Just picked up my Mannlicher Schoenauer full stock in 270 Winchester. Its in pristine condition (1960 model) and had 2 owners before me. Topped with a 3-9x36 Swarovski which looks really good on it. The butter-smooth bolt action and rotary magazine are wonderful.

Anyone have one of these? I cannot leave it alone!

dingo,ah yes,the M-S carbine ,what a machine!I have a 1956 carbine in 30-06.It gets fondled often.Mine has open sights and shoots quite well. No provision for scope mounting w/o modification so I envy you there.( Anyone have a Lyman peep they would part with?)You will enjoy it for sure.Scott

Finest production rifle ever made. You couldn't commission quality like that today for less than $10K. I've owned and fired more than I can remember, and yet each time I pick one up it still brings a smile to my face.

Contact Jim Wisner about the bolt stop peep sights, he should have a few.

dingo, I had two of them! They were the only bolt-action I've ever seen that would feed EVEN EMPTY brass from the magazine without a hitch!

Despite their alleged "technological obsolescence", I am convinced that the M/S is without doubt the finest factory production bolt-action rifle ever built, all things considered!!

I really like these rifles. I've passed on two of them recently simply because they were in 270 (don't get upset, it's just not my cup of tea). Would love to find one in 7 X 64. But they sure are nice rifles. - Dan

I have owned several Mannlicher Shoenauer rifles, and carbines, and I have to agree they are the best quality one could ask for, and if made today, they would require 10K in machineing alone to make, then one must add on profit! I still have a 1961 MCA rifle, chambered for 243 Win, and eventhough it has over 5000 rounds of "HOT" handloads run through it, it will still shoot 3/4", 5 shot groups @ 100 yds all day long. With 46 gr IMR 4831 behind a Hornady 100 gr soft point, square base bullet, it is deadly on Muledeer out to 350 yds, with one shot, instant kills the rule! I would dearly love to find one chambered for 9.3X62

[ 08-31-2003, 17:10: Message edited by: MacD37 ]

Gentlemen,

there is a M-S 1950 in my rack, too. It�s in 8x60S "Magnum" and equipped with a Nickel 1-4x20 i a swing mount. It�s a half-stock with som fiddle-back wood. Nice rifle, a bit worn however.

But I muss confess that I don�t like the construction entirely. It seems to be a bit over-engineerd, and I can�t get used to the bolt handle - too heavy to lift after firing without unshouldering the stock. Although my other guns with Mauser actions aren�t that well worked, they are superior in the handling, IMHO.

Best regards,

Fritz

It is a complicated design compared to the 98, and it saw only limited use as a military rifle. It would probably have disappeared completely after WWI had it not been for the precision quality of the commercial rifles.

The bolt is hard to lift because of the cocking procedure. You can make it easier by installing a lighter firing pin spring. Just be sure that you still have reliable ignition.

Mac...I have two in 9.3x62, both rifles. One is an engraved 1950 and the other is a 1952.

Congratulations. I recently bought an M-1910 in 9.5x57 M-S caliber. It is really an interesting gun. There is WAY too much machining on it to be made today. That is not bad, just not economic. I consider it an honor to be able to own it. At 6-1/4 pounds with a cartridge that develops close to 3,000 foot-pounds of energy, it shows that "scout rifles" are not a new idea.

Montero, there are three factors, or features, of the M/S design that make it hard to open the bolt after firing. One is the great distance the striker travels when fired, which requires that the angle of the cocking cam slot be quite steep in order to cam the striker back far enough to engage the sear! This gives the striker spring a lot of mechanical advantage that you have to overcome to open the bolt! The striker spring is also pretty powerful, so this adds this effect! The third design problem is the forward placement of the bolt handle, so far forward that it becomes difficult for you to lift when the rifle is shouldered. You have to reach very far forward to grasp it, placing your arm in an awkward location to apply a lifting force. These difficulties add up!

You can ease the situation somewhat by applying a good dry lube like MOS2 or graphite to the bolt body and striker cam surfaces, and work the bolt a lot to loosen it up. I've seen some well-used ones that were a lot easier to operate than newer unused ones.

I recommend AGAINST installing a weaker striker spring, because the lock time is very slow to begin with, and if using the rifle in very cold weather, you need as much spring power as you can get.

Yes, the M/S gives up a lot of technological superiority to other designs such as the M98 Mauser and its' clones, but a better-made rifle doesn't exist. In addition, despite its' design drawbacks, it has a mysique and charm lacking in most other weapons!

[ 09-02-2003, 18:30: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

thank you, gentlemen!

I am contrary to swaping the main spring for a lighter one.

I had already used some graphited oil and noticed a slight improvement, but as deg�ello explains, I understand that hard bolt lift is inherent to the M-S design.

regards,

montero