Would you do it?

[WayBeau]

I'm trying to sell my Gustafs 1908 Swedish Mauser (which appears to be all original to my untrained/unexperienced eye) in 6.5x55 and received the following trade offer:

Spanish FR 8 Mauser, 7.62 Nato, it's in an FR 7 straight stock with matching handguard, someone prior to me stripped and stained both.

He says he has the original FR 8 stock, but not the handguard. He also says he has the bayonet to go with it. I did a google search on the FR 8 and it's a pretty cool look rifle, but I'm not sure it's a fair trade or not. I've asked for pics to be sent, but haven't received them yet.

Would you make this trade? I love the 6.5x55 round but am not a huge fan of the length of the Gustafs rifle, therefore why I'm selling/trading it. The few complaints I've read about the FR have all centered around the recoil and muzzle blast. Any thoughts/suggestions you all can give will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[stan rose]

I would probably try to keep the Swede, and purchase the FR8, but that's just me, I don't like selling guns. That being said, the FR8 is not that common, and ammo availability is excellent. If you are set on trading/selling the Swede then you'll have to decide if you want a Swede carbine variation in 6.5x55mm, or the carbine in 7.62x51.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'd keep the Swede. Some of the nicest Mausers, IMO.

 

[MrDig]

The Swede is one of the finest Mausers ever made. They are legendary for flat shooting and long distance accuracy. I wish I could find one and afford to pay for it at the same time.
In my searching the Spanish Mausers are more readily available and therefore less valuable due to their availability.
I would not make that particular trade unless the other guy was offering some coin on top of the Spanish Mauser.

 

[Baba Louie]

If you never shoot the swede and are selling it off anyway, that's one thing.

.308 is easier to find than 6.5x55, true. But, the swede is a choice shooter, the FR8, just not quite there when compared to the 96 Mauser IMO. I don't see it tit for tat myself.

As always YMMV.

 

[gunnutter]

Keep the Swede!

 

[RCArms.com]

The FR8 is an interesting rifle, but it cannot hold a candle next to the M96 Swede in any category other ammunition availibility and heavy recoil.

My .02 cents worth would be to keep the Swede.

 

[WayBeau]

He sent pics and the FR looks very nice. The bayonet looks as though it's seen better days. Have a feeling there won't be much trading going on.

 

[rbernie]

The Swede is made from far better materials, and finished to a far higher standard. It's simply a better gun.

However, there isn't much value in a gun that you have and don't like.

 

[WayBeau]

However, there isn't much value in a gun that you have and don't like.

I like the gun, I just wish it was shorter so that it could be a more suitable 'woods' rifle for treking into the mountains come November. Besides, I'm not just going to trade it to trade it. The offered trade has to be comparable and the rifle being offered is not.

 

[whetrock]

96 swedes are getting harder and harder to find and it seems to me anyhow that most owners of these fanatastic rifles would assume not to part with them I for one love mine to death and would have to be offered a great deal of money to do so. These Milsurps are very nice rifles and the accuracy of the 6.5 in the 96 mauser is comparable to a lot of more modern factory rifles. The cartidge itself IMO is worth the price of addmission. It's a more than adequete round for a wide array of game while at the same time a very efficient and flat shooting cartridge that produces minimal recoil. I've found this round to be one of my favorites and a true riflemans cartridge as far as I'm concerned.

 

[WayBeau]

96 swedes are getting harder and harder to find and it seems to me anyhow that most owners of these fanatastic rifles would assume not to part with them I for one love mine to death and would have to be offered a great deal of money to do so. These Milsurps are very nice rifles and the accuracy of the 6.5 in the 96 mauser is comparable to a lot of more modern factory rifles. The cartidge itself IMO is worth the price of addmission. It's a more than adequete round for a wide array of game while at the same time a very efficient and flat shooting cartridge that produces minimal recoil. I've found this round to be one of my favorites and a true riflemans cartridge as far as I'm concerned.

Please don't misinterpret my desire to sell/trade this rifle. I absolutely LOVE the 6.5 round. My next rifle purchase will be a modern rifle in this round. . .when the right one comes along. I've listed my swede on here and even state that I love the round, not the rifle. I don't know, maybe I should go shoot it more and perhaps I'd fall in love with it too.