Mauser 71 in 11mm/43Mauser

[218bee]

Was wondering if anyone has experience with reloading for one of these old beasts. I have an interest in black powder and also older military arms and saw one of these with a "shootable" bore at least at a quick glance. I picked up Midway catalog when I got home and they had one source for brass, I don't remember if it was Bertram or not and I think it was around $25 for 20pcs. I could not find reloading dies though. I think Lyman makes a mould for it though.
Anyway I figure someone hear has one they are playing with and I would like opinions on it and how much trouble is involved in getting it shooting. Like I said the bore looked ok....but no idea of measurements and such.Looking for opinions on the rifle and also the cartridge...Thanks

[45 2.1]

Was wondering if anyone has experience with reloading for one of these old beasts. I have an interest in black powder and also older military arms and saw one of these with a "shootable" bore at least at a quick glance. I picked up Midway catalog when I got home and they had one source for brass, I don't remember if it was Bertram Bertram brass is unformed for this. Lee makes dies and they form and load the Bertram brass fine. or not and I think it was around $25 for 20pcs. I could not find reloading dies though. I think Lyman makes a mould for it though. Lymans mold is for the 43 Spanish which casts at about 0.440". For the 43 Mauser, you would need to paper patch it up to about 0.448". RCBS makes a mold for it also. Any of the deep lube groove 457 boolits could be sized down to 0.450" or less and work also.
Anyway I figure someone hear has one they are playing with and I would like opinions on it and how much trouble is involved in getting it shooting. Like I said the bore looked ok....but no idea of measurements and such.Looking for opinions on the rifle and also the cartridge...Fun rifles, the early single shot 71s will require different techniques. The 71/84s usually respond to the above methods.

[oldhickory]

I think that both Lyman and Rapine make rifle molds in .451 dia. for the Whitworth and Volunteer rifles which are about 450-500 grs. wt. and should work just fine.

[jonk]

I load for mine. Mine has an oversized bore- needs .452 or bigger. So I don't size my brass and either use .45 pistol bullets or sized down Lee 405 gr .459" trapdoor bullets (I size em in my .452 sizer).

Not as accurate as my 71/84 but still fun to shoot.

[218bee]

Are you guys using black powder?? JONK I am assuming your 71/84 shoots better because of a better barrel?? rather than different model? I am not too familiar but know the model change was for a repeater correct? Thanks for the info, I may try this beast. Hope to avoid paper patching but won't know unless I slug it.

[jhrosier]

When I had a .43 Mauser, I shot the Lee 450-294M boolit. My mould dropped them right around .445 with pure lead.

http://www.leeprecision.com/graphics/shoppingcart/impminie.jpg

Jack

[jonk]

I've used black, pyrodex, and smokeless all with varying results.... black with an over powder wad or a duplex black load (or both) works pretty well. Pyrodex... well it was on paper but not great. IMR Trail Boss did ok. 4895 did ok but left unburnt powder even with filler. Probably my best result to date was with 4198.

The 71/84 is very similar to the 71 but yes, is a repeater; it also has an ejector while the 71 does not. I think my better results are due to bore dimensions as they have similar condition bores. The 71/84 most properly could be said to be chambered in 10.95X60R; while the 71 is more like 11.15X60R. The current Lyman mold works quite well in my 71/84 but is a bit loose in the larger bored 71. Paper patching might help but it is not something I've gone into yet. 200 gr WC .45acp bullets are a bit light for the 71, probably why it hasn't done so well with them. On the other hand I've only done a few experiments thus far with the sized down .459 405 gr slugs; I think in the end they WILL shoot on par with the 71/84, it's just load development- I've had the 71/84 5 years and the 71 for about 2. Neither is one of my 'go to' guns as I mainly shoot smokeless small bore stuff, up to 30 cal., so I can't say as I've put more than a few hundred rounds through either. I just don't have the time.

But, now that you mention it, I know what I'm shooting this weekend.... :-)

[Buckshot]

..............I have a M71 and a sporterized M71/84 and will post some load info tomorrow. The moulds listed as ".43 Mauser" are for the repeater dropping about .446". The single shot is supposed to have been speced .005" larger at .451". I used the M1871 at the first NCBS in 2000 to hit a steel plate at 600 yards :-) . I was using the Lyman so called "Whitworth" boolit at 475 grs. I think the number is 457121.

................Buckshot

[218bee]

I think you guys talked me into trying this one :)

[twildman]

Buckshot: Any load info you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I just bought my uncle's IG 71, and it indeed slugs at .432/.452. I would suspect that the Lyman 450grain .452 Volunteer bullet would be ideal. My ace in the hole is a Lyman .445 Minie mould that I lucked into.
I am glad to have found this forum.
Terry

[twildman]

ONE MORE QUESTION: Buckshot: With that Whitworth bullet, what kind of alloy did you use? I hope that, if one uses bore-sized bullets, that one can use WW's or range scrap and not dip into one's soft-lead supply......
Thanks,
Terry