feasability of a 7.65x53 CZ 550

[TybeeBryan]

My first gun I ever bought was an Argentine Mauser 1891 in 7.65x53 and I have been infatuated with that caliber ever since. I was thinking of building a modern firearm in that chambering. The idea came to me after doing some research into reloading the caliber by resizing 30.06 brass. My brain got to thinking (not always a good thing) that the bolt face of 30.06 and 7.65x53 must be almost identical. So, if I get a CZ550 and have it re barreled into for .311 then I might be able to sling a near obsolete piece of metal out of a very modern firearm... is this a workable idea?

Need advice. Thanks in advance.
-Bryan

 

[JDthesharpshooter]

a dangerous idea.. many things can go wrong here if not done right. get a good smith.

 

[NCsmitty]

The old 7.65x53 is a fine cartridge, and although a conversion is feasible, it would be kind of a waste of the CZ550 when the 308 Win is a very similar case, but higher performance and available.

Gunbroker.com has several decent M1891 Argentine Mausers on there. It would be much cheaper to get another Argentine, compared to altering a CZ550.



NCsmitty

 

[Cosmoline]

Go for it! It's entirely feasible. The best way would be to get a CZ 550 *receiver* then have a barrel custom made with the proper chambering and the diameter. I believe it's a .312" or .313" bullet. Sure it would be odd, but so what? You could have total control over factors such as twist rate and ogive tolerance. If I were doing it I'd have the rifle set up to take the very long 220 grain slugs used in the early incarnations of that cartridge, with a 1-in-9 or faster twist.

You could also work with an existing 550, but by the time you got through re-cutting the barrel and rechambering it you'd be out more money than a custom barrel would cost. Plus putting custom barrels on a CZ 550 is not difficult. Any smith should be able to do it.

The alternative would be to get an 1909 Argentine Mauser, which is already built on an 1898 platform. But that's a military rifle, and shouldn't be cut upon. And it's not really the same as doing it yourself.

 

[TybeeBryan]

Thanks!

I really appreciate the advice guys! It's officially on the list of "crazy things to build" now!

 

[Shadow 7D]

Actually, call some of the manufactures, and see if they can build the barrel for you, if it's re-sized 30.06, you should be able to use the 30.60 action with out any problems

 

[R.W.Dale]

A cheaper route might be to buy a drop in savage barrel. IIRC. McGowan makes a .311 blank so 7.65mauser wouldn't be an issue at all on a 30/06 action.

Heck if I was able to build a 7.63x39 savage you can certianlly do a 7.65x53mm

The reason the savage would be so much cheaper is you can fit the barrel yourself with a few basic tools, the ability to buy 100% drop in barrels also greatly reduces cost.