Walking 1903 Mannlicher/Schoenauer

[Hook]

Thanks for sharing your fix, Sharps. I think something similar will do the trick on my Kohle rifle.

[MARAT]

Excuse me, what caliber do you have ???

[MARAT]

Hello! Excuse me, what caliber do you have in your M-S?
I have two M-S in their caliber 8x58 MS, but I don't have cartridges to shoot

[sharps4590]

As I understand it all the 1903's were originally 6.5 X 54 M/S and that's what mine is. Are yours 8 X 58 or 8 X 56?

[Axel E]

The Steyr factory pre-WW1 assigned each chambering of their Mannlicher – Schoenauer rifles a different Model year designation, marked on the receiver ring:
Modell 1900 (very rare!) and Modell 1903 were in 6.5x54 Mannlicher Schoenauer.
Modell 1905 were all in 9x56 M-Sch
Modell 1908 were in 8x56 M-Sch
Many M1905s and M1908s were converted / rebarreled to other calibers like 7x57 or 8x57IS Mauser.
Modell 1910 were in 9.5x57 M-Sch aka .375 rimless Nitro Express
Modell 1912 was in 10.75x57 (the rarest of them all, less than a handfull known)
Modell 1924 were in .30-06 aka 7.62x63
As the M1925 and later models came in several chamberings, from now on the caliber was marked on the receiver ring.

[MARAT]

I have take down and full stock rifles. They are both model of 1908.

[Diz]

MARAT, unless I am mistaken according to Axel your 1908 rifles should be 8 x 56 M-S. I think you can make this out of 8 x 57 Mauser. Thanks, Diz

[MARAT]

Thank you Diz, I'll try to do it.

[MARAT]

Diz, thank you, for your advise.
Today, I have a small victory - I take old case 8x57 Mauser( from the WW2) , shortened it on 1 mm, take bullet of same time and cartridge, and reload one cartridge for my M-S.
Yes, it is 8x56 M-S.
Modern cases are bigger in bottom...

[Diz]

MARAT,

Glad to hear you are making progress. You are correct that the 8x57 Mauser is slightly bigger in the base and rim it is also slightly longer to the shoulder as well compared to the M-S. However this can be a good thing if you happen to have a chamber that is a little loose and because the 8x57 should only be about .003" in the rim and .004" larger at the base and these can be easily reduced if necessary. If your rifle chambered the cartridge you made than you should be OK.

Good luck and let us know, Thanks Diz