Sporterizing a Swede Mauser 96, need info?

[Gypsy Davy]

Thinking about sporterizing my Swede 96 Mauser and wondering where I can get the parts? Also, how difficult is it to do? One more thing, before I do this, is sporterizing recomended for this rifle or is it better to keep it as is?

[DonT]

Gypsy Davy,

If the gun is in reasonably decent condition and has all or most numbers matching please please don't sporterize it!!!!!!!!!

These are fine old weapons and good ones are getting harder and harder to find.  Also prices on unaltered guns is steadly climbing.  Drill holes for a scope mount or do any odther modifications and its value to a collector drops substantially.

You can mount a scope on these guns using a LER (long eye releif) or lower powered (4X or less) pistol scope and B-Square mount.  These mounts go on in place of the rear sight and you do not need to alter the rifle.  Turns it into something similar to the Scout Rifles.  This method allows you to use a scope without any modification to the rifle.

If you just "have" to sporterize it then do me a favor and drop me a note as I may be interested in the Stock, buttplate, barrel bands and cleaning rod.

These are fine shooting rifles, in my opionion the nicest of the mauser line.  I currently have a military configuration set up similar to what I outlined above (but made my own mount), a M96 Target model (with soderin sights) and a CG63 Target Rifle with soderin sites..

If you ever decide to sell it, rather than modify it let me know as I am always lookin for nice Swedes if they are all matching and can be had reasonably....

Take care..
DonT

[Mikey]

Gypsy Davy:  I'll go with DonT.  If you have something of a collector, leave it as it is and sporterize another Swede, like the M38.  

There are scope mounts for these rifles now that replace the rear sight - they are no-gunsmithing mounts that allows you to mount a long eye relief scope.  I offer this suggestion so you don't have to have the bolt cut and welded to avoid hitting the scope when working the action.  HTH.  Mikey.

[savageT]

Thanks Guys for stepping in and telling it like it is!  The Swedes are way too good to be sporterized. Just hate to see another butchered up Swede that ends up on an auction site.  You might want to consider removing the original stock carefully and cleaning it.  Then replacing it with a plastic sporter and as Mikey and Don T said replace the rear mounted site with a  long eye-relief scope/mount or peep sight so that you can return the gun to its original condition some day.
Sorry, but around here we don't talk too much about sporterizing our milsurps.  Cleaning and restoring, now that's different.  Good Luck.


Jim

[S.S.]

Sporterizing a Swede !
Blasphemy,
Heracy,
Say it Ain't So!

Now on a serious note,
I am totally against customizing a military firearm
with any modifications that cannot be un-done.
The extent of my modifications is limited to stock
replacement with a synthetic stock to reduce weight.
I had a fella' try to sell me a sporterized Enfield
a couple of years ago at a gun show in Carrollton Ga,
Nice 2 piece Walnut stock, tapered barrel, jeweled bolt.
My reply was " No thanks, I'm lookin for one that
hasn't been ruined" The man was Uterly Speechless!
If I want a sporter, I'll buy a sporter. Not ruin a piece of history
to create one.

[1911crazy]

I won't take a perfect surplus military gun(orginal) and sporterize it.  But in the past I purchased three guns to build sporters two are Chilean 7MM  barreled recievers purchased from Samco Global Arms.  And another K98 German mauser $20 nickel plated reciever that was trashed shot out barrel which I completely restored replacement used 8MM barrel $37(numrich gun parts) and scoped with the military look. And it looks awesome.   One of the Chilean Mausers $89 so far is in a Swede M96 stock $52 (Numrich gun parts)which it fits perfectly( just the handguard needs fitting) all I have left is to mount the scope.  On both mausers I used the see-thru scope mounts  from Samco they are high enough to use the orginal straight bolt all you have to do is bend it.  The only thing I ran into using these scope mounts is they come for a large ring mauser the only difference is you need a small ring mauser front base to use it on a small ring.     BigBill

Like I said before I won't touch a perfect military surplus gun. I would rather build one from parts then sporterize it.  Now you ask why??
        8MM                                            
1 8MM mauser   $20                
1 8MM used barrel $37+ship    
1 scope mounts    $16 +ship        
1 handguard       $14                  
1 scope  $150list/ sale $59          
mount scope free                        
change barrel free                        
bent bolt free          
    roughly around    $146?              

I have two guns that are just as good as anything new for $500 to $700 that you could buy?  All the free work I did myself.  There are swede barreled recievers at Samco Global Arms too I just bought a M38 Obendorf if you want to go this route and build one they also have sporter stocks and the scope mounts too.  The swede barreled reciever will cost you more than the chilean mauser.   The cracked stock M38 Carl Gustaf's is the way to go if your  going to use a orginal replacement stock you'll have all the hardware/disc too.  I hope i helped you and some of the others out   too.                                                   BigBill

I really like the 7mm mauser its less kick almost the same as the swede and power like the '06, accurate and good for anything from varmits to deer/bear too.   I'm sure its overlooked by many shooters I have to thank S.Sumner again for turning me on to my first 7mm!!!!!   (which is all orginal still hiding in the safe)

[1911crazy]

Sorry my 7MM didn't post;     chilean 7mm barreled reciever $89+ship
                                           swede stock w/hardware          $52w/ship
                                           scope                                      $80
                                           scope mounts                          $16+ship
                                           small ring rear base                  $6
                                           mount scope free                        0
                                                                     around $243??

                                                                              BigBill

I have to post pics of these they look awesome with military furniture!!

[1911crazy]

An orginal swede is worth too much to touch I seen a '94 going for 1k??
And before samco sells out of them the price is going up while we talk.                                                                      BigBill

[1911crazy]

I have another "sporter" story for you years ago I purchased a brand new M44 russian Izmash 1944 unissued in wrap to sporterize  for a tree stand gun because of its short barrel its perfect and I put it in the safe and forgot all about it for many years.  Just recently I took it out and looked at it.  I thought it was a chinese M53 it turned out to be a russian Ishmash M44 1944 with a laminated stock.   So I scraped that idea of sporterizing that one. So in my travels I found another mosin that I thought was an M44 but it turned out to be a M59 that was half sporterized it had a welded a turned down bolt and modern front site blade both professionally done but it still had a cut down mosin stock.  So I purchased a mosin sporter stock from Sportsmansguide.com and now the gun looks awesome and its the perfect tree stand gun for my kid to use.                BigBill

[ADK]

There were a ton of  96's  and 38's on the market a couple years ago.  Many with non matching serial numbers.  Around here a Swed goes for around 130
in good shape to  85 in fair shape.  The 94/95's are collectable without a doubt.  

To sporterize one on the cheap, one just lops off the forarm, turns the bolt,
that costs about 20 dollars and polishes up the trigger and change the trigger spring to something lighter or heat up the existing trigger spring a tad to soften it up. Be warned, you can distroy the spring with too much heat..
One needs to drill and tap the reciever for a scope.  Some are very hard so heating with a pencil torch and using carbide bit is a must.

Most 6.5 Sweds are excellent shooters and the recoil is mild.

[Larry Gibson]

ADK

"change the trigger spring to something lighter or heat up the existing trigger spring a tad to soften it up."

Trigger spring??? What trigger spring???

Sure you don't have Mausers confused with the MN?

"One needs to drill and tap the reciever for a scope.  Some are very hard so heating with a pencil torch and using carbide bit is a must."

Don't you have the Mauser confused with the '03???  I have D&T'd many many of the Mausers and never had to torch one or use a carbide drill.

Larry Gibson

[crow_feather]

Gypsy,

Call Brownell's, ask to speak to a representative and tell them what you want to do.  They have the stocks, triggers, safetys, scope mounts, and other items needed to sporterize your rifle.  There is also graf and Son, Midway, and others but Brownells has most of what you need.

The reason 96's are going up in price is that they are becoming harder to find as many are being put in the back of the safe never to see daylight again.  If you want to use it - use it, if you want to take it out every six months and look at it - save it.  A pistol scope on a 29 inch barrelled rifle is not for deer hunting.  

I made a 96 into a fantastic sporter with a manlicher stock.  I lost it the day that my wife tried it and declared it forever hers.  (Don't let your wife shoot it)

C F

[Larry Gibson]

Excellent advice from crow-feather, particularly the part about not letting your wife shoot it.  I sporterized a M36 pillar bedding it into a fibrerglass sporter stock, forged the bolt handle, converting to cock on open and modifyed a Burris one piece base to fit the rear sight base.  Mounted a 2X Leupold Scout scope on it (low and in correct position) and it does make a very nice deer rifle, shot a nice little mulie last year with it.  Actually it makes for a very nice rifle for up through elk.

I guess because I come from the era of "sporterization" (somewhat different from bubbaization) I find nothing wrong with what Gypsy wants to do.  I have no arguement with those who wish to keep their rifles in original military condition.  I also have no problem with those who want to sporterize a mismatched military rifle. Whether such rifles have "historical" or "collector" value is open for debate.  However, most of that debate is merely opinion.  

Yes it is cheaper in the long run to buy a factory rifle if you can't do any of the work yourself.  Depending on how much "sporterizing" you want done you can work at it a little at a time with the military rifle.  With the commercial rifle you get what you bought and if you want it changed that will cost you more anyway.  At least with sporterizing a military rifle you can make some changes and if you don't like them you can change them again without to much heartache or cash.  

I'm not talking about a 'custom" rifle here but if you have good work done on it sporterizing a military rifle a little at a time, experimenting with it in between changes to see what fits and works best for you, you can end up with a  rifle that is "made" for you the way you want it.  When you buy a commercial rifle you get a rifle built the way someone else thinks you want it.   I have quite a few commercial rifles and ones I have built up myself and I always use and appreciate the latter more.

For those who might want to flame me, be advised I still have military rifles in original condition that are matched or original condition.  Whether or not they are "collectors" pieces is anyones guess but I leave them that way because I enjoy them that way also.

Larry Gibson

[Dan Chamberlain]

I took a beautiful Swede and had the barrel set back and turned, trigger guard thinned, barrel crowned, bolt handle redone with a nice classic "butter-knife" style, double set triggers, new stock, bolt polished and jeweled, scoped and gave it to my best friend for a gift!  This was a beautiful rifle!  It shoots like never before!  

Then of course, the lovely 1909 Argentine I've had customized into a .35 Whelen....

There's something to be said about an old military relic that's been turned into a thing of beauty!  

Dan C

[Tbaus]

ADK, what part of the country do you live in? Around here, I don't ever see any of them for less than about $175.  I would like to find some for sub $100, or right at $100 myself. I too come from the age of quality sportization. I would not touch a matched , pristine example, but would have no qualms  in owning a quality sporterized rescue of a lesser example. Good shootin'...

[R. Tillery]

About 12-13 years ago, I took a mismatched Husqvarna M38 and had it sporterized.

I had the bolt handle bent, receiver D/T'd, and the barrel cut to 20-inches and turned down to Winchester M70 Featherweight contour, trigger guard reshaped, Dayton Traister speed-lock kit/trigger installed, etc. I then had the whole thing beadblasted and a matte finish applied. I stuck it in a Ramline synthetic stock and topped it with a Redfiedl 6X Tracker. It was a TACKDRIVER! Note: I said 'was'. During a moment of temporary insanity, I traded it.....

[Lee D.]

I got mine from a friend who said if I didn't give it a home he was going to thow it out.  It started as a cavalry carbine.  I mounted a scope, had the barrel cut to 17", put it on a $59 ramline stock, mounted a really good recoil pad (I know not neccessary), and put in a Timney trigger (really neccessary).  It is not a tack driver but it kills things and wins me turkeys on the "running deer". It has a 4 digit serial number starting with a 1.