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wadcutter
04-17-2017, 06:44 PM
After sitting neglected in my safe for a year or two, I finally dug out my Spanish 1916 Mauser in 7.65 Nato. I have to say it’s my least favorite Mauser based on the looks and some what crud caliber conversion. The rounds don’t want to stay seated in the magazine and the floor plate is a floppy mess.

After my first session indoors (the outdoor range is closed) I concluded I couldn’t see well enough to do any sort of accuracy testing. I decided to mount a scope on it. I wanted something cheap (under $20), that didn’t permanently alter the rifle. There don’t seem to be any dedicated scope mounts for the Spanish Mauser so I bought one for the 98k for $10 and adapted it. This included milling down the sides about 20 mils, putting an insert in the front screw mount so I could use the 1916 sight pin, using a longer screw in the front and removing the hand guard. It made the rifle even uglier but it works.

My first goal was to find a good plinking round. To me, this means 10 grains of Unique and bullets with no gas checks. I only have a 308 sizing die, which is probably too skinny, but I didn’t slug the bore yet so I’m not sure (yes, I’m as lazy as I am cheap).

I shot 16 different three shot groups. Average group sizes in inches at 25 yards:
311291 Orange Magic-3.8
311291 Powder Coat-1.4
311413 Lee Alox-2.2 (two groups averaged 1.6” and a flyer might have thrown off the third group)
311466 Orange Magic-3.7
311466 Powder Coat-2.1
168 Grain Sierra Match King JHP-0.5

Based on the results with the jacked bullets the rifle is capable of very good accuracy. Results with orange magic where pretty terrible. I might try powder coating the 311413 to see how that does. It’s the only one of the cast bullets that fed well and the accuracy is good enough for plinking. I also need to slug it and probably get some additional sizing dies



.193474

prsman23
04-17-2017, 07:22 PM
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?13425-Cast-Bullet-Loads-for-Military-Rifles-Article

Good link to read if you haven't.
I'm sure others will chime in, but that will get you a good refresher. I look at it once a year or so.
I like the small hunting load myself.
But I think a proper sizing die and slugging will get you in the right direction for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

funnyjim014
04-17-2017, 07:45 PM
Slug the bore. You might get lucky and and run them as cast with just a PC (I'm cheep and lazy also lol)

LAGS
04-17-2017, 09:28 PM
I thought you said it was a 7.65 Nato.
Shouldnt it be 7.62 Nato, which is .308 unless you have a oversized bore

wadcutter
04-17-2017, 09:43 PM
I thought you said it was a 7.65 Nato.
Shouldnt it be 7.62 Nato, which is .308 unless you have a oversized bore


Yes, I meant 7.62mm. I have 7.65x53mm Mauser on the brain because of another project.