Safe loads for Steyr Mannlicher-Schönauer m1910 6,5x55

[ajez]

Hello,
My name is Andreas and I live in Sweden. Some months ago I found an old M-S m1910 (Wood take down) in 6,5x55 at my local Gun store.
I’ve always been very weak for those rifles. So I bought it right away!
The rifle seems to be a 9,5x56 M-S that has been converted in Great Britain to 6,5 caliber ( some London proof marks at the barrel is my clue to this). In some way the rifle ended up in Sweden...
Now I want to reload some ammo that is safe for the actual rifle.
Anyone facts, history and other knowledge about the rifle is interesting.
Grateful for all help I can get!
With regards, Andreas

 

[cmk]

Välkommen!

 

[shark_za]

Loading any 140gr like a Speer Hot Cor or Hornady Interlock to around 2500fps is very mild and will work in any rifle.
Minimum load of Norma MRP with a 76mm OAL will give under 38000 psi. 45gr is listed as minimum for a 140gr.

 

[Shootist43]

Welcome aboard Andreas. It sounds like you found a nice old rifle. MS never made any "junk" that I know of. Did you have a gunsmith look it over? Can you provide photos of the British Proof Marks? Maybe someone on AH can "interpret" them for you. BTW had I seen that rifle I would have "snapped" it up as well.

I am a big fan of 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mausers. I limit my intended use to deer sized game even though it has successfully been used on larger animals.

 

[7x57Joe]

That rifle, if it has no problems, will safely handle any load within CIP specs. You will probably have more reliable feeding if you load round nose bullets. A powder in the 4350 burning range will more than likely be the best bet.

 

[ajez]

Here is a link to the proof marks https://www.africahunting.com/threads/mannlicher-schönauer-prewar-m1900-m1903-m1905-m1908-m1910-m1924-m1925-or-high-velocity.47277/page-3
/Andreas

 

[ajez]

Välkommen!

Tackar cmk!

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

Can you provide photos of the British Proof Marks? Maybe someone on AH can "interpret" them for you.

They're over here: https://www.africahunting.com/threa...925-or-high-velocity.47277/page-3#post-654927

 

[HWL]

Hello,
My name is Andreas and I live in Sweden.

The existing proofe marks on action/barrel are not valid any longer.

You can CIP proofe the gun in a proof house in Finland or Germany.

https://www.cip-bobp.org/en

Some say, the kind of mount weakens the gun, but even Mauser did it this way, so do not worry.

With the passed test, you can fire every 6,5x55 CIP proofen ammunition.

Follow reloading recommendations of Norma or RWS, you will get the full power of the cartridge.

Most of the American loading data are weak at it's best.

Mannlicher-Schoenauers are well made, durable guns, you can rely on.

I have about twenty of them and never had a problem.

Nice gun, by the way.

Have you checked, it is not a 6,5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer???


HWL

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

Have you checked, it is not a 6,5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer???

HWL

I am suspecting Ajez' MS is, indeed, chambered for the 6.5X54.

It seems that British proofs from 1954 through 1989 indicated case length (for whatever reason).
Although 54mm = 2.12598", the very British Eley drawing below measures the case length of 6.5X54 at exactly 2.110 inches:

British proof marks on Ajez' Mannlicher Schoenauer:

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

I’ve got an idea of the proof mark. 2.11” . 2.11 inches is about 2.11x25,4= 53,594 mm. So my conclusion is that this barrell orginal was chambered for 6,5x54 M-S.
//Andreas

As the MS' owner had already reached the same conclusion (see above) regarding the 6.5X54 chamber , here is some reloading and ballistics information (6.5X54MS) from the 1939 Stoeger:

You're on your own regarding powder equivalents. My favorite load for the 9.5X57 turns out to be IMR4895 at just under the rated Cordite load.