Hello, I am considering buying a M1952 Steyr Mannlicher in 30.06 cal for a backup deer gun. Want something with a little character for my second gun that I will shoot on occasion for fun.

The gun in question is an early one I am told with a blue bolt handle and a Griffin&Howe detachable scope mount, 6x fixed Kayle scope on it.

Looks great but I am concerned about accuracy with the stock extending all the way to the muzzle. Assuming parts can be an issue.

Any opinion about this gun good or bad would greatly be appreciated.

My dad got into hunting in Europe in the 1950s using a borrowed pre-WW I-vintage Mannlicher "Stutzen" (the German term for the short rifle with a full stock). He never missed, at least according to himself

That one was chambered in the traditional 6.5x54 M.Sch. (for Mannlicher-Schönauer; Ferdinand Mannlicher actually was dead by the time his assistant Otto Schönauer at Steyr developed a hunting rifle out of the military design).

Generally, the full stock will somewhat impact accuracy only if you fire a fast sequence of shots that allows the barrel to heat up sufficiently. To do that with a .30-06 shorty, you'd have to be a glutton for punishment anyways. You will notice the muzzle blast compared to a standard-length barrel. In a hunting situation, it's not an issue. This style of guns has been very popular in Europe.

I have an early 1952 rifle, not the full length stock. Accuracy is excellent. These are the smoothest operating bolt action rifles I've ever shot. The G&H mount is a good one. Parts can be a little difficult to come by, but the only part I've ever had to replace is the tension spring for the set trigger, and I ended up just making one myself. Great guns!

I have a Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1960 Monte Carlo American carbine in 30.06. Shoots 1" groups from sandbags at 100 yards. I myself think these old beauties have a lot of class.

old 1911 fan

It sounds like a 1st class package. I'm not familiar with Kayle scopes, but Kahles scopes are highly regarded and they did make a 6X with a 26mm main tube.

You may want to measure the tube diameter if you plan on changing the optics. A straighter 6X wouldn't be my first choice for a whitetail gun and a 60+ year old scope may be succeptable to internal fogging.

The main tube diameter on older scopes can be 3/4", 7/8", 1" or 26mm. 26mm rings can be shimmed to accept a 1" scope, but you'll be very limited if the rings are 3/4" or 7/8". Replacement G&H rings are available, but they're quite expensive.

__________________
"I also cook."

The bolt handle on the 1952 came blued. The next Models after that were polished in the white (56 &61).
The 1952 was the last to have the old style European stock with the lower comb for iron sights but the first w/the swept back bolt handle.
No charger clip slots starting with the 1952. Safety slide button was still steel on them too. Models after were plastic IIRC.
The Model 1950 was the last of the traditional looking M/S with the straight down spoon handle, old style stock.

A G&H side mt is a nice item and pricey also.
Some have windage built into the rear ring,,others don't.

The mt should be marked in the rings somewhere as to the size of them. Either in inch or m/m.
7/8" was a common size at one time for scopes like the Lyman and Leopold Alaskan and others of that size.


If you don't want to use the side mt and a 'scope, the mounting rail can be simply removed from the side of the rec'vr.
Take the bbl'd action out of the stock. The rail/mount plate is attached to the side of the rec'vr on the outside flat of the magazine well by dovetail slots and a screw.
That leaves a very narrow slot along side the rec'vr with that plate missing. The original gun came with a 'dummy' plate in place to fill that space. They are around if you look hard enough. Most people just disregard it or fill it with a wooden filler piece.
The G&H side mt complete is probably worth $200 +/- by itself in nice condition and depending on ring size.

Kahles scopes are (were?) some top notch optics. Austrian made
Take note of the specific model and do some homework on it.
Many of the Kales scopes go for $1000 and up. They do retail some for under that but not way under. Used can still sell for $300 or so depending on model.
I don't know if they've been infected with cheaper China import made
products simply branded with their name or not,,but the originals are very well regarded.
I'm not much of a 'scope guy myself.

Accuracy?,,expectations of bench rest rifle performance probably not. They are hunting rifles and as such perform just fine.
I have several of the original M/Sch Models 1903, 1908 and 1910. They all shoot just fine and would easily take a deer (or a woodchuck) at 150yrds even with my barely sunrise side of 70 eyes.
No scopes on any except one of the 1908's that came w/a period scope in claw mounts.
'Needs work" What else is new....

Having a M/S as a backup deer gun would be classy!

If you want a great rifle at a great price check out the CZ FS/mannlicher stock..... Model 550 for the 30-06 and the 527 for .223.

Learning a lot already. Especially the scope ring size. That is a issue for me as i noticed while working the action that the bolt barely misses the scope. Putting a VXII Leopold 3x10 next to it ,its clear the kahle is smaller at the rear. Didn't check the tube size yet. Stock is the low comb and very nicely figured on one side more than the other.

The shorter bbl crossed my mind as I have not experienced a carbine and I would shoot this more often. Maybe even the summer in a light shirt.

The .30-06 is on the strong side for the short barrel. The traditional 6.5x54 is a much milder load; it‘s the only one I‘ve shot. I would NOT get the ‘06 as a plinking gun.

Just for fun, I did a search and perused some German hunting sites, and nobody is complaining about accuracy, but a lot of comments are about relative recoil and muzzle flash, especially on the .30-06 version which has become a popular caliber over there. Of course they hunt wild boar at night, so they‘d notice the flash