Persian Mauser, CZ Contract

[Medium_bore]

I have a Persian Mauser, M29 I guess, I got from Samco back in the day. Wonderful finish and buttery smooth action.
I want to shoot cast bullets through it until I need to replace the barrel. (It does have a long throat right now.) Then, try to field ourselves in vintage military rifle competition.
There seem to be few molds for 8x57.
I'm new to this (although not to riflery) and wonder what alloy, if any, might work best, with what loads, MV, and all the rest.
Your experiences with medium bore cast bullets? More specific experience with this cartridge or rifle?

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Why do you want to re-barrel? A long throat can be advantageous, allowing you to set heavier/longer bullets farther out in the case. The Persian Mausers are very nice rifles, now long gone from the surplus market. You're fortunate to have one.

It's kind of hard to give a general summarization of molds and loads. I've had very good luck with the Lee 180 gr. 8x57mm mold, gas checked, 20 gr. of IMR 4198, Win. Lg. rifle primers. I use straight wheel weights.

DG

[Larry Gibson]

It was common for military 7.9mm's (8x57s) to have long throats, they were chambered that way. If the rifling is good/strong and not pitted no need to rebarrel. Even if slightly pitted they usually can shoot cast bullets quit well. I suggest getting the NOE copy of the Lyman 323471, a 210 gr Lovern design. It will usually seat to the leade (rifling) With the GC being at or very close to the base of the cartridge neck. It is a proven performer for accuracy, especially at longer ranges.

[rockrat]

Arsenal moulds has a couple that might work also

[Char-Gar]

I bought one of those way back when the first hit our soil. The one I purchased had never been fired after it left the factory. It came with the test target.

Later I bought one of the barreled actions and built a sporter around it. Wonderful rifle and shoots cast great. I did trim the barrel to 24" on the sporter. Cut the barrel right at a contour node.

[Bigslug]

Persian Mauser - NICE! They paid for the good stuff!

The happy coincidence is that bullets in the 200-220 grain weight range at 1900-2100 fps are both within the capabilities of gas checked cast bullets, and they duplicate the performance of the early round nosed, jacketed, smokeless service rifle rounds of the late 1800's/early 1900's period. Obviously, most of our rifles have been re-sighted for the later, lighter, faster spitzer points, but for most of our purposes, we can dial in an additional 100-200 yards of elevation and call it good.

Per cartridge drawing spec, the 8x57 would want a cast bullet that keeps it's lube grooves within its .307" neck, and if you put the gas check at the base of the neck, you have 1.317" to work with for overall bullet length. If your groove diameter is .323", it is likely (I don't know this for sure) that your bore is probably going to be about .313".

To discover that, I'd suggest you do a pound-cast of your chamber and throat (instructions stickied here: https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?356251-Pound-Cast-instructions-(for-rifle-chamber)

Assuming those specs are correct and you have a long throat, have a look at the Accurate Molds 32-205B: http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=32-205B.

For alloys, generally harder is better. Air cooled wheelweight at 12-14 BHN is a bit on the soft side for that velocity range in my opinion, but it doesn't take a lot more - Lyman #2 at 15BHN is commonly used. Hardening up with either heat treat/water quench or shifting towards a linotype-like metal would also be sound.

[Dutchman]

My 98/29 loves heavy bullets both j-type and cast. Lyman 323471 .324" and NOE 326-220-FN-P5 .325". The Lyman are previous purchased but I have a 4 cavity of the NOE mold. It is my favorite 8mm mold.

I had ordered a 3 cavity from NOE. Swede Nelson calls me one morning and says they are out of the 3 cavity and can I live with a 4 cavity. I say only if you twist my arm.
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/bullet-moulds/326-8mm/326-220-fn-p5/326-220-fn-p5-4-cavity-gc-326471/

50 yds. Five into one with Lyman 323471 .324" using Swedish pull-down gallery powder similar to Unique. Seat the bullet to touch the rifling.
https://images34.fotki.com/v1633/photos/4/28344/9430776/001vi-vi.jpg (https://public.fotki.com/dutchman/crufflerstuff/bullet-casting/001-vi.html)

I have the matching number bayonet for this rifle. I am very fond of this rifle.

https://images20.fotki.com/v1632/photos/2/28344/6806565/DSCF1765k-vi.jpg (https://public.fotki.com/dutchman/crufflerstuff/ler/dscf1765k.html)
https://images14.fotki.com/v380/photos/2/28344/6806565/DSCF1764k-vi.jpg (https://public.fotki.com/dutchman/crufflerstuff/ler/dscf1764k.html)
No modification long eye relief scope mount.
https://images46.fotki.com/v551/photos/2/28344/6806565/DSCF1771k-vi.jpg (https://public.fotki.com/dutchman/crufflerstuff/ler/dscf1771k.html)

[nicholst55]

How do those long eye-relief setups work out? I've never tried one, but I have a 98/29 Persian Mauser that I want to shoot, and iron sights aren't going to cut it with my eyesight.

[hc18flyer]

I have a similar mount and 2.5 power Leupold intermediate eye relief 'scout scope on M48 Yugo Mauser. It works GREAT, I would hold out for 4x next time though.
hc18flyer

[Dutchman]

How do those long eye-relief setups work out? I've never tried one, but I have a 98/29 Persian Mauser that I want to shoot, and iron sights aren't going to cut it with my eyesight.

Its a stop-gap situation. Its much better than nothing but not as good as a receiver mounted scope. Considering what these Persian 98/29 are worth in un-molested condition you wouldn't want to drill & tap such a beautiful 98 Mauser receiver and have to deal with bolt forging. I couldn't shoot 5 shots into one hole without optical assist.

This one pictured is one of a bunch I made up 11-12 years ago and sold some in this forum. It was lower than some of the others because the handguard didn't sit too high up like some 98 military Mausers.

Dutch

[nicholst55]

Thanks for the info. I'll probably take the plunge and try one out.