Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 9.5x57 on a Swedish M96

I am thinking about having a 9.5x57 MS built on a 1907 Swedish M96. I like the metal on the old M96 actions and have a couple that were butchered up before I acquired them.

According to Wikipedia: The 9.5x57mm Mannlicher-Sch�nauer (MS) cartridge was adopted for the M-1910 MS rifle and carbine in 1910. The 9.5x57mm MS is also known as the 9.5x56mm MS, the 9.5x56.7mm MS, and the .375 Rimless Nitro Express x 2-1/4. Factory loads were manufactured with a 270-grain (17 g) round-nose bullet at from 2,150 ft/s (from the carbine) to 2,250 ft/s (from the rifle). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9.5x57mm_Mannlicher-Schoenauer)

According to Karl Kleimenhagen: The CIP piezo pressure specification for this cartridge is estimated to be 44,000 psi. This compares to 55,000 psi for the 6.5x55 Swedish. (http://kwk.us/pressures.html)

I have some unanswered questions about this cartridge.

1. What is the cartridge overall length? (I saw a post claiming it was 2.94 inches.)

2. What are the maximum case length and trim length?

3. Does anyone have a web resource for the cartridge drawing?

4. Assuming the overall cartridge length is <= 3.15 inch, is there any reason that Swedish M96 rifles could not be fitted with a new barrel for this cartridge? I have been told that the difference in head diameter is not an issue.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

I found some info on the 9x56 M-S that states the case length is 2.21" and the COAL is 2.94".

The 8x56 MS has the same case length with a COAL of 2.97"

Hopefully this will help.

Thanks, I will add those to my notes.

I have been looking on line for this information but have not found any drawings.

LoadData.com has a few loads from Rifle and Handloader, but no cartridge specifications.

Can't imagine that it would be much difference than the 9.3x57 that I load for, they are running just shy of 3".

Steelhead,

Is your 9.3x57 a M96 by chance?

There is a YouTube review, and some shooting scenes, of a Husqvarna built on a M96. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6D-S569dyg&NR=1)

I considered a 9.3x57, but I have many .375 bullets for my 375 H&H and Ruger, so I have decided to go with the 9.5x57.

Yep a Husqvarna

Thanks for the pictures.

That stock on your rifle is one of the things I like about older pieces. Most of today's stocks have too tight curves in the grip for my taste.

Personally, the tight grips work fine off a bench rest, yet the looser curves like on your rifle are much faster offhand when hunting. Perhaps it is just my body build.

I agree 100%, an open grip is much better for offhand shooting, which has been the majority of shooting I've done when killing critters.

Steelhead - Nice looking rifle! I can't tell from the picture but is the forearm checkered?

Allan's Armory has a '96 Huskie in 9.3x57 all set up and ready to go for you. Open sights, but also scope-ready.

http://www.allans-armory.com/aaresult.php?PageId=65

Negative, no checkering on the forend. Should I ever get a stock carved out again it will pretty much match that one, higher comb if going scoped. It's about as nice a handling rifle as I know of.

Dons1 - Thanks for that link, gives me something to think about! A little cleaning and some stock work and you have yourself a nice rifle! I may have to look into this!

I still have not located a cartridge drawing for the 9.5x57.

Where would you purchase a reamer for this round?

Simpsonltd has dozens of Huskys in 9.3x57mm,
but no 9.5s.

They are pretty nice, but I would opt for one of them on a Mauser 98 action and there are a number of those out there. Same gun but a much better action as far as strength.

A more modern action is the sensible way to go. If I were to use a modern action and stock, then I would only need to pay for a new barrel. Yesterday the local gun shop had several used Remingtons and Winchesters that would do the job.

I just look at those old, poorly sporterized Swedes, and get all sentimental. It just seems that they should get a second chance...within their limitations.

I would certainly re-consider a 9.3 x 57.
As several here have stated, you can get all the classic lines you desire in an existing piece. Projectiles are easier to obtain. And with the recent resurgance of popularity in the old cartridge, more and more loading data is turning up.

I echo Ray's suggestion of a 98 action! Nice ones are out there. I picked up one with a minty bore 3 weeks ago. It's now a 9.3 x 62! Just my two sous!

Here's my 9.3 x 57




BN

Nice!

Thanks for the picture.

A member sent me the cartridge drawing via private message.

So now I have most of what I need. The next step is to find a gunsmith for the project. I am looking for one that is comfortable with peep sights, front ribs, and rifles meant to be fired offhand instead of a bench. I have decided to wait on selecting an action until I have talked to the gunsmith.

The shape of the stock on the rifle pictures posted by kaywoodie is very close to what I want. I am not a fan of Schnabel fore ends. They look nice yet just do not feel right in my hands.

A decade ago I was able to handle some bolt action Mausers in Germany. Both had peep sights. The first had a peep attached to the end of the striker. Personally, I did not like it because the peep jumped forward when the rifle was fired. This was too distracting for my taste. The second rifle had a peep attached to the bolt shroud. That was very interesting. Does anyone know a gunsmith that makes or installs peep sights on the bolt shroud? My searches have not turned up anything.

Updating my own post.

I obtained a sample of 9.5 mm, head stamped:

* D *
Mannl. Schoenauer 9,5 m/m

(The oe is really an o with an oomlaut.) I do not have any more information about the cartridge.

It is a round-nosed FMJ with a steel jacket...it is attracted to a magnet. The length is 2.8750 inch. The case itself is approximately 2.2435 inch. The bullet diameter is 0.3740 inch and the neck diameter is approximately 0.4045 inch. Of interest to me is its shoulder diameter of approximately 0.4445 inch.

The metric 9.5x57 cartridge drawing that I have shows the cartridge maximum shoulder to be 0.4488 inch with a minimum of 0.4409 inch (for safety). The chamber specification is 0.450 inch.

I note that the 375 H&H is shown with a shoulder diameter of 0.448 inch in most of my reloading manuals. The 8x57 is shown with 0.431 inch for the shoulder diameter.

It seems the easiest way to get brass is use 8x57 or 9.3x57 and neck up. I plan to seat bullets out to touch the lands for fire-forming. I note that the 375 Hawk-Scovill has a 0.454 inch shoulder. This leads me to believe that there should be adequate shoulder for head spacing after fire-forming unless that 0.004 difference is critical.