Hello. I took the plunge and bought me a small bore, 6,5x54 MS. The charts show pretty modest velocities, 2100 fps - 2200 fps with 160 grs bullets;
anyone loaded over 2300 fps even 2400??

Boha and his Mannlicher..

I've got one of these and love it. I keep my loads around 2200 fps and find that it groups anything from 140 gr Remingtons, 140 gr Barnes, 140 gr Hornadys and 160 gr Hornadys in a 2-3 inch 10 shot group. And this is with a peep sight.

These are very slick handling rifles and mine will go on my next trip to Africa for any light plains game I'll be chasing.

Mac

In carbine model 1903 (18" barrel)only with berdan brass.
Dominion cases, RWS 5608, Hodgon 414 # 40 grs., Hornady 160 grs. RN bullet. O.A.L. 78 mm. Vel Average 2.232 fts.
Same, with Reloader 19 # 42 grs. vel average 2.198 fts.

With boxer brass:
RWS cases, Fed. 210 primer, Hodgon 414 # 41 grs., Hornady 160 grs. RN bullet, O.A.L. 78 mm Vel Average 2.135 fts.

Be carefoul with this reloads, are safe in my rifle.
Good look.
H�ctor

Boha

Check bore diameter , usually they are over .264 , a friends have one with bore of .269 and only have acceptable accuracy with 160 gr round nose bullets and Nosler part. 140 ( at 2300 fps ) , he ended ordering a custom bullet maker in USA for bullets in the right diameter, he try to downsize .277 ( 270 Winch ) bullets , and accuracy improved , he told me the little cartidges kill better than expected .

Saludos

Daniel

boha



There was an article in Vapentidningen about the 6,5X54 and some reloading data. I got the magazine and shall look it up.





Have you checked the inventory of cases?



Cheers

/ JOHAN

For anyone wanting to reload this cartridge, Huntingtons (www.huntingtons.com) has both Norma and Hirtenberger cases available. Prices in their 2004 catalog list the Hirtenbergers for $69.98 per 100 cases and Norma for $36.10 per 100 cases. The Hornady reloading manual has data for bullets from 100-160 gr in weight.

Mac

Thank you all. The cases are on their way from good old Norway, the land of smart riflemen! I have been removing round nose solids from 6,5x55 rounds left over from the war. I�ll check the bore though.

Boha

In this caliber, I believe +-2400 FPS with the 140-grain bullet is about max. However, it made its' rep in Africa and elsewhere with the 160 grain roundnose, both solids and softpoints.



Bell killed a number off elephant with it using a 160 or 165-grain solid at about 2100-2200 FPS. Most were 1-shot kills. He stopped using it and went back to the 7X57mm because the bullets in his 6.5X54 ammo were seated out to where they jammed into the rifling, so if he tried to extract a live round, the bullet would pull out of the case and dump the action full of powder, causing a jam! Not too good when you're in a herd of angry Tembos!! But overall, a great little cartridge and rifle combo!!