Steyr Mannlicher Luxus Stutzen 6.5×57

[WildBoarHunter]

I found this pic on the net. This mag seems slightly different than mine. The little bump is low on the left side compared to other mags.

 

[Steff]

It is not stated on the rifle itself but according to catalogs from the time it appears the 6.5×57 falls into Luxus M category.
It would appear my rifle is a very early model with so far unknown type of magazine. The magazine in the catalog is clearly the same as mine.

Yes, I know. Now please don't be offended, if I ask a very stupid question. Are you sure the rifle is chambered for 6,5x57? Could it not be 5,6x57?

 

[WildBoarHunter]

Yes, I know. Now please don't be offended, if I ask a very stupid question. Are you sure the rifle is chambered for 6,5x57? Could it not be 5,6x57?

Nope. It's on the barrel and on the papers. 6.5×57.

 

[Dunwaters]

I guess that would be case of trail and error.
Another thing that irritates me is that I have found pictures of the old Luxus model which still differ from your pics. Can you see this little latch in front of the trigger guard? Yours doesn't seem to have this.
View attachment 210580

The photo shows a Luxus M. Could it be that you have a Luxus L? This will probably also make a difference.

The L, M or S indicate action length, confusingly the M is the long action, L is short, .308 family and the S was magnum, there was a very short .222 action too which was a thing of beauty, less than a meter long.

 

[Dunwaters]

There might be one about stuck at the back of a press somewhere, I’ll make a few calls on Monday, if anything turns up I’ll PM you.

 

[Steff]

I found this pic on the net. This mag seems slightly different than mine. The little bump is low on the left side compared to other mags.

Well, this is it I‘d say. Now you know what the mag should look like!

 

[WildBoarHunter]

It would seem this is indeed the correct magazine type. From this pic it is clearly seen the protrusion at the back side of the magazine is much shorter than on the newer magazin type. It appears the Steyr changed the trigger guard shape somewhere around serial number 100 000 and with it or because of it also the magazine. The difference is small but enough so that the new mag does not fit.

Now that I know what to look for, I'll find one sooner than later. There was one for 6.5×57 on waffengebraucht.at just a month ago but the seller informed me it's allready sold...

 

[WildBoarHunter]

We managed to fix the issue at home fairly easily with the help of a file. The mag now fits the rifle and everything is fine.

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Good job. Does it feed reliably?

 

[WildBoarHunter]

Yes I tryed repeating the bolt several times with dummy bullets and it feeds reliably.
I contacted Steyr if the existing mag can be fit to my rifle. They were very helpful and told me that generally the magazine type fits and only the back protrusion of the mag needs a bit of work with a file and any gunsmith could do it.
We did it at home in the end.

 

[deeangeo]

WBH your rifle looks like a 1990's model 'L or M' with the side safety. The later model 'The Classic' has the rotary safety in the tang.
I had a model M in .243 & currently have a Classic in 6.5x55.

 

[WildBoarHunter]

I'm sure it's much earlier than that. It's the first type Luxus, probably from 1978.

I'm having some difficulties with it though. Yesterday I was cleaning the bolt and somehow managed to discharge the firing pin. As a consequence I can no longer insert the bolt in the rifle. I tryed dissasemble the bolt and after great difficulty I managed to reasemble it only with the help of a youtube video, showing how to do it... Otherwise I would have never manage to do it. However the bolt is still discharged and still won't fit in the rifle. I found an old Steyr manual on the net and it says I need to hold the bolt with my left hand and turn the bolt handle counterclockwise with my right hand in order to engage the firing pin. However I can not move the bolt handle this way. Any suggestions on what to do now?

 

[WildBoarHunter]

OK allready fixed it with the help of another youtube video. The bolt sock needs to be in a half open position for dissasembly and then you can cock the firing pin by turning the bolt handle counterclockwise.

Without youtube I'd had to take this to a qualified gunsmith. There's no way I could have done it myself. Ah, what would we do without youtube...

 

[WildBoarHunter]

An update. A forum member who has a similar problem with magazine not fitting contacted me about this issue. Since I last wrote in this thread I managed to aquire the first type magazine with the small hump in the lower part of the magazine. It is indeed the correct type for the first type Luxus rifle. My rifle has the serial number 90611. Just in case it might help somebody.
It still needed to be filed by a gunsmith as it went in but not out when I first got it. Once it was in it got stuck somewhere. The gunsmith took care of that by filing off a small bit of material here and there. It now fits perfectly, no rattling or anything.

 

[JTO]

Thanks.
Are these Steyr rear locking actions strong enough for full power loads or should I stick with factory light loads?

I bought a box of RWS 200 grn 308 rounds once and every one caused the SSG bolt to need a mallet to open it. I put it down to the locking lugs being at the rear.

 

[WildBoarHunter]

I had this issue only with home loaded Fox bullets and no other ammo. The problem persisted no matter what load or powder we used but the force needed to open the bolt was smaller as the loads got lighter so I'm still not sure what to made up of it. The problem persisted even with loads 10% below reccomended.

 

[Ade8mm]

If you want to find the exact age of your Steyr use this;
(There will be a 3 letter code stamped on the barrel)

 

[WildBoarHunter]

I did not find it. This is all I found.

 

[Ade8mm]

Very strange

Should be obvious like this;

 

[WildBoarHunter]

Mine has the numbers 678. Perhaps this stands for june 1978 ?