Gustaf Swedish Mauser '96

[mrbigtexan]

i have one that has been sporterized and rebarreled into a 308 and was wondering how to convert it to cock on open. thankyou in advance for your info.

[Troyboy]

If it was mine i would let it ride. Makes no real difference when it cocks just that it does. JMO of course



                                                                    Troy

[cbxboy]

Hey Tex...told you I was more of a Milsurp guy!  I am far from a Mauser expert here but I do have 2 Swede 96's and I am totally unaware you can covert to cock on open!

If this be the case then I have a number of Mauser actions which would be converted.  Again I am no expert but why is it all the 2 lug mausers are cock on close and the 3 lugs are on open??  Seems to me we'd need to add a third lug??
 
I'd just enjoy the hell out of your swede in .308.  The 6.5 and .308 are both awesome calibers.

Now my only converts in .308 are the FR8...of course original...and a K11 Swiss rebarrled to .308.  Love em both but actually like the FR8 better as it is just SO cool.

[Larry Gibson]

Get a Dayton-Traister cock on opening kit for a SR Mauser, Brownell’s has them.  The conversion can be done with Dremel tool and appropriate grinding stones, cut off wheels and polishing wheels. Use a M70 Winchester bolt as a pattern.  A cocking notch must be shaped in the rear of the M96 bolt body. It is not hard to do but go slow, pay attention to what you are doing and refer/compare with the m70 bolt often.  Make sure there is enough clearance at the front of the cocking notch so the cocking cam on the cocking piece is not in contact when the striker is in the forward/fired position.  Make sure you mate the cocking piece cam surface to the surface of the cocking notch.  Lube thoroughly with gun grease when finished.  If done correctly the M96 will have a cock on opening and a lock time similar to the M70.  If you are using the military trigger then a slot must be cut for the safety to slightly pull the striker back when engaged.  If a commercial trigger with a trigger safety is used then the safety notch won’t have to be cut. Also don’t for get the small notch the end of the cocking piece fits into when the bolt is cocked.  Just make it like the M70 and you’ll be good.

You’ll probably get a couple response admonishing you of this conversion and also the fact that you’ve a SR Mauser rebarreled to .308.  Well you’re already there with the rebarrel so you’ve got what you’ve got. The cock on opening is quite safe and very worth while if done correctly. I currently have 3 such rifles in my collection and have done many more cock on opening conversions. All have worked fine and are still in service without a single problem.

 A couple questions if you don’t mind;
Is your rifle one of the Kimber conversions?
What .308/7.62 ammo have you fired in it and approximately how many rounds?

Larry Gibson

[mrbigtexan]

thank you, i will check into that for sure. my mauser wasn't a kimber conversion, it was already in a really nice walnut stock but still had the original barrel. i got it from a friend and he put a douglas stainless barrel , a bold trigger, drilled and tapped it for scope mount. he also put the sporter shroud and forged the handle down. i have put around 100 rounds through it with first winchester 150 gr. sp then went to federal 150 gr. sp. i put a nikon buckmaster 3x9 scope on it and i really enjoy shooting it. it is a real good shooter.

[mrbigtexan]

also, both brands of ammo shot very well out of it. 80 rounds winchester, 20 federal

[Larry Gibson]

Thanks for the answers.  A cock on opening conversion would seem to complete and compliment a very nice sportizing job. 

FYI; I have pressure tested (Oehler M43 PBL) both Federal PowerShok and Winchester 150 gr PP factory loads in 3 different .308s with 10, 12 and 14" twist barrels.  Both types of factory ammunition averaged 55,000 psi(M43) in the 10" twist which gave the highest pressures. The 12 and 14" twist barrels had MAPs (maximum Average Pressure) in the 52,000 psi(M43) range. The 10" twist barrel had less than 100 rounds through it when this ammo was tested. The other two barrels had considerably more. The CIP (european equivelent of SAAMI) lists a MAP of 55,000 psi for the 6.5x55 Swede cartridge.  Thus with those loads using .308 factory it would appear you are within pressure limits.

Larry Gibson