Swedish M-38 rifle

[sirdutch]

I believe that I asked this question in the wrong forum so here I go again. Is the Swedish M-38 Mauser a decent hunting rifle? Is there a weapon mount available so I don't have to tap and drill the receiver? What are the North American game limits? Will the 6.5 x 55 mm stop a charging black bear? I'm paring back the number of rifles I have so I want to know if I should keep this one. I understand the this caliber is more of a soft shooter than an 8 mm or 30-06. I've had shoulder surgery a few years ago so that is important for me.

[MyOdessa]

It will make OK hunting rifle. The caliber 6.5x56 is very good and has excellent reputation, it will take any NA game. It is also very easy to handload with great 6.5 bullet selection. Modern counterparts for 6.5x55 are 260 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor. No clue about stopping charging bear.
If you plan to scope it, there used to be a scout mount sold by B-Square (if I remember correctly) you. You can also lighten it by switching to a different stock.
I have a few of them and like shooting them, but I never took them hunting.

[Fjold]

Any 1898 or newer Mauser can make an excellent hunting rifle. But the M38 in the original military configuration is heavier and clumsier than it needs to be. The 6.5x55 is an excellent medium game cartridge but it requires handloading to get to big game hunting performance. Norma used to have a 155 grain round-nose load that was favored for game up to small moose. No hunting rifle is a guaranteed stopper for charging bear, it's where you put the bullet that counts. A shot that disrupts the central nervous system is the only guaranteed stopper.

[sirdutch]

Thanks for both responses. Shot placement with an adrenaline flooded charging bear is a given. I do hand load so the suggestion of the 155 grain round-nose is intriguing. I'll check that out. I also have an M-96 Swede but that one is just too long. I want to keep the M-38 in its military configuration, hence the need for an attachable mount that doesn't require drilling and tapping. Installation of a composite stock is a good suggestion as well. I may have a difficult time parting any rifle I own. They are like children as I've had them for so long. My kids have little to no interest in firearms, except for a self defense handgun. I'll just have to be realistic when deciding which ones to part with. Cheers

(edited) The Norma bullet is actually a 156 grain bullet . It's called the Norma Alaska ( Tradirional Round Nose) and the Norma Alaska Oryx ( Premium Bonded Core)

[socal m1 shooter]

When I had much younger eyes I went deer hunting with an M1 Garand. Suffice it to say, I found that iron sights, even the relatively good ones on an M1 Garand, can be challenging to use when trying to hit the 6" to 8" diameter heart-lung bullseye on a deer.

The USGI front sight on an M1 is 8 MOA wide, and considering the investment in a typical hunting trip for a suburbia-dweller like myself-- time, money, everything-- it makes it really easy to embrace the modern scoped rifle.

I guess if your lifestyle is different-- maybe more rural, more hunting opportunities-- do what seems good to you.

My takeaway was, hunting can be unpredictable. Shots in low-light conditions, plus reading the range in the field, it can be tricky, coming home empty-handed too often is a drag, etc.

If you want to test your rifle, find a range where you can put up a target at 200-300 yards, and try hitting it consistently with the M38 using shooting sticks from a seated position, or with a monopod from a standing position, see how it goes.

[Fjold]

I knew the Norma load was 156 grains, I don't know why I typed 155. The heaviest bullet that I load in my 6.5s is 142 grains. For 99% of the hunting there in Cali, I would say that you need a scope. There are too many shots that you'd have to pass on without one, and opportunities don't come that often there. Bad Ace Tactical used to make a no-drill scope mount but it required that the bolt handle be bent down to clear it. Since you don't want to permanently modify your gun that wouldn't work anyway.

[sakosf]

Maybe you can find this:

Lapua 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser Ammo 156 Grain Lapua Mega Jacketed Soft

I had a M38 back in the 1990s. One thing I really like about this rifle was it pretty much shot to the point of aim @ 100 yds....also, one of the most accurate milsurp rifles that I ever owned and shot