I have had several Steyr Model M Professionals and MIII Professionals and they have all been matte blue finish or parkerized. I am in the process of buying a .270 MIII in matte stainless. When did they make a stainless version?

Pacecars,

I don't think that Steyr ever made rifles in stainless. By the pic that you posted, I don't believe that is SS... It's hard to say without having rifle in hand... But I'm betting that some previous owner had that rifle coated with Metalife SS. It looks similar to SS, but when compared side-x-side, you will see that the finish is smoother and not as porous as stainless, Also, when compared SxS, you'll notice that stainless is more silver colored and the Metalife SS has a greyer cast to it... It's really hard to tell the difference unless you have both in hand... but easy enough if you have both side by side...

Actually, Metalife SS looks much like French Grey , if you know what that is... Hope this helps...
GH

Steyr has/had made a stainless version of their pro hunter for years.... Not sure if they made the M in that material

I will find out when it arrives. Either way the price was right. I would assume the interior of the bore would not be coated if it was Metalife? Of course if it is not stainless that means Iam not losing my mind since I could not find any info anywhere on it. Might have to knock off a few more dollars off the price too even though it is still a very very good price. Thanks for the info.

Here are a few more pics. I wonder if the rings were done at the same time since they seem to match closely?

Interesting pic of the GSI stamp... I've never seen one with T'ville... All I've ever seen is Trussville, Al...

I suppose that Gun South, Inc. could have had them done. But I've never seen a reference to it... Back in that day, I had an FFL and always had it on file with Gun South, mostly becasue I was interested in in European rifles and they were a major importer.

I've had a keen interest in the M-III Professional ever since acquiring one in 6.5x57 some years ago. But in all honesty, I've never seen only about a dozen. All in .270 and '06 with the exception of the 6.5 that I own. I think I may have seen one in 7x64 once. If I did, I can't imagine why I didn't buy it. But like most everyone else, my pockets aren't always overflowing every time I find an interesting rifle...

GH

Speaking of interesting ones I should have bought, I ran across a M-III in .25-06 several years ago but waited about 1 hour too long and it sold. I have not seen one since.

One of the .270s that I had did have the same abbreviated stamp

Speaking of interesting rifles... I picked up a Carl Gustaf Deluxe (1970's production) in .25-06 recently. I never knew they were made in .25-06, and it's the only Deluxe that I've ever even seen... Don't know what I'm going to do with it... Too darn pretty to hunt with...

GH

...have a Mk3 Professional in 30.06 with the T'ville stamp and a Professional w/ iron sights in 7x57 Mauser that has Trussv.

Still have a brouchure with the Professional pictured along with the wood guns - no mention of a stainless version. Both mine are parkerized with the Mk3 equipped with a blackened bolt and the Professional a chrome bolt like the wood guns.

When I bought the 30.06, Steyr was selling down the Mk3's, a friend bought a .270 and there was a 25.06 on the rack. Both shoot great, the 30.06 puts 150g to 220g all in 3" at 100 yds.

Seems like a neat buy - no one seems to want to mess with metal or stock finish on Steyr's - might consider one of the many stock paints now on the market. Tell us how it shoots!

I was thinking that a spiderweb paint job may be in order. I did buy a Model M professional that the stock was broken in half at the back of the mag well for a couple of hundred bucks a few years ago. I found that no one makes a replacement stock unless you want to have a wood stock custom made. I was considering having this one Cerakoted but if it is already an after market finish (which I believe Grasshopper is probably right) I will probably leave that part alone and just have the stock done.

Hi,

I've worked three years as salesman for the french distributor of Steyr, in 2000-03. I used and owned lots of M before and always have but i never met a Steyr like that even in their catalogs and we were in close contact with them because of the military products we presented to some services. Steyr was able to make some special batches for importers as, for exemple, the SSG69 in 7-08 for the french market because of our dumb laws. To have it made they requested a minimum of 50 (fifty) rifles. They sold well so they made more for us.
Maybe that one you own was made for GSI with a special coating during the last years it was produced or may be it received the treatment grasshopper speak of. Better ask to GSI if it's always in service. The real stainless model was introduced with the SBS96 receiver and is not too old a product.

Marseille, thanks for the response. I was going to post in the European section since I figured someone their would have more experience with the Steyrs. I will call GSI Tuesday and see what they can tell me. Either way I like the look of this M-III. I can't quite warm up to the looks of the new SBS rifles but I hear good things about them. I know the M Professional is a homely rifle to most people but to me it is the perfect working gun and that stock fits me better than any I have ever tried. I hope I am smart enough to hang on to this one. I need to pick up an extra mag or two also.

I saw a version one time that was similar to an SSG with the longer receiver but it had a laminated stock and was in .243 and it was called a hunter version or something similar. Have you ever had experience with one of these?

pacecars,

Are you in need of a factory stock for a Model M? I just happen to know where there is one...

Not at the moment but what do you have? I could always change my mind. I sold the one I had with the broken stock after searching to no avail.

I have a black cycolac stock extra. My M-III Prof. has the green stock.

GH

I have had the brown, green and black and the green is my favorite. Have you ever bedded one of these stocks? Every one I have had shot exceptionally so I never tried it but I am curious.

Ronnie, my green stock Professional M in .270 has Trussv. AL stamped on it.
I am suprised at there being any stainless M's of any flavor.
Looks like you might have found something VERY special!

I reorganized my photobucket albums and thepics disappeared above so here they are:

It definitely has me intrigued! I can't wait to get it in my hands to find out exactly what I have bought.

Oh my...

I just wish it was a 7x64

I just wish I could find a 7x64...

Me too. I would also love to have one in 6.5x57. Here is a 7x64 for sale and the price isn't too bad. Not sure why that scope is on there though:
http://www.cabelas.com/fryprod-0/product--Gun-Library--Fine-Rifles%7C--pc--103792680--c--103796280--Steyr-Mannlicher-Model-M-Professional-7x64--1226016.uts.shtml

Jagdmatch is the one I was thinking of with the laminated stock. Here is one in .308
http://www.auctionarms.com/closed/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8863284.0

Jagt match were made if i recall well in 222Rem (SL receiver) 243 and 308. The stock was made in hard wood sort of laminated finish.
They are good rifles to the boot.

Wow! Look at that! And in my own back yard, too... I was just down there 3 or 4 weeks ago, and didn't see that. I just might have to go check that out a bit closer...

GH

I like the Warne QD mounts on it too. I wish the M-III had iron sights

pacecars...the folks at Steyr service told me they can install factory iron sights on my Mk3 - got another with iron sights so never had it done but you have the option available.

Talked to GSI today and they never had a stainlesss or silver coated Model M of any kind. it has to be some kind of aftermarket finish. I will find out when it arrives I guess

pacecars,

I didn't think so... I looked back on my original post on this subject, and realized I didn't make myself very clear....

What I meant was that I didn't think that Steyr ever made stainless rifles prior to the SBS incarnation... I knew they made the SBS in SS, but I had forgotton it... My bad!

I wonder why GSI dropped the importation of the Steyrs... ?

GH

I knew what you meant. I am going to keep it anyway. GSI still has the magazines for $63.00 too. Why did Steyr go to the SBS actions?

I haven't a clue... I suppose the on-going debate about safeties locking the bolt likely had something to do with. And perhaps the fact that EVERYONE knows that rear locking lug bolts aren't supposed to be accurate...

Right!

I'm curious to see what you think of the coating on the rifle in question... My gunsmith tells me that it is VERY hard... That one can barely scratch it with a file... I have at least two rifles that have been coated with Metalife . One thing I forgot to mention... It's a permanent coating... It doesn't come off! (Or so I've been told...)

GH

re: why SBS system came about, it is cheaper to make, not as labor intensive. The standard M and similar SSG series have rear bolt locking lugs so making the receiver is harder as far as casting/forging and final finishing of the inside of the receiver..

The L,M,S bolt is more complicated as well. I do find with hotter loads bolt lift is a little sticky compared to the camming aspect of a M70, Mauser or 700 action. I've heard the same said for other multi-lug actions, even Weatherby's.

The SBS receiver has no locking lugs, it is an insert pressed into the barrel after forging and chamber finishing. I read somewhere that the locking lug insert was tested at twice the pressures without failure.

I too have read that rear locking lugs bolt guns are not as accurate and maybe this is the case for those who need ultra accurate rifles.

For my use, Steyr's are plenty accurate and offer slick round chambering as a bonus.The SSG versions are accurate enough for .308 competition and snipers, I'm sure they chose wisely.

I think the Remington 788 helped to shoot holes in that theory too. They are a lot more accurate than they should be. Everyone that I have ever let shoot my Steyrs have always said they though they were ugly....until they shot it. I have always loved the classic American stock and the classic British express rifle stock but I have yet to find a stock that fits me better for off hand shooting than the M Professional does.

My own experience with my 6.5x57 almsot exactly mirrors that statement.

When I purchased the rifle, I mounted a 6x42 Leupold and took it to the range. I worked up my test loads, and when the rifle was sighted and and I was done, I had 4 rounds left over. Since I hate to leave those few rounds in a box, I thought I'd just fire them off. Our range is also a NRA approved silhouette range and there are permanent silhouette swingers set up. So, I stood up 'on my hind legs and shot like a man'... Out of the four rounds, I hit the chicken 3 times. (200 yds) AFAIC, that stock sure is ugly, but it fits me like a glove. I believe it's the easiest rifle to shoot offhand that I own...

GH

Grasshopper ... I am interested in the extra stock you mentioned - PM in your mailbox. Let me know where and cost. Best Regards ...grvj

I picked up the rifle yesterday and the finish is very smooth and even on every part. I will try to get some closeup pics this evening. I must say that I like it a lot.

Here are some pics I took real quick today while waiting for a crap load of girls to arrive (It is my daughter's 16th birthday party) so I still need to get some good closeups. There is a slightly different coloration inside the ejection port.






[img]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/pacecars/DSC_0031.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/pacecars/DSC_0030.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/pacecars/DSC_0027.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/pacecars/DSC_0034.jpg[/img]

PC,

Thanks for posting the close-up pics... I think you'll find that the bore has been done, as well. They clean real easy. I'll be curious to know what you think after you shoot it.

Have you compared it to a SS rifle, SxS? If so, what is your reaction?

You have my sympathy for having a 16 yr old...

GH

grasshopper and others. i am from australia and also a steyr fanatic in particular and a few euros as well sauer 202 in 308. i have in steyr rear locking ssg 308 with kahles scope. an ssg in 243 with rear sight removed but unfired. have had 1x270& 4x30-06 model m professionals. have seen a few 7x64's and one 7x57 that had same finish as 22/250in pics. also owned a model 3 pro in 375 H&H that had been special ordered by the then importer GRANITE FIREARMS for his own personal rifle for buffalo hunting in northern australia. it was stolen when i lent it to a friend to take buff hunting. sorely missed as it was fairly unique! it was parkerised and had a black stock.

the distributor for steyr here in australia of all people is WINCHESTER hence parts are a problem. pacecar has pointed me to GSI so that may help me.