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Some comments on the rifles.

Both rifles come equipped with QD claw mounts. But the Steyr/MS open sights are not usuable by me. In the 8mm the notch in the rear sight is quite small and I do have trouble using it. For the 9.5mm the bases of the claw mounts obscures the rear sight completely. This rifle actually has two sets of forward bases for claw mounts. At some time the 9.5mm must have had a different scope and mounts and later had a new forward base added on the barrel to fit a new scope. So I will be using both rifles with the scopes, which are fine and will do the job. If I used any open sights it would be for the 9.5mm but not possible with the front base obscuring the rear open sight. Also my eyes are not as good as they used to be. A broad V is still usuable but not these fine notches where the front sight almost fills the tiny notch. BGRC competitiuons prefer open sights but will yuse them in the shoots with the scope and take the penalty instead. Probably shoot better with the scopes anyway.

Both rifles have twin set triggers. The 8mm set works fine and has a nice light release when set. Also has a second tang safety as well as the bolt shroud safety. I have played with the tang safety and may not use it or at least rely on its safety, as one time the trigger did still work when the tang safety was deployed. However later when the tang safety was firmly pushed back, it did work fine, so may have been my mistake. Where the muzzle points is always the best form of safety with any rifle anyway. The shroud safeties work very well of course.

The 9.5mm's set trigger does not function. At some point in the distant future I will get a competent gunsmith have a look at it and see if it can be restored. I wonder if this just requires some minor adjustment?

I do like set triggers even on bigger bore rifles, I have one on my .404 Jeffery (Mauser M03) and do use it, when taking careful shots. When hunting in usual quicker shots, a set trigger is usually not required.

The serial numbers on my two rifles are:

8x56 MS - Steyr MS model 1908 - SN2874

9.5x57 MS - Steyr MS model 1910 - SN853

What sort of age or manufacturers year would these serial numbers conrrespond to?

As previously mentioned both rifles are a lot longer than I expected. The 6.5x54 MS's I have seen have always been carbine length when a Stutzen. As is the Greek 1903 MS in 6.5mm I have, since may have been modified, almost certainly. Also a friends stutzen MS 6.5mm is a carbine length rifle.

The barrel lengths of my two 'new' rifles are :

8x56 MS - Steyr MS model 1908 - 52 cm / 20 1/2 inches

9.5x57 MS - Steyr MS model 1910 - 56 cm / 22 inches

So are full length rifles but with full wood to the muzzle.

Very nice rifles. If the 8mm shoots well enough I think I may use it for a lot of my medium game hunting in the future.

And yes, I will try some normal .323 calibre projectiles first. If a nice 150 gr projectile shoots well enough and feeds through the magazine properly, it would make a great fallow, goat and pig projectile. A well constructed 180 gr, 200 gr or 220 gr for sambar deer.

For the 9.5mm, a 270 gr Round Nose, perhaps a Woodleigh Weldcore if they make RN's. I would be keen to try some lighter 200 gr to 235 gr projectiles as well. If they shoot well and feed through the magazine reliably.

Looking to have lots of fun with these two 'new' rifles. And also get the Greek MS 1903 shooting in 6.5x54 MS as well.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (20/01/19 04:38 PM)

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