Reloading for Spanish Mauser 1916

[mwjones]

Just wondering if anyone has any pet loads for their 7.62 spanish mauseer. I've been shooting 40 grains of IMR4895 with 110gr Frontier CMJ, and 40 grains of BLC-2 with a 150gr CMJ with confusing results. I think the sights are set for 200 yards, as i'm shoting OVER the target at 100, about 10 inches high.

For a fun plinking load within 50 yards, i've been using 10 grains of 700x with a lee 312 round ball, i think they're 45 grains? Quieter than a cap gun almost, and gently enough for my 5 year old son to shoot. I tried some reduced power loads with 4895. I tried 30 grains with the 110 bullet, and they're surprisingly accurate. Tried 30 grains of 4895 with the round ball, and it makes a huge mess. Doesn't burn all the powder and it ends up all over the place when ejecting an empty. I was thinking of trying some fibrefill to see if it helps, but figured, i have a half pouind of 700x to get rid of, so why bother

I was thinking of tryign these same loads in a new to me no3mkiii sporter i recently bought, but haven't recieved it yet!

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

I think you need to follow the thread
"Spanish m1916 .308"
From which I take the liberty of quoting an excellent caution!

These rifles were not chambered for .308 winchester. They are chambered for the 7.62 CETME cartridge. The cetme round has identical OUTSIDE dimentions to the .3o8 but that's where the similarity ends. The .308 is much more powerful and dangerous to shoot in mod. 1916 mausers as they were only proofed to around 45,000 psi. The .308 is 52,000 or better. The CETME round fired a 118 gr. bullet at aruound 2300 fps. if my memory serves me correctly. It is of Spanish origin. More info. on the 7.62 cetme cartridge can be found in Cartridges of The World. Don't shoot .308 ammo in it as it won't stand it long. If you reload you can make ammo using 110 gr. .308 dia. bullets and a reduced charge of the appropriate powder. Call Seirra Bullets @ i-800-223-8799 and they will help with .308 reduced load data. I've had two of these rifles in the past, 0ne i never shot and the other locked up so tight using .308 ammo that i had to bear the bolt open with a board. the Spanish are'nt famous for thier metallurgy.

[Parashooter]

That post about the Spanish M1916's being made for the 7.62 CETME repeats a myth that was debunked long ago. The folks who did the conversions knew what they were doing, did it professionally, and were quite clear in their literature as to what cartridge these rifles were intended to use - 7.62 NATO.



The M1916's were originally made for the 7x57 cartridge, which has a SAAMI working pressure of 46000 c.u.p. (51000 p.s.i. - piezo) and a minimum proof pressure of 61500 c.u.p. (68000 p.s.i. - piezo). SAAMI working pressure for the .308 Win. is 52000 c.u.p. (62000 p.s.i. - piezo), so while the M1916's may have less reserve strength than arms originally made for the .308, it's inaccurate to state that they were proofed to only 45000 psi and therefore inherently unsuitable for 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. pressures. Nevertheless, prudent handloaders preparing ammo for the M1916's ordinarily use data for the .300 Savage, a cartridge of nearly identical capacity but with working pressure of 46000 c.u.p..

Before we get into a kerfuffle about 7.62 NATO vs. .308 Win. pressures - here's the straight dope from a reliable source:

[C Trooper]

I started loading for my 1916 20yrs ago... I used the information set forth in several reloading manuals that I have... start low and work up!!! My 1916 likes the Hornandy 150gr flatbottom softpoints... I use Hogdons BL-C2 and Win primers.... my rifle is scoped so 225yrd shots at prarie dogs or deer are not a problem... I don't have the load data in front of me, but, this load is my go to load...

[mwjones]

I've been shooting a .312 round ball over 10 grains of 700x, with decent accuracy out to 50 yards. I have does a bit of shoting, but found it had to judge at a 100 yard range, as most of my shots were 1-2 feet above point of aim 9minimum loads with 4895 barely hitting the top of the target). I may try some loads wth Unique when i get around to buying a .311 moud