Picked up an original Schonauer 6.5x54 in very good condition. Looking to revive it as a river bottom stalking rifle, moderate range moderate velocities.
Do I stick with the 156ish traditional bullets and if so which one? Or go mild 125 NP or 120 BT route looking for expansion? Not worried about hurting it or me but if I want the fuss and bother of 264WM then that's what id use.
Norma Vulkan l56 looks interesting but any experience with it at moderate velocities?

Anything I shoot accuracy is paramount.

Is it scoped at all, or iron sights?

Especially with iron sights, I lean towards 140 gr or 160 gr bullets as the lower velocity isn't the limiting factor regarding range. I've had good luck loading the 160 gr Hornady RN bullets, and have heard good reports from other Mannlicher users about their effectiveness on game. (I haven't been lucky enough yet with any of my Mannlichers....)

Chris

I love my 1950 MS Carbine:


Here's a load that works great in it:


It is also accurate with 156-160 bullets of any brand!

100 or 120 grain Ballistic Tips...

if you want heavier, then they make a 140 grain Ballistic Tip also...

They'll open up down to about 1200 to 1400 fps...

Slug your barrel,probably .268

Slug your throat (via soft lead bump cast) or do a Cerrosafe casting. That's what drives bullet choice for the old girls like these. One reason why savvy bullet casters got a leg up on those who are dependent on what's setting on the gun shop shelves.

You have a classic rifle that has a record of unbelievable kills with original ammo of 156-160 bullets at moderate velocity. For a classic rifle, I'd go with a classic load.

Some suggestions have come up of using lighter bullets at increased velocity; but then why go to a classic rifle and cartridge?

If your rifle has original iron sights on it the new light weight super bullets may not line up with sights. Also feeding problems from the magazine could be an issue.

Congrats on owning a beautiful piece of history. Enjoy the hell out of it. I'm jealous.

Through my "short & happy life" I have owned 2 of the 1903 carbines and a rifle built on a System 1930 action. I used 140's & iterations of 160's in all. If I ever find another 1903 it will get fed whatever version of the 160's it shots best. Never had a problem killing anything from elk on down.

Damn that is a beautiful rifle1

I found the heavier bullets shot better than most and also aligned to the iron sights pretty well...

A couple examples of rusty old guns..

Wow!

Those butter knife bolts give me wood.

Pretty cool stuff!

Great little cartridge, regrettably available ony in rare and expensive rifles (AFAIK). Enjoy.

any recommendations for reading/resource material? Mine has a raised rib barrel built in pop-up tang peep sight and a stag horn fore-end.....rare? personalized? common?

I have a few boxes of a couple of kinds of factory ammo in a couple different configurations I would sell as I no longer have my 6.5x54 MS carbine if anybody is interested. I know I have some Imperials I bought in Whitehorse years ago at Hougen's.

sheephunter, PM sent

Those are way cool, wish I had one!

65 pm'd you back with a list of what I have. Thanks.

65Jeffrey,

For resource material, check out:

http://www.mannlicher.org/newsletters

If you PM me with the details of your rifle, I may be able to track down some more info or help you with back issues that may be more relevant. The proof marks, options, etc. can sometimes help determine how customized it is.

And please let me know if you have any interest in joining the MCA, and I can help out there also.

Thanks,
Chris

PM sent, I have lots of info on MS rifles.

I put all my 6.5x54 MS ammo on Gunbroker if anybody is interested.

ppu is making 6.5x54ms ammo

http://www.prvipartizan.com/search_r.php

Yup, I have Norma, Imperial, etc.

anyone willing to share pet loads? 156-160gr bullets, original moderate velocities.

I'd go modern like the 120gn Ballistic Tip or 123gn SST. I like the old cartridges but they look pretty cool with a sleek modern bullet loaded in them. In the olden days they used the 156gn RN because that's all they had. Imagine if Ballistic Tips were available in the early 1900's. How many old boys would have stayed with the 156gn then?

Up to you though.

Dream rifle of mine

I made one similar from a Breda military action. I put in a new barrel I turned from a 1-8" twist Green Mountain blank. It shoots as well as I can see. Out to 300 yards I can hit any target that I can see from chicken eggs at 150 to oranges at 300. It may do better, but I can't, because I can't see anything smaller anymore. But an orange is smaller than a deer's heart so I figure it's good enough.
I shoot the Hornady 160 grain bullet on a load of 40 gr H4831.
I have hunted with it, but so far not killed anything with it. I hope to in a few months. Deer and elk both. We'll see.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by Steve Zihn, on Flickr
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by Steve Zihn, on Flickr
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by Steve Zihn, on Flickr
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by Steve Zihn, on Flickr

Steve, that is a neat little rifle. Wish I had the skillsets to do similar stuff!

Well Pat, give it a try. I didn't have the skills either, ------- until I did.
Everyone has to start sometime and somewhere.
Don't be afraid to try.

so finally got to the range today WITH a chrono.....
Privi factory ammo avg vel 2225 2" groups
39 gr 4350 Lapua 155gr mega vel 2180 ES 115 fps 3" plus group
39gr 4350 old Norma 156gr rn bullet vel 2223 ES 26 fps 3/4 inch GROUP!!!!!
this is an original MS rifle with an old Weaver 2x dot scope AMAZED the preference for the NORMA bullet....and 95pcs Lapua Mega 155 gr bullets for sale! $45 shipped to lower 48

Mine also like's the Norma bullit. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/tmp/47643.jpg https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/tmp/47644.jpg https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/tmp/47645.jpg