The professional hunters in Africa, prior to the first
world war, sang its praises loudly. “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 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. Perhaps the greatest selling point though was
the rifle.
The model 1903 Mannlicher has to be one of the sweetest
handling rifles ever produced. Weighing only 6½ lbs and
only 38" (97cm) long, it was the original “scout”
rifle. 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. Not even the
high grade Mauser actioned rifles from makers such as Rigby
or Holland & Holland ever equalled the smoothness of the
Mannlichers; Secondly, almost all the civilian models came
fitted with an excellent double set trigger mechanism giving
a wonderful crisp 8 ounce pull when set and a tolerable 5lb
pull unset; Thirdly, a perfectly servicable telescopic sight
and mount were supplied with the rifle for only £3 (in
1910, £5 by 1939), and consequently many men gained their
introduction to a 'scope sight in conjunction with the 6.5
Mannlicher rifle.
It was the provision of the 'scope, combined with minimal
recoil and tolerable muzzle blast that ensured the little
carbine’s reputation as a ‘deadly’ killer. This was
particularly true of working men who simply wanted a rifle
as a ‘meat getter’. A small bullet of good sectional
density is quickly lethal if accurately placed, and amongst
men who are not particularly interested in marksmanship,
light recoil, a light, crisp trigger pull and a 'scope are
very, very significant aids to accurate shot placement.
There were of course men who really ‘over did it’
with regard to the cartridge’s capability. Men like
Percival and Banks used them on lion and were lucky to
survive the encounters, particularly as the softpoint
bullets of the day could not be relied upon to penetrate the
chest muscles, forcing the hunter to use solids. Stigand was
badly injured by both an elephant and a rhino that he failed
to stop at close range, whereupon he reverted (as did Bell)
to a 7mm Mauser which had greater penetration. “Pondoro”
Taylor summed the 6.5 up very well, as being a dandy rifle
for a man out after plains game for meat or sport, but not
as a big game calibre. Another disconcerting feature was the
propensity for the case necks to split, and so jamb the case
in the breech upon firing. This applied not only to the
cheap military ball ammo (it was the Greek military cartrige
from 1900 to 1940) but also to both Ely and Kynock brands.
None of this mattered if the rifle was used as a small bore
rifle on appropriate plains game. For every hunter who wrote
about his success on dangerous game with the 6.5 there were
several who died proving it wasn’t really suitable.
| The model 1903 Mannlicher has to be one of the
sweetest handling rifles ever produced. Weighing
only 6½ lbs and only 38" (97cm) long, it was
the original “scout” rifle. |
As a small bore though, the 6.5 excelled. By 1920 the
problem with splitting cases had been largely resolved,
whilst bullet quality slowly improved. Improvements in
powders also enabled manufacturers to increase velocity
slightly from the original 2230fps to 2330fps (in a 17"
barrel). In short, on game up to the size of wildebeest or
kudu, the 6.5 worked reliably and did so from a rifle that
still captivates anyone who handles one.
World War II ensured that the 6.5 M-S relinquished its
place as one of the most common small bore cartridges in
Africa. Basically only Mannlicher had produced rifles
chambered for it, and following the war, Mannlicher rifles
with their complex (‘though beautifully smooth) rotary
magazines and trigger mechanisms and exquisitely machined
actions ceased abruptly to be budget priced sporters that
appealed to the ordinary man in an African street. Secondly,
Kynock ceased manufacturing ammunition in the 1960’s,
leaving only the very expensive European brands.
 |
| Standard Model-A Mauser and 6.5
Mannlicher - Schoenauer. |
Mannlicher, however, continue to produce rifles in 6.5
M-S which are top grade weapons and thousands of old rifles
are found across the continent. Sadly many of the old rifles
have ruined bores resulting from not being properly cleaned
after using British ammunition, which retained its corrosive
primers until the 1960’s. None-the-less, the little 6.5
continues to put the venison on the table, and, largely due
to the excellent sectional density of its 160grain bullets,
seems to perform much more reliably on Kudu sized game than
many of its more modern and more powerful conterparts, and
do so without the bruising normally associated with the high
velocity numbers.
