Mannlicher M1895/30 Overview & Shooting - 1938 German Marked 8X56mmR Ammo 

The concussion from these things (even in long rifle form) in 8x56 is immense. There were some of these used at Stalingrad and I think everyone had a serious case of tennitus when a group armed with M95s came up against a group armed with M38s. A couple friends of mine and I went to a gun range (indoor) and we brought an M38 and an M95 to their rifle range 😂. We were *politely* asked to leave after about three rounds from both the M95 and M38.

Recently got my hands on one of these, unfortunately it was sporterized but I’m working to undo that. I’ve got an original handguard and rifle bands, now I just need the woodworking to replace the missing part of the stock under the handguard and then she’ll be in prime condition once again. Terrific rifle!

8x56R is loaded to 51,000 psi. 8x57 is loaded to a mere 46,400 psi. 8x57 case volume is about 4.5% less than 8x56R. Am going to try to emulate the 8mm pressure in the 8x56R and create a "reduced" load.

Shoot it at night and see how big that muzzle blast is :D

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the video brother 👍

Some observations from an old hand at these rifles. The ammo is stout. Welcome to when military rifles were not for the faint of heart. Ballistics of the round put it nearly identical to the service ammo in a 98K Mauser in absolute energy. Not really a surprize but Mauser isn't really a fun gun to shoot either. Those rifles with their heavy boattail bullets were intended to really reach out to long ranges and still be effective. I've had the M95M, the M95 long rifle and a couple of the Stutzen. Definately prefer the long rifle because it is a bit more tolerable to shoot. The straight pull action is strong. Elegant and sleek lines mean the Mannlicher straight pulls can be beasts to shoot. Basic physics. Heavy bullet, light gun equals hard felt recoil. When I handload my ammo, I bring it down to Krag ballistics. Makes a world of difference in having a fun shooting session vs. feeling like you've been in mixed martial arts match with Godzilla.

These are sweet rifles. I bought 4 Steyr marked rifles from SOG back when they were cheap. I got one on a Christmas sale for 89 bucks and the other 3 were 119 bucks, all are super nice refurbs like most are. I also have a Hungarian Budapest marked one and a Yugo conversion 8mm Mauser M95M.

Might want to check your coil spring around the firing pin. You might be having light strike on the primer of those cartridges.

Regarding the hang fires, I think you need to strip the bolt and clean it thoroughly. Lightly lubricate and reassemble. Not striking the primers hard enough. I’ve never had one hang fire from the Austrian stuff

With the old ammo, shake it and listen to see if you can hear the loose powder. If you can hear it shake, it should be good. If you don't hear it shake, it's because the powder has clumped together (like little hairs growing in it, and that one will misfire/hangfire. If you pull the bullet on the hang fire, the powder comes may come out as one long clump. The bullet is able to be re-used. The brass is usually berdan primed, so is therefore not reloadable.

A hangfire is a delay in firing, what we are seeing is a dud. I have one of these and the same ammo, never had 1 dud, would be interesting to see the ding in the primer

I had maybe 10 boxes of that Austrian ammo that I shot in mine about 10 years ago and had little to no duds that I can remember . I also had some Bulgarian (I think) that did have several duds. I've got a set of Lee dies and have done some reloading for 8X56 but I just don't get enough accuracy out of that rifle to motivate me to do much with it.

I have two of these rifles one marked with an S and the other one doesn’t have the S mark. My local gun shop always had this ammunition in their bargain bin and I would buy three or four at a time when I went in there and amassed over 60 boxes now. But good luck finding it anymore I’m glad I got it when I did. I still have not found any of the original 8 x 50 R ammunition for the unmarked carbine.

I have one too! I nicknamed it: "The A$$ Kicker".I love taking it to the range and letting the "pew-pew" guys shoot it. After one or two rounds, they hand it back to me and say "I'm good".

Have had 2 for 18 years or so now 1 Long Style 1 Carbine I know the pain of the carbine, 18 years ago both had for under $200 GOOD LUCK TODAY. I do not think I have seen one under $500.

Mine cycled fine when I got it… but after I took it apart to detail clean it… I apparently put something together incorrectly as it is too tough to even attempt to cycle from the shoulder. Any help here?

I bought one these rifles about 2 years ago and it was made in Budapest, Hungry and my rifle has a “S” stamp for the conversion instead of the “H” I find that interesting!

Are you sure they’re dead primers and not a light strike from your firing pin? Could well be some cosmoline or similar in the fp channel too...

That’s weird! I just pulled 2 clips out of display case dated 1938 with the Eagle but my clips have ridges

There’s a guy on gunbroker who sells this ammo for $2/round and includes the clips and boxes and their shipping speed is wicked fast and the ammo is in great condition

I just purchased one of the long rifle variants of this firearm for $100 and recieved about 70 rounds of this ammunition and 10 clips, although I'd feel kinda bad shooting it since I think it's kinda neat. I'm looking at buying some privy partisan to shoot, do you know where the best place to get some would be?

I always send ones that go off through a couple more times, usually they go off unless the ammo is really bad...

En bloc 'clips' were originally patented and marketed as the 'Mannlicher Packet Loading System'. They were first used on the Gewehr 1888 'Commission Rifle'.

I picked up one of these and I've never fired it. One reason I never fired it is because the ammo I bought with it also was also vintage, just like in the video. I don't know if that ammo will even fire, but I I figure it's worth more unfired.

My 95 doesn’t have any letters on chamber, just some small numbers

If you get a hangfire, pull the striker back and try firing again.

Maybe mention reloading for the cartridge. I believe the hardest part is finding reliable reloading data

Just saw your video been shooting the m95 a long time I use the modern ammo for it now but when I first got it I used the old 1930s ammo what you need to do when it hang fires when you wait for a little bit you just pull back on the hammer re cock the hammer and it should fire the second time! Have fun stay and enjoy

I have a steyr m95 stutzen. Fun to shoot. But she is a thumper. Before you couldn't find primers I began to reload for 8x56r. Not enough to build a good load that I liked to shoot and would be accurate. So once this crap ends I'll get back to reloading again. I have some of the original ammo as well. My cartridges also have nazi german codes. And when you take the bolt out of the action I use a US dime to keep the bolt face in the forward position. Did they ever design a part/tool to put there for disassembly.

Great guns. Good for driven deer IMO

I bought mine from J&G Sales (years ago) for about 90 Bucks, plus (I think) 25 bucks for shipping.

Need new firing pin spring or firing pin and spring may help some of the duds

By the rust on a lot of the en bloc clips in these boxes, I don't think this ammo was stored very well before it made it to the USA. Despite its age...Plus those cardboard boxes don't seem to have any kind of wax or sealant to keep out moisture.

You have to site your gun in long as in 500 meters to start and 300 meters short for this .338 8x56R rifle. It was meant to shot across windy alps at Italian soldati. Not to be a zero at 100 meters as I understand. It's 500. Nickname mule kicker. The Italians even had a song about this rifle. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-piWeRcolSX8.html

Just picked up a whole boat load of this stuff for dirt cheap a few months ago. Its all gonna flood the market soon because all the guys that bought it in the 80s are selling it off or passing away. The guy I got mine from had arounf 2000 rounds left of the original 2500 he bought. You'd be surprised how many people have this stuff laying around.

You must have a weak spring, Ive shoot about 200 rounds of 1939 never have one hang fire.

I just bought one of these rifles for 500 looks like an almost new barrel with some fresh cosmalean in the action and some ammo made by ppu it was 35 bucks a box of 20 not something imma want to just blow rounds through alot like my Mosin nagant

I thought german ammo survives 1000 years😀

What's a hang fire

Maybe a new firing pin spring….

I've got the same gun. My ammo is 1938. Steel jacketed

schritt, not meters btw

YOU CAN RE-COCK THIS WITH THE THUMB PIECE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU !!! PERHAPS YOU SHOULD BECOME FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU ARE SHOOTING BEFORE YOU DEMONSTRATE YOUR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ON THIS WEAPON !!! ITS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WEAPON AT ALL. STICK TO AIRSOFT ...

That’s weird! I just pulled 2 clips out of display case dated 1938 with the Eagle but my clips have ridges