Hi all.

The Mannlicher M95, I like the way it looks, cool.
But, how is it today, for hunting, with its original calibers? Thinking of the 8*50R and the later 8*56R.

Anyone who use a M95 or the original calibers today?

Even though the called cartridge 8x56R an 8mm, it's very close to being a 338. With jacketed bullets loaded warm the cartridge kicks on the heels of the 388-06. The 8x56R is an excellent hunting cartridge, but expect some kick out of those short lightweight steel buttplate carbines.

Most barrel groove run .330 to .330 even though they are suppose to be around .329. They have very deep rifling. May be hard to find jacketed bullets for them, but they shoot equally as well with cast bullets.

Hornady offers both 205 gn, .329" bullets and loaded ammunition.

Look to the .338 Federal for comparison's sake.

The Model 1895 Mannlicher was made in 8x56R, a military round which uses a .329-.330" diameter bullet. Some sporters were also made, but not a great number, and very few if any of the sporters reached "western" markets...being very mainly sold in eastern Europe. Most of the rifles were military, and used to arm troops of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

After the Germans took over Hungary and Austria during WW II (the two places the M1895 military rifles were produced in 8x56R), they used the personnel and factories there to make the same rifle in 8x57 Mauser for issue to German troops*, but the stocks and furniture did not stay quite the same in the Mauser-chambered rifles...they were made to more or less duplicate the forend furniture of the Mauser 98K battle rifle.

The 8x56 Mannlicher sporting cartridge was introduced in the Model 1908 Mannlicher-Schoenauer. They don't use the same diameter bullets, and the power of the two factory rounds is quite different, with the 8x56R being the more powerful of the two. The 8x56R military round is a rimmed cartridge, and the 8x56 Mannlicher-Schoenauer is a rimless cartridge. The Model 1895 is a "straight-pull" bolt action, while the M/S is a turning bolt action.

BTW, there is an almost brand new Model 1895 military carbine for sale at the Cave Creek Armory, in Cave Creek, AZ right now for an asking price of $225. I'm sure a guy could get it for $200, and maybe with free shipping. One never knows until they ask.

I don't know how many rounds are in an 1895 box of ammo, but there are three boxes of 1938 manufacture military ammo with that gun. I think there are either 10 or 15 rounds in each box, all in "en'-bloc" clips of 5 rounds each.

It is the cleanest M1895 I have ever seen.

* Many of those troops were Austrian or Hungarian units "volunteered" for the Eastern Front against the Russkies. Naturally, if possible, it was desirable to arm them with rifles using he same ammo as the rest of the troops fighting on the side of Germany.

They kick like a mule, pure and simple. Ammo is tough, as are the clips, which you must have to shoot. There is a bigger market for collector ammo than for the guns, is my observation. I bought a Lee swaging die and sized down some 338 monometal bullets, but basically got rid of all of it because it just was no fun to shoot.

Thanks all for great information. KIcks like a mule.....sounds, well not good. But, I do find them very cool, as the young say.
A interesting rife, action, caliber.

THanks for the tip about the gun for sale in AZ. Will give them a call.

How was the old M95 action, the straight pull, good? Solid?
It is a interesting action and my idea was that a carbine will be a great woods rifle. Maybe with a new butt end.....

quote:

Originally posted by vegard_dino:
Thanks all for great information. KIcks like a mule.....sounds, well not good. But, I do find them very cool, as the young say.
A interesting rife, action, caliber.

THanks for the tip about the gun for sale in AZ. Will give them a call.

How was the old M95 action, the straight pull, good? Solid?
It is a interesting action and my idea was that a carbine will be a great woods rifle. Maybe with a new butt end.....

The M98 straight pull action isn't as smooth as say a Swiss K31,but they have two very large front locking lugs that make them very strong.

By the that original 1938 Nazi ammo that is still being sold is very hot. I chronographed the batch I had and was surprised at the velocity.

I'll tell you get the rifle instead of the carbine, which are a little harder to find.

Personally, I much prefer the carbine. Much easier to carry, handle from/in the truck cab, etc.

BTW, I don't find the straight pull of the Model 1895 Mannlichers to be any more stiff or difficult than the pulls on my straight-pull K-31s. All straight-pull rifles are a little awkward to folks raised on turning-bolt actioned rifles, but that goes away as one gets used to the different motion the operator must make to use one.

The rifle is to be preferred if you plan on using a bayonet on it but other than that, for me, the rifle is much clumsier than the carbine.

Right now I have and like the carbine in the 8x57 version. But THEY are really tough to find. I bought mine here on AR a few years back, and at that time it was the first one in that chambering (8x57 Mauser) I had seen in 30 years. There seemed to be a lot of them around in the 1960s, but I guess no one who had/has one wants to get rid of it. Mine is not in very good shape cosmetically, but it shoots well, is reliable, and that is all I ask of it as a truck gun.

If you are a handloader, ammo for the 8x56R is no problem. Prvi Partisan brass using Boxer primers is available, as are Hornady bullets, and various common brands of loading dies. And one can load them to whatever recoil level he wants. Graf's also has fresh modern ammo, I believe.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Personally, I much prefer the carbine. Much easier to carry, handle from/in the truck cab, etc.

BTW, I don't find the straight pull of the Model 1895 Mannlichers to be any more stiff or difficult than the pulls on my straight-pull K-31s. All straight-pull rifles are a little awkward to folks raised on turning-bolt actioned rifles, but that goes away as one gets used to the different motion the operator must make to use one.

The rifle is to be preferred if you plan on using a bayonet on it but other than that, for me, the rifle is much clumsier than the carbine.

Right now I have and like the carbine in the 8x57 version. But THEY are really tough to find. I bought mine here on AR a few years back, and at that time it was the first one in that chambering (8x57 Mauser) I had seen in 30 years. There seemed to be a lot of them around in the 1960s, but I guess no one who had/has one wants to get rid of it. Mine is not in very good shape cosmetically, but it shoots well, is reliable, and that is all I ask of it as a truck gun.

If you are a handloader, ammo for the 8x56R is no problem. Prvi Partisan brass using Boxer primers is available, as are Hornady bullets, and various common brands of loading dies. And one can load them to whatever recoil level he wants. Graf's also has fresh modern ammo, I believe.

I found just the rifle for you AC. Here's some pictures of it and it's 8x57.





And this is where it is:

http://www.rcarms.com/21.html

I think that the ammunition, or something very similar, is still, even today in 2012 "Made in India"!

Strange but true! As 303 British is still, I think, prohibited for civilians to own for "sporting purposes"!



Indian Ordnance Factory

Enfield Spares - Modern ammo in 8x56R is not at all unusual in eastern Europe. It is still made by Prvi Partisan, among others, and exported to the U.S.

Smokin J-

Thanks, bud, but no thanks. As I mentioned in my post, I have one of those Steyr carbines which was manufactured under the Germans during WWII in 8x57 Mauser. I also have a modern Steyr "Pro Hunter" sporter in 8x57.

I really don't care for German battle rifles, regardless of age, unless it is an FG42, which IS a lot of grins (and a bit pricey too)! There is nothing wrong with them, it's just that if I am going to buy Mausers, I'd rather get original Types "A" or "B" sporters. I don't plan on going to war soon or in my forseeable future, so pretenda-trooper ain't my game , whether with Mausers or AR-15s.

quote:

Originally posted by vegard_dino:
Hi all.

The Mannlicher M95, I like the way it looks, cool.
But, how is it today, for hunting, with its original calibers? Thinking of the 8*50R and the later 8*56R.

Anyone who use a M95 or the original calibers today?

The most often encountered chambering is the 8x56r round. Quite capable of handling anything in the European or NA continents. Commercial ammo available as noted in previous posts. If the barrel is in good shape I'd suggest shooting as-is.

I find the action fascinating for late 19th century technology. The Russian 7.62x54r round is a perfect fit for function and if the barrel needs replacing, it would be a great choice. Performance is equal to the .30-06 with medium weight bullets.

One issue is that it ejects upward and another is that it must be loaded with the clip from above. The latter creates an issue with a scope mount; necessitating a tip-off mount or a "scout mount".

Vegard-Dino

Sorry I forgot to answer your opening question of this thread.

Yes, I load hunting ammo for my 8x56R with the Hornady 200 grain .330" diameter secant-ogive pointed soft-nose bullets. You can easily match even hot loaded 8x57 Mauser ballistics with it, so it is entirely satisfactory for any game in North or
South America, except maybe the biggest bears in close cover.

P.S. I like this cartreidge a LOT. I wouldn't mind at all having a Ruger No. 1 redone to it. Would be a direct equivalent of a quite hotly-loaded, rimmed, 318 Westley Richards and even use the same bullet diameter as the WR.