01/03/16
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #295461 - 18/02/17 07:40 AM

I know this is more of personal opinion, but what are some good bullets for game up to large deer? The rifle has a 29" barrel and will get cut down and re crowned, but what is the optimum length?

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lonewulf
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #295465 - 18/02/17 11:03 AM

Well, the optimal barrel length for a 6.5 Swedish Mauser may well be 29". Typically, these issues were all carefully considered by ordinance boards and commissions before barrel lengths were decided upon. I no longer own a 6.5 SM but as I recall they came in several barrel lengths - maybe 29 and 23/24, something like that. Where and what you shoot probably has an much to do with your choice of barrel length as the ballistics of the cartridge. Generally speaking for typical hunting situations anything from 20-26" will do. If you intend hunting in scrub or broken forest cover a 20-22" barrel would be fine. If mountain hunting 22-24" may extract a little more velocity from the round (make it shoot slightly flatter) and make for a more steady aim (due to the increased weight up front). Of course, the rifle will now be heavier to carry for extended periods and tend to hang up on vegetation a little more. The whole thing is a compromise. Only you can really know what works best for you. Most go for something in the middle - 22/23/24" A 24" barrel on a deer rifle would be considered quite long by today's standards. Generally speaking, the deer won't know the difference.

Edited by lonewulf (18/02/17 11:08 AM)

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Joshua
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: lonewulf]
      #295466 - 18/02/17 11:30 AM

I was considering having it shortened to 25" and re crowned. Where I will be hunting will be a mix of short tight shots to a few hundred yards. I definitely understand where and what you mean lonewulf, and am trying to split the difference as best as possible between handy yet also perform as highly as possible.
Since I am moving to upstate New York in July this year, I wanted something a little different and considering this is something I have been wanting took the plunge.
Are the leades and throats on these rifles fairly long? Accuracy wise, would it be better to stick with the heavier weights, or would some lighter ones be good to try too? I have read with much interest on the members here who have used woodleigh bullets, and curious how these would perform in this round

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MMBA
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: lonewulf]
      #295467 - 18/02/17 11:33 AM

Daryl, and others, I would appreciate hearing your views on not using a boresnake.

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MMBA
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: MMBA]
      #295468 - 18/02/17 11:35 AM

Sorry no intention to hijack the thread. Should I start a post?

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lonewulf
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #295469 - 18/02/17 12:18 PM

Quote:

I was considering having it shortened to 25" and re crowned. Where I will be hunting will be a mix of short tight shots to a few hundred yards. I definitely understand where and what you mean lonewulf, and am trying to split the difference as best as possible between handy yet also perform as highly as possible.
Since I am moving to upstate New York in July this year, I wanted something a little different and considering this is something I have been wanting took the plunge.
Are the leades and throats on these rifles fairly long? Accuracy wise, would it be better to stick with the heavier weights, or would some lighter ones be good to try too? I have read with much interest on the members here who have used woodleigh bullets, and curious how these would perform in this round




Have a look at this: http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/6.5x55.html

I've found this bloke to be very knowledgeable. This should tell you much of what you need to know.

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DarylS
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: lonewulf]
      #295473 - 18/02/17 03:26 PM

My last 6.5x55 had a 29" bl. I shortened it to 22" and Schnabbled the forend tip & soldered on a ramp and blade sight. Looked pretty good, for a slightly modified/cobbled mil rifle.

For an iron sight truck rifle - it was OK, My buddy had to have it, so I sold it to him, but not before getting a B-Square or some other scope mount that replaced the rear sight.
I didn't get a scope on it before losing it, however the irons gave me 1 1/2" groups with 129Hornady @ 2,960fps, 140Hornady @ 2,820fps and 160 Hornady RN @ 2,500fps.

They all shot into a 2 1/2" to 3" group, however the individual groups for each bullet weight, were 1 1/2" or a bit smaller.

Those 1 1/2" groups are what made me want to put a scope on it, just to see how it might shoot.

The original stock was beat up like most mil. stocks, however the barreled action appeared to have been unfired, ie: NEW - but - had a .266" groove to groove diameter.

You cannot tell how they will shoot, without shooting them.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Joshua
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Reged: 01/03/16
Posts: 248
Loc: north carolina, usa
Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: DarylS]
      #295562 - 20/02/17 11:46 AM

I am hoping this one shoots as good as I hope it does. Anyone use woodleigh bullets in this round?

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DarylS
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #295569 - 20/02/17 01:30 PM

Many might - to bloody expensive here.

At the velocities the 6.5x55 produces, the normal cup and core and/or easily available premiums (Swift, Barnes, Nosler) work just fine - imho, of course.

If I lived in Aussie land, I'd probably use nothing but Woodleighs.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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VonGruff
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Reged: 08/02/09
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Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: DarylS]
      #295576 - 20/02/17 04:48 PM

I jus got a load sorted for my 6.5x57 using the 139gn Privipartisan bullet
I loaded up 10 139gn SPBT Privi bullets at the starting load of 42gn 2209 to get the scope dialed in but that only took 4 to have it sitting 1 inch high at 100 yds. You can see that as shot one in the pic below.
My ladder test loads were in .4 gn increments from 42 up to 46.4 which according to QL would give me 2812fps at 57K psi.
Normally I like to do the ladder test at 200yds but thought I would get a reasonable reading at the shorter distance and it proved to be the case. You can see that shots 1 through 7 are hitting high which means that the bullet is leaving the barrel at the top of the oscilation, shot 8 is at the bottom of the vibration swing but shots 9 through 12 are in the center where the barrel is "at rest" (so to speak). There is every possibility that there is some shooter induced windage error as this is not a target trigger but even so to have 11 of 12 shots go into 1 1/2 x 1 5/8 with a varience of 4.4gn of powder is a reasonably good result (or at east I thought so). I have loaded the remaining brass at 46.2gn which should get me right on 2800fps and that is not a bad velocity for the 139gn bullet which should deal handily with the goats and be good to go for deer up to wapiti size if the ocassion arrises.
Shots 10, 11 and 12 (with different powder charges) have gone into a 1/2 inch so confidence is reasonably high that this build has been a real sucess and taking just 12 bullets to get a load dialed in is one of the advantages of the ladder test. Normally I would do a number of groups with the loads from 10 to 12 but the consistency of the shots allows me to expect that this is an excellent node so the chosen 46.2 gn is set for this bullet.



--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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93x64mm
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: VonGruff]
      #295596 - 21/02/17 07:09 AM

I'd be more than happy with that lot Von Gruff!
Should be good on deer & billies out your way!

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DarylS
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: VonGruff]
      #295597 - 21/02/17 07:10 AM

Your rifle sure likes that bullet and powder. I am surprised to see the big drop in elevation on the 8th shot.

ADI 2209 - ie: H4350 seems a good powder for this ctg., however, few handloading books here list it.

Interesting method. Reminds me of Barnes suggestions.

Pick 3 or 4 different powders that are suitable.

Load one round of each from start load to maximum, 1/2 gr. or so between loads.

Fire them into groups - one powder per group. Pick the powder that gives the smallest group, then work with that powder as it is the most suitable for your rifle over a variety of speeds that temperature swings used to give us, easily 150fps load to high.

The newer temperature stabilized powders somewhat reduce the variety were were so plagued with in years gone by.

Nice to find a good shooting load in the higher end of the load developement.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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VonGruff
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: DarylS]
      #295661 - 22/02/17 02:43 PM

Going off for a couple of days to the high country so hope to give a test on meat

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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Joshua
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Reged: 01/03/16
Posts: 248
Loc: north carolina, usa
Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: VonGruff]
      #295888 - 26/02/17 11:57 AM

Let us know how it does vongruff, and thanks for the write up. Got my swede today and love it. Has anyone ever used a rigby style cocking piece peep sight on a 96? There is a company in SC that makes them. Price is 185.00 plus shipping but looks very nice. Anyone have an extra set of scope mounts for a 96 they are willing to part with?

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VonGruff
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #295896 - 26/02/17 03:56 PM

I posted on the hunt here Joshua

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....SID=#Post295895

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12

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Joshua
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: VonGruff]
      #295921 - 27/02/17 12:14 PM

Very good read vongruff thank you. Definitely some beautiful country you have there. I just got home a bit ago with my swede and am anxiously waiting to start work on it

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Joshua
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #297160 - 16/03/17 01:48 PM

Well, I dropped my rifle off at my local gunsmith 2 days ago for the following: cut the barrel back to 22 1/2", remove both front and rear military sights, glass bed in the synthetic stock it is in, re-crown Barrel, and bend the bolt to clear a scope

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DarylS
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #297162 - 16/03/17 01:54 PM

Hope you like the results. What was the bore like? What did it measure groove to groove?

Was it a model 96 or 38, 29" or 24.3", straight bolt or bent bolt?

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Joshua
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: DarylS]
      #297165 - 16/03/17 02:06 PM

The bore appears to be in fairly good shape, so really hoping it shoots as good. It is a model 96, but the length of the barrel right now sits at a little over 23.5". I was originally going to have him just take an inch off and remove the front sight, but now going to take it down to the above mentioned length which will be beyond the sight anyway. I have yet to measure the groove diameter but will do that when it is finished.
Eventually it will wear a wood stock, but til then the stock it is in will have to do. I got lucky for the most part, as the only major issue was the crown, but since I was going to have it shortened anyway it worked out perfectly

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Joshua
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #297168 - 16/03/17 02:09 PM

The bolt is bent, but not enough to clear a scope. There is a place in SC that does rigby style peep sights, and would really like to try it out. Question is would it look correct on a m96? Price is 185.00 but want to hear some opinions first

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DarylS
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Re: My first Mauser m96 [Re: Joshua]
      #297169 - 16/03/17 02:16 PM

The model 96's were 29" bl. as far as I know. The model 38's incorrectly BATCH-called model 96's due to identical actions, had 23.4" bls. but a bent bolt, rather than the straight bolt of the early models. Again- this is as I understand the differences over the years. This might be BS- but until this is pointed out, so be it.
The earlier, 29" bl.s more often had .264" groove diameters.
Every Model 38 with 23.4" bl. I have measured, was .266".

This does not mean they will not shoot. Quite the contrary - mine consistently put all bullets weights from 100gr. to 160gr. into 1 1/2", 5-shot groups at 100 meters using the battle sights.

If a composite group were drawn up of all bullet weights, 100, 120, 139, 140 and 160 were measured, they would be inside 3" and closer to 2 1/2" for all 25 shots. Mind you, they were shot on different days, but all at the 100 meter range, over the course of a month, or so.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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