Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Husqvarna rifles - anyone hunt with them?

I have two based on the small ring mauser action,a mannlicher carbine,and a lightweight with the schnabel stock. Both are in 30-06.

They both shoot great,the one in the schnabel stock will shoot well under moa with federal blue box 150 grain ammo.

I think they are the full equal of the pre-64 Model 70 featherweight and the Browning FN Safari in terms of quality,and they are lighter than either.

I had a mannlicher type in 308 and my cousin had one of the schnabel guns in 270. They were fine rifles as well.

Steve Bruns, aka SBHVA passed away in September 2012. He is missed!

Oh, I had forgotten. A great loss to Swede aficionados.
Dutchman and Baribal are still active. Dutchman's House of Kalina website is a learning experience on Military Swedes.

Is there anyone on this thread that modified a Husky 46 in such a way that they removed the sights and no longer have need of them?

PM sent.

So, is the difference between the 46 and 146 that the 46 is on the M96 action and the 146 is on the M98?

Yes.

Thanks. I know this is an old beat-up question, but will the M96 action handle the same pressure as the M98? I hear/read pros and cons on both sides. I know the 6.5x55 was standard in the M96 but I also know that it wasn't originally loaded to its full (i.e., modern) potential.

Thanks again.

Then, as you probably know, the answer still remains controversial.

The M96 action was chambered in .30-06 by Husqvarna. Kimber (Oregon) rebarreled/sporterized military M96 rifles to .243W and .308W. I've not heard of any reports of action failures by these rifles. IMO, this suggests the M96 action is sufficiently robust.

Another data point attesting to the strength of the M96 action is a letter to the editor of Handloader magazine from the head ballistician at Norma. He reported an inadvertent shooting of a overloaded ammo in their std test action which are/were built on M96 actions. IIRC, the pressure was in excess of 80K PSI. With the exception of heavy bolt lift, there was no detectable issues.

What is clear is that the M98 has design features that protect the shooter better from gas and particle blowback in the event of primer/case failure than the does the M96. This issue can be mitigated, in part, by replacing the standard M96 bolt shroud with an aftermarket shroud that has a M98 style gas flange.

Brownells/Sinclair use to offer aftermarket shrouds for the m96 but have since discontinued them.

Thanks. I wasn't aware of these two facts. The reason I asked is that I'm wondering if it is possible to rechamber a 9.3x57 M46 to 9.3x62. If HVA was rechambering to .30-06, then I assume the answer is yes.

Thanks again.

A member of 24hrCF from Sweden has posted that it is not uncommon to find M46 that have been rechambered to 9.3x62 in Sweden. So the answer is yes.

If you handload, you may find less reason to rechamber to x62. Factory x57 is loaded at pressures significantly less than 6.5x55 and 8mm Mauser pressures. Both were chambered in M96 actioned rifles.

In my M46, it is pretty easy to get 2400 FPS with 250gr Noslers.

Should probably note that my M46 is fitted with a M98 style bolt shroud.

Good to know. Thanks.

I have repurposed at least a dozen Husqvarna built M38 military actions and Husqvarna strengthened SR 640 actions, with several rebarreled for cartridges that operate a higher standard pressures than the 6.5x55. I ALWAYS do these three (3) things when building on a SR pre-1898 style Swedish Mauser action:

1. Replace the bolt shroud with a commercial style bolt should that has a larger gas shield.
2. Replace the trigger with a Bold or Timney unit with a side-safety.
3. Install a Dayton-Traister cock-on-opening kit.

The 1600 series HVA and 1900 series actions are strong, modern, actions that can (IMO) be rebarreled/rechambered for any cartridge that will fit in the magazine and fit the bolt face.

The 1600 and 1900 series rifles that I have are mostly original/collectible rifles, with the exception of a pair of 1900 series S&W Cs that came to me as 30-06s and have been rebarreled in 256 Newton and 338-06.

That's helpful information as well. Thanks!

The Husqvarna M46AN was made in 9,3x62. The 649 was made in 9,3x62 on the "strengthened" 96 actions.

My JC Higgins 51-L in 308 with first blood after I got it. Just under 7 1/2 lbs as shown.


HVA action, barreled and stocked by High Standard for Sears. The recoil mortise was broken out and the tang cracked. A couple cross pins and a healthy amount of accraglass put it back in operation.
Before the stock work.

This is the second of two 30-06 FS HVA rifles I've owned. The first was a S&W branded one. This is HVA branded and is nicer finished than the S&W rifle. Both shot well and while I have carried them while hunting, never shot any game with them. Sold the S&W a few years ago and would like to sell this one if some one is looking for one. PM me if interested.

i love my full stock mannlicher in 30-06 it has a vintage ted Williams 3x9 I love the slim profile of the scope and the sleekness of the whole rig. the nearest I can tell it was made in 59

I have several....only a half tick behind a mod 70..

Let me know when you get tired of that thing....