Mauser Questions

[hornady]

I picked up a 7 MM Mauser model 1895 over the weekend as a project gun for over the winter. When I get the stock re done and a new blue job on it, I want to shoot cast in it, I was thinking the Lyman 287346 135 Gr, GC bullets, I have had pretty good luck with the Lyman molds, not a big Lee fan. Has anyone used this bullet in the old Mausers and how did you like it. Midsouth only has the 135 or the 160 in 7MM.
Thanks

[waksupi]

I believe you would have better luck getting the heavier boolit to shoot well for you.

[Larry Gibson]

+ another for the heavier bullet, especially if the barrel is a milsurp one. The barrels run most often .286 - .289 on those. Lovern style bullets seem to work the best in those milsurp barrels.

Larry Gibson

[Char-Gar]

Another vote for heavier bullets.

As an aside, I would not expend all the work and/or money to upgrade that rifle, until you had it shooting well for you. Finding out the rifle is a turkey, is not good, AFTER you have it all gussied up. Don't ask me how I know this stuff.

[Bret4207]

Ditto on the longer boolit. I have a very much loved, ratty old '95, complete with moderately pitted barrel and non-existent finish. Longer boolits work more better. If you could find an RCBS 7mm-168FN you would have something nearly the length of the 175RN jacketed. Kinda hard to find them these days, but worth the hunt.

[hornady]

Thanks guys, when I get ready to load for it I will order the heavier bullet mold. I picked the gun up cheap, I re did a Spanish Mauser in 308 a couple years back and gave it to the Grandson. I had fun walking the gun shows and shops looking for parts and re working it. It gives me something to do over the winter. The bore looks good on this one. And I thought it would be a fun gun not really looking for a dead on target rifle. just like shooting the old war horses.

[Larry Gibson]

hornady

Keep your eye out in those shops and at the gun shows for the older Lyman Lovern 287405 or one of the original RCBS 28-168-FNs like I have. It shoots very well out of my M95 Chilian 7x57. I use a .287 H die in the Lyman 450 to seat/crimp the GCs and it just touches the sides of the as cast bullet. It is a perfect fit in the long throat of my M95s barrel. Lots of fun as you mention getting them to shoot, especially with cast.

Larry Gibson

[donald duck]

I only load 7MM Bullets in120 grain cast GC. In my 7 X 57 Ruger 1A my load is 14 grains of 5744 behind the 120 grain bullet. It is a fun, accurate load at 50 yards.

[725]

You are in luck, sir. There is a group buy forming right this very minute for a Loverin style 7mm boolit. I'm getting one for my 1895 Chilian. I'd suggest hopping onboard. Nice long bearing surface with many lube grooves. I'm expecting good results.

[frankenfab]

I have yet to shoot a lot of cast rifle boolits, yet I was immediately drawn to it after reading up on the subject here. It just makes sense to me to start out with as heavy a boolit as your rifling twist will support, since you velocity will be limited anyway.

Notwithstanding, many fine members here have had success with high veloity/lighter wieight cast boolits.

[frkelly74]

I have some of the 287221 heavy plain base ideal boolits cast up and also the 287466 I think, the silouet gas check type tapered. If you want a few I would like $.15 ea shipped. My Chileno likes the 287221( pictured ) pretty well but I have not tried the other one yet. Might trade for some 7mm gas checks if you have some.

[Whiterabbit]

I have the 287346 and cast for 7x57 MarkX. I like it, BUT, two things.

I haven't gotten it to work with H4350 which is my only high energy rifle powder. I'd really prefer not to have to buy a special powder just to shoot these at high velocity. That being said, it likes trailboss in my rifle. I got 1 hole groups at 50 yards with minimal load development and sizing in a factory lee push through sizer, and even better, zero leading. Thrilled.

The one bummer is that that load doesn't shoot well for me at 100 yards. I can hit a 4" steel when rested every single time, but that's about it. And because it's trail boss, the ding is really unsatisfying.

I wish I did have a heavier bullet to try. Maybe someone here can trade me 1 to 1 for a handful of heavier bullets. :)

[runfiveslittlegirl]

whiterabbit:
you are gonna do this anyways as you go along.
2400 and 4895 are your best two cross over from jaxketed to cast powders in rifle and larger bored [38 up] revolvers thats available everywhere.
and i doubt there is a better military rifle round does bout everything powder than 4895 as a bonus..

[Whiterabbit]

I'm not sure I've ever seen 4895 load data for revolvers. You are saying it can do rifle and revolver?