Side of bolt.

A couple of thoughts:

The Italian Carcano rifle is a variation of the Mannlicher 'turn-bolt' action, but, its cartridge has always been referred to as the 6.5mm Carcano, in North America.  The cartridge was little known until rifles and surplus Italian military ammo appeared on the surplus market in the 1950s and 1960s.  Until Norma offered loadings, hunting ammo was made by 'pulling' military bullets and replacing with commercial bullets.  (Prior to sizeable numbers of surplus rifles getting to North America, after WW2, the cartridge was made just in Italy and military).

By contrast, the 6.5mm M-S cartridge and Mannicher-Schoenauer sporting carbine was used by 'published' hunters all over the World.  Ammo and sporting rifles were imported to North America as early as 1903.  The cartridge was always a bit exotic, but, it was loaded by American and Canadian manufacturers prior to WW2.  (British gunmakers built sporting rifles, after WW1, using surplus 'Dutch Mannlichers', which utilized a rimmed version of the 6.5 M-S cartridge).  In 1955, "6.5mm Mann." likely meant the M-S cartridge and its illustrious 'hunting' reputation.

Hi all, I just verified today my Krag is indeed a 6.5 x 54 M-S. I'm wondering what the max. pressure this rifle would handle. I also picked up a box of Norma 77 gr. while I was at the gunsmith's shop, how would these perform in this rifle? During my searching, I came across a collector who has a 6.5x55 (Swede) and a 30-40 Krag, he says they're both shootable, except the 30-40 is missing the butt plate, both are sporterized and he wants $200 for the pair with a box of 6.5x55. Sounds like a pretty decent deal to me, any thoughts?

Seems to me that it is important to learn how the 6.5x55 to 6.5 MS conversion was accomplished.  Was the old chamber bored out & a new piece of barrel inserted & chambered?  Or was the original barrel simply set back & rechambered?

IIRC, the original 6.5 M-S shot a 160 grain bullet about 2000 fps, out of a very short barrel, with a case that is much smaller in diameter than the 6.5x55.  Pressures might be just a bit higher than the original 6.5x55 loads.  If the chamber is an insert, you probably do not know much about the steel in the insert. 

If it was my rifle, I would stick with loads that did not exceed the original M-S load.

Hi Chuck,

I'm getting into this a bit late, but I would certainly believe your Krag is chambered for 6.5x54 M-S. I have one that has been fitted with the chamber insert by the Canadian Importer. The left side of the barrel is stamped "6.5 MM Mannlicher". It is very accurate and shoots to the same point of aim with everything from 100gr. to 160gr bullets out to 200 yards. 

Finally scored some 6.5x54 M-S without breaking the bank or having to go across the border to find it!! 156 gr PPU $36.95/ box CDN $ Now I just need to get a permit to try it out