6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer

Austrian military cartridge from 1908.

Type

Rifle

Place of origin

Austria-Hungary

Specifications

Parent case

6.5×53mmR

Case type

Rimless, bottleneck

Bullet diameter

.264 in (6.7 mm)

Neck diameter

.295 in (7.5 mm)

Shoulder diameter

.428 in (10.9 mm)

Base diameter

.452 in (11.5 mm)

Rim diameter

.454 in (11.5 mm)

Case length

2.11 in (54 mm)

Overall length

3.00 in (76 mm)

Case capacity

44.5 gr H₂O (2.88 cm³)

Rifling twist

1 in 9"

Primer type

Large Rifle

Ballistic performance

Bullet mass/type	Velocity	Energy
139 gr (9 g) Norma	2,510 ft/s (770 m/s)	1,950 ft·lbf (2,640 J)
159 gr (10 g) RWS	2,460 ft/s (750 m/s)	2,160 ft·lbf (2,930 J)

Test barrel length: 17.5
Source(s): Factory advertised velocity

The 6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer also known as 6.5×54 Mannlicher–Schönauer Greek is a 6.5 mm (.264" cal.) rifle cartridge used in the Mannlicher–Schönauer rifle. 6.5 mm bullets are typically known for their high ballistic coefficients and sectional density, which gives them great stability in flight, resistance to wind deflection, and excellent penetration.

Walter Dalrymple Maitland "Karamojo" Bell, who shot more than 1,500 elephants in the period 1895-1930, had a very high regard for the 6.5mm Mannlicher–Schoenauer, using it for approximately 300 of these kills. Daniel Fraser of Edinburgh, Scotland built him a special, lightweight rifle in that calibre. He only set it aside when he was unable to acquire dependable ammunition for it, and turned to a .275 Rigby Mauser magazine rifle instead. The .275 Rigby cartridge is interchangeable with the 7×57mm Mauser. Bell's legendary name has remained closely linked with the 7mm Mauser, but the 6.5 Mann.–Sch. was his first preference.

The 6.5×54mm was referred to by the writer Ernest Hemingway as the .256 Mannlicher. Though it never replaced his favorite .30-06 Springfield, he did speak highly of it as a lion cartridge, and it was the favorite of his African guide and professional hunter Phillip Percival. The Kenya game warden and naturalist A. Blaney Percival also favored the 6.5×54mm.

In part, the 6.5×54mm's reputation stems from its use of a 160-grain (10 g) bullet, giving the projectile very high sectional density and therefore penetrating ability. It requires a fast rate-of-twist rifling (about 1 in 9") to stabilize such a long bullet.

The 6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer cartridge was adopted by the Greek Army, along with the Mannlicher–Schönauer rifle in 1903. From 1906 until the German invasion and capitulation of Greece in April 1941, it was the standard military cartridge of the Greek Army. During the German occupation it was used by Greek resistance fighters and during the Greek Civil War (1946 - 1949) by the Greek Gendarmerie, militia units and even Communist fighters of the Democratic Army of Greece. During the Civil War, Carcano rifles captured during World War II were also converted to 6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer and used by Greek forces.

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Wikipedia