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Thread: The Husqvarna Model 46 Project

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    The Husqvarna Model 46 Project

    My 1943 Husky 46 in 9.3x57mm is finally on the way!

    Overall, it's in pretty good condition from what I can see. The bluing looks good (80%), the bore was listed as good with some light frosting, and it comes with a side mounted scope base. I originally just wanted iron sights, but the option for a scope is a nice option to have, and I think I could pull off having a receiver mounted peep sight and the scope on at the same time if I wanted to. They shouldn't interfere with each other.

    Now, this gun does have some minor issues. Mainly the stock. It's got three cracks in it. Two on the toe, one behind the tang. They're short and tight, so I don't think they would cause problems, but might as well fix them just to be safe. The wood itself looks to be in good condition otherwise. It doesn't look like it's been beaten up much if at all. The figure on the wood is very nice and has a ton of potential. I'm going to bring some life back into this gun before it's all said and done. I'm going to do everything I can to make this gun keep it's vintage looks though.

    Here's what's on the agenda.

    Mount a scope (I have an El Paso made Weaver K4 on the way.
    Either make a peep sight, or buy a Redfield 70 or 80 receiver mounted peep sight and have the receiver drilled and tapped for it.
    Repair cracks using glass bedding epoxy
    Refinish the stock with a classic oil/varnish finish. I'm thinking either satin or semi gloss.
    Touch up bluing if necessary
    Mount Swedish Mauser sling
    Possibly glass bed the receiver and free float the barrel. Invisible improvements.

    What do you guys think?

    ______________________________________________
    Aaron

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Very nice classic rifle, butt may be low for scope use.

  3. #3
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    Mine was set up for scope but needs a rather high rear bell to clear the handle. I got away with using an old (my father's scope on his 336) bear cub (Redfield, I think? - mid 50's) that is a 4 power scope. All my other scopes were too big or the rings are too low. I am using a medium set of rings. If I keep the original stock on it I'll leave it like this. I might have a stock made with a higher comb and I can switch to higher rings.
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  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    The mount is on the side of the receiver, so the scope is going to be offset to the left. Odd arrangement but I can see why they did it. A LOT of huskys I looked at were drilled for a side mount. The ones drilled for a traditional top mount usually had stupidly high rings.

    The scope I'm using is pretty petite, so that helps too (El Paso Weaver K4). The rings I have are mediums I think. I'll have to see how everything fits together.

    At $30 shipped, I think I stole this thing.

    ______________________________________________
    Aaron

  5. #5
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    That combo will be classic. Perfect for our part of the country. Post it up when it's lined out, please.

  6. #6
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    Great rifle, with an appropriate scope for it. I would expect that to be a very nice hunting rig indeed.
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  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    You should probably glass bed the recoil lug to prevent any further cracking at the tang. Tang cracks seem to be common on these rifles.

    You may have a hard time using the existing side mount. You will probably have to look long and hard to find an original set of rings. It may be possible to alter the base somehow to take a common set of rings but I have never seen it done. Even if you don't scope it, I think the side mount base looks better than holes.

    The stock does look nice and should finish up really nice.

    Congrats on your buy!!

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    Don't be surprised if when you pull the barreled action from the stock there is a lot of wood hogged out. I bedded mine and had to do it in two stages just to get everything filled. It wasn't a problem, just not what I expected. I didn't bother free floating the barrel and evidently it wasn't needed but, as you well know, that is an individual rifle thing. If I believed it necessary I wouldn't have hesitated to do so. Mine cleaned up really nice so I left the wood and bluing alone. It's personal opinion but I'd go with a satin finish if I were ever to re-finish mine....which is highly unlikely. I kinda like the "character" marks and am one of those weird sticklers for originality. One thing is certain, no mods you make are going to hurt the value. It isn't as if they're rare, high end collector's. My bore is "bright & shiny" so I got lucky there as well. The one I bought is unmolested so scope mounting was never an issue or consideration. Sometimes a fella does get lucky. A receiver mounted aperture sight would have been a real plus for me. That K-4 will look just right on that rifle.

    Beyond that, I think, and surely hope, you're really going to enjoy working with that cartridge. I always enjoy working with any less than common cartridge and the 9.3 X 57 has become one of those that always brings a smile to my face. It's one of those that it's actual killing ability is way beyond its paper ballistics.
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  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Was thinking about just bedding the recoil lug, but if the wood is going to be hogged out, I might as well bed the whole receiver and the first inch of the barrel. Yeah, those cracks were on pretty much every rifle I looked at.

    One the scope mount, would I not be able to just use weaver rings? It looks like a weaver style mount.

    The scope came in, and I am amazed how clear it is, especially for it's age. It's not as clear as the Vortex Crossfire I bought a few months back, but it's not far off. For a $30 scope, that's amazing.
    ______________________________________________
    Aaron

  10. #10
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    good job!!!

    i've bought 2 m46 in 9.3x57 a couple of years ago. i've cleaned them but i've put them in a safe and forgotten them. i should take them out hunting.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy Landy88's Avatar
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    That is going to be nice when you get it all in, together, and shooting.

    These are terrific old rifles.
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  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by am44mag View Post
    One the scope mount, would I not be able to just use weaver rings? It looks like a weaver style mount.
    I was thinking about this one, that came on one of the Husky's I purchased. The one on your looks a little different. Would be interesting to know if standard bases fit....it doubt it. Keep up posted.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    am44, I am of absolutely no help with the scope mounting. They used so many different types all I would know to do is keep trying until you find something that will fit/work. I cannot help but believe something commonly available is adaptable. Good news on the K-4!!! As far as your wood being hogged out obviously I don't know but, mine certainly was!! Oddly, mine did not have the usual crack behind the tang, or anywhere else, so I bedded it before I ever shot it. I don't think the rifle I got had seen a lot of use and that was just the luck of the draw.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

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  14. #14
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    Enabler. I've started to bid on a couple of Weavers!

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  15. #15
    Boolit Master Drm50's Avatar
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    The only thing I have to add is the stock finish. I have suffered remorse from putting modern
    finish on old classics. I now hand rub them with boiled linseed.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Texas by God View Post
    Enabler. I've started to bid on a couple of Weavers!

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
    I luv those old weavers even though its a **** shoot on wether they will hold true or move around. I spent alot of ammo until I finally admitted they were shot even though they look clear. I thought I would get a bunch of these old weavers redone but not at 150 bucks a pop.
    Look twice, shoot once.

  17. #17
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    True, Nekshot. When I get one new to me, I box test it with my Tikka 22-250 before mounting it on its intended.

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  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    Got the gun! I will post some pics later.

    It's lighter than I expected it to be, and Simpson's definitely understated this gun's condition. The bore is nice and shiny, the bluing is very nice and there's really not a lot of wear on it, and the stock is definitely not in the "poor" condition they rated it to be. Yes, it has some issues (90% of which is that crack on the toe), but it's still very nice and solid. I have decided against refinishing it. The finish was just dull and covered in 70+ years of grime. I wiped it down with iso alcohol and you would not believe how filthy that stock was. After that, I took some 0000 steel wool and poured a little teak oil on it. I gave everything a light scrubbing, wiped off the teak oil, and it really brightened up that finish. It's not a mirror shine by any means, but it's a very nice satin/low semi gloss. It still looks 70 years old, just cleaner and brighter. The grain also pops more.

    The scope mount is a mystery. It's too small for a weaver, and I can't seem to find out any info on it. It MIGHT fit the old style of .22 rings. I'll have to see. The rail is 10.5mm wide, and has a 45? degree angle that cuts inwards to form a dovetail.

    Also found out something else about the gun that confuses me as to why they would do it. A Swedish Mauser sling does not fit! That seems like a no brainier. It's Swedish, it's a Mauser, why would you put tiny rings on it that need a 22mm (0.866") sling instead of the most common sling in the country? Meh, the person who made that decision is probably long dead. I'll have to do a little looking to find something that will fit. If all else fails, I'll make one.

    The gun seems to shoot well. I only fired 5 rounds with a light load of IMR 4320. I was probably getting around 1800-1900 fps with the 270gr SP I was using. It was mainly just something to test the gun with. I'm not the best with iron sights, but I'd certainly be able to feed myself with this rifle.
    Last edited by am44mag; 06-20-2018 at 01:00 AM.
    ______________________________________________
    Aaron

  19. #19
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    If .22 tip off rings fit it, you can install a stop pin and be good to go.

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  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    Welll.....yahoo and good for you!!!!!! The condition you describe your rifle is similar to the one I bought. I treated mine the same way with similar results.

    Evidently your sling swivels are for the typical 3/4 in. northern European size sling. Husky used the sporting rifle sling swivels, not the military rifle swivels. Levy's carries quite a few and their quality is excellent. The German Gun Collector's Assn. also keeps some in stock. The quality of the slings they sell is probably a bit above Levy's. Frankly, I've come to prefer the 3/4 sling. It isn't 3/4 throughout, I think mine swell to an inch after the swivel loop and I got all mine from Levy's.

    http://www.levysleathers.com/hunting...-rifle-slings/

    Mine wasn't drilled and tapped for any kind of scope, which was my preference and, with the factory open sights, benched and bagged, it cloverleafs at 50 yards with both jacketed and cast loads. Oh, mine was lighter in weight than I expected as well. I think they're really good rifles and undervalued....and hope they stay that way!!!!
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check