New gun need advice

[lyon13]

So right now I am looking at two different guns. A steyr m95 (not sure if 8mm mauser or not) for like 500, or a project type 99 with mum in need of a stock, safety knob, and stock for two bills. Right now my plan is if the steyr is in the more common caliber of 8 mm that's the one I'd go with.

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

It is unlikely that the Steyr M95 is in the "normal" 8mm Mauser chambering. The M85 was originally built in the chambering 8x50R, and can take a 0.323" bullet. However, the case diameter is much wider than the 8mm Mause, so an M95 cannot be converted by chamber reaming.
Most M95s were converted to the "hungarian" M95/30R, which takes a 0.329/0.330 bullet, which, for practical purposes, belongs in the "unobtanium" category.
In both M95 versions, the chambering for a rimmed case and the case diameter make a ream-out to 8x57IS impossible.

An M95 could only be in 8x57IS if it had been rebarelled.

For this reason, the M95 only fetches a wallhanger price over here in Mauserland.

As for the Type 99, as a general rule one can say that it does not pay to buy individual bits to complete a sporterized/bubbarized old milsurp. A better route would be to buy one that is complete, but missing the "mum", and transplant the intact (with mum) barrel into it. Of course, the result would be a falsification, but that would be your decision.

As a resonably experienced refurbisher of tatty old milsurps, my serious advice is to save your money for something better, in an easy-to-use caliber.

[Sunray]

"...not sure if 8mm Mauser or not..." Slug the barrel and do a chamber cast. Like Patrick says, M95's came in several 8mm cartridges. 8×50mmR Mannlicher(.321" bullet), 8×56mmR(.329" bullet) and 8×57mm I/JS(.323" bullet). Other than the Mauser JS, none of 'em are exactly common. The 'Mannlicher' part matters too. The French had an 8×50mmR as well.
$500 is kind of steep though. Look on the assorted auction sites. There are several on Gunbroker for less.
"...in need of a stock, safety knob..." That'd settle it for me. The 'mum' increases value, but not with an aftermarket stock. If you can find one. Rummage around here. Nambu World

[Aragorn243]

Most Steyr rifles sold in the US have been upgraded to 8x56R which is pretty easy to get. Quite a bit o 1938 surplus around and Privi is making it also. But $500 is way too steep. I know prices have gone up but I don't think that much unless it is an exceptional long rifle. Most are carbines and should be in the $300 range. It is possible it is in 8mm. Yugoslavia converted many of them into what they call the M24 which is essentially a rebarrel with a Mauser barrel. These can be in the $500 range but you need to make sure the extractor isn't broken as they can't be replaced. There is a second part on these that is sometimes missing, the internal clip. Also impossible to replace without making one yourself. Definite no on the Japanese rifle. It's already $100 too high as a sporter and it would be very cost prohibitive to restore it. I paid $40 for a sporter once and am in the hole restoring it.

[jonnyc]

M95 8x56R ammo is still rather plentiful here on the western side of the pond, but usually not priced nicely. However, shooting that will still be lots cheaper and more fun than trying to expensively re-make a Type 99. The M95 is about $100 to much..........same for the Type 99 parts gun.