6.5 mannlicher-shoenauer to 6.5x55 swede...
- Thread starter Slimbo
- Start date
The 6.5 MS was a VERY popular cartridge in the late 19th, early 20th centry. Amongst others, Bell used it to shoot elephants. he perferred the 160 grn round nosed bullets. However the 275 rigby remained his favorite!
I'm aware of the popularity of the 6.5x54. I've made up three rifles in this caliber on M S actions. Fitting a barrel to a M S is a real treat! But the 6.5x55 is certainly just as good as the M S. Just wondering why a number of Norwegian Krags were set up as sporters in this calibre. Its obvious that this was not a one-off situation. Ammunition availability was not likely a factor.
i'll guess that the 6.5x54 was the "in" caliber, hyped by all sorts of writers and so would sell better than a cartridge that no one outside of norway, sweden, or south africa (i believe the boers bought some from steyr) had heard of.
I've only seen a couple of these and dont honestly know if there would be any magazine issues if rechambering to 6.5x55. I haven't tried it. If I were doing it, I would try 6.5x55 through the magazine before I rechambered (I would pull the barrel and cycle the rounds through the action only). If it worked OK, I would have no problem with rechambering to 6.5x55. The 6.5M-S is a fine old cartridge, but the 6.5x55 is better and, due to the availabilty of dies and components, more practical. Regards, Bill.
I think that you have answered your own question here.
I had a very nice M-S carbine in 6.5x54 as a youth, and let it go in a weak moment. At that time, Dominion was loading for that chambering. (I know, it dates me!!) There was one choice only, a 160 grain roundnose at 2160 advertised FPS. It shot like a house afire, and killed deer like there was no tomorrow. I don't believe I ever recovered one of those 160's from a deer, such was the penetration. The only problem I can remember with it, was the difficulty that mounting a scope would have presented. The split bridge made it quite impractical. In retrospect, It was great just the way it was. Wish I still had it. If I remember correctly, the case diameter of that 6.5x54 is an odd size, slightly smaller than the '06 family of cartridges, so boltface/extractor issues might come up if trying to convert to 6.5x55, which is slightly larger than the '06 group. Personally, I would leave it alone, and set up to load for it. Regards, Eagleye.
They are Norweigan Krags stronger than the US version in their ability to handle preasure in 6.5X55 If you have one altered to 6.5X54MS you would have to alter the magazine spool to feed the new rounds as well........Harold Adam's + Bennett has barrel blanks for under $100 [MidwayUSA] I have a box of 6.5 MS brass if you want it you pay the shipping
