Swede safety choices

[litman252]

I'm looking at a swede that has been somewhat sporterized. Still has original safety with super high mount scope. What are my choices for modifying the safety to accommodate normal height scope mounting??

Thanks,
Tony

 

[Jim K]

It could be done, with a lot of work. I recommend you purchase a low scope safety and do the job right.

Jim

 

[litman252]

I recommend you purchase a low scope safety and do the job right.

Could you point me in the direction to do/have it done.

Thanks Jim.

Tony

 

[BBBBill]

Check Brownells for the safety. Page 94 of the current catalog (60) lists the Timney (Buehler) and Dayton Traister Mark 2 as available for the Swede. There are other options like the Wisner side swing or a slick bolt shroud using a trigger with its own safety, but those two are the simplest.

 

[JesseL]

Here is the relevant page on Brownell's website.

Personally, I like the Wisner side-swing (model 70 style) safety best, followed by the Buehler style.

The Buehler style safety you could probably install yourself, while the Wisner will require a gunsmith (I installed mine myself; but I'm lucky enough to have a vertical mill, appropriate tooling, and a foolish disregard for jumping in over my head).

There is an illustrated walk-through of a Wisner safety installation here.

 

[litman252]

Thanks guys,
I have not found anything that fits the M38, I have not yet heard back on what action this is, so the best would be if it's a '96 right.............

Thanks again, I have hunted with 98 Mauser with the buehler and liked it over all.

Tony

 

[spencerhut]

I've got a pair of Swedes I'm working on right now. One is a 1899 M96 and the other is a 1942 M38. Trigger and everything metal on the two I have are identical so I think you are safe ordering the M96 parts for your M38. My M96 has the Buehler safety in it already (Kimber Sporterized some time ago) and I'm adding the Buehler to the M38 in the near future. As far as I know the M38/M96 are identical in the action.
Someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

The 3x9 scope I tried in Burris low rings would *just barely* not clear the Buehler safety on the M96. I'm going to be ordering medium rings which should clear with plenty of room.

If you still have the stock iron sights watch for clearance there also. The stock iron sights are fairly easy to remove with a little heat.

 

[BBBBill]

I've got a pair of Swedes I'm working on right now. One is a 1899 M96 and the other is a 1942 M38. Trigger and everything metal on the two I have are identical so I think you are safe ordering the M96 parts for your M38. ... As far as I know the M38/M96 are identical in the action. ..

Biggest difference that I have found is the contour of the rear receiver bridge. The M38 has a larger radius than the early 96's. Oddly enough, I have not found separate listings for scope bases. None of the bases that I have bough have fit flush on the rear bridge of either. They do seem to fit in such a way that they are level and on plane with the front base, so I can only surmise that the manufacturers found a dimension that was in common between the two variations and built their bases to fit either one. None the less, it still leaves an unsightly gap under the rear base. I cannot help but believe that the screws take more of a beating and would be more pront to shear. I've started using 8-40 screws for those.