problem is though finding .311 bullets is a pain in the rear
Really? Just at your local shop, or elsewhere too? If you can shop online, there are tons. Anything in the .303", 7.7mm, or 7.62x39 or 7.62x54R category is the right diameter:
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&newcategorydimensionid=20613
There's a lot of stuff right now that is out of stock -- in all calibers -- because of still being in the tail end of "the panic" of '13, but a lot of the bullets listed there are still for sale, in stock.
The bigger thing for me would be finding reloadable 7.62x54R brass, but again, here it is in stock:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/13...brass-762x54mm-rimmed-russian-762x53mm-rimmed
the stripper clips dont even work particularly well, they fit into the cutout for them, but often the cartridges wont go in unless the angle is just right,
Stripper clips almost always take a bit of practice, and technique, to get to work well. Rimmed cartridges have a certain way you load the clip to help them feed best. The Swiss K-31 style clips are the very best ever and don't have those problems, but they aren't found just everywhere.
...anyway, we've discussed the K31 and the mausers.. what about the 8mm steyr M1895? (as i said, im OK with staying with 8mm mauser).
Well, there were three 8mm cartridges the 1895 Steyr was chambered for. 8x50mm, 8x56mm, and a few in 8mm Mauser (7.92x57mm).
Checking with the Wiki (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steyr-Mannlicher_M1895) it doesn't sound like many of them were in the Mauser cartridge (pretty rare), and those don't use the en bloc clips but normal stripper clips.
I've heard of some people loading the 8x56mm Steyr/Hungarian round but I've never met anyone who does.
... what known issues are there with this rifle? how hard would it be to find replacement parts for should anything break?.
Honestly, it isn't something I'd choose for a "shoot it thousands of times and rely on it forever" rifle. They aren't universally common and parts might be a little hit-and-miss. I don't think anyone's shot one enough to wear one out in the last 70 or 80 years so who knows?
Numrich does carry some parts:
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Steyr-33512/M-95StraightPull-42197.htm
i know most people use military surplus rifles for the occasional recreation shooting, or just as a wall hanger, but myself, i actually prefer a decent bolt action over my AK-74, i prefer the harder hitting, more accurate, deeper penetrating nature of bolt action cartridges so whichever one i upgrade to is going to be my primary rifle for everything.. if i had one that didnt have those issues the mosin had, id use it over my AK if i needed anything for any kind of defense.. in fact, i find myself grabbing my 20" M38 mosin nagant OVER my shotgun if i hear a noise i may need to check out (tons of wildlife here including bears)
Sounds like a Yugo M24/48 or Czech vz.24 Mauser in 8x57mm would be an excellent choice. Prevalent, common, powerful, easy to load for, tons of spare parts -- and spare rifles! -- around. Very robust, very proven design. Still pretty much a "gold standard" for rifle designs today, with the classic controlled-round feed and claw extractor made into the quintessential American hunting rifle by the incorporation of those features into the original style Winchester model 70s. (I would not wait for, search for, or PAY for a K98 these days. The Czech and Yugoslav rifles will be cheaper and most probably better.)
An Enfield (especially a No.4 Mk II) would be a very, very good second choice.
1903s/'03A3s and Model of 1917s following behind only because you don't see many of them anymore, and certainly will pay a heavy price if you do.
this is why barrel life, and thus the ability to rebarrel should one be shot out or damaged, finding replacement parts, the reliability and ease of stripper clips since ill be relying on them more than magazines, and of course, the cost of ammunition all become important factors, and i dont want to rely on surplus ammo that could dry up, maybe even be banned and leave me with something i cant shoot, which is why its important i find something that has brass and bullets readily available for reloading
Again, the Mauser would be king here, followed up by the Enfield in .303. Rifles built to be shot, used as clubs and spears and tent posts, and then to go on and win wars with. You couldn't wear one out in your lifetime, though replacement barrels are easy and cheap. Ammo super easy to reload and you won't be relying on surplus these days.
does the bolt in the steyr-mannlicher 1895 rifle lock in the same way as the K31?
No. The locking mechanism is different. The Steyr design was later used in the Ross rifle (Canada) but that proved an evolutionary dead end. The K-31 is a much more modernized design and probably considerably stronger.
[/URL]
