Lindcott Armory Rifle · CIP
6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer
Elegant pre-WWI hunting and military cartridge known for its fine accuracy and the beautiful Mannlicher-Schönauer rotary-magazine rifles that chambered it.
- Caliber
- 0.2638″ · 6.7 mm
- Introduced
- 1900
- Case
- Rimless
- Primary use
- Hunting, Military
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1900
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- Austria
- Inventor
- Mannlicher-Schönauer
- Manufacturer
- Steyr
- Standard
- CIP
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 52 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:8.6
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 52,939 psi
- Eff. range
- 300 yd
- Max range
- 700 yd
- Recoil
- 10–14 ft·lb
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 2,100–2,600 fps · 19 loads
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 6.70 | 0.264 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 7.56 | 0.298 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 10.87 | 0.428 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 23.6° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 11.47 | 0.452 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 11.52 | 0.454 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.05 | 0.041 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 8.05 | 0.317 | ≈ |
| Case length | 53.65 | 2.112 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 77.80 | 3.063 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 19 active loads across 13 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 20 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lapua | Lapua Naturalis | 156 | Naturalis | 2,600 | 2,341 | — |
| Graf & Sons | Graf Heritage | 160 | SP | 2,600 | 2,401 | — |
| Bertram | Bertram Reloads | 160 | SP | 2,600 | 2,401 | — |
| Kynoch | Classic | 160 | Soft Point | 2,450 | 2,132 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Custom | 160 | Soft Point | 2,450 | 2,132 | — |
| RWS | Classic | 160 | Soft Point | 2,450 | 2,132 | — |
| Norma | Classic | 160 | Soft Point | 2,450 | 2,132 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | SP | 160 | Soft Point | 2,450 | 2,132 | — |
| PPU | Standard | 160 | Soft Point | 2,450 | 2,132 | — |
| Wolf | FMJ | 160 | Soft Point | 2,450 | 2,132 | — |
| Armscor | Standard | 160 | Soft Point | 2,450 | 2,132 | — |
| Hornady | Custom Interlock SP | 160 | Interlock SP | 2,395 | 2,038 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | SP Hunting | 159 | SP | 2,395 | 2,025 | — |
| Fiocchi | SP Hunting | 160 | SP | 2,395 | 2,038 | — |
| RWS | ID Classic SP | 127 | ID Classic | 2,395 | 1,617 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Connected reference
History
Developed for the Greek military Mannlicher-Schönauer rifle, adopted in 1903. The cartridge gained fame through the sporting Mannlicher-Schönauer Model 1903 carbine — arguably the most elegant bolt-action ever made. W.D.M. Bell used it extensively on elephant, crediting its deep penetration on head shots. Factory ammunition is still produced by Sellier & Bellot and Hornady.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer use?
- 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer typically uses a 1:8.6 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer?
- 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer uses a 0.2638″ (6.7 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer still in production?
- 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer used for?
- 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schönauer is primarily used for hunting, military.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 19 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →