mannlicher shoenauer in 6.5x54

[hillbill]

hey guys i was looking at some of these mannlicher schoenauer rifles on guns america.com and at the last gun show i went to. ive wanted one for a long time but cant bring myself to spend the bucks they ask for them. however ive noticed a lot of them come in 6.5x54, how does this cartridge differ from the 6.5x55? i realize it is a millimeter longer in length. is it a totally different cartridge? what is its origin and what are its ballistics?

[leverfan]

hillbill-

It's going to be tougher for you to find 6.5x54mm ammo than 6.5x55mm Swede, that's for sure.  RWS, Lapua, and Norma are some overseas sources for brass and ammo.  The 6.5x54mm was used by the Greek military starting about 1903.  It has a smaller head diameter than the 6.5 Swede, so case capacity is further reduced.  As far as velocity goes, it lags about 300 fps behind the Swede.