The Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55mm is quite likely the very best miltary service rifle from the 20th century. Few can argue with the excellent workmanship, the excellent ballistics of the 6.5x55mm typically 140 grain round. The Swedish engineers got everything right about this rifle in the 1890's. This rifle can shoot excellent tight shot groups with flat trajectories at 500 meters. Some skilled shooters can shoot out to 600 meters with the 6.5x55mm cartridge.The rifle has virtually no recoil of any consequence. These qualities make this Swedish Mauser an excellent infantry rifle for training new recruits with little or no experience with shooting. Once a soldier gets a good zero at 100 meters, he can rapidly become a good consistent marksman at longer ranges. The cock on close action also is almost as fast to shoot for a trained soldier as a semiautomatic firearm. The point is a trained soldier can put a whole lot of bullets accurately down range with this 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser. So the question to ask ourselves is why on earth didn't the United States adopt the Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55mm as the U.S. military service rifle for all military services? The Army, Army Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard all used plenty of bolt action rifles in both World Wars and into Korea. The .30-40 Kragg-Jorgenson rifle , the 1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield in .30-06 were heavy rifles with lots of recoil. American rifles from this era are almost like 2"x6" planks. The 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser has all of these American rifles beat. Imagine a Garand rifle in 6.5x55mm? The recoil would have been way less but bullet performance equivalent for combat. As Americans, we are always told we are the best until you start looking at what everyone else does in places like Sweden. The Swedes as a society have pushed since the days of Gustavus Adolphus efficient business management, engineering, science, and public education to the maximum even for girls and women. You see this societal value result in this high quality rifle better than everyone else's.
Swedish Mauser used 156 grain bullets in wartime, not 140. The Americans got plenty of things right, Model 1897, Browning M1918, M2 Browning, and the Colt M1911 are guns that were used for far longer than their expiration date. I would trust them when it comes to the Garand, Europe and the US had two very different ideas for heavy hitting cartridges. You may not be aware, 6.5x55mm cartridges made in the US have their cases made from a .30-06 die, they hold more similarities between each other than you seem to think, only difference is that one has a bigger bullet stuck on the end.
To be fair Us did adopt the 1903 aka mauser clone after getting a lot of losses from the Philippines with their mausers. Now why did the us use the krag instead of mauser is the 1 year difference, if the trial had taken in 1893 or 1894, krag would have lost to the mauser. The krag rifle is very fine tho having been matured during the trial and the magazine cutoff was from an earlier era which us wanted. It was considerably easier to manufacture since it had a dropper magazine on the side that require less parts and anyone can figure to reload it in a sec, it also has one of the world smoothest bolt. But with all its upside nothing beat the engineering of a newer product, at the time krag was like a iphone 1 while mauser 93 was a iphone 6. Sure they can do most of the thing they are intended for but the newer is always faster and better right? Also a funny thing is most norwegian biathon use krag til the 1990s
I got a mauser 96 from 1943 in my safe that I owned for 44 years now. I't rebuilt for sniper purpose with an optic sight. With it's long barrel, I can tell You I can shoot the wings of a fly at 400 yards. In my early days I use to compete with it, and I won a lot of prises. This rifle is a fantastic piece of art. If You came across one... buy it! You will never regret it. /Pelle - Sweden
Yes, indeed-- my 1918 Swedish M-96 has withstood the test of time. Exceptionally accurate and dependable. The last time I took it out for a spin at the 100 yard range I shot three times onto a "man target" and could cover the group with a quarter.
These rifles were never made during wartime so they did not need to ever cut corners during manufacturing. The 6.55 cartridge is also superior beyond 600 meters compared to the .3006: .303 and 7.92 mm.
I have 6.5 Swede. Well, had... I have already passed it on to my Son. An absolute honey of a shooter. The action is THE SMOOTHEST action I have ever felt. I'm 64, & have been shooting the Sweed since grade school, it's put a lot of meat in the freezer.
At less than 400yds, the 6.5x55 Sweed compares well to any of the 6.5's that followed. The 6.5 Sweed remains the gold standard for the many in the 6.5 family. The Swedish 1896 Mauser is one of the best takes on the general Mauser design that's ever been produced.
I love the M96. My Dad had an FFL. We used to sell them. He bought a couple dozen of them. Great shooters. None of ours were "shot out." All had excellent bores and were incredibly accurate. I kept a Carbine to use as my Deer Rifle. I prefer Iron Sights so I only put glass on my Dad's rifle. Can you say "600 yard tack driver?"
Read an article, Lubendorf in Germany started production of these great rifles but the Swede's weren't happy with the steel and tolerances so they started making them to their specifications. Apparently they are the ( of were) only production rifles where you can swap bolts without head spacing.
Yes. I saw a swedish mauser rifleman outshoot two guys ( 2 vs 1) with a scoped 270 @ 100 yards Swede had iron sights no scope He.made those 2 270 lovers shamed!
Excellent, I have covered the Mauser in my rifle book, and I love the Husqvarna. Although I disagree that the Swedish is the most sought after, due to its much weaker design.
If the Swedish Mausers were made with really good steel, as is started in this video, and I have one made in 1903, why would some sources say that higher-pressure loads shouldn't be fired in them? The 30-03/06 was made in the same era, and handles the high pressure of the 30-06 Sprg. quite well. I called Norma a few years ago, when I bought this pristine-condition rifle. I have a hundred rounds of one of their factory offerings. Listed velocity (from a 29" bbl, apparently like what I have) on the box is 2953 fps with a 130gr spitzer bullet. The man I spoke to said that the rifle would be fine, shooting this load. I want to be sure before I pull the trigger. Any info?
Yes, there is confusion with the Norwegian krag-jorgensen rifle in the same chambering... Only 1 lug... The Swedish mausers can handle the full CIP spec of 55,110 psi. Also, rifles sold to the sporting market in CIP member countries had to be CIP proof tested, with 2 rounds at 25% overpressure, and the Swedish Mausers passed these tests without concern. SAAMI spec is less, at 51,000 psi.
I own one of each, a grade 1A husqvarna M96 and a Gustav M94 that was importer by interarms with a Jana scope on it. A very nice accurate rifle. And the original 6.5, not the bullshit knock off creedmoor
Sweden never went off to war so yeah that is why they are "like new." I don't like the idea of a cock on closing Mauser action. I would however like to get a world war one Mauser gewehr 98 and a ww2 example early war Mauser karabiner 98 Kurz.
The Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55mm is quite likely the very best miltary service rifle from the 20th century. Few can argue with the excellent workmanship, the excellent ballistics of the 6.5x55mm typically 140 grain round. The Swedish engineers got everything right about this rifle in the 1890's. This rifle can shoot excellent tight shot groups with flat trajectories at 500 meters. Some skilled shooters can shoot out to 600 meters with the 6.5x55mm cartridge.The rifle has virtually no recoil of any consequence. These qualities make this Swedish Mauser an excellent infantry rifle for training new recruits with little or no experience with shooting. Once a soldier gets a good zero at 100 meters, he can rapidly become a good consistent marksman at longer ranges. The cock on close action also is almost as fast to shoot for a trained soldier as a semiautomatic firearm. The point is a trained soldier can put a whole lot of bullets accurately down range with this 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser.
So the question to ask ourselves is why on earth didn't the United States adopt the Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55mm as the U.S. military service rifle for all military services? The Army, Army Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard all used plenty of bolt action rifles in both World Wars and into Korea. The .30-40 Kragg-Jorgenson rifle , the 1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield in .30-06 were heavy rifles with lots of recoil. American rifles from this era are almost like 2"x6" planks. The 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser has all of these American rifles beat. Imagine a Garand rifle in 6.5x55mm? The recoil would have been way less but bullet performance equivalent for combat. As Americans, we are always told we are the best until you start looking at what everyone else does in places like Sweden. The Swedes as a society have pushed since the days of Gustavus Adolphus efficient business management, engineering, science, and public education to the maximum even for girls and women. You see this societal value result in this high quality rifle better than everyone else's.
Swedish Mauser used 156 grain bullets in wartime, not 140.
The Americans got plenty of things right, Model 1897, Browning M1918, M2 Browning, and the Colt M1911 are guns that were used for far longer than their expiration date. I would trust them when it comes to the Garand, Europe and the US had two very different ideas for heavy hitting cartridges.
You may not be aware, 6.5x55mm cartridges made in the US have their cases made from a .30-06 die, they hold more similarities between each other than you seem to think, only difference is that one has a bigger bullet stuck on the end.
To be fair Us did adopt the 1903 aka mauser clone after getting a lot of losses from the Philippines with their mausers. Now why did the us use the krag instead of mauser is the 1 year difference, if the trial had taken in 1893 or 1894, krag would have lost to the mauser.
The krag rifle is very fine tho having been matured during the trial and the magazine cutoff was from an earlier era which us wanted. It was considerably easier to manufacture since it had a dropper magazine on the side that require less parts and anyone can figure to reload it in a sec, it also has one of the world smoothest bolt.
But with all its upside nothing beat the engineering of a newer product, at the time krag was like a iphone 1 while mauser 93 was a iphone 6. Sure they can do most of the thing they are intended for but the newer is always faster and better right? Also a funny thing is most norwegian biathon use krag til the 1990s
I would choose the M1 Garand only on it's capacity, and semi auto advantage. But I know what you're saying. Swedes are outstanding.
I got a mauser 96 from 1943 in my safe that I owned for 44 years now. I't rebuilt for sniper purpose with an optic sight. With it's long barrel, I can tell You I can shoot the wings of a fly at 400 yards. In my early days I use to compete with it, and I won a lot of prises. This rifle is a fantastic piece of art. If You came across one... buy it! You will never regret it. /Pelle - Sweden
I learned how to shoot with a m/96 many years ago!
The Gun was taller than me at the time.
Beatiful Gun! ❤️
I paid $29 CAN. back in 1990 for a Carl G. 6.5 X 55 M96 straight bolt handle long barrel.
Yes, indeed-- my 1918 Swedish M-96 has withstood the test of time. Exceptionally accurate and dependable. The last time I took it out for a spin at the 100 yard range I shot three times onto a "man target" and could cover the group with a quarter.
I have an m-38 1942 vintage. Beautiful gun. Great shooter.
These rifles were never made during wartime so they did not need to ever cut corners during manufacturing. The 6.55 cartridge is also superior beyond 600 meters compared to the .3006: .303 and 7.92 mm.
I have 6.5 Swede. Well, had... I have already passed it on to my Son. An absolute honey of a shooter. The action is THE SMOOTHEST action I have ever felt. I'm 64, & have been shooting the Sweed since grade school, it's put a lot of meat in the freezer.
At less than 400yds, the 6.5x55 Sweed compares well to any of the 6.5's that followed. The 6.5 Sweed remains the gold standard for the many in the 6.5 family. The Swedish 1896 Mauser is one of the best takes on the general Mauser design that's ever been produced.
Husqvarna 1941. Truely one of the finest rifles I own and have ever shot. It's my go to target gun.
My 1942 manufacture, in mint condition, all matching serial numbers is one of my prized possessions. Shoots amazingly.
I love the M96. My Dad had an FFL. We used to sell them. He bought a couple dozen of them. Great shooters. None of ours were "shot out." All had excellent bores and were incredibly accurate. I kept a Carbine to use as my Deer Rifle. I prefer Iron Sights so I only put glass on my Dad's rifle. Can you say "600 yard tack driver?"
My Swedish Mauser is a "select" version with a pristine barrel capable of groups inside a quarter at 100 yards. Breathtaking accuracy.
6.5 Swede is an underrated cartridge
Mine is dated 1899 and made in obendorf by Mauser A thing of beauty 🥇🏆
I have a m96 (from 1906 still shoots like new) Swedish Mauser my favorite gun.
I love both my M38's. They really are exceptional guns.
I'm pleased to say I've owned a Carl Gustaf M96 Mauser rifle for over 20 years. As with most of them it's chambered in the 6.5 X 55 mm cartridge.
And they are still oone of the most used rifels for hunting in Sweden.
You failed to mention the CG-63 . It was their target rifle and very accurate .
Have a look at the Swedish BARs too - real nice ones.
Lovely gun and a brilliant calibre
Mark Keefe showed me how to properly work a bolt at Ft Pickett many years ago. Never forgot that lesson and I'm a faster more accurate shooter for it.
😉👍I JUST LOVE MY SWEDISH MAUSER RIFFELS 👍🇩🇰
excellent series! would love to see a French berthier carbine on there lol not extremely common but interesting nonetheless
Mine is a hundred and twenty years old. And perfect.
Read an article, Lubendorf in Germany started production of these great rifles but the Swede's weren't happy with the steel and tolerances so they started making them to their specifications. Apparently they are the ( of were) only production rifles where you can swap bolts without head spacing.
Actually Mauser was swamped with orders from several other nations, and could not meet the timeline the Swedes wanted.
Yes. I saw a swedish mauser rifleman outshoot two guys ( 2 vs 1) with a scoped 270 @ 100 yards
Swede had iron sights no scope
He.made those 2 270 lovers shamed!
Excellent, I have covered the Mauser in my rifle book, and I love the Husqvarna. Although I disagree that the Swedish is the most sought after, due to its much weaker design.
Not that much weaker. Husqvarna converted several m/38 receivers to 7.92x57mm and 9.3X57mm.
Love the pronounciation of Huskvarna, quite a bit off but fun. :)
Have a 1912. Beautiful rifle.
They hunt moose in Scandinavia using the 6.5 x 55.Mauser
Don't have one of these but I do have an m/41 B though, great rifle.
If the Swedish Mausers were made with really good steel, as is started in this video, and I have one made in 1903, why would some sources say that higher-pressure loads shouldn't be fired in them? The 30-03/06 was made in the same era, and handles the high pressure of the 30-06 Sprg. quite well. I called Norma a few years ago, when I bought this pristine-condition rifle. I have a hundred rounds of one of their factory offerings. Listed velocity (from a 29" bbl, apparently like what I have) on the box is 2953 fps with a 130gr spitzer bullet. The man I spoke to said that the rifle would be fine, shooting this load. I want to be sure before I pull the trigger. Any info?
Yes, there is confusion with the Norwegian krag-jorgensen rifle in the same chambering... Only 1 lug...
The Swedish mausers can handle the full CIP spec of 55,110 psi. Also, rifles sold to the sporting market in CIP member countries had to be CIP proof tested, with 2 rounds at 25% overpressure, and the Swedish Mausers passed these tests without concern.
SAAMI spec is less, at 51,000 psi.
Shoot the damn thing!
I own one of each, a grade 1A husqvarna M96 and a Gustav M94 that was importer by interarms with a Jana scope on it. A very nice accurate rifle. And the original 6.5, not the bullshit knock off creedmoor
It's seems someone forgot to mention the German made rifles manufactured by Mauser Obendorf.
Made by Heskevaerna...😀. ( Husqvarna gevärsfaktori )
That pronunciation is something else.
i have one
If you own a swedevthan you own a perfect firearm
Its not husk a varna
No a in the middle of it
It's husqvarna not husqavarna there is no a after the ... I have never heard an American pronunc it right...
Sweden never went off to war so yeah that is why they are "like new." I don't like the idea of a cock on closing Mauser action. I would however like to get a world war one Mauser gewehr 98 and a ww2 example early war Mauser karabiner 98 Kurz.