Anyone have a 1903 Mannlicher Schoenauer carbine?

geologist said:
This is one of those dream rifles for me.

I've always wanted to find one with a good bore but I've given up. :mad:

Anyone have experience with one of these old gems?
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I picked up a 1903 (military, not a peacetime sporter) from the EE a year or so back. It had been tarted up a bit and rebarrelled (with too slow a twist for 160gn, alas) and restocked with a very average Fajen (??), probably back in the 70's. The sights had also been bubba'd, though the side mount is fine. It's in pieces at the moment, with the stock waiting refinishing etc., although the wood is only average. Still, a lovely little rifle. The little shooting I did showed it had potential.

If you're ever in Reliable Gun & Tackle on a slow day (rare in that shop), talk to John (Matheson, the owner). Both he and his two sons have M-S sporters. Two are carbines, I think, and one is a long rifle. Serious drool-factor there.

:) Stuart
 
Well guys I had 2 1903's,1 1908,9x57ms,1 1910, 9.5x57 and 1 in 30-06!! All are gone ( I blew my first 1903 up with a jammed HAWK 6.5(6.6) bullet) I got the first from Epps, and the others from total obsessive compulsive searching. If you are patient they are still quite available. I killed a number of deer,coyotes, coons and other Varmints here on the farm and "helped to down a huge bull moose my Huntin' partner wounded . Don' t ever underestimate the abilities of the 6.5x54MS,!!! The blow up was featured in the Mannlcher Owners Magazine. If you Google Mannlicher you can find the site. It was great . Some where I have a whole bunch of pics , I sold the last 1903 at agun show for 1700$$ to a guy who couldn't get his cheque book out fast enough. I miss it... JITC
 
I've owned a few M-S carbines too (2 x M1903 and 2 x M1908). They are absolutely wonderfull little rifles. I really wish I hadn't sold them. They are very handy, point very well, have virtually no recoil (M1903), have very nice open sights (to me) and the actions are smooth as butter!
 
I see I'm not the only one hoping to get one of these some day. :)

A custom built one with the double triggers in 6.5x55 Swede would be pretty sweet IMHO. :)
 
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The only thing about rechambering one is the spool will also have to be altered to get it to feed properly.Karamojo Bell planted a lot of elephants with these rounds 6.5X54,.303 + 7X57............Harold
 
I have one. It's a family heirloom and I would never dream of selling it. It has fired less than ten rounds in all the years it was in my father's and then my possession. I don't know how much my grandfather shot it, but it doesn't look like a whole lot. I take it out of the safe every once in a while just to look at it.
 
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