Got 1903 MS Carbine over Christmas - built 1908.

Going to work up some loads with Norma Brass and 160 gr Hornady bullets.

Austin -

You lucky dog!! You should find that carbine a real pleasure.

Just as a suggestion, why don't you just aim for a velocity anywhere in the 2,200 to 2,300 window...but don't feel bad if you just get 2,100+ from the carbine.

Most of those guns' iron sights weren't closely "regulated" anyway...they could never tell which brand of ammo a person was going to be using, or even in which country he'd be buying his ammo. And, they were sold mostly over the counter, rather than as bespoken rifles.

Some of the English-sold ones DID have the sights regulated, but they are often marked as such...something like "Regulated by Fulton, 160 gr. ball & XX grs powder."

If you develop a really good load in terms of grouping and trajectory, with easily come by components, you can always use a set of jeweler's files and re-regulate the iron sights yourself, if they need it. Deepen rear notch to lower POI, file down front sight to raise impact. If the front sight has a bead and can't be filed, you can uaually buy different heights of beads to install, from places such as Brownell's.

If all else fails and you need to solve an elevation problem, come here and post as many specifics as you can in the gunsmithing forum and I'm sure someone will guide you in the right direction

Thanks. I do have a peep sight on it, not an original, but one of Jim Wisner's replicas.

Most interested in starting loads.

Yes, I'm fine with 2,100-2,300 range.

Here is mine:
It's a MS 1903 carbine, the pad and rear sight is not original.



Over the years I have used many powders for it depending on where i lived at the time, which basically determined availability.

Mine has a short barrel so I tried to go faster rather than slower so I used Rottweill's 902 in it which I bought from Rosenthal in Cape Town. Always Hornady 160's.

35 gr wil get me 2200 fps which is the velocity I aim for.

At one point we had access to Norma and here N203 worked well as well as N204 With a longer barrel and using N204 and even Norma MRP ( RL22) one can milk 2400fps out of the little 6.5

One of my friends has a carabine like that and I worked up a load for him using RWS cases, a 160 grains Hornady RN and Viht. N140.
With a COL of 3.00" 33 grains of N140 did some 2050 fps and 35 grains did some 2150 fps.

Rws says that their 159 grain RN factory ammo gets 2200 fps out of the short barreld carabine.

I've got one of these. Great rifles. My wife thinks it is her's but I keep pointing out that I had the gun before I met her and frankly she is easier to replace than the gun is.

I load mine with the Hornady round nose and I use 4831SC powder. I don't have the data in front of me but I used the Hornady manual and duplicated the 2200 fps of the factory load. It shoots well and the brass lasts a long time both of which are important in a caliber like the 6.5x54MS since the brass isn't found many places.

The problem you're going to run into is getting the 160 gr bullets. Hornady has discontinued them and they are getting a little hard to find. If you want to use this bullet you better start looking around and stockpile them. Midway had discolored blems not long ago at $18 a hundred. I laid in a bunch, ran them through a case tumbler and set them aside. You might want to think about doing the same thing.

By the way, here's a pic of my rifle in the field.

Both Sierra and Hornady have discontinued the 160 gr. 6.5 round nose bullets. I think you still might be able to get some from Norma.Siera dropped the 170 gr. 7MM RN quite a while ago and when my supply runs out, I'm screwed as my 7x57 just loves that bullet.
I had a 6.5x54 MS years ago but some low life stole it from my vehicle in Elko Nevada. I shot a lot of the 140 gr. Norma ammo as the 160 gr. load was nearly impossible to get. Gads, that was back in 1975 and I still miss that rifle. I've been looking for a replacment that wouldn't equal the Bational Debt with no luck. Most that I've seen have some with very badly corroded barrels and they want an arm, leg and both my tesicles. Note that they still have the and I still have all my body parts.
If you do find any of those bullets on a shelf, you'd best snap up all you can find. Looks like they ain't makin' them anymore.
Paul B.

You could try the Norma Alaska 156gr head. That is designed to expand at slow speeds.

I retrieved one from a Sika hind this morning. A perfect mushroom

Woodleigh still makes a 160 gr bullet

I realize this is an old thread but I keep seeing rumors all over the place about Hornady discontinuing the RN 180gr bullet. Scared the pants off me when I first saw it!! However, they are still available most places and are also listed on their website - has always been that way.