Steyr Mannlicher 8x56?
- Thread starter Hammy
- Start date
Three of my friends have the Austrian carbines.
They beat the living s#*t out of these guys whenever they're fired. And bear in mind, these are big guys. All 5'10" +
two of the three are 200+ pounds.
The rifle weighs six pounds, and has a straight stock designed to focus the recoil energy into the nerves in your shoulder....
Ammo cheap and abundant???
This is NOT 8mm mauser/8 by 57mm/ 7.92 by 57mm
It DOES NOT USE the cheap suplus 8mauser ammo.
Where do you know of that has the ammo?
They beat the living s#*t out of these guys whenever they're fired. And bear in mind, these are big guys. All 5'10" +
two of the three are 200+ pounds.
The rifle weighs six pounds, and has a straight stock designed to focus the recoil energy into the nerves in your shoulder....
Ammo cheap and abundant???
This is NOT 8mm mauser/8 by 57mm/ 7.92 by 57mm
It DOES NOT USE the cheap suplus 8mauser ammo.
Where do you know of that has the ammo?
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Doing a quick check in Phil Sharpe's "Complete Guide To Handloading", I found some comments.
The cheap ammo to which you refer is for the 8X57 Mauser. The rifle you are looking at apparently uses the 8X56 Mannlicher-Schoenauer cartridge. It's a good cartridge, and you can load just under the 8mm Mauser data.
There is also an 8mm Austrian Mannlicher cartridge, but it's mostly a pre-WW II oddity. I doubt it is the same as your 8X56.
Hope I haven't confused the issue too much.
Art
The cheap ammo to which you refer is for the 8X57 Mauser. The rifle you are looking at apparently uses the 8X56 Mannlicher-Schoenauer cartridge. It's a good cartridge, and you can load just under the 8mm Mauser data.
There is also an 8mm Austrian Mannlicher cartridge, but it's mostly a pre-WW II oddity. I doubt it is the same as your 8X56.
Hope I haven't confused the issue too much.
Art
They are neat guns but yes they do kick like holy**** and the ammo is a collectors item. If I remember right with a lot of work a .348 win. case can be worked over to fit but are a bit lacking in the neck department. The 8x56 is the strange pre WW-1 round that was used by Austria in that same war. It is also a rimmed case but is on par with the 30-06 servise load. The rifles are a real mechanical wonder as they have a auto loader action with out the gas system in the manner of the Ross or Remington Lee rifle.
First off, 8x56R ammo is NOT the cartridge for the Mannlicher-Schoennaur rifle or carbine. It is a rimless round. Some people have mistakenly stated that 8x57 ammo can be used, but this is not so.
I believe Ken Waters did an article on the 8x56 MS round in Handloader Magazine, and he explained the difficulties in making brass for the gun, although it can be done. It has been a whilke since I read it, and I'll have to search for it.
Possibly you can contact Handloader Magazine, and they can sell you a back issue, or make you a copy of the article.
Paul B.
I believe Ken Waters did an article on the 8x56 MS round in Handloader Magazine, and he explained the difficulties in making brass for the gun, although it can be done. It has been a whilke since I read it, and I'll have to search for it.
Possibly you can contact Handloader Magazine, and they can sell you a back issue, or make you a copy of the article.
Paul B.
OK....I am looking at the Century Arms catalog while I write this reply. THEY advertise 2 Mannlicher carbines models BOTH chambered for 8x56R amm
ne is the M95 and the other is the M95/34. Their seems to be much debate over these rifles and the ammo for which they are chambered. I am open to all comments, however, it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. I don't mean to offend anyone......if Century is in error....please let me know.
ne is the M95 and the other is the M95/34. Their seems to be much debate over these rifles and the ammo for which they are chambered. I am open to all comments, however, it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. I don't mean to offend anyone......if Century is in error....please let me know.It is a nice deal to see ammo for these things as rounds have been like hens teath for years. The 95/34 uses the same rimmed rounds as the 95 and was obsolete when Hitler anexed Austria into the Nazi Republic. They are not a practical job to convert to the standard 8x57 service round so most went into storage or home guard service. Also they did not make a large amount of them after they lost the first war due to the treaty restrictions. They also use a clip so rounds are almost worthless with out that Mannlicher clip. 
The issue ammo comes in a 5 round clip at 2 to the box, no clip no shooting unless you like a single shot.
The issue ammo comes in a 5 round clip at 2 to the box, no clip no shooting unless you like a single shot. Ok, guys, let me step in here for a moment....
Having had a grandfather who fought in WW1 as an Austrian Alpenjaeger, I have acquired (and ever since treasured) the Austrian WW1 service rifle: the M95 Steyr Mannlicher straight-pull bolt action (full-size) rifle, chambered for the 8x50Rmm (244gr RN at circa 2,000 f/s).
All I had to do to make it shoot well was to raise the front sight, as it came sighted for 500 yds. Now it shoots really well, and I take it often on hunting trips due to the cartridge's awesome sectional density and very moderate recoil. I feed it surplus ammo bought from the Old Western Scrounger (see website). However, ammo can be easily made by slightly reforming 7.62x53 Russian brass.
The carbine you are referring to is the much later Hungarian Mannlicher, a modification of the above-mentioned Austrian straight-pull model, and it is chambered for the more powerful 8x56Rmm (206gr at 2300 f/s) - not to be confused with the rimless (and exclusively sporting) 8x56mm Mannlicher-Shoenauer. This carbine came out in the late 20's (if I'm not mistaken) and, for sure, it kicks a heckuvalot more than its 8x50 full-size progenitor.
Now, 8x50Rmm ammo is just as cheap as 8x56Rmm. Between the 2 I would definitely opt for the older, full-size rifle. More fun to shoot, more "rare" and more useful for hunting. However, be advised that for either model you would need to equip youeself with at least a few 5-rd clips, as the Mannlicher system employs a slotted magazine floorplate and, without the clips to hold the rounds together, you would basically be left with a single-shot.
Hope it helps....
Tom
[This message has been edited by 416Rigby (edited October 25, 2000).]
Having had a grandfather who fought in WW1 as an Austrian Alpenjaeger, I have acquired (and ever since treasured) the Austrian WW1 service rifle: the M95 Steyr Mannlicher straight-pull bolt action (full-size) rifle, chambered for the 8x50Rmm (244gr RN at circa 2,000 f/s).
All I had to do to make it shoot well was to raise the front sight, as it came sighted for 500 yds. Now it shoots really well, and I take it often on hunting trips due to the cartridge's awesome sectional density and very moderate recoil. I feed it surplus ammo bought from the Old Western Scrounger (see website). However, ammo can be easily made by slightly reforming 7.62x53 Russian brass.
The carbine you are referring to is the much later Hungarian Mannlicher, a modification of the above-mentioned Austrian straight-pull model, and it is chambered for the more powerful 8x56Rmm (206gr at 2300 f/s) - not to be confused with the rimless (and exclusively sporting) 8x56mm Mannlicher-Shoenauer. This carbine came out in the late 20's (if I'm not mistaken) and, for sure, it kicks a heckuvalot more than its 8x50 full-size progenitor.
Now, 8x50Rmm ammo is just as cheap as 8x56Rmm. Between the 2 I would definitely opt for the older, full-size rifle. More fun to shoot, more "rare" and more useful for hunting. However, be advised that for either model you would need to equip youeself with at least a few 5-rd clips, as the Mannlicher system employs a slotted magazine floorplate and, without the clips to hold the rounds together, you would basically be left with a single-shot.
Hope it helps....
Tom
[This message has been edited by 416Rigby (edited October 25, 2000).]
Nestor Rivera
New member
Yes the will "leave a mark" but are fun to shoot. Ammo is still available but it is ALL corrosive. The bullet dia. is .329 and can be found at huntingtons but is pricey cast bullets in the .330 range are probably ok (I have not tried it) RCBS (Really Costly But who Cares) has foming dies frmo 7.62x54R ammo.
Bullets $26 per 100 (Copper Jacket)
Bullet Mold RCBS $84
Case Forming Die $15.00
Reloading Die $87.00
prices appx.
At these prices FIRE forming looks pretty good.
I lucked out and gout both dies for $50.00 (I think it has been a while)
http://www.huntingtons.com/
Bullets $26 per 100 (Copper Jacket)
Bullet Mold RCBS $84
Case Forming Die $15.00
Reloading Die $87.00
prices appx.
At these prices FIRE forming looks pretty good.
I lucked out and gout both dies for $50.00 (I think it has been a while)
http://www.huntingtons.com/