So, it appears the 6.5X54MS cartridge may be disqualified for deer hunting with some common bullet and barrel combinations.
For example Chuck Hawks reports that a 140 gr. bullet from a 20 inch barrel only has a muzzle energy of ~1,600 ft.lbs. Interestingly, he also reports that some 120 gr. bullets pushed faster have a ME of 1,700+ ft. lbs.
So one would qualify for deer hunting, while the other load would not, at least when fired from a 20 inch barrel (the barrel length of many of the classic Steyr Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbines).
Last edited by Grouse Guy; 05/06/26 08:40 AM.
