1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer

[Patocazador]

I finally took possession of the Mannlicher-Schoenauer yesterday. It is in much better condition than I would have wished for. The bore is pristine, the wood has very few dents, etc., the action is as smooth as butter, and it only weighs 7 lb.
It's in 6.5x54 M-S and has a "flipper" Lyman peep that allows both the 2 1/2 x Lyman scope and open sights to be used. Serial number is 11,xxx.

 

[wiscoaster]

Beautiful rifle!!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Congratulations -- excellent rifle!

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

What a beauty of a Classic rifle.
And once again, the "Like" button is not enough...

 

[J-Bar]

I’m drooling over the double set trigger. What does it break at?

 

[Patocazador]

I’m drooling over the double set trigger. What does it break at?

I haven't measured it yet but it is ounces rather than pounds ... Very sensitive.

 

[redneck2]

That’s nice.

 

[tark]

That's about as sweet as it gets! Great caliber as well! You scored big time!

 

[Rodfac]

That, my friend, is ELEGANT!!!!!! I've longed for one those beauties since I read Hemingway in junior high school!!! Rod

 

[qwert65]

Gorgeous!!

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Yes agreed very nice rifle. Congrats.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

That, my friend, is ELEGANT!!!!!! I've longed for one those beauties since I read Hemingway in junior high school!!! Rod

This book is as close as I've come so far. I got the book for Xmas a couple years back -- the M-S section starts on page 135:

 

[Gordon]

A lovely piece ! In the original and still available (slightly) caliber that made the reputation. The rifle is extremely well set up ! Congratulations !

 

[Patocazador]

I've longed for one those beauties since I read Hemingway in junior high school!!!

Me too.

 

[Gordon]

Looks like factory 156 softpoins because the throat is long BUT the twist is quick enough to launch the super performance new 6.5mm that abound ! Think 2400 fps from your carbine with 143 grain Ultra low drag controlled expansion hunting bullets !!!!

 

[Patocazador]

View attachment 1062282Looks like factory 156 softpoins because the throat is long BUT the twist is quick enough to launch the super performance new 6.5mm that abound ! Think 2400 fps from your carbine with 143 grain Ultra low drag controlled expansion hunting bullets !!!!

The max COAL is right at 3". I have only been able to find PPU 120 HP and PPU 139 SP bullets so far. My COAL is 2.95" on both. I haven't been able to get a bench session yet.

 

[adcoch1]

That rifle is positively GORGEOUS!

 

[Patocazador]

I’m drooling over the double set trigger. What does it break at?

I checked it today with a RCBS trigger gauge after setting it on a higher setting. It seems to be 12 oz. now. It was less before the adjustment.

 

[entropy]

That's one that's still on my grail list-glad you got it off of yours!. Beautiful M-S Butterknife bolt action!

That, my friend, is ELEGANT!!!!!! I've longed for one those beauties since I read Hemingway in junior high school!!! Rod

Me too.

Count me in that group!

 

[Patocazador]

Good news (for me). I loaded 9 cases (PPU) with PPU 120 HP bullets and 9 with PPU 139 SP bullets using IMR 4064 powder. I used the loading info from the Lyman #45 Reloading Handbook published in 1970. Their "most accurate" loads were right on the money and produced 1 1/8" 3-shot groups at 55 yards for both bullets. Perhaps, I could have had smaller groups but the 2 1/2x Lyman scope with a post and horizontal crosshair made it difficult to hold on the bullseye due to blotting it out. The 19" barrel doesn't help either.

I was unable to find any other components for this rifle but am still looking.

 

[eastbank]

look for a leupold 2.5x20 or leupold 3x20 straight tubed fine or medium crosshaired scopes, i have several and they seem right on short barreled rifles.

 

[czhen]

Pato I tried to click the like click more than once but there is no such function. Congrats super finding.

 

[Patocazador]

UPDATE:
After getting some Norma cases (thanks to Glenn) and some 156 gr. PPU bullets, I worked up some loads and found a good one. At 100 yds. it shot a 3-shot 3/4" group.
The Mannlicher-Schoenauer is infamous for poor accuracy due to oversize chambers. Well, I guess I got one of the good ones. The tests The American Rifleman ran gave a best group of 1" @ 50 yds. Most of the other groups they shot were over 2" @ 50 yds.



I put a Leupold 1-4x 28 mm scope on it and shot this at 3x.


The load I used is within normal limits and uses:
156 gr. PPU RNSP bullet
40.0 gr. of H 4831 SC
Remington 9 1/2 primers
Norma cases

 

[Random 8]

If you're looking for more brass...https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/702?

I've found the Speer Flat base 140 and the Hornady 160 RN to be especially accurate in 3 different 6.5 bores, one of which was a Greek Bannerman? carbine conversion in 6.5x54MS. If you wish to upgrade your scope, I would be a buyer for that old Lyman!