Some of the Mannlicher Schoenauer enthusiasts here will know of the CNC machined bases for the split rear bridge MS rifles.

Robert Watts of Watts Walnuts has been selling them for many years. Last year he had posted on his website that he is going to discontinue having them made.

I just heard from him today that he has plenty and still getting them done by a local CNC machinist.

You can contact him directly - http://www.wattswalnut.com/ms_scope_bases.php

I just got a set from him and had them installed on a 1908 8x56. It's ready to go for caribou season and zeroed with some vintage Winchester factory ammo.

Are you sure that the vintage ammo is for the 8X56MS and not the German 8X57JS?

The two cartridges are not the same.

Good luck on your hunt and the rifle. I just love the silken smooth action and handling of these rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by mart:
I just got a set from him and had them installed on a 1908 8x56. It's ready to go for caribou season and zeroed with some vintage Winchester factory ammo.

I don't suppose they have an Australian agent? I'd love to get some for my old '03 but fear the wrath of our zealous perimeter guardians were I to bring them in myself.

These are just metal bases mate. Not even rings. Just get them in by post as metal parts for anything. They are not cheap. It will cost you about A$225 landed.

You can import barrel blanks as just metal tubing. It becomes a barrel only when it is chambered!

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
I don't suppose they have an Australian agent? I'd love to get some for my old '03 but fear the wrath of our zealous perimeter guardians were I to bring them in myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Are you sure that the vintage ammo is for the 8X56MS and not the German 8X57JS?

The two cartridges are not the same.

Good luck on your hunt and the rifle. I just love the silken smooth action and handling of these rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by mart:
I just got a set from him and had them installed on a 1908 8x56. It's ready to go for caribou season and zeroed with some vintage Winchester factory ammo.

Yes. I’m quite certain it’s the correct ammo. The boxes and brass are all marked 8x56 MS. I’ve tried 8x57 brass in mine when I was reforming brass for it and 8x57 will not chamber in my rifle. At least not Remington, Winchester or PRVI 8x57.

Mart,

Sent you a PM asking about 8x56MS loads/bullet sizing.

BTW, Winchester and Hornady 8x57 Mauser brass had a small enough base for me to form to 8x56MS with regular (8x56MS) dies. Didn't need the big swaging die. But if Winchester's were too big, Hornady probably will be also.

All my brass, Remington Winchester and PRVI all chambered fine when resized in an 8x56 die and was trimmed to length. Mine must have a tight chamber and a slightly short neck as the 8x57 cases must be trimmed some to chamber. Trimmed without resizing they will chamber but there's a bit of resistance at the shoulder (checked with a case marked with a sharpie). After resizing, no problems chambering. With just resizing and no trimming the cases are too long to chamber.

I got a set for my MCA from Watts.
Great set of mounts.
worth every cent.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
These are just metal bases mate. Not even rings. Just get them in by post as metal parts for anything. They are not cheap. It will cost you about A$225 landed.

You can import barrel blanks as just metal tubing. It becomes a barrel only when it is chambered!

Thanks Naki, I'll give it a thought. The problem used to be getting stuff like this out of the USA but then it was just whether they would send it and whether it might leave that country. The legal situation this side now could be much more complicated. I need some bolts/screws for the Marbles tang sight to mount on my 45-70, too, but dare not even order them O/S myself.

Mounted a set of Watts bases on a 1956 last summer.