Ovenpaa
.224 member
Reged: 12/12/16
Posts: 10
Loc: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
|
|
First post so hello from the UK. I am an RFD usually working on a mix of things from new rifle builds to late 19 Century rifles and shooting anything from overland from 100-600 metres plus paper out to 1100 metres.
I have been looking for a 6,5x54MS and spotted this George Gibbs M1900 version last week and here it is 
One concern was reloading for it however I very quickly sourced 200 RWS cases and some dies and hopefully I will see a couple of hundred Hornady 160 grain round nose delivered next week, add some Viht 160 and I should be out and shooting it over the Christmas break.
--------------------
/d
|
Claydog
.400 member
Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 1151
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...
|
|
Sweet ride. Welcome to NE. Don't be shy with pictures of the Gibbs.
|
DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27694
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
|
|
Welcome and it looks pretty good.
I know of one small gun shop in England - was run by the Stutley Brothers. I med David Stutley back in 2006, or so, here on a moose hunt. Nice Guy!
I assume this is it.
http://www.stutleygun.co.uk/
--------------------
Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
|
Iowa_303s
.400 member
Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1016
Loc: Iowa, USA
|
|
Welcome to the forum.
Nice looking rifle, as was said before, don't be shy with the photos!
I hope you are only planning on using those Hornady 160 grain roundnose soft points for punching holes in paper.
I had a bad experience with one of those today.
Shot an average sized doe (120 lbs field dressed) at 105 yards broadside with my 1903 MS carbine. Hit just behind the shoulder between 2 ribs, through both lungs and out through a rib on the far side.
She took off like I had missed.
First blood was found at about 150 yards from the place she stood at the shot. It took another 450-500 yards of hard tracking through a cypress swamp to find her.
ZERO bullet expansion! Looked like someone had driven a pencil straight through her.
Exit wound, even after going through the rib , looked identical to the entrance hole.
--------------------
Matt
formerly known as Iowa_303
"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."
"Enkelkinder über alles"
|
DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27694
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
|
|
That's amazing, Matt. I'd have suspected that from the Sierra semi-spitzer 160gr, but not the Hornady.
Perhaps they are best kept to a 6.5x55 at 2,500fps.
--------------------
Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
|
greenshoots
.300 member
Reged: 23/05/08
Posts: 204
Loc: uk
|
|
welcome ovenpaa is she a takedown?
greenshoots
|
Ovenpaa
.224 member
Reged: 12/12/16
Posts: 10
Loc: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
|
|
Greenshoots, yes it is takedown of fashion, a single screw removes the forend and then in theory (I think!) The barrel simply unscrews. I gave it a good twist last night however it was not going anywhere so I will have to take a very close look now before resorting to sticking it in the barrel press. It may not have come apart for many years so it is worth taking some care.
Iowa 303, yes I had planned on using the 160 roundnose soft point as it is reasonably close to the original, having said that I have experienced zero expansion with a 139 grain Interlock from my 6,5x47 that was travelling a lot quicker, it was enough to resign them to the shelf.
Is there a viable round nosed alternative, I did rear of an old Sierra offering however it seems to be long gone.
--------------------
/d
|
kuduae
.400 member
Reged: 13/01/10
Posts: 1806
Loc: middle of Germany
|
|
Quote:
Greenshoots, yes it is takedown of fashion, a single screw removes the forend and then in theory (I think!) The barrel simply unscrews.
Stop! You will damage the rifle seriously if you simply "resort to sticking it in the barrel press" and try to unscrew the barrel by brute force! In the Gibbs take-down system, the barrel is locked in it's threads by the front action screw. So first remove the foreend. Then loosen the front action screw, forward of the magazine,several turns. Only now the barrel may be unscrewed. The front action screw here is longer than usual and goes into a detent in the barrel threads. If you try to unscrew the barrel with that screw still tight you will shear off the tip of the screw and/or ruin the threads.
|
Ovenpaa
.224 member
Reged: 12/12/16
Posts: 10
Loc: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
|
|
Kuduae, thank you for confirming that. I had a look at the rifle again this morning and noted the front action screw is in line with the barrel thread and had assumed there was a good chance there was a screw/barrel interference.
Today I had a few minutes spare so the bolt and magazine were stripped and cleaned. It would appear the barrel at least has been re-finished at some point and I suspect the bolt and receiver possibly as well as the pistol grip plate is colour case hardened whereas the rest of the rifle is blacked.
Would the flip up cover in the pistol grip have been used to store the front sight hood or some other purpose?
--------------------
/d
|
greenshoots
.300 member
Reged: 23/05/08
Posts: 204
Loc: uk
|
|
Would the flip up cover in the pistol grip have been used to store the front sight hood or some other purpose?
probably a spare front sight wrapped in brown paper if this is the rifle you were looking for a peep sight for i would suggest a bolt mounted peep
greenshoots
|
greenshoots
.300 member
Reged: 23/05/08
Posts: 204
Loc: uk
|
|
peep sight
http://www.prechtl-waffen.de/waffenteile-cat298.html
greenshoots
|
Ovenpaa
.224 member
Reged: 12/12/16
Posts: 10
Loc: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
|
|
Yes I am after a peep for it however it originally had one just behind the tang and it would be nice to replace it as opposed to plugging the holes. Also I would have thought finding one for the M1900/1903 is nigh on impossible these days or would cost more than the rifle did.
--------------------
/d
|
Igorrock
.400 member
Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1684
Loc: Finland
|
|
Hello Ovenpaa, yours nickname sounds interesting. Where it comes ?
--------------------
http://promaakari.wordpress.com/
|
Ovenpaa
.224 member
Reged: 12/12/16
Posts: 10
Loc: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
|
|
Igorrock, It is Danish for 'On top' It could be related to something upstairs I guess. I am a Brit married to a Dane and Ovenpaa actually referred to a mail server upstairs many years ago
My grasp of Danish is poor even to this day although I can converse with the dogs in Danish and read Danish, Swiss and Norwegian relatively well. I can also say I love you in Swedish which is probably not a good thing when living with a Dane
Suomi is one language I never could get to grips with...
--------------------
/d
|
kuduae
.400 member
Reged: 13/01/10
Posts: 1806
Loc: middle of Germany
|
|
Quote:
It would appear the barrel at least has been re-finished at some point and I suspect the bolt and receiver possibly as well as the pistol grip plate is colour case hardened whereas the rest of the rifle is black.
This finish is completely normal for a G.Gibbs Mannlicher or Mannlicher-Schoenauer. You have to know how these rifles were made. Until 1905 the Austrian Arms Factory in Steyr did not sell any sporters. They never sold any actions only or barreled ations. Instead, they sold their complete, finished export military rifles to all comers. George Gibbs, Bristol and other British gunmakers bought these military rifles and sporterized them to varying degrees. This rifle was completely disassembled, converted to takedown, resighted and restocked. As Gibbs removed the military sights from the barrel, soldered on his own front and rear sights plus sling eyes and engraved his address, it was of course necessary to reblue the barrel, but not the action. The trap grip caps were bought in from specialized Birmingham makers and came already case hardened.
In this old thread you may see a Gibbs – Mannlicher takedown with the same treatment of finish: Trap grip cap case hardened, action and barrel blue.
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=236665&an=0&page=8#Post236665
BTW, in some of the photos you can see the backed out front action screw of the Gibbs takedown procedure.
|
Ovenpaa
.224 member
Reged: 12/12/16
Posts: 10
Loc: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
|
|
The reason I say I think it has been refinished, or the barrel at least is the George Gibbs script is not as crisp as I would expect and the finish is very good. Having said that the rifle had a coating of hardened grease, almost like cosmaline in all of the hard to reach places.
--------------------
/d
|
Igorrock
.400 member
Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1684
Loc: Finland
|
|
Quote:
Igorrock, It is Danish for 'On top' It could be related to something upstairs I guess
OK, in finnish language you could say "ovenpää" which means the top of the door i.e. word "ovi" means english word "door". It´s genitive is "oven". Finnish word "pää" means same as english word "head".
--------------------
http://promaakari.wordpress.com/
|
93x64mm
.416 member
Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4411
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
|
|
Lovely piece there Ovenpaa.
Kuduae as always a trove of knowledge & saved the day!
Might be better to go for a lighter constructed projectile if you want to shoot lighter game.
I wouldn't use the heavier weight 6.5mm projectiles on small stuff, they're built very well & just pass straight thru. My father in-law has an old 6.5x55, we reloaded the military/target loads with 120gn's & even those just zinged through kangaroos!
|
Waidmannsheil
.416 member
Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2519
Loc: Melbourne Australia
|
|
Woodleigh also make a 160 grain RNSN, would be worth a try as they are specially made for the Mannlicher. By the way, lovely little rifle, quite rare in the Model 1900. Well done.
Waidmannsheil.
--------------------
There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.
|
Iowa_303s
.400 member
Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1016
Loc: Iowa, USA
|
|
Quote:
Iowa 303, yes I had planned on using the 160 roundnose soft point as it is reasonably close to the original, having said that I have experienced zero expansion with a 139 grain Interlock from my 6,5x47 that was travelling a lot quicker, it was enough to resign them to the shelf.
Ovenpaa,
Thank you you for the information on the 139 Interlock.
I have the 129 grain Interlock loaded for my 6.5x55 and was going to use it for today deer hunt but changed my mind when I saw your post.
Used my trusty .303 British single shot with a proven 174 grain interlock at 2500 fps.
Unfortunately I did not encounter a shootable deer today. Oh well, at least I was out in the woods today and not behind my desk! 
--------------------
Matt
formerly known as Iowa_303
"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."
"Enkelkinder über alles"
|
Iowa_303s
.400 member
Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1016
Loc: Iowa, USA
|
|
Quote:
That's amazing, Matt. I'd have suspected that from the Sierra semi-spitzer 160gr, but not the Hornady.
Perhaps they are best kept to a 6.5x55 at 2,500fps.
Daryl,
They will now be used for puching holes in paper!
I do have an old box or 2 (carboard with metal corners) of the 160 rnsp that will be expansion tested though.
I hear these work better than the new ones. Time will tell.
--------------------
Matt
formerly known as Iowa_303
"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."
"Enkelkinder über alles"
|
DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27694
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
|
|
Interesting.
I ended up with a bunch of .2625", 156gr. Blue nose (large lead round nose) I thought they would be .264", but are under size.
One of these days, I will try them in my 6.5x55 Swede, but with it's .266" groove diameter, I don't expect much for accuracy - we will see. I may try them in Carol's .260 as well, as it has a standard .264" groove diameter.
--------------------
Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
|
Ovenpaa
.224 member
Reged: 12/12/16
Posts: 10
Loc: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
|
|
Iowa 303 The 139 was a typo, it was indeed the 129 grain that did not always expand as expected with my 6,5x47Lapua.
This forum and thread has been a wealth of information
Next job is load some ammunition, I have the 160grain round nose on order and the brass and dies should be here shortly, if I can source some 140 grain round nose it would be good however I have some in the 120 grain range already so lots to test with.
--------------------
/d
|
ducmarc
.400 member
Reged: 14/07/14
Posts: 1207
Loc: fla
|
|
Kid at work shot a small doe Las see in Georgia 3006 went through the should both lungs andout the over side hobbled a 200 yrds before quoting.so don't down the round.it can happen to a lot calibers not sure what grain bullet but knowing him 17$ box of 150 grain corelocksit weighed 88lbs undressed.that's a real nice rifle.wish I had a take down
--------------------
'killed by death' Lemmy.. ' boil the dog ' Elvis Manywounds "my best friend is my magnum forty four" hank willams the third.
|
paradox_
.375 member
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 645
Loc: Australia
|
|
Anyone had trouble feeding stand lower weight SP bullets out of the 1903??
Tried the 139gr Hornady SP in my newly acquired 1925 proofed , Holland retailed 6.5. they tend to run into the end of the ramp in this particular rifle.
Im also waiting for 160gr Hornadys.
I will try the 160gr Woodliegh next week. This bullets works well in my Original Mauser in 6.5x57, but appears quite long for weight and calibre.
Will measure against the Hornady when they arrive.
Looking for a bullet around 140gr RN , that will feed properly.
Best
ERic
--------------------
Walk softly and carry a big stick
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
