Australian International Arms - AIA M10 No. 4 Mk. IV

[Peter Laidler]

Or maybe it is designed to have a longer 'throw' during the leverage part of the primary extraction phase. Just a thought.

But going back to 7.62 x54R, it is a very forgiving cartridge case. Even the steel cased ones. I was always under the impression that the base-rim diaameter, length and taper put it at the extremity of its ductility. But I saw a .303" Vickers firing it and the barrel had been chamber-reamed to accept the larger diameter base but forward of that it was plain old .303" form. The gun fired flawlessly and the cases came out totally bulged at the forward end ehwre they'd fire formed into the forward form of the .303" case.

A few had split necks where the ductility of the steel HAD been exceeded but 90% were bulged but........., well, apart from that, OK.

They were making a one way trip so the odd split necks and bulged cases were of no consequence. As I say, the gun fired 500 rounds in 10 - 20 round bursts and didn't miss a beat. I have to say that it shook me but did raise my regard and respect for the 7.62 x54R even further that it already was. A respect I gained while using the PKM.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

I guess the "machinists" would have needed to alter the "T" slot in the front of the breech block a bit,, not to forget the feed arm etc

However, given that the two cartridges have a very similar overall loaded length, at least that part of the feed mech would have been OK.

Given the extra "wallop" of the Russian round, was the the muzzle "booster" fairly redundant?

Some of these old guns are obviously versatile. The Russians fielded huge numbers of Maxims in their own calibre, and the basic Maxim was suitable for modification to a wide variety of cartridges. The Americans played with Vickers guns in .30-06 (and other calibres), before adopting the mechanically simpler Browning design. However, they went to WW1, (and Mexico), with a motley collection of guns of variable quality and suitability.

Captured WW1 "trophy" 7.92 x 57 German Maxims were "re-engineered" for .303 ammo in Oz during WW2 etc.

Where there's a will, there's a way....(and probably a few lawyers as well).

[Bruce_in_Oz]

And speaking of Vickers guns...............

http://www.oryansroughnecks.org/vickers.html

[ssj]

I like the 7.62x54R, I have a 1946 Mosin Nagant carbine and its quite "handy" way better than the rifle version. The sights are not as good as the Enfield's though, cant get on target as fast or sure as the Enfield Battle sight, cycles way slower. The cartridge is still under production as well, longest running?). To ad to me small collection I'd quite like a Draganov at some stage, not this year though.