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Rothhammer1
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Loc: The Redwoods of California
MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967
      #324279 - 05/02/19 04:04 PM


Here's another blast from the past, courtesy of member Waidmannsheil.

Author G.A. Yorks provides an overview of the Mannlicher Schönauer's function and gives advice for modifications and restocking to convert the military 'Greek Contract' MS to suit one's taste as a 'sporter'.

I suppose we'll excuse him for referring the Greek, in its original form, as an "ugly duckling" and for advocating removal of the stripper clip feed slots.

These military arms have come into their own as collectibles over the five decades since the article was written in 1967. While this may give pause to some about the idea of 'sporterizing' well preserved originals, there are many well used examples showing various states of decay and abuse which just beg to be 'improved'.

Modifying a Greek Y1903, 1903/14, 1927, or 'System 1930' can be a way to own a budget Mannlicher Schönauer that may be modified, carried over rough terrain and conditions, and fired often without the stigma of having abused a fine, original, MS sporting arm.

Here 'tis, from the July, 1967 issue of Shooting Times:






--------------------
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation


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szihn
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Reged: 24/06/07
Posts: 2100
Loc: Wind River Valley, Wyoming
Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: Rothhammer1]
      #324317 - 06/02/19 10:54 AM

I made one for myself. I stated with a Greek 1903 action but made a new barrel,(1-8" twist) stock, bolt handle, trigger guard, butt plate and escutcheons. I used a commercial grip cap, front sight and an original rear sight but had to make the sight bases and the barrel band.
I wanted a classic 1910 to 1920 era style rifle, so no scope for this one. First blood with it was an antelope buck last season. With only irons I can't tell how accurate it really is, and I have old eyes now, but I can say that anything I can see out to about 300 yards I can hit, if I shoot from prone.
2018 #1 Ant. Buck by Steve Zihn, on Flickr

Edited by szihn (06/02/19 10:55 AM)


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Rothhammer1
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Reged: 06/01/17
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Loc: The Redwoods of California
Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: szihn]
      #324325 - 06/02/19 01:51 PM

Quote:

I made one for myself. I stated with a Greek 1903 action but made a new barrel,(1-8" twist) stock, bolt handle, trigger guard, butt plate and escutcheons. I used a commercial grip cap, front sight and an original rear sight but had to make the sight bases and the barrel band.





Nicely done, particularly the stock with its classic lines.

--------------------
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation


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szihn
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: Rothhammer1]
      #324328 - 06/02/19 02:21 PM

Thank you Roth.


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JDL
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Reged: 25/12/10
Posts: 247
Loc: Louisiana
Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: szihn]
      #324346 - 07/02/19 01:08 AM

Nice antelope Steve and I DO love that little carbine. Thanks for sharing.



Edited by JDL (07/02/19 01:14 AM)


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JDL
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: JDL]
      #324347 - 07/02/19 01:15 AM

Roth, thanks for the article. Recently, I saw one made up in .22x54 for sale but, was not interested.

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DarylS
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: JDL]
      #324357 - 07/02/19 06:12 AM

Very nice, Steve. What load?

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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szihn
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Reged: 24/06/07
Posts: 2100
Loc: Wind River Valley, Wyoming
Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: DarylS]
      #324361 - 07/02/19 07:04 AM

Daryl, I am using a 160 grain Hornady or a 156 grain PPU bullet on 39 grain of IMR 4350. PPU brass and WW primer.

I also use the same powder charge under the old 160 grain Sierra, but they stopped making them so that is now in the past.
That buck in the picture was killed with a Sierra, but the bullet broke up (I think)and I had 3 exit wounds. One at a 90 degree angle to the direction of the bullet which you can see in the throat at the very front of the neck. On was where I'd expect it to be, in line with the direction of the hit, and one was a bit off the back-side exit and looked for all the world like a 38 caliber pistol wad-cutter hole. Perfectly round and about 3/8" in diameter.

Kinda weird.

I like shooting the PPU 156 in the rifle, but I have never killed anything with one of them. Has anyone reading this used one before on game?
I'd love to know the details of how well they work (or don't work)
Same with the 285 grain PPU 9.3MM. I have never read or spoken to even one man who has killed game with that one either.


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DarylS
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: szihn]
      #324367 - 07/02/19 08:55 AM

TKs Steve.

The only "PPU" I've heard of before this, is some ammo (handloads) for the 6.5x55 that I was given.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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paradox_
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: DarylS]
      #324375 - 07/02/19 11:03 AM

Well done Steve, thank you for the pic.

--------------------
Walk softly and carry a big stick


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szihn
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: paradox_]
      #331386 - 19/08/19 08:40 AM

Well, it's been since last year but the little Mannlicher scored for me again on Friday the 16th of August, 2019.

Doe antelope tag. I spotted a heard of them at about 1/2 mile and worked my way up to them about 300 yards off. When they were that close I went to my hands and knees. I worked up to about 150 yards and got in front of the heard as they were slowly moving toward an alfalfa field below me about 1/4 mile.
I then went to my belly and as I worked up to a low hump in the ground that formed the side of the gully the antelope were coming down. A few of them came right up to the brow of the hump and one stuck her head over it and saw me but didn't know what I was. She snorted her little reedy bark. I was set for a prone shot and I had only her head and neck in sight over the crest, but at only 20 yards it was more then enough target.

So the little 6.5 scores again. I butcher tomorrow.
load was 39 grains of 4350 and the PPU 156 grain soft point. PPU brass and CCI primer.

That PPU bullet is exceptionally accurate in this barrel, which I made from a Green Mountain blank. It's a 1-8" twist and at 107 yards it is more accurate then I dare write about --- because no one would believe me.
But I am safe to say it shoots VERY well, and I am not the marksman I once was due to my eyesight being less then 1/2 of what it was a few years ago.

This bullet hit her sightly off center of the neck as she faced me directly. It exited at the bottom of the back of the neck about 2" in front of the shoulder hump of the spine. Not very far through, (maybe 10")but the bullet hit 3 vertebra and shattered them, and then curved upwards a slight bit and blew out the top center of her neck where it meets the back. I was happy I missed all the shoulder loins.

This is the only kill I have made with a PPU bullet, and a doe antelope is not a "hard test" for a bullet, but it seemed to hold together better then the Sierra I killed the last one with. I have shot the Hornady 160s, the Sierra 160s (no longer made) and this PPU 156 bullet and so far, the PPU is the most accurate, but all 3 shoot well and I would not hesitate to use any of them on antelope of deer. For elk I would say the PPU may be a bit better then the Sierra. The sierra I killed last years buck with came apart when it hit the neck higher where the bones were smaller. 2 kills are not a definitive teat, but so far that what I have seen.
no picture. I didn't have a camera with me this time. The doe was 112 pounds dressed.

My next PPU test I hope is from a 285 Grain 9.3MM that I will shoot from my 9.3X57 Husqvarna M46. May be a deer, antelope or even an elk. We'll just have to see.


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JDL
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: szihn]
      #331416 - 19/08/19 11:00 PM

Congrats Steve on a well deserved trophy from a successful stalk.

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DarylS
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: JDL]
      #331425 - 20/08/19 02:03 AM

Was the Sierra Pro Hunter # 1750 you used?
They shoot amazingly well in my .260 Rem. meaning 3" at 300 meters.
The 160gr. Hornadys shoot almost as well, but I haven't shot a group at 300 yet with them. At 100yards, they shoot into the same group, but at 300yards, they drop another 7" more than the Sierra bullets.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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93x64mm
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Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: JDL]
      #331439 - 20/08/19 06:29 AM

Quote:

Congrats Steve on a well deserved trophy from a successful stalk.



Not wrong - good stalking too by the way!


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szihn
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Reged: 24/06/07
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Loc: Wind River Valley, Wyoming
Re: MS 'Greek' Sporter Conversions - Shooting Times, July 1967 [Re: 93x64mm]
      #331522 - 22/08/19 01:52 AM

Thanks guys.
And yes Daryl. It was the 160 grain Sierra Round Nose bullet I killed the buck with last year. The doe was killed with the 156 grain PPU.

The PPU is even more accurate then the Sierra, and I never thought I'd say that.

My friend Randy has a 260 Rem which also shoots the Sierra super well. But they quit making them, so we have to try others and the Hornady seems good and from kills I have seen shot from the 260 and the 6.5 Swede, it's pretty good on game, but in my rifles and in Randy's rifle the Sierra was better.

Now I am VERY pleased with the PPU 156 grain, but one kill with a neck shot is not a very "in-depth" test.
So far so good however.


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