Steyr in 8x50r, probably new, worth buying? MODIFIED: actually it's 56r

louthepou

louthepou

Snow-White Le Mod<br>Moderator
Moderator
Rating - 100%
792   0   0
Location
Aylmer, QC
Hi folks, a bit outside my "comfort zone" - I have the possibility of buying a near new Steyr M95 carbine, I do believe in 50R (not 56R). Is it impossible to feed this rifle? Or is there possibility to find brass and reloading dies? Thanks for any input!

-------------

Modified post - thanks to everyone's input. After verification it's in 56r. Still bought it :)
 
Last edited:
Dies for 8x50r seem to be about $80. I think they are a limited production series from Lee. You will have to make your own brass as well. My good buddy used 8x56R brass that he trimmed down and formed. Bullets are the tough part as they are .323 but in the 220 gr area so you will either have to cast your own or adjust your point of aim when using a different bullet weight.
 
Lee 8mm Max will make really nice,heavy boolit (I can send you some of those if you like to try them) and NOE has even nicer 5 bangers of pointy 216Gr boolits.
 
I have a carbine in 8x56R. Have shot some cast out of it. Good plinker with cast bullets .Actually a rifle/carbine in the original 8x50 might be easier to feed once you have dies and brass. The issue with 8x56 is the really "odd" bore size. Apparently most are betweem .331 and .334. I lucked out and mine is right where spec's say it should be at .329. My Lee mould designed for this caliber casts at.331. My understanding is that the 8x50 should be a standard 8 mm at .323 which gives you more options for bullets either cast or jacketed. As well I have read that cases are easily formed from 7.62x54R which is relatively common.
 
Thanks a bunch, folks, you've succeeded in convincing me to buy it. One more totally unexpected acquisition. :D

Here's a picture sent to me by the seller.

 
Fine looking Stuzen (Full rifle cut to carbine lenght). If it had the Short sight, it would be the Carbine.

Carbine on top, Stutzen on bottom.


Look for the large S ( H if Hungarian built) stamped on top of the barrel. You can just make it out on the Carbine.

If it has the S (or H ) then its 8 X 56R.

Ken
 
Lou, just get ahold of Anthony at Trade-Ex and get a bag of 7.62x54R brass, open up the mouth and seat your 8mm slug. Works.

You will have to trim the neck back by about 3mm, but it's a lot easier to trim the stuff than it is to stretch it longer!

Depending on the actual dies, you might get away with using 7.62x54R brass and using your 7.62 SEATING die as a sizer.

ALL of these were manufactured originally in 8x50R. When they were converted in the 1930s, a 1/2-inch high letter "S" was stamped onto the Chamber of the barrel, just ahead of the Receiver ring.

You should be able to get away with regular .323 slugs if it is an 8x50R. The rifles were sighted for a 244-grain RN bullet. The 8x56R used a special .329"/.330" FMJBT 208-grainer. Recoil was brutal.
 
Thanks everyone, the rifle is on its way. :)

And as some of you very knowledgeable fellows have figured out, it's indeed in 56r, not 50r (unfortunately? fortunately?)

Can't wait to post more pics!
 
Nothing wrong with the 56R(ok recoil aside ). Brass, Dies, bullets are available. and you can load the .323 bullets, you just need to avoid the BT ones as you will need as much Jacket in the rifling as possible. Mine likes the Speer 200gr SP's as they shoot almost as tight as the .330 205gr's. When loading the EN-Block clips,ensure each round is pointing up at a 45 degree angle or a bit more. Otherwise the rim's will misaline with the ones below and a jam is certain.
When shooting at 100meter or so, flip the rear sight up. At the bottom of it is the 300meter V notch with the Volly ranges as marked. With the rear sight down, the V notch is the 500 meter range.

Ken
 
Buy some prvi made stuff, some en-block clips and have at it. The 56R is an all time classic, the Austrians did a reasonable job in making something better out of the old 50R.
 
And invest in one of those strap on shoulder pads before you shoot it. They have a REAL NASTY kick, especialy the lighter carbine version! I speak from personal experience since I own both the rifle and the carbine:evil:
 
Guys im curious, i got one of these, picked it up at The Army Navy Store in Halifax for 150 bucks, its got the small rear sight like the top rifle in the pic above, would this have been an original carbine?
ANd i hear a lot about the vicious recoil on these iv put 40 or 50 rounds of PRIVI downrange and dont find it any harder the my Mosin 91/30, i wonder if the privi ammo is underloaded maybe?
 
BigC396 said:
Guys im curious, i got one of these, picked it up at The Army Navy Store in Halifax for 150 bucks, its got the small rear sight like the top rifle in the pic above, would this have been an original carbine?
ANd i hear a lot about the vicious recoil on these iv put 40 or 50 rounds of PRIVI downrange and dont find it any harder the my Mosin 91/30, i wonder if the privi ammo is underloaded maybe?
Click to expand...

Yes, the PRVI stuff is loaded pretty light. Try some surplus in her and she'll do some damage to your shoulder.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom