6.5×53mmR

Mannlicher's Model 1891 Rifle was adopted by Romania in 1892 as the Mannlicher M1893 and the Netherlands in 1895. They used the first of a series of 6.5-millimetre (0.26 in) Mannlicher cartridges[1] which became the standard service rifle cartridge for the Romanian Mannlicher M1893 from 1893 to 1938,[3] and the Dutch Geweer M. 95 from 1895 to 1945.[2] Dutch ammunition with cartridge cases made of brass (pre-occupation) or steel (under German occupation) may be encountered on the American surplus market. In both instances, the primer pocket is Berdan-style, of an unusual type (Roth-patent), and features a central flash hole running through the center of the integral Berdan anvil. When examining fired cases from the inside with a flashlight, this design gives the false impression of a Boxer primed cartridge case.

Portugal's Navy adopted this cartridge for the Mannlicher Model 1896, officially known as “Espingarda Portuguesa Mod. 1896”.[7] It was also used by artillery and cavalry units of the Esercito. It was used only shortly until the adoption of the Mauser-Vergueiro, and most were then sent to the colonies. The AE (Arsenal do Esercito) made "M96" 6,5x53R ammo well into the 1930s.[8]

This is the original rimmed or "flanged" cartridge designed by Steyr-Mannlicher for the Romanian and the Dutch military. In the family of Mannlicher cartridges, it is directly related to and the precursor of the later Greek 6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer rimless cartridge with which it is ballistically identical.[9]

In the military service rifles, these cartridges are loaded primarily by using the Mannlicher designed en-bloc clip as used in the German Gewehr 1888 "Commission" rifle. These pre-date and are similar in concept to the clip used later by the US Army's M1 Garand. With the Ferdinand Mannlicher designed trigger guard / magazine housing assembly, when the bolt is open and fully retracted to the rear the full en-bloc clip is loaded into the magazine from the top through the open receiver. The empty clip will fall out through a hole in the base of the magazine housing when out of cartridges, enabling quick reloading of the rifles during combat. Also when the bolt is fully open, full clips can be vigorously ejected upwards from the magazine housing by means of a spring loaded latch at the rear of the magazine, operated by a recessed button in the front of the trigger guard portion of the assembly. The clips were essentially disposable as ammunition would be issued already loaded into clips from the factory.

The .256 Mannlicher cartridge also saw use as a sporting round. The elephant hunter W. D. M. Bell was fond of a Mannlicher M1893 rifle in .256 Mannlicher, (from renowned English gunmaker George Gibbs), that he used to hunt for meat in Africa.[10]

Additional case dimensions

Based on direct measurement of Dutch and German unfired ammunition averaged and compared to published original sources:[11][12]

Due to very close dimensional relationships, boxer-primed cartridge cases can be made by resizing and trimming .303 British[13] or .30-40 Krag (.30-40 US)[14] brass, and Fire forming the resulting altered brass cases in the 6.5x53R chamber

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  Empty Dutch Mannlicher en-bloc clip
• 
  Comparison of .303 British with .256 Mannlicher
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  Function diagram of the 6.5x53.5mmR and en-bloc clip
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  Romanian Mannlicher M1893
• 
  Dutch Mannlicher M1895

• Table of handgun and rifle cartridges
• 6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer
• 6.5×55mm Swedish
• 7×57mm Mauser
• .30-40 Krag
• .303 British