Two M1916 7mm Spanish Mausers

[drweiler]

I've had these two for years, just got them out as I now have an interest in Mausers. Did some research, please correct me where wrong. The older one is original, receiver bridge stamped 'Fabricadearmas/oviedo/1928/crest. I thought the newer one had been messed with until I read that Oviedo did the rebuild, scrubbing all serial numbers and receiver bridge stamp, then restamping with only two matching serial numbers on receiver and bolt. They do indeed match, the rifle is like new, fired little if at all. It was not converted to .308. I have a nice supply of FN 7mm, I believe this one is going to the range. Neither rifle has an import stamp or pre 68 country of origin stamp. How did they evade that? Thank you for any comments. Cheers, Don

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[GUTS]

Knowing nothing about where they were purchased and exactly when, I can't guess as to why they aren't stamped, but may I say, nice pair.

[Mohawk]

Very Nice Rifles. I traded the one I used to Hunt Elk with to My brother in Law. It was very accurate and would stop an Elk in its tracks. Have a blast shooting them. Privi Partizan makes some great ammo for these. I found the Remington to be very anemic.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I found the Remington to be very anemic.

A tendon has gone in my right shoulder, and I shall be "offline" again shortly, for it to be fixed. I like anaemic loads.

Patrick

[jmoore]

A tendon has gone in my right shoulder, and I shall be "offline" again shortly, for it to be fixed. I like anaemic loads.

Patrick

Oofah. A friend had surgery for a messed up shoulder that he tore up some years previous (moving a Curtiss P-40 fuselage). Recovery took almost a year, but he's fully recovered and doing all sorts of violent gyrations with Japanese blades. ( i can't remember what one calls swordplay w/ katanas.)

Is your tendon drama related to your recent trip?

(I know we're off topic, but Patrick prefers no PM's, so...)

[Patrick Chadwick]

Is your tendon drama related to your recent trip?

Nope, it is in fact almost on topic, being, if not caused, most certainly aggravated by firing big bangers. I am now on a strict diet of 22s and left-handed pistols and revolvers.

Moving a little further back on topic, for Don's benefit, the 7x57 Mauser cartridge is a very "shoulder-friendly" cartridge to use, nearly as mild as the Swede, especially when fired in a nice fat Brazil Mauser. And the 7x57 is a far better target-shooting cartridge than its big brother, the 8x57, which is far too hard for my frame.

Patrick

[drweiler]

Fired it a couple of times remotely from a sled to check headspace. Cartridges cycled smoothly with no resist, however, after firing, lifting the bolt to extract took far too much force, and once ejected the cases could not be rechambered without far too much force, resistance at the last 1/4 inch or so. Shot FN 46 ball. The cases were not visibly stretched or marred. Can this be anything other than a headspace problem? Any reasonable remedy or do I have a handsome wallhanger? I do not have a 7mm Mauser no go headspace gauge yet. Thanks for any thoughts, Don

[jmoore]

Late 7x57 FN ammo was likely loaded much hotter than the rounds designed for these rifles! Venezuelan contract probably for large ring Mausers and FN49s. Plenty hot! ~2900fps w/ a 139gr bullet, IIRC. SWAG 50,000psi or more chamber pressure- rather more than the original loads.

[drweiler]

Interesting. It is in fact FN 1946 ammo out of 100 round boxes marked 'Fuerzas Armadas de Venezuela Mauser 7 m/m S'. So you reckon the hard extraction could be due to these hotter loads, not necessarily a headspace issue? Perhaps I should try another load? Thanks for the response, all will wait till I return to Arizona next winter, all who can flee from the summer heat here! Cheers, Don

[jmoore]

Yah, that stuff runs hotter than most any commercial load available that I've found. (Haven't chrono'd the Prvi Partisan, though.)





It really does not sound like a headspace problem. Case head separations or sometime backed out primes are more general signs of excessive headspace.

Lube the cocking cams and extraction cam on the bolt- can't hurt!