Dutchman
02-19-2010, 08:37 PM
These were all shot at 50 yds because I was mostly zeroing LER scopes and test firing cast loads in some other rifles. But I took some ja ja jac... you the type bullet to see which of the 3 Swedes was the least accurate so I could contemplate rebarreling that one. The two other Swedes were m/96 with LER scopes. This one below is a 1915 Carl Gustaf m/38 with an old Tasco 3-12x32 scope. This rifle has shot MOA with the 140 gr Lyman Loverin cast .266" and the Lee Cruise Missle .267" 170 grain. I've not shot it on paper with the ja ja.. jac.. you know the type bullets. The shinny copper ones.
I bought this rifle in 1969 before I turned 18. This was the one rifle, no matter what others were bought and sold, that was kept. Mostly carried without a scope as the scope was installed much later. The bolt was forged when I bought it for $65 in 1969. At the same time you could buy a new-in-grease US 1917 rifle for $35. Most of the Swedish Mausers in the US prior to 1968 were m/94 carbines and some m/41 snipers.
This particular rifle with its fancy elm stock was the first such elm stocked Swedish Mauser extensively pictured on the internet as far back as 1996. Most shooters & collectors didn't know about these elm stocks until this guy put up a website showing pictures.. http://dutchman.rebooty.com/elm.html The straight grained elm stocks don't present much of anything special. But the dynamic visual presentation of the curly grained elm made them very desireable and sought after for many years.. still sought after and commanding much higher prices due to the competition among buyers. The elm stocks, like maple and mahogany, were used only 3 years 1915-16-17. I'd rate elm 3rd in rarity during those years with maple being 1st but elm is neck-and-neck with maple in demand among collectors. As an aside - fancy fiddleback maple is #1 in rarity and commands the highest prices paid. They are very striking rifles.
http://images53.fotki.com/v443/photos/2/28344/1676633/DSCF1392yy-vi.jpg
Three different j-type loads. Two are Swedish military. One is my handload.
First my handload. From about 5 yrs ago. Hornady 160 gr round nose with 42 grs H450 (now obsolete). Middle of the road load. Maybe with some practice it could put all 5 in one hole..
http://images21.fotki.com/v208/photos/2/28344/1676633/018-vi.jpg
Swedish m/94 cartridge 156 gr round nose headstamped DWM42. A fairly rare manufacturer for 6.5x55. Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken. From a sealed 10 r package. Not so hot.
http://images19.fotki.com/v276/photos/2/28344/1676633/019-vi.jpg
Swedish m/41 cartridge with 139 gr pointed boattail. Loaded in 1987 by Norma. That's 5 shots at 50 yds.
http://images54.fotki.com/v1591/photos/2/28344/1676633/017-vi.jpg
Then again.. m/41 surplus Swedish ammo. First time wasn't an anomaly. Given that these 3 different cartridges were shot one after the other you can pretty much discount the rifle or shooter as the variable here. The ammo was the variable. I was actually pretty surprised. This groups is 5/16" with 5 shots.
http://images54.fotki.com/v553/photos/2/28344/1676633/020-vi.jpg
What it proves is not every rifle or every bullet will give stellar accuracy or the same accuracy. There are good Swedes and mediocre Swedes and exceptional Swedes. I need to shoot this rifle again at 100 yds with m/41 and some more of my handloads. I have j-bullets from 77 grs, 87 grs. 90 grs, 100 grs, 107 grs, 120 grs, 139 grs, 140 grs and 160 grans. I'll load 10 of each and shoot them 5 rds each through this m/38 and another m/96 for comparison.
I killed a coyote with this rifle and iron sights once at 325 paces, a little over 300 yds using the Hornady 100 gr soft point. That 'yote rolled like he was hit by a Mack truck. Big fat sheep fed coyote. The Basque sheep herders who ran the flock were very happy that day. They had lost dozens of lambs in a couple weeks.
Dutch
I bought this rifle in 1969 before I turned 18. This was the one rifle, no matter what others were bought and sold, that was kept. Mostly carried without a scope as the scope was installed much later. The bolt was forged when I bought it for $65 in 1969. At the same time you could buy a new-in-grease US 1917 rifle for $35. Most of the Swedish Mausers in the US prior to 1968 were m/94 carbines and some m/41 snipers.
This particular rifle with its fancy elm stock was the first such elm stocked Swedish Mauser extensively pictured on the internet as far back as 1996. Most shooters & collectors didn't know about these elm stocks until this guy put up a website showing pictures.. http://dutchman.rebooty.com/elm.html The straight grained elm stocks don't present much of anything special. But the dynamic visual presentation of the curly grained elm made them very desireable and sought after for many years.. still sought after and commanding much higher prices due to the competition among buyers. The elm stocks, like maple and mahogany, were used only 3 years 1915-16-17. I'd rate elm 3rd in rarity during those years with maple being 1st but elm is neck-and-neck with maple in demand among collectors. As an aside - fancy fiddleback maple is #1 in rarity and commands the highest prices paid. They are very striking rifles.
http://images53.fotki.com/v443/photos/2/28344/1676633/DSCF1392yy-vi.jpg
Three different j-type loads. Two are Swedish military. One is my handload.
First my handload. From about 5 yrs ago. Hornady 160 gr round nose with 42 grs H450 (now obsolete). Middle of the road load. Maybe with some practice it could put all 5 in one hole..
http://images21.fotki.com/v208/photos/2/28344/1676633/018-vi.jpg
Swedish m/94 cartridge 156 gr round nose headstamped DWM42. A fairly rare manufacturer for 6.5x55. Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken. From a sealed 10 r package. Not so hot.
http://images19.fotki.com/v276/photos/2/28344/1676633/019-vi.jpg
Swedish m/41 cartridge with 139 gr pointed boattail. Loaded in 1987 by Norma. That's 5 shots at 50 yds.
http://images54.fotki.com/v1591/photos/2/28344/1676633/017-vi.jpg
Then again.. m/41 surplus Swedish ammo. First time wasn't an anomaly. Given that these 3 different cartridges were shot one after the other you can pretty much discount the rifle or shooter as the variable here. The ammo was the variable. I was actually pretty surprised. This groups is 5/16" with 5 shots.
http://images54.fotki.com/v553/photos/2/28344/1676633/020-vi.jpg
What it proves is not every rifle or every bullet will give stellar accuracy or the same accuracy. There are good Swedes and mediocre Swedes and exceptional Swedes. I need to shoot this rifle again at 100 yds with m/41 and some more of my handloads. I have j-bullets from 77 grs, 87 grs. 90 grs, 100 grs, 107 grs, 120 grs, 139 grs, 140 grs and 160 grans. I'll load 10 of each and shoot them 5 rds each through this m/38 and another m/96 for comparison.
I killed a coyote with this rifle and iron sights once at 325 paces, a little over 300 yds using the Hornady 100 gr soft point. That 'yote rolled like he was hit by a Mack truck. Big fat sheep fed coyote. The Basque sheep herders who ran the flock were very happy that day. They had lost dozens of lambs in a couple weeks.
Dutch