Mannlicher, however, continue to produce rifles in 6.5 M-S which are top grade weapons and thousands of old rifles are found across the continent. Standard Model-A Mauser and 6.5 Mannlicher-Schoenauer. Secondly, Kynock ceased manufacturing ammunition in the 1960’s, leaving only the very expensive European brands. Basically only Mannlicher had produced rifles chambered for it, and following the war, Mannlicher rifles with their complex (‘though beautifully smooth) rotary magazines and trigger mechanisms and exquisitely machined actions ceased abruptly to be budget priced sporters that appealed to the ordinary man in an African street. World War II ensured that the 6.5 M-S relinquished its place as one of the most common small bore cartridges in Africa.

In short, on game up to the size of wildebeest or kudu, the 6.5 worked reliably and did so from a rifle that still captivates anyone who handles one. Improvements in powders also enabled manufacturers to increase velocity slightly from the original 2230fps to 2330fps (in a 17' barrel). By 1920 the problem with splitting cases had been largely resolved, whilst bullet quality slowly improved. Weighing only 6½ lbs and only 38' (97cm) long, it was the original “scout” rifle.Īs a small bore though, the 6.5 excelled. The model 1903 Mannlicher has to be one of the sweetest handling rifles ever produced. For every hunter who wrote about his success on dangerous game with the 6.5 there were several who died proving it wasn’t really suitable. None of this mattered if the rifle was used as a small bore rifle on appropriate plains game. This applied not only to the cheap military ball ammo (it was the Greek military cartrige from 1900 to 1940) but also to both Ely and Kynock brands.

Another disconcerting feature was the propensity for the case necks to split, and so jamb the case in the breech upon firing. “Pondoro” Taylor summed the 6.5 up very well, as being a dandy rifle for a man out after plains game for meat or sport, but not as a big game calibre. Stigand was badly injured by both an elephant and a rhino that he failed to stop at close range, whereupon he reverted (as did Bell) to a 7mm Mauser which had greater penetration. Men like Percival and Banks used them on lion and were lucky to survive the encounters, particularly as the softpoint bullets of the day could not be relied upon to penetrate the chest muscles, forcing the hunter to use solids. There were of course men who really ‘over did it’ with regard to the cartridge’s capability. The 6.5 x 54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer - Ganyana

Home Classic Cartridges 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer

Mannlicher schoenauer model 1900