Loading for Styer M95 Carbine

F

Frost Cracked

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
40   0   0
Location
My house
I've picked up a Styer M95 and have been attempting some handloads for it. So far I have not been able to find a lot of information, outside the Lee dies, which seem to produce cannon-loads when attempted. Has anyone done or tried any lighter loads for this rifle for plinking with?

Additionally it's also shooting incredibly high, and I suspect the front sight is not original as it looks very rough. Does anyone with an original know the height of the front sight for these rifles?

-Thanks
 
I have couple carbines and they kick worse than a mule. I use lead bullets with starting loads for 8m/m Mauser. Tames it down a bit. Factory loads are equivalent to European Mauser loads. One of mine is sporterized with a lot of wood removed which makes recoil worse, I added a recoil pad. Your front site sounds like it needs to be higher. A gunsmith would probably have different hieght sites. I believe Styer sites fit. Did I mention these thing kick.
 
39 gr IMR 4064 with the 205 Hornady SP shoots to the sights in mine. Clocks around 1900 fps.
 
Several points:
1) those carbines with actual 8x56r surplus do kick like mules
2) those carbines tend to shoot high (note the folded down battle sight is I believe 500m, you can lift up on the ladder sight and the bottom setting under the slider should be 300m)
3) the front sight likely is original if it looks rough unless its been filed. These Carbines had a rough go in life. There was also several different types of front sight heights depending on the carbine, who it was issued to, and why. For example I had one which was a 'police carbine' post WWII (i.e. Bulgarian 'internal security'). It had a much higher front sight than most the carbines but it shot POI at 100m with the battle sight. I really wish I never sold that carbine.
 
If you intend to reduce the loads, do it with powders faster than Varget, such as one of the 4895's. You'll get poor results if you reduce slower powders like the 4350's much below their starting loads. Your best results in fact will likely be with small charges of Pistol Powders. If you can share what you have on hand, I can suggest a load.
 
If you have a hose clamp and a set of Allen Keys or even a Paper Clip, you can make a temporary front sight and determine the height you need for a permanent solution.

standard.jpg
 
My load for 8x56r is 44grains of IMR 4895. (Take this as advise not fact) It’s nice to shoot, still has recoil but the kind you can shoot all day with. So far every single M95 I have owned shoots really high. It’s the sights on them.
 
I have one but haven't shot it in about 10 yrs. I worked up a nice cast bullet load with the Lee bullet sized 331. Don't remember what powder now ( probably H4198 or 2400). Shot nice round groups of about an inch and a half at 50 yds. right on point of aim. I've discovered over the years many military rifle shoot high with jacketed bullets but significantly lower with mid range cast loads. Quite often close to point of aim. Much lees recoil as well.
 
Last edited:
I use a 205 gr cast bullet with 24 grs of IMR 4198. I find it shoots to point of aim at 100m.
I usually take them out and have a straight pull day. Ross ,m95, Swiss 89 and Swiss 11.
A piece of coat hanger wrapped around the barrel and site with the end sticking up works well.
Can be cut to proper height. Start with more than needed and shoot and cut until it shoots to
point of aim.
 
I haven't shot mine yet, (waiting for dies to arrive) but I'm intending to load it with 10grains of unique starting off with some cast bullets and see where that gets me. Still need to do some more research on other potential powders and the max safe load of unique though so take that for what it's worth.
 
This is a very strong action that was rebarelled to use full-strength 8X57. Given that, and the fact that the 8X56R case has considerably more case capacity and a greater bore diameter than the 8X57, you can use even Max 8X57 jacketed or cast loads with confidence.

I have employed the Lee cast bullet as well as Speer jacketed 0.338" Hot-Cor® bullets sized down to 0.330" with some success. This is where hands go up by people who have never tried this, that doing that is dangerous due to the strong likelihood of the jacket separating from the core and?.... but aside from slightly reduced diameter and an associated slight lengthening of the bullet and its bearing surface, I have not seen any evidence of jacket separation on sectioned unfired bullets nor recovered fired bullets. In fact all bullets are "sized down" when they're fired - the lands of the rifling press deeply into the bullet and alter its original shape, lengthening it somewhat.
 
Last edited:
Andy said:
This is a very strong action that was rebarelled to use full-strength 8X57. Given that, and the fact that the 8X56R case has considerably more case capacity and a greater bore diameter than the 8X57, you can use even Max 8X57 jacketed or cast loads with confidence.

I have employed the Lee cast bullet as well as Speer jacketed 0.338" bullets sized down to 0.330" with some success. This is where hands go up by people who have never tried this, that doing that is dangerous due to the strong likelihood of the jacket separating from the core and?.... but aside from slightly reduced diameter and an associated slight lengthening of the bullet and its bearing surface, I have not seen any evidence of jacket separation on sectioned unfired bullets nor recovered fired bullets.
Click to expand...
I agree with this. I have been using European rated loads for 8x57 in both of my 95's with no problems except for the recoil. The carbines have a fair amount of kick but it is the same with 1938 marked German rounds.
 
As others said, with the rifles light weight makes them kick like a mule with full power loads. I have lots of 1930's ammo that give a bruise to your shoulder pretty easy. Lee make a inexpensive mold for these rifles and with lighter cast loads they are a lot nicer to shoot. I have used mostly unique and the like for powder. Privi makes fairly cheap brass.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom