Hello,
Am in process of purchasing subject rifle known as 1952 Model in cal. 30-06, full length stock vesion, and curious if the MS rifles are still used in European hunting areas and what is the general opinions of the rifles, good, bad, etc.?? They are well thought of here in the U.S. but wonder about those, if any, that use them on a regular basis. Appreciate any feedback on these rifles.

martin

quote:

Originally posted by MFD:
Hello,
Am in process of purchasing subject rifle known as 1952 Model in cal. 30-06, full length stock vesion, and curious if the MS rifles are still used in European hunting areas and what is the general opinions of the rifles, good, bad, etc.?? They are well thought of here in the U.S. but wonder about those, if any, that use them on a regular basis. Appreciate any feedback on these rifles.

martin

Martin,

I've seen a few in the UK, and they have a reputation of a good quality older rifle.

Having said that, fully stocked rifles can be a bit hit and miss as far as accuracy goes as their construction seems to be more of a black art rather than a science.

Regards,

Peter

Peter,
Thanks for the feedback, and yes, have heard they are certainly not match rifle quality in the accuracy department, but that will not be a problem with my intended useage. Was informed that off the bench is not the best way to shoot one and are intended for off hand/free style shooting.

I love them.

the 6.5 full-stock with a set trigger is a beauty.

I turned up with one last year on the AR hunt in Baldock.

Struggled to group it with borrowed home loads until I changed to a different batch - then it was fine and I shot 3 fallow the next morning at ranges from 100 to 170 yards, all one shot kills.

They are very cool but often turn up with cracks behind teh action. Watch for that.

I like the 1903 model best.

Just one thing - if you swap between set trigger and normal rifles it can get confusing and lead to loosing off before you are ready if you don't concentrate 100%.

RWS make the ammo and it performs well and is just about legal for fallow in the UK.

Hi Martin ... greetings from the Emerald Isle. Strangely enough I have a full stock MS carbine 1903 model that some US gunsmith converted from 6.5x54 to 6.5x57 before it made the round trip back to Ireland. A nice handling little rifle with a period Austrian scope on Apel mounts and it loves 140g Nosler Partitions. Out to 100yds I would be confident with any UK deer species and I'm sure your 30-06 version is more than adequate for any US deer. There is a great respect for Mannlicher Schoenaurs on your side of the pond so welcome to the club ...

I would agree that the 1903 model is a bit more classy than the others and especially with the set triggers, but I am fortunate to have found the one I am buying. The MS rifles are avaialble in all levels of condition, configuration, etc., but they bring a premium price and nice ones at an affordable price don't show up very often.

"Top of the morning" to you Cohannon. Your MS definitely is a well travelled one. Strange how at times various rifles end up far from home and then return in another's hands. Not familiar with the caliber of 6.5x57, but would assume it to be similar to the Swede 6.5x55 or perhaps the U.S. Rem. 260 which is merely the 308 necked down to 6.5?? From what you say it definitely does the job.

Thanks for the replies and casting about for a source/book/manual on the MS rifles and so far not finding much. Primarily looking for info on possible disassembling, cleaning, care, etc. for these rifles. Any sources you may know about would appreciate letting me know. Again, thanks

martin

Martin .... Hit me with a PM and your email address for some scanned MS data I can send as attachments. I presume the 6.5x57 brass was more available in the US than 6.5x54 plus the magazine length and rotor spindle would have restricted the available options. Both standard 30-06 and 7x57 cases can be modified inexpensively to suit. The 6.5x57 is one of the few original Mauser calibres that did not start it's life as a military cartridge and has only been marketed as a sporting round in civilian rifles. Not popular in the US or UK but a very well received calibre, to this day, in Germany, Austria etc.

Of course those MS full stock carbines are high on the desirablity list. I have just one and it cost a fortune. At this point I have not shot it a lot.

Its a little wide at the balance point due to the wide magazine. I just had to say that! They are cool.

The Mannlicher Schoenauer still has a following.After seeing Cohannons rifle I coveted one very badly.They are sweet!
A weekends pheasant shooting in Denmark got seriously cocked up last year when the baggage handlers left my shotgun on the plane in Copenhagen and it went back to Ireland.
What made it worse was no one could tell me where it was and I had to catch a connecting flight to Aalborg. My friend greeted me with the usual cold Tuborg at the airport and consoled me by dropping in to a local gunshop.
In the armoury lay a Mannlicher Schoenauer stutzen in 308 complete with einhak mounts.I left the shop some 650 euros poorer !
Attached is some rifles from a moose hunt in Norway which I did post a couple of years ago.As you can see there are a couple of Mannlichers nestling in there.
One of the hunters owns 3 ! Lucky sod.