doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com loading the 6.5x54MS

One of my winter projects is to square up some ammunition for a 1950 Mannlicher Schoenauer carbine in 6.5x54MS.

(It�s going to be one of my old guy rifles�light handy and no kick�yet still good to 200 yards on deer.)

I have a bunch of brass and a couple different bullets.

I also have a good supply of Alliant Reloader 15 powder which I use exclusively in both my 9.3x74R double rifle and drilling.

I was hoping to use this powder in the Mannlicher too!

Anyone have experience using Reloader 15 in the 6.5x54MS?

I did manage to find an old Rifle magazine article (buried in my magazine archive) on the rimmed version 6.5x53R where they used 36 grains of RL-15 behind a 160 grain round nose bullet and I expect that would be adequate.

However, availability on the Hornady 160gr round nose is sparse.

The bullets I have are the 6.5mm Nosler Accu-bond 140grain and the Hornady 129grain spire point.

My plan is to use the Carbine and a 140grain bullet load for deer blasting next season.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Dave,
It sounds like you have it pretty much in hand. You might find that the rimless cartridge would get a little more powder than the rimmed.We often find this, the larger diameter transmits more force to the locking lugs. If you use the 160 gr bullet, the open sights would likely tell you when you have enough. With the 140gr, the chronograph should tell you.
Mike

Sir,

Also with the 6.5x53R, based on Scovill's(?) article, I have used 34gr of Re-15 with the Hornady 160gr RN. It's been quite a while so I do not recall how well they shot but, all in all, it's a very pleasant cartridge. One that I need to revisit.

Good luck!

Correction: It was Seyfried in Rifle, July-August 2003

Dave
After seeing your post I recalled loading some rounds last fall to run over the chrono,never got to it.Fired from my Model 1900 by WR,with 22" barrel,_results.

160 gr.Hornady RN
Privi brass,Fed 210 primer
34.3 grains RL-15
Velocity 2256 to 2267 fps
No pressure signs

140 grain Nosler Partitions,(old lathe turned model)
Privi brass,Fed. 210
35.3 grains RL-15
Veloscity 2402 to 2411 fps
No pressure signs but shoots about 2" higher than 160 Hornadys at 100 yards.
Fun little rifles,enjoy.

Midway has the Hornady 160 grain bullets in stock.

You might want to check the bore diameter of your 6.5X54. I have owned several, and all required .268" bullets. The 160 grain bullets Hornady makes for the Carcano work well with them.

xausa,
Just for my info, did both 1903s and 1950s have .268" grooves or just the 1903s? I was under the impression(maybe false)that post war barrels were usually .264-5".This was why I didn't recommend slugging it also.
Mike

I believe the larger groove dimensions are on the older pre WWII rifles my rifles bore measures .255 (6.48mm) which matches the current CIP standards.

http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/tabical-en-page22.pdf

I have yet to measure groove dimensions which I expect will be .264.

Your 1950 MS has a lot better metallurgy than the pre-war versions, and frees you to utilize the heavier loading data if you so desire. I would also suggest you try to fire several rounds with a mid position bolt handle as quickly as Lee Harvey Oswald supposedly did...I think you will find it impossible to have taken place. Steve