Steyr Mannlicher Luxus appreciation...

[Arac]

I have been hunting with a Steyr Mannlicher Luxus in 7mm RM for 30 years - absolutely love the rifle. Unbelievably accurate and sweet handling, even though it is a bit heavy by today's standard. The rifle is all metal, fit/finish is excellent and the action is very slick. I really like the single set trigger as it makes off-hand shooting a bit easier. My father shot deer with it, I have and my son has too. I suspect his child will do the same in the future.

I purchased a second one the other week so now I have a pair. The new one is in .300 Win Mag and it has the Bavarian style cheekpiece and Schnabel for end. Some of the differences: the fore end is a bit narrower, the swivel mount is a bit closer to the fore end, the safety is on the tang, the triangle on the rear sight is more ivory vs bronze and the length of pull is a bit shorter.

Hoping to go to Africa with my wife in 2027 - we will take this pair with us. Maybe my son will want to come too....that means I should be on the lookout for one more, right?!

Post up with yours if you have one. The 7mm is the bottom, darker stocked rifle.

 

[AZDAVE]

Nice rifles. Something to build a family hunting history with.

 

[steve white]

Styers are no slouch in the first place, but a Luxus is even more refined. I confess that I have not familiarized myself with all the refinements. Could you expand your description of what make these rifles superior? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[Arac]

Good day Steve! Much of my views on why the Luxus is superior is subjective, and of course differences in taste and preference make life interesting. For example:

1. I much prefer the all steel bottom of the Luxus to the plastic version on the regular SL, L, M, S and S/T. The plastic around the bottom screws crack quite easily and in any event I prefer steel.

2. The detachable magazine on the Luxus is all steel and single stack. The "regular" Steyr Mannlicher, if I can call them that, uses a plastic rotary magazine that pays homage to the pre-1969 Mannlicher rifles. Specifically the Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifles, which had beautiful internal (non-detachable) rotary magazines. Plastic of the day was not what it is today and I have heard - not personally observed - that some gun cleaning solvents can damage this older style plastic. One advantage of the rotary magazine is increased capacity. You can have up to 5 rounds, even in magnum chamberings, while the single stack metal magazine of the Luxus is limited to 3.

3. I like the stock shape and design on the Luxus rifles. They are slimmer and feel more lively in the hand. This is in large part due to the single stack magazine, which permits a trimmer stock design. Note how wide the magazine is on the regular model in the photograph below. This leads to a chunkier feel. The Luxus was also available with Bavarian cheekpiece and Schnable fore-end. The shape of the butt and sweep of the pistol grip fit me much better on the Luxus.

4. I prefer the style of checkering on the Luxus. The regular version often has the skip-line checkering.

5. While the regular version was available with a single trigger, they often came with double set trigger. I much prefer the look and feel of the single set trigger on the Luxus.

6. The width of the stock and inletting required for the wide detachable magazine cause a weak point in the regular rifle's stock. I knew a fellow who cracked his stock while getting into a boat. The wood just above the magazine release is very thin and doesn't have much support.

On the other hand, the regular version came in more cool chamberings - 5.6x57, 6.5x68, .300 H&H and .375 H&H, to name a few.

I like them both, but very strongly prefer the Luxus for the above noted reasons. That doesn't mean I won't own a regular version in the future - maybe a full stocked L or SL....

 

[7x57Joe]

I had a Luxus Stutzen in 7x57 but, sold it in a fit of stupidity! The name of the company escapes me now but, they made a blue steel bottom metal for the standard models.

 

[Arac]

I had a Luxus Stutzen in 7x57 but, sold it in a fit of stupidity! The name of the company escapes me now but, they made a blue steel bottom metal for the standard models.

Oh wow! I have never seen a Luxus Stutzen in real life - and 7x57 is arguably the nicest chambering.

There was someone who made bottom metal, but I can’t remember who either.

 

[7x57Joe]

Oh wow! I have never seen a Luxus Stutzen in real life - and 7x57 is arguably the nicest chambering.

There was someone who made bottom metal, but I can’t remember who either.

Here's the one I had:

 

[Muskox]

I had a Luxus Stutzen in 7x57 but, sold it in a fit of stupidity! The name of the company escapes me now but, they made a blue steel bottom metal for the standard models.

I had a 270 Luxus Stutzen and sold it 20 years ago.

It shot one hole groups. Was crazy nice.

But then every once in a while it would just fire when you closed the bolt.

So off it went.

 

[Arac]

That is bad news Muskox! Were you able to sort out the issue, or at least figure out the cause of the problem?

 

[Muskox]

That is bad news Muskox! Were you able to sort out the issue, or at least figure out the cause of the problem?

Sold it, probably not the answer but it kept me from killing someone or shooting a hole in the truck.

LL Bean bought it from me, and I bought something stupid with the money.

Been a very long time.

 

[steve white]

Sold it, probably not the answer but it kept me from killing someone or shooting a hole in the truck.

LL Bean bought it from me, and I bought something stupid with the money.

Been a very long time.

Yes, it's often not just that we sold something too cheap, but what we bought with the money we got was even stupider.

 

[dgr416]

I just bought a 1957 mannlicher full stock double trigger in 243 wish it was a bigger caliber ! Its an awesome gun beautiful wood wish the regular trigger was lighter .

 

[steve white]

I just bought a 1957 mannlicher full stock double trigger in 243 wish it was a bigger caliber ! Its an awesome gun beautiful wood wish the regular trigger was lighter .

I don't know why it didn't occur to me sooner to have my double trigger worked on to lighten the front trigger only pull. It's on my short-list. I can't comment on how much an improvement it will be--if you do it first, please post the results.
You could contact another strictly M-S collector group and ask to buy a single trigger--M-S did make them, and the rifles could be ordered both ways. You might consider it a good enough improvement that you vote to keep the rifle.

 

[cash_tx]

I've had my eye on M-S rifles for many years, but never actually bought one until this past week when Cabelas had this 1957 Model 1950 rifle in 30-06 online at a clearance price that I couldn't resist. The pictures indicate it to be on really good condition, and I'll know more when it gets shipped to my local store this next week.

 

[steve white]

I've had my eye on M-S rifles for many years, but never actually bought one until this past week when Cabelas had this 1957 Model 1950 rifle in 30-06 online at a clearance price that I couldn't resist. The pictures indicate it to be on really good condition, and I'll know more when it gets shipped to my local store this next week.

View attachment 732914

I like the way that one is set up, especially the shotgun style trigger guard. Nice. I'll bet you like it the more you find out about what makes a Mannlicher a Mannlicher.

 

[Boone66]

I actually haven't seen one of these Luxus in person, but I do have a 1905 MS 9x56ms

 

[Boone66]

I would like to find M-S in 300win

 

[Arac]

I actually haven't seen one of these Luxus in person, but I do have a 1905 MS 9x56ms

Those are great! I had an M1903 and M1908.

Are you using .358” bullets and swaging them?

 

[Boone66]

Those are great! I had an M1903 and M1908.

Are you using .358” bullets and swaging them?

Mine is a odd ball and is .358, it loves 250gr Speer hotcore.

 

[steve white]

I would like to find M-S in 300win

Well, you can find it in the later models, which have improved metallurgy to easily handle the increased pressure. These will be 1950 model through MCA, and maybe the NO model as well, have to check. More of these are coming onto the market as older hunters die, sadly.