A Timney Trigger On The Model 96 Swedish Mauser

The Model 96 Swedish Mauser is a fine military rifle and an excellent choice for hunters in its original 6.5x55mm chambering. When sporterized and scoped, it also makes a good target rifle, particularly with one of the fine replacement triggers available. During the total sporterization process of this old rifle, the stock was cut down and the receiver bedded with Brownells Steel Bed. The barrel was shortened and crowned and the receiver drilled and tapped for a scope sight.

It really wouldn’t have been fair to the old gun to not install anew trigger. I’ve adjusted several of the old factory single-stage triggers before, At left in both pictures is the original issue trigger, which is very basic by design. At right is the Timney Featherweight, adjustable from around four pounds to just under two pounds. The safety is on the bolt for both triggers.

Note the half-inch trigger set back on the Timney trigger as measured at a right angle downward from the trigger anchor pin hole to the trigger pad resulting in a more workable setup. Set screw pressure produces a pivotal action at the trigger retaining pin, forcing the rearward part of the trigger body upward against the receiver.

This simple principle of design has held the Mauser triggers in place for many decades, even through extreme usage. including older Springfields and the like, and most end up safe and quite smooth. However, trigger travel remained long on the original Model 96s at about four pounds before the new triggers. The trigger tuning I had performed was accomplished by reducing sear spring pressure a bit and polishing the sear/striker mating surfaces to a mirror shine.

There is a very simple, yet quite effective, leverage built into the original trigger/sear mechanisms that resulted in a safe and workable trigger for most needs. Though I had the factory trigger down to 2-½ pounds, I decided to consult with the folks at Timney Triggers (timneytriggers.com). In looking over the available triggers for the 96 Mauser, the Timney Featherweight turned out to be an excellent choice requiring little fitting.

They sent me one of their Featherweight models to fit the 96 Swedish Mauser that is adjustable to a crisp pull weight under two pounds. Installing The Timney Trigger The Swedes had the original trigger almost centered in the trigger guard, which makes it difficult to get a gloved finger in the loop. This changed with the well-designed Timney model that sets well back into the trigger guard.

Installation involved opening the slot in the trigger guard and inletting the stock rearward to make room for the trigger housing. The trigger housing

A single retaining pin and set screw lock the trigger in place onto the receiver, pushing the rear of the body upward. Seen at the front are the adjusting screws for sear engagement and trigger over travel. The hole through the trigger body shows the degree of trigger and sear engagement surface as the trigger is adjusted. on the Timney Featherweight is larger than the original Mauser versions. It is adjustable for creep and overtravel, as well as pull weight.

Of course, the original striker lock safety is used as provided on the Model 96 Mauser rifle. On firing, the original trigger actually caused the bolt to move slightly downward as the sear pulled down on it. Such movement certainly isn’t conducive to best accuracy. Now, there is no bolt body movement as the Timney trigger fires the rifle. This sporter is atop performer still chambered in its original 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser cartridge.

The firing pin travel is very long at 1.136 inches, resulting in a lengthy lock time. However, this really didn’t appear to affect grouping accuracy as I tested the rifle. Groups under one minute of angle were common with several different handloads. All-in-all, installation of a Timney trigger on the old Model 96 Swedish Mauser was a very worthwhile conversion. It makes the rifle just that much better. AG American Gunsmithing Association