Commercial M95 sporting rifle

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North of 58

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Does anyone else have one of these? Any load suggestions? It is a commercial sporting carbine built on the M95 Steyr Mannlicher straight pull action. It has double set triggers, .323 bore, and express sights. Like the original M95 rifles it is chambered for the 8x50R Austrian Mannlicher cartridge. The gun came with dies and some brass formed from 7.62x54R Russian cartridges. I handload a bit, but I've never formed cartridges before. It is a light (6lbs 2oz) carbine with an 18 or 19" barrel. Any opinions on action strength? All comments are appreciated. Thanks.
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Thanks guys. I picked it up at the Calgary gunshow. It is kind of neat. That straight pull action is very smooth and slick. It must have been the ultra light of it's day. I think my scale might show 3 or 4 oz heavy, so it could be under 6 lbs. My "Cartridges of the World" book says the original bullet in both military and sporting was 244 grains. I expect it could kick fairly hard with that load.
 
Kynoch in Scotland made sporting ammunition for these for several years. Once in a LONG while, you run into a single round or (if the Stutzer Fairy is watching over you) a whole box.

I have one that left the factory with civilian proofs, although it is a 1917 rifle in full-military trim. Think it must have gone to the police or something; they would be the only ones with enough drag to get a current-issue rifle out of a plant in the middle of losing a war.

I'm forming my ammo from 7.62x54R and it's one of the easiest conversions I've ever done: pick up the MN guys' brass, take it home, lube it, FL size in 7.62x54R dies, open out the case-mouth for a .323 slug, trim to 1.98", load her up.

I don't doubt that there were some of these made as commercials before the Great War (yours is sort-of VERY solid proof of that!) but I really don't think there would have been very many. Add to that the general destruction of firearms during and after a few wars and, my friend, I think you have a VERY rare item.

AND it's beautiful, just to top things off! Straight-pull action, folding Express sights, all the rest. You will need Mannlicher clips for this baby. Do you have such?

Super nice toy!
 
Thanks, smellie. The gun came with several clips, dies, and a small bag of reformed 7.62x54 brass. There were a few 8x50 cases there as well. I picked up two sets of 10 factory 8x50R loaded rounds a couple of gun shows. One set was mislabled as 8x56R. I also bought several more clips at various gun shows so I have 8 or 9 now. In "Cartridges of the World" the author says a few 8x50R sporting rifles were imported around the 1920s or 30s, long after the military cartridge was changed to 8x56R. Some quality workmanship went into the metal on this one.
 
North of 58 said:
Does anyone else have one of these?
Click to expand...

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4470371#post4470371

I would like to know who made these, as my first thought was Bannermans or the like, though someone like Frankonia Jagd at one time wouldn't surprise me either. Then agian, there are some pretty good amatures out there, but without doubt someone had fun making up yours, though it doesnt quite seem done in some ways, that front sight for example, but all the same, nice rifle. I'd pay half a snickers bar to see yours out of the stock, as I am wondering what markings lay beneath the woodline.
 
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