Obsolete rifles

 

An early, export Mannlicher Schoenauer

(Vilhjalmur) Stefansson resumed his explorations by sledge over the Arctic Ocean  leaving Collinson Point, Alaska in April 1914. A supporting sledge turned back 75 mi (121 km) offshore, but he and two men continued onward on one sledge, living largely by his rifle on polar game for 96 days until his party reached the Mary Sachs in the autumn.   Wikipedia

"...polar game..." meant seals which had to be anchored with head or spine shots and polar bears which are enormous and dangerous. Seals were often targets of opportunity, seen while rounding an ice-heave. The distance might not be great but the shot had to be made in a hurry and had to be spot-on or the seal slipped down the hole.

WDM "Karamojo" Bell, a prominent elephant (ivory) hunter in Africa in the early 20th century, also used the rifle in its original 6.5×54 chambering with considerable success. The ability of the diminutive 6.5×54 cartridge to take the largest and most dangerous of the big game species, such as African elephant and Cape Buffalo, was due in the main to the high sectional density of the 6.5mm projectiles used in the rifle, although precise placing of the shot was imperative. Because the original factory loads for the 6.5×54 projectiles were long and heavy  relative to their diameter, they proved capable of very deep penetration through muscle and bone. This, coupled with the relatively low recoil of the cartridge, facilitated accurate shot placement into vital organs such as the heart or brain.    -Wikipedia

 

So, what ballistic magic did this ancient cartridge offer?

Optimistically, 160 grains at 2400fps or 140 grains at 2500fps and a modest, African-heat-friendly peak pressure of 52,000 psi. In truth, actual velocities were probably a hundred feet-per-second less than those values.

Much of the magic had to do with the platform. About 7 pounds in sporting trim with a 19" barrel which was a good six inches shorter than most other bolt-actions of the day. You are much more likely to be "get lucky" if you are always carrying your rifle as opposed to having in on the sled.

If you are a reloader, you can match the 6.5X54mm M-S ballistics and pressures by reloading the .260 Remington with the "starting loads" for H-4895, H-4350 or H-4831. "Stick" powders are desirable for modest pressures because their performance doesn't fall-off like some spherical powders do at lower pressures.

Put it in a bolt-action with a 70-degree turn lock-up like a Ruger American and mount a Red-Dot scope or flip-up aperture sights and you are rocking and rolling like Vilhjalmur and Karamojo.