M95 Steyr

[8uck5nort]

Just thought I would share since it is getting very close to being done. I have benn working on this one off and on for about 3 years. I am finalizing the stock design. This is the original military stock. Alot of thinning of the stock. I did get a little carzy with the rasp on the left side near th tang and have some proud metal showing, but it is minor. I may try some inlay/repair work to fix it or not... I am filling the grip area sling stud hole with a fired 44 mag and 445 SM case head to give it character and help identify the calibers. Added fore end and grip cap in walnut. Fitted a Limbsaver recoil pad. Added some Uncle Mikes swivels and studs. They have been installed, but are removed now for the stock work. I might do some checkering work in the future, or not... This will be in the woods looking for deer this fall.
It was stubbed/rebarreled with a 44 mag blank. Chambered in 44 mag. I then reamed it up to 445 SM. Magazine was cut off and "benchrest" style tray was welded into action turning it into a single shot. Trigger guard was reworked after removal of exposed magazine. Trigger guard looks a bit big , but should work well when wearing gloves.
The action was drilled and tapped a had a Redfield M70 scope base installed. I leveled and aligned to bore by shimming and then cold welded to action using JB weld. Has a set of low Redfiled rings and Redfiled Rev 4-12x40 top it off. I am planning on changing the scope to a 2-7x33 for better fit for the 445 SM application. 200 yard and under.
I have done some load developement work and the initial test are very promising. I have posted some of the results in the Reloading section of the forum.

[spruce]

Interesting project, and definitely one of a kind!  Nice work and should work just fine for a woods deer rifle.
 
BTW that looks like a P-47 and can't tell for sure, but maybe a P-51 in the background?  Couple really great planes.

[gunnut69]

Nice job indeed! Perhaps a fixed magazine could be fabricated from a single stack box such as a 788. One in 308 would work as a donor.. Even the common 760 Rem magazine should be usable and they are double stack..

[8uck5nort]

So far I know of only two other sportered M95 that I have seen. They are a fine platform once you get used to the straight pull bolt. The original carridge is pretty cool too, just hard to find and reload for. I think it is getting easier though. You do have to spend some time loosening up the bolt. The stock actually lends itself to sportering once you get the lowest scope set up possible. I wonder if Redfield made Very Low or Extra Low Rings? That would improve the eye alignement even more. It is not bad now, but the comb could stand another 1/4 to 3/8 inch. I am looking into a leather lace up cheekreset to resolve that issue. Thought about carving a walnut cheekrest, but I losing my ambition on this project so I want to get to shootable/usable state again.
I hope it draws blood this year and puts meat in the freezer. I may opt for this rifle for some Texas hogs if I finally get down to see my brother who lives down there. Would make a fine hog gun with the 2-7x33 scope. Doubt I'll take any shots with this beyond 200 yards.
Yes that is a Thunderbot and a late war D series Mustang. Used to have a B series Mustang but kidzilla got ahold of that years ago and unfortunately did not survive the encounter. There is a (censored word) D7 Battlecruiser still in the box just in case the two fighters run into something too big or of an alien nature ... I just gotta find time to assemble and detail it.
 

[8uck5nort]

Nice job indeed! Perhaps a fixed magazine could be fabricated from a single stack box such as a 788. One in 308 would work as a donor.. Even the common 760 Rem magazine should be usable and they are double stack..

Toyed with that kind of idea for a while. The reason I went with the 44 mag is the cartidge head dimensions were really close to the 8x56R design.  The original magazine\en-bloc might have worked by shortening it and adding a permanet spring with some kind of pivoting bottom metal to lock them in place. I envision loading it from the bottom since I scoped it. However, that was getting well beyond my skill and budget level. Would be interesting to get a 3 shot capability out of it. The 445 SM COAL is getting long enough to make it feasible. I wonder if a 460 SW cartridge which is longer would have worked well with an existing enbloc mag... It just never ends.