The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Kimber Of America .308 Mauser. Safe Or Unsafe?? HELP!

Jim Watson · December 26, 2007, 08:19 AM

Kimber sporterized a bunch of Swedish Mausers, 96 and 38, I think as a fund raising project getting reorganized and moving from Oregon to New York. They rebarrelled most of them in .308, .243, and .22-250; all "hotter" cartridges than the original 6.5x55.
Frank DeHaas was against the practice, but some people say the quality of Swedish steel made up for the older design and think it ok.
The Swedes themselves used '96 actions to build the Carl Gustav target rifles in .308 as well as 6.5. This is not something that they expected to get occasional use in short hunting seasons.

I think it would be interesting if somebody would undertake to wear one out and see how it held up.

December 26, 2007, 08:19 AM	#9
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 17,317	Kimber sporterized a bunch of Swedish Mausers, 96 and 38, I think as a fund raising project getting reorganized and moving from Oregon to New York. They rebarrelled most of them in .308, .243, and .22-250; all "hotter" cartridges than the original 6.5x55. Frank DeHaas was against the practice, but some people say the quality of Swedish steel made up for the older design and think it ok. The Swedes themselves used '96 actions to build the Carl Gustav target rifles in .308 as well as 6.5. This is not something that they expected to get occasional use in short hunting seasons. I think it would be interesting if somebody would undertake to wear one out and see how it held up.