M14 Forum

Bamban

I took possession of a M96. The stock is straight grain, nice, but with storage dings on it. The plate disc says bore condition is 1 and bore diameter is 0. I cleaned the bore, the bolt and all the metal. The receiver, bolt, and floor plate all matched. The two stock bands matched.

The metal and bore condition is as new. It looks like it was just function tested and sighted in at the armory. Seller picked this up as part of an estate sale and they did not bother to clean the shipping grease off the rifle.

Checking the chamber and bore with the Hawkeye confirmed the disc plate status, tooling marks are still in the throat.

Now, I need to ensure this will be one of the best shooters on the line, capable of winning the Vintage Rifle at the TX state match and at Perry.

I solicit any input on how to do "careful assembly" on this rifle. Please chime in with ideas.

Swamp Rat

http://207.36.233.89/mauserswedish/index.asp

brassmagnet

Can't speak for match shooting, but I've owned and converted/sporterized a few of the 96's, and they were top notch accurate rifles - on par with the K31's. Nice find, and good luck with your competition shooting with it.

Bamban

Thank you.

Are there any specific quirks with these rifles that can degrade or enhamce their accuracy potential? Are there are any areas inside the stock that must be relieved of wood contact to enhance their grouping capability? Ate there any part of the stock or rifle that must not be relieved ?How about the action screws, any advise there on torque values? Torquing sequence of the action screws?

Any known good short range load for 200 yard shooting?

Swamp Rat

I haven't shot it at 100 yds, but my load for 100 and under is a 95 gr v-max on top of IMR 4830.

wbm

Have shot the M96 and M38 for years. My M96 was born in 1910 and the disk plate is essentially identical to yours. I would not touch the stock at first! These rifles, with few exceptions, were fitted to the stocks correctly. They were made to shoot accurately with the front band securing the barrel tightly. As far as action screw torque goes, 60-65 inch pounds is recommended but play with the torque on the rear screw a bit when shooting and see if you get a difference in accuracy. Mausers and Remington 700's often show some dramatic differences in accuracy when rear screw torque is changed. One other thing, make sure the rear curve of the tang does not contact the stock wood.

As far as reloading goes the general rule is to use slow powders with the most often recommend being Reloader 22. My Swede has also shot well with some of the faster powders. In the Sierra V manual their most accurate load with the 140g SMK was with Varget and some military rifle match shooters have found that IMR3031 is a very good powder. Go figure.

I have a good bit of reload data with bullets ranging from 120-144 grains. Let me know if you want some and I'll send them to you. Less than 1 MOA is not difficult to achieve with a good Swede.

Bamban

wbm,

Thank you for the tips. On the tang, do you basically float it? I intend to shoot mine as it is with the starting torque on screws as you recommended then go from there.

Are there optional aperture sights for these rifle? The long sight radius pistol sights are hard to get used to I think.

Yes, I am interested in your load data, sure cuts down the load development I can zoom in to sweet spot.

losok

Bamban that is a score for sure. On the action screws, torque the front one first, and then the rear, mausers seem to like it that way, the rear bring to hand firm snug, not as tight as you can crank it, and adjust from there for group size. The previous poster was correct, do not let the tang touch the rear of the channel for in the stock, it will crack the stock if it does. The mauser pattern rifles shoot very well, and swedes among the best. The action is basically pillar bedded from the factory if the stock is fitted correctly, the rear will torque down and contact a pillar in the stock top and bottom, just barely contacting wood in that area forward of the screw. The front is an ingenious recoil lug fitting into the integral pillar of the bottom metal, and centering the action there with full contact on the bottom of the action behind the lug. The action and bottom metal lock together at the front and become a unit when screwed together. I agree with the previous poster too, dont mess with the stock until you shoot it. I have had incredible success with HSM ammo's 142 SMK load its factory match ammo, not too pricey and very very accurate.

Bamban

Losok,

Thank you.

About how much clearance do you put between tang and wood to ensure longevity?

bd111

I've had 'em, shot 'em, enjoyed 'em, let 'em go. I'd still own that caliber if I stumbled onto the one year (1976?) Winchester chambered it for the Model 70. The CAI and Samco-imported Swedes, which account for most of them, don't need much prep or tuning. Definitely de-grease the parts and wood. The 139 gr Swede milsurp ammo is outstanding to way out there whether or not you load anything else. Lapua cases are the right size for the bolt face. Timney made some better triggers and there are kits (make your own judgment) to reverse the cock-on-closing, if you don't care for the vintage features (though the mods may not be legal for a Vintage Rifle match).

losok

If you can get a piece of thick paper in there you will even be ok, but often there is a little more than that when they were done at the factory. Basically you just dont want it to contact the stock at the rear there, so any clearance is good.

wbm

You are not really "floating the tang" just checking to make sure the very aft part of the tang does not butt up against the wood on the stock. If it does, a crack can occur in the stock at that point. On mine, like most, if a folded piece of paper can pass behind the tang you're ok. Most if not all stocks on the M96 were made of Arctic Birch, Elm and/or Walnut. The birch is less likely to crack than the Walnut. Don't know about the Elm.

Favorite Loads:

Sierra 123 Match King
44.9g VihtaVuori 160
New Winchester Brass
Federal 210M Primer
OAL=3.10"
3 Shot Groups Averaged less than .75 MOA With Iron Sights
The best was .45"

130g Berger
45.5g Reloader 22
Lapua Neck Sized Brass
Federal 210M Primer
OAL=3.150"
5 Shot groups averaged 1.00" or less.

140g Sierra Match King
37.8 IMR4895
Lapua Neck Sized Brass
Federal 210M Primer
OAL=3.050"
5 Shot groups averaged 2.00" at 200 Yards

wbm

Bamban: Mine had storage dings on the stock. I took a wet cloth, put it over the marks and steamed most of them out with a steam iron. Even the worst looked better and some of the shallow ones just disappeared.

Bamban

Looks like I will be busy with the Swede. My first one lots to learn

Thank you for the responses.

Keep them coming.

wbm

For 140g Sierra Match Kings check out brassmanbrass.com. He is selling 140g SMK's at $120/500 including shipping. Not bad.