Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Finally a Mannlicher Schoenauer 1903

After years of trying on and off, I've finally won a Mannlicher Schoenauer Model 1903 stutzen. I haven't picked it up yet so no pics, but it's in very nice condition. Nothing too fun like peeps or takedown, but just a nice old example of a 1903 stutzen. Horn grip cap, steel buttplate with cleaning rods, good checkering and good rust blue. Austrian proofed as well as carrying German proofs from 1927. Caliber is obviously 6.5x54MS. the only thing unoriginal is the claw mount bases. I'm hoping to hear from the previous owner as to if he has the scope/rings, but I only assume it's long gone. I suppose I'll have to get the mounts built, or find a peep for it. I may have paid too much, but I can't imagine these things are going to get any cheaper. I currently have a Greek Mannlicher sporter (I purchased it semi sporterized) project in the works as a long barreled homage to Karamojo Bell too. I guess I need to get some dies....

Good luck with it, sounds like a great project. I wanted a full stock MS for a long time, but never was quite able to scratch that itch.......

Good Job. The prices of those MS carbines are climbing like bitcoin. Super high quality. Does it have the set triggers? They are awesome guns.

You're not kidding. Yes sir, it has DST.

Never a bad choice...and damn it every man owes it to himself to own a fine stalking rifle!

If you have not handled one before, you are in for a treat! Got mine 3 years ago and have been very impressed

I have helped a couple friends develop loads for their's. This is just mostly opinion, but I think folks get carried away worrying about oversize groove diameters...don't go down that rabbit hole.
Both my friends went off on that, buying .266 bullets for the Carcano, trying all kinds of tricks and recipes to get the nth degree of accuracy. To no avail. In both cases and my own 1903, the best solution was found with those cheap 156 gr PPU semi round noses, driven with one of the 4831 type powders to around 2300 fps. (which just happens to duplicate Norma factory ammo) Works in 3 rifles. Another surprise was the plain 129 gr Hornady and Varget to around 2500 fps.

PICS?
I have a later model with the tang safety in 7x57. Set up for scope already. I'd love a 6.5x54 but never seen one I could afford

Congratulations, you are going to love it! Rings can be made but, are very pricy.

I have a 6.5X54 and a 9X56. I haven't shot the 6.5 but have shot all my 9mm ammo and loading more. I still have a couple of boxes of 358 bullets sized down about three thousandths. My 6.5 has a small chambe and you have to force a loaded PPU round into the chamber. I have to get busy on that. As a member here has been nice enough to loan me a finish reamer. Photos anyone? Be Well, RZ.

Fallschirmjaeger, interesting handle. Where are you located? Congratulations on your find.

I picked it up today. She's a beaut Clark. One of the pictures is the MS posing with my Karamojo project. I also picked up another stutzen...this was a Argy 1909 custom made by a local smith. Pictures....

Dave, I'm in Pennsylvania...

Congrats! These are quality made! Smooth as silk, as far as the action is concerned! Good Luck!

here's mine. Newer model than yours.

I've dropped a fallschirmjaeger or two.

Herr Fallschirmjaeger,

Lovely rifle- I have 3 of them; 6mm Remington (a rebarrel), 8x57, and 9.5x57.

You can find the proper mounts for your Steyr here:

https://www.eaw.de/en/

Dammit! Even though I've been swearing up and down that I'll not buy any more "deer" rifles, now y'all have me yearning for a M1903 M-S. I've owned a M1905 chambered for 8x57 not 8x56, and a M1952 .257 Roberts full stock carbine but always wished for a 6.5x54. Guess I gotta get one now....

Note: the M1905 had a Lyman cocking knob sight installed. With that sight I never felt undergunned in the thick stuff in western Maryland and Pennsylvania. Topping that trim little beauty with a scope would've wrecked the wonderful ergonomics presented by the M-S system. (A lesson I learned the hard way after scoping the M1952.)

I have one:


Got it by default when I was stationed in VA with the USN. Had a buddy that was looking for a left handed rifle and he asked me to go to Bob's Gun Shop in Norfolk. I wasn't interested in getting anything but went along because I didn't have anything else to do that day. I saw the Mannlicher Schoenaur on the rack and asked to look at it. I nearly lost my mind when I was the asking price was $289. Told my buddy to buy it and he stated he was a lefty and didn't want it. I told him again that the rifle was the best deal in the shop and he could make $$$ off it. He stated he wasn't interested. So I bought it and yes it is in 6.5x54MS with the double triggers. When the front trigger is set it breaks at an even 8 oz!

I did make a mistake though, I let the gal who I was dating shoot it and it became "her" rifle. Good thing I married her because that rifle would be harder to replace than she is. I got over 500 brass and have worked up a load with the Hornady 160 gr round nose that duplicates factory ballistics and is deadly on deer sized game like the Texas Dhal in the pic.

It seems to me that one of the gun heads here on the fire has an MS in 358 WIN