Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.5 (NOT Creedmoor) X 54 MS vs Coyote

My son and I did not have luck deer hunting this weekend but I managed to get a Coyote on Friday evening with the .257 bee. Lucky shot since the coyote was trotting at 200 yards.

He scored Sunday morning with the Mannlicher Schoenauer 6.5x54. Load was 39.0 grs of IMR 4350 under a Hornady 160 gr RN. Sometimes it does not matter what you shoot but what you shoot it with. Fun stuff.

Great gun and good shot. I have a 6.5 that needs attention. Also a 9X56 I'll use for deer season this year. It uses 358 bullets run through a ring die to get about 0.354. After I get tired of using what I have in stock I will get more from Hawk Bullets. They make jackets from soft copper. They obturate and perform better than conventional jackets at most velocities. They show 6.5s in 160 RN and lots of others. Thanks for sharing and Be Well, RZ.

Pure class!

I have one very similar. I killed one of my doe antelope with it this year and last year I killed a buck antelope with it too. Mine rifle has only the irons, but it shoots very well. I also use the 160 RN Hornady and the PPU 156 grain. That one is actually more accurate in my rifle then the Horandy, and the Hornady shoot well.

PICTURES! Let's see some M-S pictures with dead critters.

Did it over penetrate?😂

I don't have any pics of this years antelope, but here is the buck from last year.

2018 #1 Ant. Buck by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

Love my 6.5MS, old greek military rifle. Someday I'd like to have a a full mannlicher stock made for it and have the bolt turned down into a nice teardrop handle,

Impressive kill with iron sights.

Nice little buck from last season:

Nice work!

I think that rifle should belong to him now, Dad.

LOL, he always loved that gun. On the way out of the woods I told him that I guess he just bought that rifle. He looked confused. I guess he always thought it would be his!

I am teaching him not to "warehouse" his guns. Use them and FULLY enjoy them. Life is short.

He is determined to kill a deer with it next.

Anyone who does not have a soft spot in their heart for a Mannlicher/Schoenauer has a soft spot in their head.

Well done Sako and Steve!! I have a 1905 in 8 X 56 I hope to blood this year. There's also a 1903 in the toy box that covers any and all 6.5 needs I might have.

Is that rifle in the first picture a later model, from the 50's? In the photo the handle looks swept back and the early rifles were not like that.

Look's like late 50's early 60's MC or MCA.

I agree 100%...couldnt have said it better myself

I've ;looked for a 6.5x54 for a long with no luck. Ended up with one in 7x57.

The model in my post is a 61 MCA.

True statement: "it's not what you kill, it's what you kill them with." Great hunt Sir!
The swept back handle came about in the 1952 model which, IMO, was a mistake.

I'd say that wasn't a poke in the eye with a sharp stick! The 7x57 is a great caliber and one of my favorites. It can just about do it all with the exception of the great bears! If you reload you can really get the full potential out of the 7x57. U.S. factory ammo on the other hand is limited to lighter (139/140 grain) bullets with average velocity around 266ofps. There are exceptions; Nosler and Hornady SST loads, otherwise the best are European ammunition such as S&B and Norma have proven to be good ammo; but pricey!

CJ

The 7x57 is a hard rifle to come by in a MS. Good find!

Here is a picture of my J B Weld modified seater plug to fit the 160gr Hornady RN. It really tightened up concentricity. I put the bullet in a drill press and lowered it into the plug when everything was squared up. Left it overnight and popped it out the next day (using a release).

Great pic! Your son is learning about the outdoor life, game stewardship and appreciation of a classic rifle.

I am in the process of buying one right now and have a strong lead on another. They are a really good rifle and I am hooked on them.

I am a Mannlicher-Schonauer fan. 😜

I have an '03 and '05 but the '03 has a nonstandard chamber and will go to the 'smithy one day for a ream and a bolt-end peep sight. The '05 is one of my choices for whitetail this year in 9mm. Looks like lots of fun with the 6.5. Lots of fun. Be Well, RZ

I may break out the full stock MCA .358 Win M-S this weekend. That one has a 20" barrel. This one is 18". What's a little honest wear anyway? The pictures are priceless.

Thanks for sharing!.... I’m going to use 6.5X53R that I just picked up this summer for deer and bear...I wish i could share photos (too lazy) it’s a M95 sporterized, supposedly, for a German officer with silver pig inlays, skip-line checkering, Kahles/Wien scope in claw mounts,and a cool Lyman receiver sight that actually swings as the bolt engages it then returns to position. Have a 160 grain Hornady load and a 140 grain Hornady SP load that shoot well in it.

PennDog

PICTURES!!

6.5x54 made by Austrian gunmaker Josef Mischitz,engraved by Albin Obiltschnig.

I would be glad to send a couple of pics to someone to post for me and sqweeler that is a beautiful rifle!!

PennDog

Here are PennDog's pictures. What a beautiful rifle!

I got to hold one of those MS rifles just like the boys when I was about 10 yrs old. Slickest rifle I ever saw! It too was a 6.5x54. Love to have one!

Thanks Hook for posting the pics!!

PennDog