Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 question

[jsmaye]

I bought a Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 carbine last night and have done a little research on it this morning. What I can't find is what the small 'ball-and-post' on the upper band and sits to the left of the barrel is for. I had originally thought it was for the bayonet, but now I know that mounts to the bottom of the barrel.

[iloveguns1]

It is a stacking lug for stacking several together. This will tell you all you need to know about them.http://www.sunblest.net/gun/Mann95Bu.htm. By the way be prepared for a kick.

[Tidewater_Kid]

I love these rifles. Wonderful value. Can't wait to shoot mine if I can ever get some time off.

TK

[Tamara]

They do, indeed, kick like mules. Probably the hardest-recoiling milsurp I own other than my Berthier carbine...

[tokarev762]

They do have a bit of recoil, but less than a 12 ga. to me. Thinking it would be a great woods rifle for deer and especialy hog hunting. I load 205 softpoints over Varget powder in mine but haven't taken anything but target paper with it yet.

Don't throw away the ammunition clips. They're worth more that the ammo.

[Tamara]

Fortunately I have, like, a couple of ammo cans of 8x56R all on clips. I need to get some of that non-corrosive Hornady/Graf & Sons ammo, too, as much for the reloadable brass as anything else. (Yes, I know that Berdan-primed brass can theoretically be reloaded, but that would require a level of ambition far above anything I possess.)

[jsmaye]

I need to get some of that non-corrosive Hornady/Graf & Sons ammo,

I checked out the site - is that 10 or 20 rounds for $25?

[Tamara]

That's a 20-rd. box.

[gandog56]

Hmmm, Century International is running a special on Hungarian M95's. 50 bucks each if you order three or more.

[shaman]

love mine.

ive got about half a case of ammo with me and one of the brother in laws left me cases of ammo stacked to the ceiling of his garage. i dont know how many rounds that is, but im gonna try and shoot it all!!!

as for kickin, yeah, its a bouncer for sure, not as bad as my lebel camel carbine but it definately gets your attention.

[jsmaye]

I've seen a number of M1895 carbines for sale at different sites and stores - are the "long" rifles still available?

Also, I'm at work and can't immediately verify this, but I'm almost positive that my receiver does not have the "S" stamp indicating conversion to 8x56. It was bought from Big 5 with all the paperwork and importer marking on the receiver stating it's 8x56. Could it be an unmarked conversion?

Edit: I have confirmed that my receiver does not have the large "S" - in fact, the receiver only has "STEYR M.95" on the receiver and "1" on the barrel just behind the front sight. All other markings are modern, from the importer.

The http://www.sunblest.net/gun/Mann95Bu.htm site has tons of information about Hungarian M95's but almost nothing about Austrian ones.

[Blammer]

Got rid of them both... the first was Budapest marked and chamberd for the original 8x50 load... never managed to find any ammo for it, so it sat. The second was from CIA with a ground receiver (probably Romanian) got ammo for it, shot it = most godaweful trigger and sights of any milsurp I've ever owned... My Type 36 Arisaka shot better.

[shaman]

both of mine have decent triggers.

the sights on both of them shoot at least 2 1/2 inches high.

this is pretty much a 95 stutzen thing all across the board as i understand it.


ive thought about getting a new front sight built for them.

as much ammo as i have for these things(oh man i hope the sisters garage didnt flood during ike!), it will take years and years to shoot it all up. its all 1938 stamped and out of about 250 rounds ive fired through em so far ive only had two misfires. not bad for 70 year old primers!

i think they would be hell-on-wheels east texas hog guns!

[zombie666]

Jsmaye, you still see the long rifles for sale here and there. Many of them were converted to carbines after WW I, so they are kind of scarce. They haven't been imported in any quantity for many years. Some of them were also converted to 7.92 x 57, when handed over as war reparations after WW I. This greatly simplifies your ammunition supply problem. By the way, the rifles are much more pleasent to shoot than the carbines. If you want one, check with some of the one of dealers like Empire Arms, also they show up on sites like Gun Broker occasionally. I've seen many of the 8x56R carbines that didn't have the "S" stamp. Even if yours is one of the odd ones that missed the conversion to 8 x 56, 8 x 50 can be formed from 7.62 x 54 Russian if I remember right. The 8 x 50 uses the more common .323 bullet diameter as opposed to the .326 of the 8 x 56. Back before ammo became available, I used to wish I had an 8 x 50, because .326 bullets were a bear to find. The Austrian models are pretty much identical to the Hungarian models. The Austo-Hungarian Empire was one country before WW I. The M95s were produced at both the Steyr and Budapest arsenals. Hope you enjoy your rifle.

[Sailr_2]

I need some help with reloading my budapest carbine. It is in excellent shape excellent bore and still some bluing left. I reloaded with some brass from Buffalo arms made from 45-70 goverment brass. It was expensive both the die set and the brass, but I wanted it. I reloaded about 8 rounds with a .323 round nose lead that I poured myself. I used IMR 3031 and used 45 grains. It shot fine just high like most do. Question is that I have a bout 120 .323 spritzer type bullets that I pulled from 7.9 russian cartridge. they weigh in at 200 grains. What would you suggest as a starting point for IMR 3031 or is there a better powder? I would appreciate any and all info that you can give me.

Sailr_2

[gandog56]

Was all set to tell you my favorite load for my Steyr M95, when I realized you were talking the 8X50. I got the 8X56 conversion. But if they use the same diameter bullet, I get the 205 grain 0.330" Hornady SP's from Graf And Sons. These give me pretty good groups.