Yay! 243 Mannlicher Schoenaur MCA

[stubbicatt]

Love it. Waited a very long time for this rifle. It is in pretty darn good nick, a couple of hickeys in the stock, but the metal is pristine. 1966 vintage.







Photos don't do it justice. In studying the action, there are so many similaries to rifles from the late 19th century, the SMLE and the Mosin Nagant both share the large locking lug in the receiver "window", the Mosin shares the split rear receiver ring, the Mauser 98 shares the fore locking lugs. The magazine as far as I know is unique. What a slick action. The fit of the wood to the metal is flawless, the checkering flawless. The double set triggers are neat. The striker fall is very similar to the Mosin Nagant, long, slow, and heavy. Disassembly of the bolt is very unique, and while easy after you get used to it, not so easy at first. The "wing" safety is very like the Mauser, yet there is a tang safety not so different from many shotguns.

Never owned a 243 before, but this gives me an opportunity to learn something I don't already know.

Very happy. Very excited.

 

[gbeecher]

Very nice!

Congratulations! From what I understand, the M-S civilian sporter rifles are some of the finest rifles made. I've read where the 1903 Mannlicher Schonauer rifles in Greek service were among the finest made military rifles in the world. They gave excellent service, but were expensive to manufacture. Happy shooting!

 

[browningguy]

Congrats, those are very nice rifles.

 

[stubbicatt]

Just futzed around with Winchester 80 grain cartridges. The rotary magazine is a really slick device. The rounds are depressed into the magazine, and rotate down and away to the "port" side of the magazine. When full, one can depress the top cartridge to close the bolt on an empty chamber. Neat in its own right I guess. But what is really slick is one can unload the magazine readily by depressing a little button on the "starboard" side receiver window. The rounds do not fly out of the magazine but are expelled with moderate force such that one can catch them all in the right hand.

The more I work with the rifle, the more I like it. --Just wish the striker fall was not so slow, and not so heavy. I find I have to grip the forestock a ways out by the swivel in order to not watch the front sight dip when the trigger is pulled. Almost like an open bolt Thompson.

 

[RPRNY]

Wow! My dream rifle, you lucky bugger. I really want one in 30-06. Well done on a gorgeous rifle!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

That is one sharp rifle.

 

[stubbicatt]

Thanks guys. I am trolling for pet loads. Hope I find something that works decent. But for now, I'll just shoot factory ammo until I get a scope for it. That will be an expensive endeavor, but for now it sure is light and handy.

Too bad I can't see the front sight.

 

[dirtyjim]

nice rifle. i've always prefered the buttstock on the earlier rifles, that high comb on a mannlicher does not flow right to me. i would have to put a rasp to it, also that white line spacer on the grip cap would have to go

 

[stubbicatt]

D.J. I understand your view. This is the original stock that came on it, and overall it is excellent. The checkering is really nice, and the contours of the wood were done with an eye to a man actually holding this rifle and shooting it. (Why people buy the flat bottomed fore ends stocks for their hunting rifles mystifies me.) If I could duplicate the stock in all other respects, other than the Monte Carlo feature, I would consider it. I prefer the hogsback stock on my CZ rifles to this in any event, but that said, it shoulders well and one can get behind the sights readily.