Bazzoka_Joe
Regular
- Location
- PRQ(People Replublic of Quebec)
Hi ,i would like to have your impression on this rifle accuracy ,reliability,fit an finish ....
Thanks
Thanks
What do you think of the steyr M95
- Thread starter Bazzoka_Joe
- Start date
I have two of them, a Bulgarian 1903-contract Rifle converted to 8x56R30M and a civilian-proofed 1917 Carbine in the original 8x50R.
The actions are fast, loading is quick and positive, unloading the same.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire got good service out of them in the Great War, as did Bulgaria in that war as well as both Balkan Wars preceding it. The (many) successor states also got good service out of them and they stayed in usage until the end of World War Two.
The only "issue" that I know of regarded a fall-off in accuracy with the Rifle when the barrel was overheated. This was due to the very lightweight barrel used on all of these, combined with the continued reliance on conventional stocking-up. Had they been stocked as was the SMLE, I am sure that this issue could have been laid to rest as well.
As SHOOTING rifles, EVERYTHING depends on your ammunition. With fresh, consistent loads, on average, there is no reason that one of these should not be able to keep up with any other rifle in its class. We are fortunate that Trade-Ex has the Brass and that loaded ammunition will be available soon everywhere that cares (and is available in a few places right now). That takes care of the 8x56R30M. For the 8x50R you need a .323 bullet; brass can be made by resizing and trimming 7.62x54R Russian. Loading data is in COTW-6 and up.
But MY opinion matters little.
The opinion which MATTERED was that of His Imperial Majesty Kaiser Franz Josef I. After all, he paid for them.
And he liked them.
The actions are fast, loading is quick and positive, unloading the same.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire got good service out of them in the Great War, as did Bulgaria in that war as well as both Balkan Wars preceding it. The (many) successor states also got good service out of them and they stayed in usage until the end of World War Two.
The only "issue" that I know of regarded a fall-off in accuracy with the Rifle when the barrel was overheated. This was due to the very lightweight barrel used on all of these, combined with the continued reliance on conventional stocking-up. Had they been stocked as was the SMLE, I am sure that this issue could have been laid to rest as well.
As SHOOTING rifles, EVERYTHING depends on your ammunition. With fresh, consistent loads, on average, there is no reason that one of these should not be able to keep up with any other rifle in its class. We are fortunate that Trade-Ex has the Brass and that loaded ammunition will be available soon everywhere that cares (and is available in a few places right now). That takes care of the 8x56R30M. For the 8x50R you need a .323 bullet; brass can be made by resizing and trimming 7.62x54R Russian. Loading data is in COTW-6 and up.
But MY opinion matters little.
The opinion which MATTERED was that of His Imperial Majesty Kaiser Franz Josef I. After all, he paid for them.
And he liked them.
I love mine, put 40 rounds though it last weekend. It's a carbine and the muzzle blast in the evening just before dark was huge, even visible in the middle of the day. I got a good 2 or 3 inch group at 50 yards with it the first time I went out, I wasn't trying for group just seeing where it was hitting in general, the Trigger is pretty decent for a military rifle, might have to try for a good group next time I gets ammo for it. I Would have taken it hunting with me this year if I could have gotten my hands on some soft points.
Mine is a carbine I got from Tradex last year. Have put about 200 rds of cast through it. Will put 5 rds into an inch and a half at 50yds right on the point of aim. i don't think you can ask for more from a 100 year old military carbine. A cast load that shoots well turns these rifles into fun plinkers. Generates more questions than a Jungle Carbine at the range as well.
Among the first surplus rifles I ever owned was a pair of these in carbine and full length versions.I thought they were lots of fun to shoot and the carbine in particular had quite a bark to it with the surplus ammo I bought with them.Several years ago I sold most of my surplus rifles off including these two.I have been slowly building the herd back up and I recently re-acquired a M95 carbine from Tradex along with PRVI brass and bullets to match.Tried the old gal out up in my favourite shooting pit up north a couple weeks ago and it felt just like old times.I really like these rifles and with components being so much more easily available these days they are a snap to load for.Lots of fun!
I have a very good opinion about M95's.
IMHO problems and bad reputation of some of the specimens comes from simple fact that great many of them had a very long service life in bad storage conditions and in hands of unskilled/untrained solders.
Some of those served in 3 wars and small number possibly saw some use in post WW2 fighting (not sure about this).
M95 in itself was a very good design,the simplest straight bolt action infantry rifle at the moment when those were in fashion.
When new and in original caliber those must have been excellent shooters ( I wish I could get a chance of shooting one,never mind owning one).
As for reloading for and shooting 8x56R models I found that oversized Lyman 8mm,165Gr mold shoots the best in mine example (I found single cavity,recent production,.330 and closer to 170Gr)
Because this mold is so much oversize standard 8mm GC won't fit but alu 8mm GC from Sages Outdoors fits perfect.
From what I have seend on mine and other examples rifling on M95 is incredibly deep and therefore hard to clean perfectly with brushes and patches-bore soaking is a must.
That's another thing-because of above, accuracy will be iffy unless one can get all old deposits out ( it took me good few weeks to get all gunk out and 4 years later I'm not sure I got it all out).
Brass is available (most of the time)so are jacketed bullets (big THANK YOU to Trade Ex-you guys are great!), PRVI ammo is around,Hornady has or had some as well but I have never met anyone who saw or shot it.
IMHO problems and bad reputation of some of the specimens comes from simple fact that great many of them had a very long service life in bad storage conditions and in hands of unskilled/untrained solders.
Some of those served in 3 wars and small number possibly saw some use in post WW2 fighting (not sure about this).
M95 in itself was a very good design,the simplest straight bolt action infantry rifle at the moment when those were in fashion.
When new and in original caliber those must have been excellent shooters ( I wish I could get a chance of shooting one,never mind owning one).
As for reloading for and shooting 8x56R models I found that oversized Lyman 8mm,165Gr mold shoots the best in mine example (I found single cavity,recent production,.330 and closer to 170Gr)
Because this mold is so much oversize standard 8mm GC won't fit but alu 8mm GC from Sages Outdoors fits perfect.
From what I have seend on mine and other examples rifling on M95 is incredibly deep and therefore hard to clean perfectly with brushes and patches-bore soaking is a must.
That's another thing-because of above, accuracy will be iffy unless one can get all old deposits out ( it took me good few weeks to get all gunk out and 4 years later I'm not sure I got it all out).
Brass is available (most of the time)so are jacketed bullets (big THANK YOU to Trade Ex-you guys are great!), PRVI ammo is around,Hornady has or had some as well but I have never met anyone who saw or shot it.
I love my 1911 long rifle in 8*56r!!
It is so accurate and, my favourite, throws the empty brass a good 16' straight to the right! The first time at the line I was nailing my compadres beside me! The spent cases were flying off their ear muffs! We were all laughing so hard!
I fixed that by turning the rifle half a turn to the left on each ejection so the spent case flew right up and onto the shooting bench.
Great rifle! Mine used to belong to my father before he passed on. He told me I would never find ammo for it as he had looked. He owned the rifle for at least 34 years before I got it and had never fired it!
It is so accurate and, my favourite, throws the empty brass a good 16' straight to the right! The first time at the line I was nailing my compadres beside me! The spent cases were flying off their ear muffs! We were all laughing so hard!
I fixed that by turning the rifle half a turn to the left on each ejection so the spent case flew right up and onto the shooting bench.
Great rifle! Mine used to belong to my father before he passed on. He told me I would never find ammo for it as he had looked. He owned the rifle for at least 34 years before I got it and had never fired it!
Bazzoka_Joe
Regular
- Location
- PRQ(People Replublic of Quebec)
thank guys for your comment i just order one from trade ex !
