Husqvarna Commercial M96 vs Commercial FN98 in 8x57

[dak0ta]

Hi,

I was wondering which rifle is adequate for the 8x57 round. How are the commercial M96's? From My understanding, the Swedes used surplus M96 actions to make these rifles and chambered them in other offerings besides 6.5x55. Are these actions safe for hot loads of 8mm mauser? Also, when they say 'commercial' is the Husky 96 action just the surplus action and barrel with a commercial stock on it? How do these guns differ from M96 sporters? Are the sporters the same thing but with the original military stock 'sporterized'?

Also, later on, Husqvarna used FN 98 actions and built rifles using these actions. Now the 98 is stronger action and can definitely handle the 8mm mauser round. However, is it worth the extra $100-150 that is usually charged for the stronger action?

I guess the question is whether the Belgian FN 98 action is miles ahead better than the Swedish M96 action in terms of handling the 8x57 round, and is worth the extra money.

And from my understanding, the stocks, barrels etc. should be the same right?

Thanks for the help.

 

[El Mariachi]

Those Husqys and the like are also available in much sexier sporterized versions. Here's my '49 640 in 8x57 with the FN 98 action frinstance. Found it on G/Broker last March for $325.00....

 

[dak0ta]

Nice, how does it shoot for you? Is your safety always on the fire position?

 

[El Mariachi]

Haven't really figured out the safety yet (though the scope is high enough for it to go into all 3 positions). As far as shooting it? I've only run 45 rounds of late 50's Yugo 196's thru it at the 50 yard range, but it's an absolute blast. The old mil ammo is supposedly hotter than the newer American stuff (liability issues I've heard). This weekend a bunch of us are going to my range again and this time I'm gonna really concentrate on getting this gurl and my two other scoped rifles dialed in at a hundred yards. I truly suck at this scope stuff but I'm gonna give my all this Saturday and finally see how good I can get her to group.....

 

[rcmodel]

Are these 91 actions safe for hot loads of 8mm mauser?

IMO: They are safe with U.S. commercial 8mm ammo.
But it is loaded down considerably to SAAMI spec 35,000 PSI.

They are not safe with MAX handloads that could reach 60,000 PSI, same as the 30-06.

For that, I would want a 98 action.
But that's just me.

rc

 

[Uncle Grinch]

Husqvarna Actions

I would consider most any of the Husqvarna actions more than adequate for the round they are originally chambered for. The Swedes have a reputation of producing excellent steel and when importing other actions (FN) they select only the best.

I say all that ,but must qualify my answer for your question...

If given a choice, I would certainly chose the '98 action over the '96, not just for overall strength, but also for it's gas handling capabilities and it's cock-on-closing action.

My Husky is a very early model FN action in 6.5x55.

 

[Slamfire]

I was wondering which rifle is adequate for the 8x57 round. How are the commercial M96's? From My understanding, the Swedes used surplus M96 actions to make these rifles and chambered them in other offerings besides 6.5x55. Are these actions safe for hot loads of 8mm mauser

I would have to go through my Gun Digest Collection, but in the 50’s Sears had Husqvarna actioned rifles which were built on newly made commercial Husqvarna actions. I believe that these actions were based on the M96, I saw one, saw pitting in the barrel, wish I had a cleaning rod to see if it was pitting or copper fouling, but my recollection was the action was very nice. If the barrel had been good, and I asked the seller for a cleaning rod, I would have bought it. I have no doubt that one of these late model Husqvarna actions would make an excellent 8 X 57. Somewhere in the 50's the military action was updated and those commercial actions and rifles are collectable.

But for the generic M96 action, hot loading them is a no-no. These actions were built for a military load. If they were proofed and tested they should be safe for that load but no more.

But still, when you start talking about an action that was built from 1894 all the way up to the 40’s, I would not recommend an action prior to 1920. That is based on my understanding of the history of metallurgy and the primitive processes and process controls of the era. The Swedes used plain carbon steels throughout the production of these actions, given the amounts of slag and impurities found in pre 1900 metals, and knowing that WW1 metals were not that great, I would avoid actions of that era. When you get into 1930’s and 1940’s actions, they should be much better if the Swedish steel companies updated their furnace technology and improved factory in process controls. And I assume they did.

If you want the best of the post war M98’s, look for a FN Deluxe. Has a lot of M98 features, the 50’s actions retained more Mauser action features than the later actions. By the time you get into the 60's FN kept the claw extractor but dropped most of the internal Mauser safety features to save on money. People pay lots of money for FN Supremes, they look great, but they are not really M98's. No bolt guide, no buffered bolt stop, no firing pin interlock, etc, etc, etc. The early actions are just outstanding and as they are post war, the metal and processes should be better than pre war.




Bolt parts on a FN Deluxe

 

[dak0ta]

Thanks guys, I'll look into a FN98 Husqvarna. Now 8x57 Mauser vs 30-06. My store has way more 8x57's.

 

[El Mariachi]

Here's some more reading material for ya---two forums, Swedish commercial and Swedish military.

Enjoy.....


http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?48-Scandinavian-Firearms

 

[dak0ta]

What kind of wood is your stock? Did yuo refinish it?

 

[El Mariachi]

It's just beech (a lumber that I absolutely abhor), but it's got some halfway decent grain to it, so I'll just keep it. And all I did when I got her is sand off a coat or two of the old varnish, then throw on two quicky new ones in semi-gloss. No big thing, took less than ninety minutes all told......

 

[dak0ta]

What kind of varnish did you use? And was the semi-gloss polyurythane?
I was wondering if BLO or Tung Oil would give it a nice shade.

Did your rifle come with the scope base? Do you know what kind it is? D&T'd for Weaver style?

Also, I've read that the rear recoil lug, if not tightened properly can move back under recoil causing cracks at the tang.. and the way to fix this is to glass bed the rifle and remove a little bit of the stock where the recoil lug contacts it.

Any stock designed for the M98 action should fit right?

 

[El Mariachi]

Dakota? You're asking the wrong guy. I'm just an olde, untalented beer drinker with a sailing problem.....

 

[dak0ta]

Haha ok, hopefully somebody comes around to answer. What kind of scope is it wearing?

 

[El Mariachi]

It came with an old Weaver, but right now I've got the dirt cheap Barska Huntmaster 3x9-40 on it ($38.00 shipped). This Saturday I'm gonna spend some time at the 100 yard range and see if I can really zero it in. Though I'm having doubts that the Barska will be able to keep up with it, given that I'm shooting some old Yugo ammo that has a bit of punch to it. Will report back Sunday and post the results.....

 

[dak0ta]

Go for a Zeiss or Swarovski! German scope for German designed Mauser 98 and German calibre 8x57! Then Leupold or Nikon.

How is the old Weaver scope? K4?

Do you plan to reload 8mm mauser btw? Or just shoot surplus through it?

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

For the safety, to the left is fire, straight up is safe, but it allows the bolt to be opened, and to the right it locks the rifle up completely. Can't be fired and bolt can not be opened in the "right" position.

 

[El Mariachi]

Perfect, LJ. Thanx....

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Your welcome.

 

[Fullboar1]

Double Post

 

[Fullboar1]

Hi,

I was wondering which rifle is adequate for the 8x57 round. How are the commercial M96's? From My understanding, the Swedes used surplus M96 actions to make these rifles and chambered them in other offerings besides 6.5x55. Are these actions safe for hot loads of 8mm mauser? Also, when they say 'commercial' is the Husky 96 action just the surplus action and barrel with a commercial stock on it? How do these guns differ from M96 sporters? Are the sporters the same thing but with the original military stock 'sporterized'?

Also, later on, Husqvarna used FN 98 actions and built rifles using these actions. Now the 98 is stronger action and can definitely handle the 8mm mauser round. However, is it worth the extra $100-150 that is usually charged for the stronger action?

I guess the question is whether the Belgian FN 98 action is miles ahead better than the Swedish M96 action in terms of handling the 8x57 round, and is worth the extra money.

And from my understanding, the stocks, barrels etc. should be the same right?

Thanks for the help.

An M96 is what is known as a Small Ring action and the 98 is what is known as a Large Ring mauser (the stocks, barrels ect are different). While you could probably could rechamber a 96 to take a 8mm mauser (8x57) it wouldn't be safe. I know a good friend tried to get and old M96 rechambered to a 22-250 and the few Gunsmiths we took it to wouldnt touch it (they said even though it was a good size the pressures are to high for the M96 action). I know of a number of people (my father included) who have had rifles built on Mauser actions and they always use Large Ring actions (so yes I think they are worth the extra money).

A Small Ring Mauser action is approx 1.300" at the ring and a Large Ring Mauser action is approx 1.410 at the ring.