Kimber Swedish Mauser Conversion

[jester5900]

Can you help me out??

I was a Plant Manager for Kimber of America at the time those sporterized Swedish Mausers were being put together. We had hundreds of those rifles to convert, both the carbines and full rifles. I still have one of the full size unconverted rifles from that shipment (I bought it at the employee price).

I've shot a fair number of them after the conversion. Many of the ones I test fired could throw some pretty good groups. I've also shot a fair number of the .22's we were making, plus the Daewoo guns we were distributing. Oh, and I did some of the developmental test firing for the Kimber .45.

Peace,

P.S. The actual "plant" that I managed was in Colton, OR. The main "plant", where the .22's were made, and the main Kimber office was in Clackamas. The Swedish Mauser conversions were actually done in Colton.

I have one of those converted rifles in .243 shot really well until I floated the barrel in the stock. Now it doesnt shoot for ****. Can you tell me if the kimber stock you guys put on the rifle was the one with the military contour? And if it was did you guys modifie it in anyway? I'm just trying to get mine back to were it was. And they do shoot MOA or less, mine .75" @ 100 yards. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[reddogge]

I own two originals, a CG M96 1904 and a Husqvarna M38 short rifle. Both are excellent shooting rifles with handloads.

 

[stony275]

I was a Plant Manager for Kimber of America at the time those sporterized Swedish Mausers were being put together. We had hundreds of those rifles to convert, both the carbines and full rifles. I still have one of the full size unconverted rifles from that shipment (I bought it at the employee price).

I've shot a fair number of them after the conversion. Many of the ones I test fired could throw some pretty good groups. I've also shot a fair number of the .22's we were making, plus the Daewoo guns we were distributing. Oh, and I did some of the developmental test firing for the Kimber .45.

Peace,

P.S. The actual "plant" that I managed was in Colton, OR. The main "plant", where the .22's were made, and the main Kimber office was in Clackamas. The Swedish Mauser conversions were actually done in Colton.

I've been a fan of these for years. Attempted to get on in .338 Win. Mag. for a hunt in Alaska, but the gun store dropped the ball.

Just purchased one in .30-'06 off of Gunbroker and have yet to take possession of it.

ASA335, Do you mind if I ask a few questions of you?

What scope base is compatible with this? I'm thinking Mauser 98 Large Ring Military, but I'm not sure. Looking at Warne Maxima for Rings and want the correct bases.

What is the barrel contour? I want to buy an aftermarket wood stock, but need to know the barrel contour in order to buy the correct stock configuration.

 

[sheepdawg]

It just doesn't get any better than a Swedish Mauser and the 6.5X55 round is a flat shooter that can take down almost anything with 4 legs. You can shoot one all day long without having to get out the Advil bottle for a sore shoulder and 1" 5 shot groups @ 100yds is certainly possible. Still an affordable milsurp.



1899 Oberndorf M96/38
1912 Carl Gustof M96
1915 Carl Gustof M96
1924 Carl Gustof M96

 

[Harrison]

I had a surplus Swede in 6.5x55 and a Remington 700 Classic in the same caliber. Both rifles were accurate and excellent deer rifles. I highly recommend the 6.5x55 Swede cartridge for anything up to Elk (with the right bullet). The Swedes and Norwegians hunt Moose with the cartridge.

 

[Treeman0145]

Kimber of America M96 .243

I have a M96 Chambered in 243 was wondering if anybody could give me as much information about this rifle as possible There’s a date on the top but they drilled through one of the numbers I believe it is 1942 could be 1932 Has a Huskavarna action a beautiful Kimber Poly stock I believe the barrel has been replaced by Kimber anybody has information that could help me please thank you

 

[L33ROY]

Bump !
I'd be interested in the twist rate on that 243 as I'm looking to get one here in Oz. Cheers

 

[samnev]

The M96 was the first rifle I was able to shoot 1 moa 5 shot 100 yard groups with back in the day.

 

[Pisgah]

You were sporterising actual complete rifles?!?! I thought the story on these was that the Swedes sold off their spare actions and odd target rifles for conversion, not the collectible full stocked military variants. You had best go into hiding before the Swede Mauser Collecting Mafia track you down.

I have tried to snag one of these conversions at auction but they always fetch too much money for my wallet.

Remember, this was back in the day when a pristine Swede would fetch maybe $135-140, while a perfectly serviceable, if rough-looking, mismatched-parts shooter could be had for around $50-60 retail. They had a certain cult following, but were hardly in high demand, and if you were buying them in bulk they got real cheap, real fast.

I bought and sporterized 2 shooters and safe-queened an M-96 and an M-38 that were absolutely mint. The 96 had been built at Mauserwerk before the Swedes started making their own, and it was quite simply the most perfect mass-produced rifle I have ever encountered.

My sporters gave me great service for years, and each was eventually sold at a profit, but if the Kimbers had been made available 6 months earlier than they were I would have saved my time and labor and just bought a couple of them. They were very well done.

 

[growr]

The 6.5x55 is such an under-rated cartridge! I have a 96 full size that shoots extremely well with iron sights and ball ammo.

I first discovered how accurate the 6.5 Swede is when I shot in a "As issued Military Bolt Action Rifle Match. I did not have such a rifle but a dear friend of mine had a 96 Mauser that he gave me the ammo and the use of the rifle for the match. He did not like getting beat with his own rifle!

In prone at 300 yards I was able to fire 20 rounds for record into the ten and X ring for a 200-8x score. This rifle and ammo shoots!!

I since bought my own at the grand price of $99.00. Still have it and bought a different front sight so that I could shoot it at 100 yards.

This instilled a deep fondness for the cartridge and the rifle which began a 20 year search for a commercial 6.5 Swede (Remington, Winchester, Ruger, CZ, Tikka etc.) which proved to be futile, but gave me something to look for at gunshows.

Last fall, I was in a store in Bozeman MT and asked if per chance they would have a 6.5 Swede....To my surprise he said they did and went to get it.

I assumed it would probably be a M96 or a Kimber sporterized version....No, it was a Remington 700 with a Burris 3x9 scope on it and the consignor was asking $550.00 for it.

I asked if that was firm and they called the owner and he countered with a firm $500.00.

About broke my hand getting the checkbook out and writing THAT check!

The 6.5 x55 ball ammo I had reloaded for my M96 was all I had so I started with it.....After getting a good 25 yard zero, it was out to 100 yards and after a few adjustments it routinely turned in 3 shot groups that a dime would cover.....not just once but over and over again.

This got even better when I loaded some 140 gr. SST's with RL22 powder. 3 shot groups at 200 yards can easily be covered with a quarter.

If the Scandanavians can use the 6.5 Swede on their 4 legged game including moose, it will be more than up to the job on anything I will hunt here in Montana!!

So, I am indeed a 6.5 Swede enthusiast!!

Randy