Price check

[wireless]

I purchased a swedish 1896 mauser from a FFL today. It said Carl Gustafs on the top. I loved it and bought it for $229+tax, DROS was $5 because I put it on a pistol purchase.

I'm having a hard time figuring out if the exact model I bought was priced right.

Thoughts? I don't know that much about C&R guns...they did have a beautiful 91/30 for $230 which seemed below average from what I've seen online (I remember paying $109 for a B quality ). They also had a russian SKS for $695...which seemed absurd unless I'm missing something.

This was an impulse purchase. Did I over pay?

[manuelcardenas77]

Us gun buyers never make an impulsive buy

[Cody805]

Post some pics! Seems like you got a good deal if it's not a beater rust bucket

[TanHat]

If it is in any kind of decent shape I think you got a deal. Big 5 was selling average M48s for $100 more recently. Enjoy it!

[sh1nk3n]

"Over pay"..... hmm. No, I don't think so.

If it shoots like a Swedish Mauser, you did not overpay.

"Only accurate rifles are interesting." - Col. Jeff Cooper. Or Col. Townsend Whelen. Either way, you're winning, as both of them were fine Americans who knew a good rifle when they saw one.

Swedish Mausers are renowned for excellent accuracy. They are a bit of a "weird bird", in that they are a "small ring Mauser" (read: fewer after-market stock choices) and use an unusual caliber (6.5 Swede), but in general the metallurgy, assembly and armory maintenance involved in making/maintaining them was top notch.

Please learn to reload (sorry, if you know how to reload already, please excuse the presumption), and this rifle might become your favorite-est milsurp.

6.5mm/.260 has a ballistic coefficient advantage over a lot of other rounds... it's the "sweet spot". << Flame War to Commence in 3... 2... 1.... >>

Oh, and if you're feeling frisky, find yourself a set of "Elit" iron sights for it, and enjoy. Two vendors I can validate for these sights (from personal experience) are "2014gunsafe" and "pecarberlin" on EBay. Otherwise, drill and tap it (horror!!!!), scope it, and rock it at your next deer or pig hunt.

Amen.

[sh1nk3n]

P.S. The Elit sights will cost the same as the rifle. But at what price, excellence?

[Carsgunsandchics]

I myself just recently picked up a M96. I got a heck of a deal at $299 as it was still in cosmoline for the most part. Your price was a steal as well unless the barrel is shot out or bent. http://dutchman.rebooty.com/preface.html

[sh1nk3n]

Speaking of "Flame Wars".... there is to my view no comparison between a 91/30 and a properly functioning Swede.

91/30 might run forever. But it ain't no Swede.

Does your Swede have a stock with a medallion ("stock disk") that you think might be authentic? If so, the medallion will tell the tale of what you bought.

http://candrsenal.com/tip-how-to-read-swedish-mauser-stock-disks/

Please keep in mind two things:

1. The Swedish armorers were very strict and always erred on the side of the conservative, so they frequently "down-rated" rifles that were still in excellent shape.

2. There has become a "cottage industry" of people faking these discs or putting a disc on a rifle that does not pertain to that rifle, so as to fake a level of quality that does not exist on the rifle.

But in general, these rifles are in outstanding condition, as they never really went to war, due to Sweden's neutrality (WWI, WWII, etc.).

So, "you pays your moneys and yous takes your chances."

Would love to hear more and how this all plays out for you.

[wireless]

hmmm this is all really good to read

I don't think the barrel was shot out. I didn't get a good look down the barrel, but the wood looked okay, chamber looked fine, and internal magazine mechanism looked barely used. I did a quick look at it without really checking it out, but it's from a reputable gun shop so I figured it was functionable at worst.

Also I've wanted a swedish mauser due the 6.5x55. I'm pretty tiny and I have no problem shooting 100rds through a Mosin, but I'm guessing the next size down would be very pleasurable.

Also I will get to reloading eventually. Right now I just got into a PSL build and started purchasing tools left and right.

Also there was a space for a medallion but it was missing. I figured that contributed to the price, but I wasn't looking for something super authentic.

[sh1nk3n]

You'll be good, is my guess.

Those rifles never saw real war.

[sh1nk3n]

P.S. the 6.5 Swede will require a special "shell carrier"/"seater" in your reloading. It's a weird bird, like I said. So that's gonna cost you like $8. Pay it, friend. The round is worth it. It's neither a "long-action" nor a "short-action"... it's in-between and a bit of a unicorn.

A unicorn that will fell any animal that walks in North America.

Within reason, of course. Show me a 2 ton brown bear and I will tell you to run, not shoot it.

P.P.S. And you can always then purchase any rifle in ".260 Remington" and you will have the boolits to go with it. Mate these 6.5mm bullets with .308 Win brass in the proper dies, and you're in business. Tikka makes a great .260 Remington (and they make a great 6.5 Swede as well!!!), but so do others.

[Carsgunsandchics]

I just picked up 200 pieces of Nosler brass for .63 each bulk bagged vs $1.12 each in a box. https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog...roductId/72476
Luckily I just recently started loading 6.5 Creedmoor so have a start of projectiles.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Just on the praise of the Swedes by the Calguns gang I bought an M96 and M38. I havent had time to shoot either of them but the quality seems top notch. Ammo is readily available and not too expenive either for new factory stuff

[mj1]

[sh1nk3n]

She's an M38 sporter with a hand-made stock.



Here she is before the finished stock and the Elit sights.

And before someone goes apoplectic on me - no, I didn't DnT the action for a scope. But, equally, I agree with the idea of doing so. A gun is a tool.

P.S. It has a 2lb. Timney trigger on it now.