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Does anyone still use the old 7mm Mauser these days?
- Thread starter GatorFarmer
- Start date
I have several 7x57 Mausers but two are kinda special. The first is a custom sporter that's been stuck at the 50% completion level for a decade or more. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of it but it's got nice custom metalwork on a 1910 Mex action and a beautiful English walnut stock,.........just need to find a qualified craftsman(and the money)to have it finished up. Have a matching gun in .257 Improved(also 1910 Mex and 50% complete).
Another 7x57 has some interesting history with it, but the only pics I have for it were taken some time during the last century with my first digital camera,......a 3 deca-pixel Sony. Too poor to post, but here they are anyway,..........
Several above have mentioned the use of the 7x57 Mauser during the Boer war. Well, this is one of those. I picked it up cheap at a gunshow many years ago because someone had 'bubba'd up' the stock with carvings. Actually, I think it was bubba'd by two someones,........
JJ WEBB is carved into the right side of the buttstock. I assume this is the Brit soldier who captured it. At the Magwell is carved Z A R,.......Zud African Republic. Forward of that on the forearm is the name of the Boer soldier(I forget the name and can't make it out in the pics). All these carvings are fairly typical of the Boer Mausers. There's a very interesting article written by the late Jack Lott in the 1975 Guns And Ammo Annual concerning the weapons used in the Boer War and one rifle prominently displayed is a carved up Mauser Carbine just like mine,...........in fact the two serials are separated by about a dozen numbers iirc.
I seriously need to dig this one out and get some better pictures taken.
Another 7x57 has some interesting history with it, but the only pics I have for it were taken some time during the last century with my first digital camera,......a 3 deca-pixel Sony. Too poor to post, but here they are anyway,..........
Several above have mentioned the use of the 7x57 Mauser during the Boer war. Well, this is one of those. I picked it up cheap at a gunshow many years ago because someone had 'bubba'd up' the stock with carvings. Actually, I think it was bubba'd by two someones,........
JJ WEBB is carved into the right side of the buttstock. I assume this is the Brit soldier who captured it. At the Magwell is carved Z A R,.......Zud African Republic. Forward of that on the forearm is the name of the Boer soldier(I forget the name and can't make it out in the pics). All these carvings are fairly typical of the Boer Mausers. There's a very interesting article written by the late Jack Lott in the 1975 Guns And Ammo Annual concerning the weapons used in the Boer War and one rifle prominently displayed is a carved up Mauser Carbine just like mine,...........in fact the two serials are separated by about a dozen numbers iirc.
I seriously need to dig this one out and get some better pictures taken.
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DWalt
Member
A little-known, and possibly the last, military rifle produced in 7x57mm is the Chilean Johnson M1941 semiautomatic rifle. 1000 of those chambered in 7x57mm Mauser were ordered by the Chilean government in 1943.
M E Morrison
Member
Perhaps even later would be the SAFN M1949 ordered by Venezuela. IIRC, it was the smallest production run of the M1949.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
I have one - this tang safety M77. I had to have it once I saw it, and didn't question the compulsion.
I haven't shot any critters with it, but when I do I'll use some of these long ol' 175s. Just seems natural.
I haven't shot any critters with it, but when I do I'll use some of these long ol' 175s. Just seems natural.
old tanker
Member
I have a couple, a Ludwig Loewe built Chilean cavalry carbine and a Remington Rolling Block. The one I covet is the Venezuelan FN49.
Likely one of the most interesting military rifles ever built was the Venezualan FAL. Chambered in 7mm Liviano it offered 7x57 performance and the ergonomics of a modern battle rifle. The 7mm FAL rifles existed only briefly, from 1954 to 1961. The second batch of FALs was ordered in 7.62 NATO, and the existing guns were converted to that caliber as well.
Likely one of the most interesting military rifles ever built was the Venezualan FAL. Chambered in 7mm Liviano it offered 7x57 performance and the ergonomics of a modern battle rifle. The 7mm FAL rifles existed only briefly, from 1954 to 1961. The second batch of FALs was ordered in 7.62 NATO, and the existing guns were converted to that caliber as well.
M E Morrison
Member
LVSteve
Member
A perfectly good upper end intermediate cartridge that was rejected by that dimwit colonel in the ordnance department, so everybody got stuck with the 7.62 NATO . I dread to think how much that man cost the taxpayer in lives and money with the rifles resulting from that decision.
M E Morrison
Member
LVSteve
Member
Lives? Money I can see, but lives? How so?
The US army in Vietnam would have been spared the teething troubles of the M-16 that undoubtedly got GIs killed.
M E Morrison
Member
I agree, but what does that have to do with the FAL & it's intermediate 7mm - you lost me there.
OP
GatorFarmer
Member
Arms of the Venezuelan Coup « Forgotten Weapons Photos of the 7mm "intermediate" FALs and 7mm Mauser arms in general....I had not known the odd caliber FALs existed.
Are the older Mausers actually unsafe or suffering excess wear from CIP standard hunting loads? Wiki claims the CIP pressures are in line with the original military loads.
I found a reference online stating that the DWM Spanish Mausers like my example are uncommon in the United States, with ten being known. Thougb I am not sure how thorough any survey of Spanish Mausers ever was.
I ordered five boxes of Prvi 139gr JSP today. It is substantially less expensive than the American made offerings and, made to European standards, ought be higher velocity?
Near as I can tell my DWM Mauser may well have been amongst those sent off to fight the Spanish American War, was shortened to 1916 standard, may have fought in the Rif rebellion, and almost certainly saw action in the Spanish Civil War (alongside anything that would shoot). Then it was sold surplus in the United States prior to the GCA 68, probably for about $15 to $17, and had the stock modified and commercial sling swivels added by the U.S. importer/distributor. There after it was sold, quite possibly from an ad in the back of American Rifleman, to Wyoming. Ended up in a pawn shop where it sat for at least two years, and then I purchased it for around 10x its 1964 price...to be used to shoot 20 some year old South Korean hunting ammo.
Are the older Mausers actually unsafe or suffering excess wear from CIP standard hunting loads? Wiki claims the CIP pressures are in line with the original military loads.
I found a reference online stating that the DWM Spanish Mausers like my example are uncommon in the United States, with ten being known. Thougb I am not sure how thorough any survey of Spanish Mausers ever was.
I ordered five boxes of Prvi 139gr JSP today. It is substantially less expensive than the American made offerings and, made to European standards, ought be higher velocity?
Near as I can tell my DWM Mauser may well have been amongst those sent off to fight the Spanish American War, was shortened to 1916 standard, may have fought in the Rif rebellion, and almost certainly saw action in the Spanish Civil War (alongside anything that would shoot). Then it was sold surplus in the United States prior to the GCA 68, probably for about $15 to $17, and had the stock modified and commercial sling swivels added by the U.S. importer/distributor. There after it was sold, quite possibly from an ad in the back of American Rifleman, to Wyoming. Ended up in a pawn shop where it sat for at least two years, and then I purchased it for around 10x its 1964 price...to be used to shoot 20 some year old South Korean hunting ammo.
jtcarm
Member
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I never got that either. I have cases that have been partial neck-sized only since first firing over 30 years ago. I have no idea how many times fired.
One of the big benefits of reloading is customizing ammo to your gun.
The only reasons I know of to full-length size are, as you said, shooting in multiple guns or applications where reliable feeding trumps accuracy. Maybe USPSA 3-gun?
Ahab
Member
I love 7mm's
My first was a 7x57 Mexican Mauser made in Germany and rebarreled with a modern sporter profile Douglas barrel. Put it in a Bishop stock and it served well as a silhouette and deer rifle. Then came a Winchester Model 100 in .284, then a Ruger Deerslayer in 7-08. All had excellent accuracy and I won't mention the numerous 7mm Mags I used in 1000 yard matches
My first was a 7x57 Mexican Mauser made in Germany and rebarreled with a modern sporter profile Douglas barrel. Put it in a Bishop stock and it served well as a silhouette and deer rifle. Then came a Winchester Model 100 in .284, then a Ruger Deerslayer in 7-08. All had excellent accuracy and I won't mention the numerous 7mm Mags I used in 1000 yard matches
Texas Star
US Veteran
Gator-
The possible roundabout history of your rifle was interesting, but not germane to the ammo questtion. The basic question is when was it made, and is it a M- 93 or an 1898 action?
It is generally accepted that the older rifles are limited to about 40,000 PSI pressures, and I think US commercial ammo is loaded to that level, for liability reasons.
Prvi Partizan is Serbian and may be loaded to higher Euro pressures, for more modern rifles. Or, it may be loaded down at the request of the importer. I'd sure find out before shooting any.
Call US ammo companies and verify where they stand on using their cartrides in older rifles. Those are over 100 years old, and the metallurgy may have been affected by age as well as the original limitations.
My feeling is that the Rolling Block rifles may be unsafe with any modern ammo.
The possible roundabout history of your rifle was interesting, but not germane to the ammo questtion. The basic question is when was it made, and is it a M- 93 or an 1898 action?
It is generally accepted that the older rifles are limited to about 40,000 PSI pressures, and I think US commercial ammo is loaded to that level, for liability reasons.
Prvi Partizan is Serbian and may be loaded to higher Euro pressures, for more modern rifles. Or, it may be loaded down at the request of the importer. I'd sure find out before shooting any.
Call US ammo companies and verify where they stand on using their cartrides in older rifles. Those are over 100 years old, and the metallurgy may have been affected by age as well as the original limitations.
My feeling is that the Rolling Block rifles may be unsafe with any modern ammo.
DWalt
Member
Any of the Mauser-made bolt action rifles of any age or their FN and Swedish counterparts will handle any loads you feed them. I wouldn't be so sure about actions made in Spain.
M E Morrison
Member
And you'd be wrong in both cases. The M93 & 95 were NOT intended for high intensity cartridges such as a .308. Also, the Swedes are limited to equivalent 6.5 x 55 loads. "Any load you can feed them" will cause you trouble, sooner or later.
Alpo
Member
While the 1893 Swedish Mauser, in 6.5x55, might be limited in strength, the Husqvarna-made 98 Mausers, made from 1953 until they quit making guns, is as strong as anything out there.
M E Morrison
Member
I've never seen a M98 in 6.5, they have all been M96 action, even the ones called M38. They are still small ring actions, so care is required.
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