[Johnny Dollar]

I bought this Mil-Surp in 2006 and have yet to take it out in the field. My son in law and I have the opportunity to hunt some wild hogs on private property next month in south west Florida. Hogs can be hunted year round in Florida on private land.

Have any of you here any experience hunting with this rifle? It uses 8x56R ammo and the ballistics seem similar to a 30.06 with about 200 grains and around 2400 FPS.

It is a very nice looking rifle with an odd straight bolt.
Here (http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/steyr/index.asp) are some details from SurplusRifle.com

Any help will be appreciated. I have a .270 and 30.06 but thought breaking this one in might be entertaining. It does have some kick.
A Pachmayr recoil pad helps to handle this minor problem.

[rondog]

If it's accurate, I'd think it oughta knock the snot out of 'em. Getting ammo other than the 1938 surplus stuff might be a challenge.

[RPRNY]

I was hunting hogs in TX last month with my M49 Persian 8x57, so somewhat similar. It has been at least five years since I shot the M95 Steyr 8x56 but as I write this, the twinge in my shoulder comes back to remind me :eek:

They do recoil somewhat. Not sure whether it's rifle weight, ergonomics or both. Not a range rifle but a great hog rifle. I recommend the Barnes TSX 200 gr and Varget (you have a short barrel and with a slower burning powder you will have a helluva fireball at night) at the lighter end of the scale. Unless things are vastly different in FL, you will have 50 - 85yd shots at night over bait and @ 25 - 40 yd shots walking up in the day. Hogs aren't hard to kill, especially with .32 cal / 200 gr. I like the TSX because they don't super expand. A nice neck shot will drop the hog easy and if you end up taking a lung/heart shot, especially on a sub-100 lbs pig, it doesn't tear up the meat too much. If you're just exterminating, use anything vaguely 8mm...

If you aren't handloading, the PPV 208gr SP factory ammo will do just fine (sellier & bellot must do a factory load as well). A little punchy likely and worth staying on the neck if you're hunting for meat.

I think that's a great hog gun and you will enjoy!

[351 WINCHESTER]

It's legal in fl to use fmj ammo on hogs. I don't see anything wrong with using fmj as long as good shot placement is used.

[WALKERs210]

Getting ammo other than the 1938 surplus stuff might be a challenge.
Not really, I have around 100 rds of 8mm for the same rifle the OP has. It cost about $12.00 for 20 rds. Ok found the web site in case its needed, WWW.MRNAMBU.COM , fair prices last time I looked.

[Johnny Dollar]

Some very cool and entertaining suggestions,thank you! :D

The owner is mainly concerned with pest control, but we intend to have a hog laui back in Miami if all goes well! :cool:

And it is not a tack driver,but decently accurate for this job.
I've got plenty of Hornady ammo in 205 grain SP. About 200 rounds. Should be enough. :)

[barnbwt]

Ever since the great Lead Panic, I've somehow been able to find 8x56R more easily in (every) gun stores nearby--took me two weeks to score some when I first bought the rifle a couple months ago.

From what I've heard and seen online, the 8x56R is if anything, overkill for something as "fragile" as a hog :D. I believe the standard ball ammo of the era was a good bit hotter than 30-06, and the stutzen short-rifles kick was much more aggressive than even its stout ballistics would lead one to believe.

I'm in the midst of rechambering mine to 50 Alaskan, since I want to be able to shoot through anything on this planet from any angle :evil:. They are suprisingly strong actions considering their vintage, and are generally well made and durable. The Germans had them rechambered to 8mm Mauser; safe, but the extractors were terribly weak in this configuration.

Mine had a crack on the bolt sleeve where the safety is mounted (sharp inside corner stress concentration) but was otherwise fine. If you find the bolt-head snaps down too easily when removed from the rifle, one or two light passes with a needle file in the right spot can help fix it (I have another thread with pics of how this works). The extractor is undoubtedly the weak point of the design, so if you plan to use it frequently, you may wish to order a spare or two while Numrich has them available.

TCB

[Johnny Dollar]

Great info,TCB. I will remember. :)

[snakeman]

200 rounds of hornady probably cost more than the rifle.

[Johnny Dollar]

200 rounds of hornady probably cost more than the rifle.

Not when I bought it back in the day,snakey! ;)

[Snowdog]

I recently picked up a M95/34 and purchase some ammo to go with it (Hornady, Bulgarian and some Nazi marked fodder for the clips).

From what I've read of the M95 and 8x56R, it will crumple a hog like a scalded spider, so I don't think power is going to be a problem. Accuracy may, as I read some rather conflicting reviews. My M95/34 seems every bit as accurate as my Soviet M44 and doesn't seem to kick that much more (using boxer N/C Hornady 205gr SP).

The moment I pulled the M95 out of the box, "what a handy little rifle" came to mind. If I find another one for $79, I may buy a second.

[mmay1]

I think you can put down Hog Zilla with that rifle.