How old is this ammo? And what is this caliber??

[Dave DeLaurant]

@Dave DeLaurant, it was just a reply to a member quoting some gun writer that the Brits renamed the 7x57 Mauser to .275 Rigby because they didn't like the Germans very much, but this story is not true... That's it, nothing more.

Something I'd like to comment on here. Some of us have some "back and forth" opinions on matters here. This is fine, as long as we don't get personal.
I thank the moderators/administrators for letting us posters do this. I for one, will ease up on my comments. No friction on my part guys. Thanks.

Absolutely no worries from my corner!

THR has become my happy place, somewhere to meet and visit with friends. If we all said the same thing we wouldn't really be saying anything.

 

[Bazoo]

I am learning stuff in this thread. Thanks everyone for contributing.

 

[230RN]

The gun had two firing pins, one for center-fire and another, offset for rimfire- both mounted in the frame. There was a switch on the hammer to select between them.

Thanks for the correction ! Tried to PM you with thanks,

Terry, 230RN

 

[Monac]

Back when 7mm mauser was the only 7mm lol, herters used to sell ammo that was basically military ammo but the tips of the bullets filed off the round nose fmj. The jet is a cool little round.

Gun Digest used to publish "Treasury" editions that collected good articles from older regular editions. The first Treasury consisted entirely of articles written before I was born. One specifically mentioned trying to make soft nosed bullets this way. The author recommended against it because of the danger of blowing the lead core clean through the metal jacket, which would then be left behind in the bore. I guess many old military FMJ rounds had exposed lead at the bottom of the bullet, and clipping the tip off greatly reduced core retention. I have never known if this was a true thing or not, but it sounded cool.

 

[troy fairweather]

Gun Digest used to publish "Treasury" editions that collected good articles from older regular editions. The first Treasury consisted entirely of articles written before I was born. One specifically mentioned trying to make soft nosed bullets this way. The author recommended against it because of the danger of blowing the lead core clean through the metal jacket, which would then be left behind in the bore. I guess many old military FMJ rounds had exposed lead at the bottom of the bullet, and clipping the tip off greatly reduced core retention. I have never known if this was a true thing or not, but it sounded cool.

I can see a core slipping, there just basic fmj's like a long pistol bullet. The herters ammo I've seen had maybe 1/8" filed off, 7 mm was probably not common until Winchester offered it in there rifles can't remember if the rem 30 was offered in it or not, don't think there were to many surplus 7mm rifles in the us pre wwii since most country's were still using the rifles.

 

[tark]

I have 300 rounds of oddly packaged 7mm ammo, packed like 22 ammo in 100 round boxes. It appears to be loaded by FN for Venezuela (?) The ammo itself is very clean and bright looking. I pulled a couple apart and there was no signs of deterioration of the power inside. They are head stamped F N 36, which I assume is the year they were loaded.

Pretty sure they are obscenely corrosive. I've never tried to fire one and I probably won't. I assume the outer wrap on the two unopened boxes was done more recently. That looks like clear packing tape.

 

[Jim Watson]

One specifically mentioned trying to make soft nosed bullets this way. The author recommended against it because of the danger of blowing the lead core clean through the metal jacket, which would then be left behind in the bore. I guess many old military FMJ rounds had exposed lead at the bottom of the bullet, and clipping the tip off greatly reduced core retention. I have never known if this was a true thing or not, but it sounded cool.

A common warning back then. But it didn't stop Bertie Clay at the Dum Dum Arsenal in India, who ground through the nose jacket of 215 gr .303s for better effect on Afghans.

There were some surplus FMJs drilled with a narrow hollowpoint that seems reasonably safe... but they didn't expand much, either.

People tried reversing FMJs to form a wadcutter bullet with base lead exposed. NRA said those tended to blow up on impact.

It appears to be loaded by FN for Venezuela

A friend has a Venezuelan FN 49 in 7mm. It would not cycle with any reload we could come up with, no matter the powder or bullet. It was fine with commercial ammo and he stocked up on some FN "Cartuchos Ordinarios" of later date than yours with noncorrosive but still Berdan primers.

 

[lemaymiami]

This thread is a fine example of one of the real values the site provides - for anyone like me that's always hoping to learn more than they know...

I'll look forward to the next one, always. Yes, there are clearly times when threads descend into nothing but back and forth (and worse) but those are easily left alone once you read the first comment - and the inevitable response.... and as a result are quickly closed down, mostly..

By the way if you call up the box photo in post #56 then tap on it o enlarge it. You'll see the label is from Belgium where the rounds were made and labeled for Venezuela- very cool..

 

[unspellable]

Gun Digest used to publish "Treasury" editions that collected good articles from older regular editions. The first Treasury consisted entirely of articles written before I was born. One specifically mentioned trying to make soft nosed bullets this way. The author recommended against it because of the danger of blowing the lead core clean through the metal jacket, which would then be left behind in the bore. I guess many old military FMJ rounds had exposed lead at the bottom of the bullet, and clipping the tip off greatly reduced core retention. I have never known if this was a true thing or not, but it sounded cool.

I tried this with an 1898 Krag. The military load was a 220 grain round nose, Cut the tip, and when fired it did leave the jacket in the bore. I was anticipating the possibility so no danger of firing a second round.