Cartridges

[RCS]

I do not think the Mauser Express cartridges were ever as popular as the British Express cartridges were for hunting big game. Also more difficult to locate for the collector too.
The large Mauser square bridge bolt action rifles were imported to the USA late 1920's into the 30's but expensive. The surplus Model 1917 Enfields or Model 30 Remingtons were used for large caliber custom rifles.

Small bore cartridges outside of the USA:

The 222 rimmed from Australia appeared in the 1960's, perfect for the Martini Cadet actions.
although I once rebarreled a Martini Cadet to 218 Bee which worked out. The 222R will fire a 45gr bullet at 3450 fps.

5.6x61 Vom Hofe also rimmed, introduced in Germany 1937 and re-introduced in 1962 will fire a 77 gr bullet at 3700 fps.

244 H&H uses the 375 H&H necked down introduced in 1955 in custom bolt action rifles in Scotland. will fire a 100 gr bullet at 3500 fps

5,6x57 RWS first appeared around 1964 with a 50 gr bullet at 3900 fps. Also difficult to locate cartridges in the USA

[CINDERS]

Nice selection there RCS thanks for sharing, I'm enjoying this thread.

[CINDERS]

My 9.3mm x 62mm NORMA Re Circa 1905 - Present day.

The 9.3×62mm was designed to fit into the Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle, European hunters and settlers in Africa often chose military rifles for their reliability and low cost, but colonial governments in Africa fearful of rebellions often banned military-caliber rifles and ammunition, it however was never a military calibre.
The 9.3×62mm is considered ideal for hunting the larger and tougher African game species, such as lions, leopards, gemsboks, elands, and wildebeests.

Most hunters consider it a viable all-around cartridge comparable to .338 Winchester Magnum, 9.3×64mm Brenneke, and .375 H&H Magnum.
The 9.3×62mm has taken cleanly every dangerous game species in Africa.
Though it is of smaller bore than the legal minimum .375 calibre for dangerous game in most countries, many countries specifically make an exception for the 9.3×62mm.
The 9.3×62mm is considered adequate for European and North American game animals that may become dangerous, such as feral hogs and bears.

MkVII 303 for scale.

[CINDERS]

This is my 9.3 X 53 SWISS MOD.25 introduced shortly after in 1926.
Used in single shot rifles for target and hunting.

H/S ~ M+FA = Government Factory, Altdorf, Switzerland

303 MkVII for scale.

[Daan Kemp]

Any more information about the target shooting with that 9,3x53 cartridge?

[RCS]

Your 9,3x53mm Swiss is not at all common outside of Switzerland somewhat like the Remington 35 cal cartridge. I would guess modern bolt action or single shot rifle.


My photos show an early 7,5 Swiss military cartridge GP 90/03) and details on the early bullet
was assembled. The cartridge has a 211 gr lead bullet which is hollow based and heeled with a steel capped nose on the bullet than is paper patched. The cartridge on the left is later jacketed bullet

[CINDERS]

There was scant info on it I'll do some more research Daan and see what's there.

From Nathan Foster (Terminal Ballistics) he is a N.Z author and a great guy who we shot with when in N.Z.

In 1905 when Otto Bock released the 9.3x62 chambered in the inexpensive Mauser 98 rifle, a practical economical sporting cartridge was made available to colonists. As the 9.3x62 gained popularity, ammunition became available throughout the African continent. The 9.3x62 fired a wide but long for caliber 286 grain soft point projectile at a respectably high velocity of 2350fps. The 9.3x62 became an all round work horse for the common man, a meat hunting cartridge which could tackle both small and large animals.

1905 also saw the introduction of the 9.3x74 Rimmed cartridge. This German cartridge gave identical velocities to the 9.3x62 but was designed for more affluent sporting hunters, chambered in high class single or double-barreled break open rifles and drillings. The 9.3x74 gained a small following, mostly in Europe.
For the African colonist, the 9.3x62 remained a standard hunting cartridge for several decades. Two major factors influenced this cartridges decline in popularity, the first involved Allied bombing raids which destroyed German munitions factories during the Second World War causing ammunition supply shortages for a long time thereafter. Along with this, the 9.3x62 had to compete with new cartridge designs. For a time, it seemed that the 9.3x62 would pass into obscurity but the demand for rifles and ammunition continued, based on both practical and nostalgic appeal.


In Europe the 9.3x62 maintained a following which remains steady to this day. European rifles of every major brand have at one time or another been chambered for the 9.3x62 while ammunition is produced by Norma, Sako, RWS and Prvi.
More recently there has been renewed interest in the 9.3x62. Whether for nostalgic or practical purposes, the 9.3x62 has gained new popularity worldwide. For many, the inexpensive Tikka rifle chambered in 9.3x62 has as an example, allowed hunters to experience medium bore performance.

[CINDERS]

My 7x61mm Sharpe & Hart Magnum belted cartridge (7mm S&H Super).
This was developed by Philip B. Sharpe and Richard (Dick) Hart in the 1950s and based on the .300 H&H Magnum case. In 1953 Sharpe travelled to Scandinavia and the outcome of this trip was that Schultz & Larsen of Denmark chambered the cartridge in their bolt-action rifles. One example is the model 54J, which featured rear locking lugs and a fully enclosed bolt face. while Norma started to manufacture commercial ammunition according to the designers specifications. But today the cartridge requires hand-loading. However hand-loaders have a variety of bullets to choose from, and Hornady lists load data for the cartridge. Brass is still available, or can be fire-formed from 7mm Remington Magnum cases.

While the 7x61 S&H Magnum is a good cartridge, it was overshadowed in the United States by the pre-existing 7 mm Weatherby Magnum.
Never a popular cartridge in the U.S., when the 7 mm Remington Magnum cartridge was introduced it spelled the demise of the 7x61 S&H.

303 SMK reload for scale.

[RCS]

While the 7x61 S&H was an excellent cartridge but only available in an expensive imported rifle there were so many wildcats around with inexpensive actions also available. All kinds of 7mm/30-06 and 7mm/308 including the 285 wildcat variations. Also a 240 Page made famous by Field & Stream gun editor Warren Page.

[RCS]

I thought that this should be added to the 7mm cartridge group of wildcats, that became adopted, only this time it was military.

In the early 7,62mm NATO cartridge case designs and before the 7,62x51mm was adopted,
the Belgium FN Factory took the early American 7,62x49 case and necked it down to 7mm. FN used the Mauser S12 bullet at 140 grs with a 2750 fps velocity.

Venezuela purchased 5000 new FN FAL rifles chambered for this 7x49mm cartridge called the 7x49 Liviano in 1954 and used these FAL rifles until 1961.

Also of interest, the 7mm-08 Remington introduced in 1980 which is the 308 Win necked down to 7mm loaded with a 140 gr bullet at 2860 fps

photo shows 7x49mm Liviano cartridge