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    M38 Headspace question

    I just got a 1941 Husquvarna M38 6.5 x 55 today and I took a few shots with it. I looked at a few of the fired cases and I think the primers have flattened out a little. I tried taking pictures comparing them to an unfired round, but they're a little blurry. Is there anything other than headspace that could cause the primers to flatten out and if it is headspace, how much would it cost to fix it? Also does anyone know what that green stuff is around the primers? Any help would be appreciated.
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    Legacy Member WarPig1976's Avatar
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    I would redo the pictures cus that's what I see after about 8 beers and 4 shots of Jack!!

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    haha yeah I know they're bad my phone's camera sucks, I'll try taking some better ones tomorrow.

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    I got some better pictures. And I measured my firing pin protrusion, it's about 0.050" is that about what it should be?

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    Legacy Member WarPig1976's Avatar
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    The primmer sealant that's breaking down? Corrosion?
    It's surplus, probably hotter now then the day it was made. Headspace is an overblown issue. We have a video somewhere by AGI and Bob Dunlap proves it. I'd shoot it, but that's me..

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    That's just the sealant around the primers. It's not meant for artwork so it doesn't need to be neat. Doesn't look like anything's wrong with it.
    Regards, Jim

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    Quote Originally Posted by browningautorifleicon View Post
    That's just the sealant around the primers. It's not meant for artwork so it doesn't need to be neat. Doesn't look like anything's wrong with it.
    Ok, I just wanted to make sure because the guy I got it from said he never shot it. It's probably just because it's some old Yugoslavian ammo.

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    Quote Originally Posted by beastybaconman View Post
    old Yugoslavian ammo.
    The green sealer and NNY head stamp suggests this is Serbian or Bosnian made ammo imported/sold by Jay Hanson, owner of the Hanson Ammunition Company, during the early to mid 1990's prior to the start up of the Bosnian War in '95. It was very good ammo. It's the same as the current PRVI brand. Some of the ammo sold under the Hanson name was made by IMI in Israel and IIRC it had red sealer and 1K OR IK head stamps.
    As Jim said there's nothing wrong with the ammo. And if the bolt and receiver numbers match then in all probability there's nothing wrong with the rifle either.
    I used to work part time at a gun shop in the early 90's when the Swede Mausers were plentiful and still being imported in. They were big sellers and it was hard at times to keep them in stock. I've handled hundreds while inspecting and checking head space prior to putting them out for sale and not once do remember finding one that failed to head space within spec. Some, mostly the M38's, appeared to be in like new condition. There was even a couple M41 snipers sans scope, base and mounts mixed in. The sad part is most were sporterized to some degree at the buyers request.
    Last edited by vintage hunter; 04-04-2015 at 03:09 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by vintage hunter View Post
    The green sealer and NNY head stamp suggests this is Serbian or Bosnian made ammo imported/sold by Jay Hanson, owner of the Hanson Ammunition Company, during the early to mid 1990's prior to the start up of the Bosnian War in '95. It was very good ammo. It's the same as the current PRVI brand. Some of the ammo sold under the Hanson name was made by IMI in Israel and IIRC it had red sealer and 1K OR IK head stamps.
    As Jim said there's nothing wrong with the ammo. And if the bolt and receiver numbers match then in all probability there's nothing wrong with the rifle either.
    I used to work part time at a gun shop in the early 90's when the Swede Mausers were plentiful and still being imported in. They were big sellers and it was hard at times to keep them in stock. I've handled hundreds while inspecting and checking head space prior to putting them out for sale and not once do remember finding one that failed to head space within spec. Some, mostly the M38's, appeared to be in like new condition. There was even a couple M41 snipers sans scope, base and mounts mixed in. The sad part is most were sporterized to some degree at the buyers request.
    Oh, I just said it was Yugoslavian because on the box it says that's where the ammo was made and the box is pretty beat up so I figured it was old. I just shot it some more today and it seems like decent ammo. And I figured the rifle was probably fine, there weren't any signs of high pressure like a sticky bolt or anything but I'm no expert at reading fired cases so I just wanted to check.

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