Mauser Questions

[Michael J. Spangler]

Hi Guys

I'm working on getting a buddy's old mauser up and running.

I can't figure out what cartridge it shoots.
I don't have pics or the gun in hand to give much of description.

It's a long barreled rifle. Not a carbine. Straight bolt handle.
The bore slugs at .312" or so
It will chamber a 7X57
It won't chamber 8MM Mauser
It won't chamber .308
It won't chamber 30'06

I was guessing at 7.65X53 but without dies or factory ammo I can't confirm.

Were there other cartridges that might fit the bill?

I'm going to check my local lee dealer to see if he has some 7.65 dies to reform some brass with and see if they will fit.

thanks in advance guys!

[lefty o]

how about describing the rifle in detail, all markings on the rcvr. its alot easier to pin things down with info.

[Michael J. Spangler]

I don't have it with me so I don't have any details.

I'm guessing a 1909 Argentine though.


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[Tenbender]

I think I have some 7.65X53 brass. I will look and if you can use it I will give it to you. May be a day or two.

[Earlwb]

I would guess a Argentine Mauser too. But there were some other ones in that era that used different caliber cartridges too. Usually one would make a chamber casting too. But we need to know about what the markings are on the rifle.

[Michael J. Spangler]

Thanks guys. I'll try to get some pics if I see him soon. I might order some cerrosafe too.


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[725]

Can't tell without a chamber casting. Pound soft lead or pour a cerrosafe cast. Do some good measurements on the result and you'll have an accurate answer.

[Michael J. Spangler]

So after some research and fiddling around I'm going with 7.65x54.
One LGS had some and my buddy picked it up tonight. Fits like a glove.


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[leadman]

To avoid a potential issue can you pull the bullet on one of the cartridges as well as the extractor in the bolt and dump the powder? If so you can place the case in the chamber and see if the primer will go off when the trigger is pulled. If it does then you can be somewhat certain the headspace is close. If not then keep looking.
If it has a small extractor on the end of the bolt versus the large non rotating claw type extractor it is probably an 1891 Arg. Mauser.The 1909 Arg. Mauser had the claw extractor that saw first use in the 1893 Mauser.