The 6,5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer cartridge is a civil version of an old military round. Greece decided in 1903 to use this rimless version of the rimmed 6,5x53R Mannlicher round, used since 1892 with the armies of Netherlands and Romania. The round was used in a bolt-action rifle, constructed by Ritter von Mannlicher, called "Mod. 1903".

The civil version of this rifle was the "Mannlicher-Schoenauer GK", which was produced until the 1970s by Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG in Austria. The Mannlicher Schoenauer GK and the famous Mannlicher-Schoenauer GK carbine with it's 46 cm (18") barrel, often used by hunters in the Alpen mountains in southern Germany (Bavaria) and Austria, were the only civil rifles chambered for the 6,5x54 M.-Sch.

The small but effective round was used by the european hunters even for big game like the european red deer. Karamojo Bell used a 6,5x54 carbine for brain shots on hundrets of elephants.

The traditional bullet for the 6,5 is the 10,3g (160 gr.) round nose soft point. Effective range is approx 160 m with this bullet. All 6,5mm/.264" bullets could be used.

Factory ammunition is still produced by Hirtenberger of Austria. 

This text is based on information from “Cartridges of the World”, Hodgdon reloading manual, the cartridge designer and/or own resources.