Steyr M95 Service Rifle
I'm looking at buying a M95 steyr Service rifle, not the carbine. Can Anyone tell me where I can find one and what they are worth. I believe they are 8x50r ammo. Is that ammo still avialable. Email rjb@30below.com Thank you
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Some of the M95 rifles have in fact been converted to 8X56R, which is currently available in surplus though drying up so if you want it go for it quickly. 8X50R is pretty much gone except for collector's pieces so reloading is a must. Some were also rebarreled to 8mm Mauser. When in doubt, simply trying ot chamber an 8X56R will tell all; if it don't chamber, it is 8X50R. There are a few pricey outfitters that will load you some 8X50R such as OWS if you just want to shoot it once or twice.
Jon
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
8x50R Austrian is easily made from 7.62x54R Russian by trimming to length and running thru a FL 8x50R die. The shoulders will fill out on the first firing. The hard part is finding .329 dia bullets, although acceptable hunting accuracy can be obtained using FLAT based .323 bullets.
This round makes a good "first conversion" project, as it is relativly cheap, easy and safe to do. I used to own 3 of them and it was my first exposure to case forming.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
I have to go with Tailgunner on this one. Use 7.62X54R brass to form the 8X50R Austrian service cartridge. One point however,the 8X50R cartridge uses the .323 diameter bullet,while the 8X56R cartridge uses the .329 diameter bullet. Remember that you will also need the charger clips. The magazine will not work without the clips and you will have a straight pull single shot. As to those rifles that were converted to 7.9X57S,the German service cartridge,I would be hesitant to use one on a regular basis. The 7.9X57S cartridge operates at pressures 10000-15000 psi higher then do either of the Austrian cartridges. The rifles and carbines converted by the Germans were issued to Border Guards,Train Guards and other behind the lines personnel. They were rarely if ever fired. I think that a steady diet of these higher pressure cartridges,which are near the limit of the action,would in time deform the locking lugs and ultimately lead to failure. The majority of these weapons,even in the original calibers,were made between 1895 and 1920 so are hardly new and some caution should be used when handloading for them. Before anyone asks,yes,I own several model 1895's including a carbine that had been converted to 7.9X57S and I handload for all except the 7.9X57S. I get best results with IMR-4895 and because of their fast twist rifleing,bullets of 200 grains or more. Hope that this is of some help to you. Scout 0
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