Steyr info

[CDS]

Hi all,

I jus picked up a matching numbered, no import marked Steyer 95 carbine. I am looking for info on it. The seral # is K7XX--

Does anyone have any idea on what the production date would be and does this take 8x56r Enbloc ammo since the tag on it when I picked it up, just said (8mm rimmed).

Thanks-
Chuck

[Palimino Stripe]

Date should be on top of the chamber- You should see "Wn-[eagle] ##" (Or "Bp-[Shield] ##")...Those last two numbers represent the year. Eg; 17 = 1917.

If there is a large "S" stamped on the chamber that means it's 8X56R. If not- chances are it is in its original 8X50R (without an import mark it just might be!). In either case- yes- you will need the 'special' Steyr clips.

Sounds nice. Congrats!

Post some pics!

[CDS]

Palimino,
Thanks for the info-- it is WN-(eagle) 15. So 1915 and no "s" - so I guess it will
be 8x50r. I'm excited!! Picked it up in addition to a 1960 Chinese Type-53 without import marks.

Chuck

[bigcasino]

Nice, I wanted one of the ones SOG had for like $85 but they are sold out now I have the M95 fever LOL

[TRICKSTER]

Don't just assume that it's 8x50r just because it doesn't have the "S", or on some cases "H" stamp. Some (very few) of the 8x56r conversions missed being stamped. A 8x50r round will chamber (but not safe to shoot) in an 8x56 barrel but not vice versa.
If you are planning on shooting it, Hornaday and Privi make 8x56r ammo, plus there is still some surplus floating around. No one is making 8x50r ammo for the Steyr, surplus is very hard to find, and if you don't reload, you will have to find someone to load rounds for you.

[Palimino Stripe]

Trickster has a point- never assume; SOME missed the "S" (or "H" <--- Same meaning) stamp... but very very VERY few did...

Try chambering an 8X56R round- and if it doesn't fit- you will have your answer (it's 8X50)....

If it is an 8X50R- that's good news & bad news. The bad news is a severe lack of ammo... The good news is that it is tremendously rarer than your garden varity 8X56R.

Once again- if you get the chance post some pics

-Palimino

[Steyr_223]

Useful links

http://www.surplusrifle.com/steyrm95/index.asp

http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?14-Mannlicher-Steyr-amp-Blackpowder-Cartridge-Rifles

[CDS]

1915 Steyr M95 Carbine

Here are some pics--

So what I have so far is that it is a 1915 model Steyer m95 carbine. No import marks. Still unknown whether it is 8x50r or 8x56r. I have some 8x56r ammo coming, so I will see if it chambers or not.

[Palimino Stripe]

Well I'll be darned! You have a very unusual/uncommon M95:

The rear sight length & banded front sight indicate that it was a long rifle. Then at some point it was cut down to carbine length- but never converted to 8X56R.

That's crazy- what are the odds??? ---> I just asked (on gunboards) if such a rifle existed not too long ago. (The 'experts' all said yes they do exist of course) and here is my proof

Very few Long rifles were cut down (in Austria) prior to the 1930's (when most of them were cut down & rechambered at the same time)...

However- apperently Italy & Poland cut down a few though. And they never 'adopted' the 8X56R cartridge so that would explain why it wasn't rechambered... SO chances are- It was imported from one of those countries prior to 1968 (which would explain the lack of import mark)

Once again- congrats!

If you EVER want to get rid of it- let me know

-Palimino

[CDS]

Steyr

Holy cow! That is so cool. That makes this find extra special. Thank you for all the info.

Chuck

[bigstick61]

8X50R ammo can be found on the auction sites (there's some on gunbroker right now), both military and old commercial ammo (seems someone made it as a specialty ammo back in the day). If you're lucky you can snag it up for about $1 a round from what I've seen looking at items sold but typically it is much higher. I've heard Old Western Scrounger sometimes makes ammo in that caliber but I don't know for sure. Seems to me to be a caliber worth reloading with Berdan primers if that is the kind of brass or ammo you have. A good thing is that it uses the more common .323 bullets although

I've heard it is hard to find bullets that replicate the smokeless powder military load (I believe the semi-smokeless and compressed blackpowder loads used lead bullets, which can be cast) as they are pretty hefty at 244 grains (personally I'd love to find similar bullets in .329 for my Steyr, either a heavy jacket solid or a good softpoint, for hunting or defense against dangerous animals, as the Steyr makes a nice hiking and backpacking gun).