In addition to its very portability and handiness, three other features endeared it to hunters: firstly the Mannlicher rifles (models 1903-1910) easily have the smoothest, slickest bolt action ever produced. Weighing only 6½ lbs and only 38' (97cm) long, it was the original “scout” rifle. The model 1903 Mannlicher has to be one of the sweetest handling rifles ever produced. Perhaps the greatest selling point though was the rifle. The long 160 grain bullets had a very high sectional density, and in solid form penetrated adequately for brain shots on elephant or ‘through the shoulder’ shot on buffalo, whilst the frangible soft points gave lightning quick kills on small buck like impala or gazelles.

“Karamojo” Bell and Captain Stigand were two professional ivory hunters who used it with some success on elephant and wrote about their successes, whilst Banks (elephant control officer -Uganda) and Blaney Percival (first game warden-Kenya) were also enthusiastic proponents. The professional hunters in Africa, prior to the first world war, sang its praises loudly. ~If there was ever a cartridge whose popularity was almost instantaneous it was the 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer becoming one of those “all the rage” rifles within a year of its release to the civilian market in 1903.~

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1903 mannlicher schoenauer 6.5x54