Varberger 717

The History of Varberger

The Varberger together with Lakelander rifles find their origin in a design originally created by the Swedish inventor Lars Andersson. The story of the company is closely intertwined with the design of Lakelander which goes back to 1976 when Anderson presented the Lakelander 174 model. It also has strong connections to the Kongsberg firm.

The first commercial model of the Lakelander was called the TAP-375, a name derived from Tampereen Asepaja OY located in Finland. This was also the first official production model to be manufactured by the company with the manufacturing taking place in Finland. The design featured an embedded steel plate, a redesigned bolt with nine locking lugs, and a rotating magazine.

After some time, the production of Lakelander was shifted to Sweden, where it was officially rebranded as Varberger. The model 757 introduced by Varberger featured a modified six-lug bolt head, a change from the original nine, which simplified the machining process significantly and allowed for faster production. Later on, the company launched more budget-friendly options which used a three-lug design. This feature was predominant in the models like the Varberger 777.

The production of Varberger firearms stopped in the late 1990s when the company went bankrupt and sold its inventory and machines. Soon after, the Kongsberg of Norway started to make another rifle version based on the original Lakelander, calling it the model 389. The rifle featured a three-lug bolt design and retained most of the structural similarities of the Varbergers.

The Varberger and Kongsberg rifles differ mainly in their safety features, with the Varberger having a two-point safety, while the Kongsberg boasts a three-point safety. Additionally, Kongsberg’s bolt stops are known to be somewhat more durable. Varberger's trigger guards are made of steel, however, aftermarket aluminum versions are also an option.

Soon after purchasing the Varberger, Kongsberg started focusing more on remote weapons solutions, particularly for the U.S. Armed Forces, with the peak in the 2008 establishment of Kongsberg Protech Systems. That same year, Kongsberg Oil & Gas Technologies was founded. In the following years, the company witnessed growth via defence contracts and the acquisition of Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine. As of 2023, Kongsberg has a global workforce of around 12,500 and operates within three main divisions: Kongsberg Maritime, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, and Kongsberg Digital.

Varberger Rifles Review

Varberger made several models of bolt action rifles during its production years all of which were based on the initial Lakelander TAP-375 design. After the production was moved to Sweden, the name of these rifles was officially changed to Varberger. The design remained mostly unaltered, with the exception of reducing the number of locking lugs from 9 that were used on the TAP versions to 6 on Varberger, which made the production easier and faster. The safety mechanism also differed as the Varberger-produced rifles only came with a two-position safety positioned on the right rear end of the receiver, behind the bolt handle compared to the 375 which had a three-position one.

Over the years of production, the company has introduced some variations of the rifle, such as the model 757 with six locking lugs, or the model 777 that followed soon after and was supposed to be a more affordable option. Unfortunately, there is a limited amount of data on the specifications of each individual version, as the general design remained mostly consistent throughout the manufacturing process.

Varberger actions were manufactured of high-grade steel and the wooden stocks with checkered forend and handles featured a classic Montel Carlo shape. They came equipped with rotary-style box magazines that could accept four standard or three magnum cartridges.

The magazine isn’t accessible through the bottom of the forend but rather has to be loaded through the top of the action. The two-position safety lever is engaged by pulling it rearwards, locking the bolt and the trigger. When the lever is pushed forward the rifle is ready to fire. To remove cartridges from the magazine, a lever on the side should be pushed and the rifle tilted to the side. The trigger mechanisms had an adjustable weight of pull which was factory preset at an approximate weight of 1500 g (3.3 lbs).

Allegedly, the Varberger rifles were produced between the years 1991 and 1998 when the company went bankrupt and the production was continued by the Kongsberg of Norway.

Varberger rifle, chambered for .308 WIn.

Figure 1: Varberger rifle, chambered for .308 WIn. (Source: https://greatnorthgunco.ca/product/varberger-rifle-in-308/)

Varberger Calibers

The rifle can be chambered for the following calibers:

.243 Win.
6.5x55 Swedish
.270 Win.
.308 Win.
7.62x51 NATO
.308 Win.
7x64
.30-06 Spr.
9.3x62 Mauser

The receivers of Varberger rifles come with drilled and tapped holes which can be used for scope mounting purposes. The top surface is rounded contrary to Lakelander and Kongsberg models that have a flat top receiver. There are two holes in the front and two on the back end of the Varberger receiver.

The receiver of Varberger rifle, chambered for .308 Win.

Figure 2: The receiver of Varberger rifle, chambered for .308 Win. (Source: https://greatnorthgunco.ca/product/varberger-rifle-in-308/)

Varberger rifle

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension.

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart.

Note that despite the rifles sharing many similarities with early Lakelanders and later Kongsbergs, the upper mounting surface is not the same as the Varberger models have a rounded drilled and tapped top.

Unfortunately, we were unable to find the exact dimensions of the Varberger rifles’ mounting surface, thus we are unable to provide you with a list of interchangeable scope mounts. Should you happen to own this rifle and would be willing to share with us more information regarding interchangeability, we kindly ask you to contact us at info@optics-trade.eu

Thank you for your help!

Best Scope Mounts for Varberger Rifles

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Varberger Rifles

If you are looking for a detachable mounting solution that is also repeatable, the EAW pivot mount with 30 mm rings is a good choice for anyone wishing to attach optics on the Varberger rifles. It is crafted from premium steel, is made in Germany, and is backed by a 30-year warranty.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the scope mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu

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EAW XS pivot mount, 30 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

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Varberger 717

The History of Varberger

Varberger Rifles Review

Varberger Calibers

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

Best Scope Mounts for Varberger Rifles

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Varberger Rifles

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

EAW pivot mount, 30 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW Magnum pivot mount, 34 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW XS pivot mount, 34 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW Magnum pivot mount, 36 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW XS pivot mount, 36 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW pivot mount, Zeiss ZM/VM rail, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW pivot mount, Swarovski SR rail, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW pivot mount, S&B Convex rail, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW pivot mount, 26 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW Magnum pivot mount, 26 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW pivot mount, LM rail, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW Magnum pivot mount, 30 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

EAW XS pivot mount, 30 mm, Varberger M 717, 757, 777, Luxus

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Varberger 717

The History of Varberger

Varberger Rifles Review

Varberger Calibers

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Varberger Rifles

Best Scope Mounts for Varberger Rifles

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Varberger Rifles

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

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