Anyone shooting these? Tips? Warnings?

[SaxonPig]

I have been looking at the Steyr M95 Hungarian rifles in 8x56R. They just look like fun to shoot. Saw several on Gunbroker in the $150-$200 range then saw a J&G ad in Shotgun News offering them for $89.95 with ammo at $9.95 a box of 20.

Couldn't resist. Ordered one and 40 rounds. Came to $125.65 with shipping. What a deal!

So, who has experience with these? What should I know? Have I wasted my money?

 

[JHK94]

On the J&G site it says they don't load without the clip. Did you get a clip? If not, does that mean its basically a single-shot, or what?

 

[SaxonPig]

I know they take an en-bloc clip (sort of like the Garand) but I didn't think to ask if it came with any. Maybe the ammo will be loaded in them? Should be some around anyway.

But good point.

 

[MAKster]

The ammo is hard to find and expensive. The recoil is very heavy.

 

[rangerruck]

Be prepared; try and find a Butler Creek, small size, slip on pad.
Most people here know how hard the m38 Mosin kicks, and it is longer and heavier than the Steyr, and it fires a 762.54 round; your smaller, lighter Steyr fires
an 8x56 round. My shoulder is hurting allready.

 

[rangerruck]

... ammo can be had online or at any gunshow, and it is not too costly; about the same or less than mosin ammo right now.

 

[dispatch55126]

I have one and here are my thoughts:

1. My M95 kicks about as hard as my 91/30 but doesn't hurt as bad. The 91/30 has a sharp recoil while the M95 seems to have more of a strong shove. Given the option, I prefer the "softer" recoil of my M95.

2. Ammo is very hard to find but component are not. If you reload, Graf's & Sons sells everything you need (brass & bullets).

3. M95's take 5 round enbloc clips that are easy to find on ebay. Buy 5-6 of them and don't worry about it.

While it doesn't have the ammo availability of a Mosin (8x56R is obsolete while 7.62x54R are still in active use), the M95 is a great shooter and fun to own. If you haven't handled one yet, it's a straight pull bolt action.

 

[Jbabbler]

Show Me

Where are you folks finding 8x56 ammo for the same price as 7.62x54? I would scarf that up in a heartbeat! I can buy a spam can of 7.62x54 for $79 but have yet to find 8x56 for less than $1.40 per round. We were having a discussion about this at Steyrclub the other day and even the guys that work in gun shops couldn't get it for less. The last 5 gun shows I went to had it for $150 for 100 rounds and $225 for 200 rounds.

 

[dispatch55126]

Where are you folks finding 8x56 ammo for the same price as 7.62x54? I would scarf that up in a heartbeat! I can buy a spam can of 7.62x54 for $79 but have yet to find 8x56 for less than $1.40 per round. We were having a discussion about this at Steyrclub the other day and even the guys that work in gun shops couldn't get it for less. The last 5 gun shows I went to had it for $150 for 100 rounds and $225 for 200 rounds.

Roll your own and you won't have to worry about the price, corrosive primers or 70 year old ammo.

 

[Jbabbler]

I would love to reload my own. I just don't own the equipment nor do I have the time to do it. Maybe I'll pony up and buy everything I need one day. My caliber collection is growing quickly.

My specific question is aimed at this comment which I believe to be completely inaccurate...

... ammo can be had online or at any gunshow, and it is not too costly; about the same or less than mosin ammo right now.

 

[dispatch55126]

True. I've only found one site online that had then and it was around $1.50/round.

 

[SaxonPig]

I ordered some Lee dies (apparently only Lee and Hornady make them and the Lees were less than half the price of the Hornadys) and a Lee bullet sizer to make .329 bullets from a larger diameter bullet.

I read that some shooters are resizing 338 jacketed bullets to 239 but I am looking for some cheap plinking loads with cast lead. Think I can resize 158 grain lead .357 bullets to .329?

 

[dispatch55126]

I'm not sure of moulding your own from lead but you can buy .329 205gr. SP's from Graf's and Sons.

 

[junior geezer]

with a .329 sizer, you can size down .333 cast. don't know how accurate sized-down .338 cast would be, but there is a 200gr fn (old .33 winchester) number still available. whatever you cast, cast hard. and use a gc.

lacking a sizer, you can paper patch cast .321-.323