Does anyone here load for this classic caliber?

I have 2 rifles on the 1903 action
A classic sporter pre 1924 with 24 inch barrels & peep sights (5 pc cleaning rod in trap door butt stock etc.)
A Greek Carbine 18" brl conversion 1930 system

I shoot only Hornady 160 gr RN in both rifles - using VV N160 & H 4530.

I get 2200 fps in the sporter but only 200 fps in the carbine.

Both riles shoot 3" groups at 100 meters with open sights & 5 shots. I have taken a Fallow doe with the sporter.

I would appreciate input from anyone else.

This is data from 1950s Lyman manual:
.

120 grain bullet 31 grains hi-vel at 2450 fps. *** 35.5 grains 4895 at 2700 fps. *** 36 grains 4064 at 2700 fps.These three loads were not suggested MAX.
ALL LOADS below ARE SUGGESTED MAX

129grain bullet 34.5 grains 4895 at 2475 fps. *** 37.5grains 3031 at 2580 fps.When comparing these two loads there seems be an inconsistancy when refering to max loading.

140grain bullet 35 grains 4895 at 2400 fps. *** 36 grains 3031 at 2450 fps. ???

160grain bullet 37 grains 4064 at 2260 fps.
When compared to the Carcano and the Arasaka these loads appear to be safe even though there seems to be this disparity between 4895 and 3031 loads?????? roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..

Merry x-mas to New Zealand.

I have been loading for the 6.5 mannlicher Sch.

I started with 40 grains of v160 and ended up with 43 grains as maxload. All loads shot very accurate using either Lapua Mega 156grain or the Hornadys 160 grain RN.

This is max. suggested data from Lyman 46th edition.

100grain bullet, 40 grains IMR3031 at 3030 fps.*** 41 grains IMR4895 at 2949 fps.***
42 grains IMR4064 at 3012 fps.*** 42 grains BL-C(2) at 2890 fps. *** 46 grains H- 380 at 2994 fps.

120 grain bullet, 38 grains IMR3031 at 2732 fps. *** 39 grains IMR 4895 at 2717 fps. *** 40 grains IMR 4064 at 2747 fps. *** 40 grains BL-C(2) at 2645 fps. *** 44 grains H-380 at 2762 fps.

129 grain bullet, 37 gains IMR3031 at 2624 fps. *** 38grains IMR4895 at 2620 fps. *** 39 grains IMR 4064 at 2645 fps. *** 39 grains BL-C(2) at 2520 fps.*** 43 grains H-380 at 2688 fps.

140 grain bullet, 35 grains IMR 3031 at 2421 fps.*** 36grains IMR4895 at 2409 fps. *** 37grains IMR4064 at 2421 fps.*** 37 grains BL-(2) at 2366 fps.*** 41 grains H-380 at 2531 fps.

160 grain RN, 33 grains IMR3031 at 2197 fps. *** 34 grains IMR 4895 at 2207 fps. *** 35 grains IMR 4064 at 2262 fps.*** 35 grains BL-C(2) at 2145 fps. *** 39gr. H-380 at 2341 fps.
I hope you find this helpful. roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..

I have done some reloading for a friend. He owns an old Mannlicher stutzen in this calibre. Because of the short barrel (18 inch I believe)I picked a somewhat faster powder: Viht. N140. Bullet was a 160 RN Hornady and COL 3.0 inch.
33 grains got me 2070 fps, 34 grains 2120 fps and 35 grains 2150 fps. All seemed te be mild loads with no pressure signs.
His RWS 159 grain RN factory loads produced 2240 fps in this rifle; COL was 2.99 inch an they contained 40.5 grains powder.
I also emptied some old factory loads he had.
DWM 159 RN FMJ, COL 3.02 contained 35.0 grains powder.
Kynoch 156 RN, COL 3.05 contained 34.0 grains powder.

My Model 1903 really likes the Hornady 160 gr Round Nose bullet over 37.4 grs of H4831SC powder. It gives a little over 2000 fps and my rifle will group that bullet better than my eyes will do with the open sights the rifle is equipped with.