Old Norma 7.65 ammo was loaded to 2920 feet per seconds. At the time 1980's they made no difference wether fired in either the 1891 or 1909 mausers. Since then they (Norma) have reduced the loading to more sane levels. About 2450 fps or so. Frank
Old Norma 7.65 ammo was loaded to 2920 feet per seconds. At the time 1980's they made no difference wether fired in either the 1891 or 1909 mausers. Since then they (Norma) have reduced the loading to more sane levels. About 2450 fps or so. Frank
Have done and bought or traded for several modified military rifles when I was in high school in the 60s, was very common in the North East woods to find a military surplus changed to something close, without much regard to the actual bore diameter. What I was told about the practice by Dick Riley of Hooksett, NH was that if they could buy ammo in a local general store cheap, and hit something at 50 yards the trappers were good to go. The tougher the gun the better. Those old $19.95 Jungle carbines were a favorite as were the chrome lined Japanese rifles, they were just tools of the trade, like a pair of snow shoes. Precision, sure, a $10-15 job.
It was common to come across a trapper or hunter with a rifle slung across his back, out in the woods, on a walk, could see anything, could never tell by the look.
“There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
Cervantes
“Never give up, never quit.”
Robert Rogers
Roger’s Rangers
There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
Will Rogers
Yes, that older original 7.65 load was pretty "hot". I chronographed and pressure tested it in my M91 test rifle with a 24" barrel. I quit after 5 shots as the pressure ran 66,900 psi with a 2943 fps velocity. The sky did not fall, the climate did not change, there still is no evidence of "Russian collusion" by Trump and the M91 didn't blow up......
Larry Gibson
“Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
― Nikola Tesla
Bought that action as a complete gun with a Fajen stock in 6.5 carcano with a cold blued rethreaded hex stub Brescia Arsenal barrel that was pretty pitted inside and out compared to the excellent condition mauser parts. Don't know what the story on it was other than perhaps they ran out of funds for a good barrel. The gun shop has a policy that you have to shoot the gun 5 times if it's used and agree that it works. Saying that I just wanted it for the action and stock didn't matter to the sales guy. So off to there range we went with 5 Norma cartridges, safety glasses and muffs. Shot one, puff of smoke in face and case broke in two when it hit the ground. Shot two puff of smoke in face and case held (broke it in two with slight thumb pressure). Shot three, puff of smoke in face and back of case broke off during extraction. The front half fell out, but I was able to convince the sales guy at that point that 3/3 case separations is an issue. They weren't going to sell it to me until I spoke to their gunsmith and explained that I would be pulling that barrel and replacing it before it was shot again. I tracked down the winged sleeve as at some point they did start making them for the 1891's and rebarreled it. No issues going forward with that rifle, but I'd be leery shooting one of the older non winged bolt sleeve models without good safety glasses.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |