m1916 spanish mausers ammo

1916 Spanish Mauser

You need to investigate further, These rifles were originally chambered in 7x57 (7mm Mauser) or converted to 7.62x51 NATO (or at least a Spanish version of the NATO round). The 7.62x51 NATO is available as the .308 Win. However.... these rifles are NOT considered safe to fire 308 commercial ammo in.

You will hear from many who do and have had no problems. My advise, and if you check further, you also may believe it is not a good practice.

If it's still in 7x57 any 7x57 is good to go. If it's in 7.62x51, use of commercial reduced-recoil ammo is well advised.

...Pics?

If the caliber is in question, you'll need to check and verify.

Here's MidwayUSA's 7x57 ammo listing.

http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Bro...3&categoryId=9338&categoryString=653***690***



NCsmitty

I have the same rifle but in 7.62x51. I use plastic training rounds through mine that provide respectable accuracy out to at least 25 yards (furthest I've tried so far) and they are quite "blasty" (10gr bullet at 4000 fps from what I've read) and inexpensive ($8/50).

However, if I were wanting to fire some 7.62x51 through it, I wouldn't be concerned and would do so. In fact, I probably will fire off some 7.62x51 DAG FMJ that I've stock up on.
It's the .308 Winchester that folks might want to reconsider firing through their 1916 Civil Guardia Spanish Mausers, especially the fodder advertised as being especially high velocity or "light magnum".

If my Spanish Mauser remained in the original 7x57 chambering, I wouldn't have the slightest concern firing that through it. It can be found, and though not cheaply (as in military surplus), it is in most cases affordable (as in commercial PPU).

It's a shame some treat the Spanish Mauser like a pariah from some leper colony simply due to the lack of the 3rd "safety" lug. Keep the rifle in good working order, inspect the rifle before every outing, keep the ammunition sensible and you're good to go. Keeping within these guidelines, the rifle will likely outlast you.

I have a nice Spanish Mauser 1893 with about 1/2 of the M1916 mods. It loves Prvi Partisan 139 gr. SP that I get cheap from Midwayusa.

It's a good solid rifle that will do it's part as long as I don't abuse it. Commercial ammo is fine and the 7x57 remains one of the finest hunting chamberings ever made.

It's a shame some treat the Spanish Mauser like a pariah from some leper colony simply due to the lack of the 3rd "safety" lug. Keep the rifle in good working order, inspect the rifle before every outing, keep the ammunition sensible and you're good to go. Keeping within these guidelines, the rifle will likely outlast you.

Click to expand...

Finally, a voice of reason. I'm almost finished building a Scout rifle for my wife based on this very rifle chambered in 308. I assure you I have already and will continue to (safely)fire .308 cartridges in it, both factory and handloaded for many, many years.

35W

As far as where to find 7 X 57 ammunition while I haven't seen it at my local Wal Mart the Army Navy store here usually has it. So do other gun shops. I just went to ammoengine.com to see what they would show up for it. It looks like sever retailers online have it in stock http://www.ammoengine.com/find/ammo/7x57mm_Mauser

It can be had commercially loaded for a little more than the Remington Core Lokt I use in my .30-06.

I have one of these old rifles. I don't shoot it much because the stock sights on it are zeroed for 300 meters so at closer ranges it hits about 8 1/2 inches high. One of these days I'll get around to either doing a scout scope set up or trying to find aperture sight set up to put on it.

The 1893 is a great rifle, one of my favorite milsurps (I like small ring Mausers)

As always, only fire the ammunition for which your rifle was chambered. 7x57 is fairly available and not terribly expensive. It's also a very good cartridge, comparable to the 7mm-08 Rem ballistically, and very efficient.

I mostly do business with these folks. They always have stuff I want at reasonable rates and shipping is only a few $$. Very nice service. I've had shipping "cost" issues with Midway on a few occasions. I also buy from Midway, but not as much.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/195?

If the rifle is 7x57 and you have concerns over pressures then only use domesticly produced 7x57, it is loaded more conservatively. European manufacturers tend to load 7x57 and 8x57 to its full potential.