Steyr Mannlicher-Schönauer 6.5 x 55 opinions

[samthedog]

Ok you gunsmithing gurus I need some advice. I am taking my hunting test and am looking at picking up a hunting rifle. There are tons of options out there and I could easily go with a Remington or Weatherby in .223 or .308 however I believe that a key to success is to look at what the locals use.

I have come across a Steyr Mannlicher in great shape:



I was initially aiming for something in a common caliber like .223, .243 or .308 however the 6.5 x 55 accounts for more game in Scandinavia than any other caliber. Because of it's popularity here, the rounds are cheap and it has been made the smallest caliber that can be used to legally take elk.

The negatives are that this rifle cannot accomodate a moderator, nor can I purchase standard scope mounts for it. All this aside though, it comes with a scope that would be fine for hunting and in general a hunting rifle will not have dozens of rounds pumped through it in a single sitting on a regular basis so a moderator is not a must have.

The asking price for the rifle is $1700 USD however I think I can get it slightly cheaper, somewhere in the realm of $1500

So, opinions... Good? Rubbish? Jump on it or avoid it?

Paul.

 

[caspaincmonster]

6.5 x 55 is a great cartridge. I don't know anything about that particular rifle although it looks classy which is important I would definitely go with 6.5 over anything in .223 and would much rather practice with it than 308 or 8mm Mauser as it is far more comfortable and as you say in Scandinavia it is the common high power rifle caliber so it makes sense in that regard.

 

[Ken_Shea]

Agree with the 6.5x55 being a great caliber, way under used and under appreciated in my opinion here in the US.
A little about that style of gun (The Mannlicher Stock Part), it is not a specific accross the board statement of course but there seems to be an issue that frequently comes up as it is with mine in a 8mm, they seem to suffer with poor accuracy, that is one thing I would definetly check before dumping $1700 and not just take his word for.


Ken

 

[stonehands]

Sam, You found the Swiss watch of rifles, why would you consider a US caliber or God help us, a late mfg. US rifle. The M-S you pictured has the correct 3 leg mount that is easy to use and will repeat until the end of time. The 6.5 Swede will handle heavier and better constructed bullets than the .223 and has killed every animal on the Continent and Africa. The clip system is the finest ever devised with a glass smooth feed from the scroll. Other than some of your 600+ lbs. Russian boars there is nothing you would hunt that the rifle could not handle well. The M-S rifles have a cult following over here and bring a large premium at the gun shows. I presently have a 1903 in 6.5X54 and a 1908 in 9X56. I have never had a 6.5X55 M-S or do I believe that I have ever been offered one. Make sure of the barrel marking and work some shells thru the action. The M-S spool does not lend itself to different calibers, it should feed butter smooth. Sorry to see that your rifle has the single trigger, the factory double sets are some of the best. Good luck--David

 

[samthedog]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen - much appreciated.

I figured that 6.5 x 55 would be a decent round however I have not seen this rifle in that caliber before. They tend to be availoable in 6.5 x 54 and I am not certain that 54 and 55 would be interchangable.

I was looking to find one with the double trigger but these are as rare as an honest politician however if I wanted to go to 30.06 I could find them in Sweden quite cheap:

http://www.blocket.se/sodermanland/Mannlicher_helstock_30_06_58166163.htm?ca=11&w=3

http://www.blocket.se/gotland/Mannlicher_Mod_M_Helstock_kal__30_06_58493766.htm?ca=11&w=3

I will ask the seller if we can go to the range to test it and cycle some ammo through it.

Paul.

 

[samthedog]

Ok gents, I went and paid the man a deposit. I couldn't negotiate on price as all numbers matched and it was a factory 6.5 x 55 - a rarety even in Scandinavia. He also threw in a bunch of ammo and quite a few reloading dies and hunting bullets. He knew what he had for sale and I couldn't argue with the price as it was fair. So needless to say it wasn't a steal but I can live with the pain of the price. Overall it's in good shape for a 64 model.

The condition is not perfect as it has been a hunting rifle however the barrel is in excellent condition and shows very little wear (as a hunting rifle it was only used in the hunting season and even then likely firing in the single digits per season). The wood work is missing some lacquer here and there and has some small scratches and dings however I have a friend who is a guitar builder and makes custom stocks and fixes custom rifle stocks so I will likely let him have at it and see what he can do. The scope mount is original and is remarkable in it's engineering and the bolt cycles buttery smooth - better than the Sauer 202 which he was showing off to me. Anyway - pictures of the new addition:


Matching numbers:


Factory 6.5 x 55



Factory fitted slide safety for accomodating scope


The wonderfully smooth action with butter-knife handle


The Mannlicher muzzle


The rotary magazine with quick unload button


The metal magazine which was replaced by plastic on newer examples


The vintage Pecar Berlin variable zoom scope


A hairline crack that seems to be old and stable (possibly just in the lacquer) - likely to be fixed when I take ownership


Other miscellaneous wood wear and personalization...

 

[Ulma Doctor]

i wish there was an emoticon for drooling....
Beautiful rifle.
the 6.5x55 is a wonderful round to shoot- low recoil but still an effective means of delivering hi velocity lead poisoning.

BTW the 6.5x54 and 6.5x55 are not interchangeable

 

[samthedog]

i wish there was an emoticon for drooling....
Beautiful rifle.
the 6.6x55 is a wonderful round to shoot- low recoil but still an effective means of delivering hi velocity lead poisoning.

BTW the 6.5x54 and 6.5x55 are not interchangeable

Thanks Ulma. The lack of interchangability between 6.5 x 55 and 6.5 x 54 won't be a problem here in Norway. The 6.5 x 55 is one of the - if not THE most common rounds here in Scandinavia. In Australia I never would have had a chance to get one of these beauties. She needs a good clean and polish and then I will see to that stock. Now that I have a Belgian Browning sa22 and this Steyr, all I need is a shotgun. I did find an FN Browning A5 16 ga for $390 USD - in very good condition. I just don't have the nerve to buy it as I have spent so much on firearms in the last couple of days.

Paul.

 

[Cactus Farmer]

I understand the spending too much of guns and tools,that said, my wife understands a lot better than most wifes do. And I am erernally greatful for that. 6.5X54 and 6.5X55 areso close in preformance youwouldn't know the difference. I have a Polish friend with both calibers and both in M-S rifles. We have shooting contests and I win most of the time no matter which rifle I shoot. Natural talent and I was a marksmanship instructor in the US Air Force. I got lots of practice.........I even like the 6.5X52 Carcano and 6.5X50 Jap. Deer out here in the desert just fall over with any of them. He is having me build him a 6.5 on a necked down 7.92X33 Stermgrevier(sp). A dandy looking round. It's on an FN intermediate length small ring.
Testing begins very soon. If this fails the backup plan is a 6.5X37-38 to allow more case capacity/velosity.

 

[samthedog]

Testing begins very soon. If this fails the backup plan is a 6.5X37-38 to allow more case capacity/velosity.

What velocity are aiming for? It seems like you boys are aiming for a round that will overtake light

I have been trying to get a good estimate on what my rifle is worth however it is so rare I have not turned anything up on Google. Would you have any idea Cactus Farmer? I think I did ok on price however I have no way of knowing for sure since I have found nothing in 6.5 x 55 from factory with the factory installed slide safety. To compound this, all reports indicate that Steyr offered the custom 6.5 x 55 in the full stock to the US market up to 98 (or possibly 70 although this is not documented) however no known samples have turned up and the Europeans have been a little slack in documenting the models and their market value.

Paul.