M1891 Argentine Mauser

[NRA]

You people are making me very angry .............................. That I do not have one

[jmoore]

Might have to do something about that... You and me both. Was lusting after a '91 rifle yesterday, but madly bought an Argentine Colt instead...Had the rifle still had the crest intact...

[stockerphil]

I'd like to hear more about this University Battalion stuff, if anyone has info. Bought this 1891 Argentine in 1963. Haven't done anything with it except buy some mil ammo in clips, boxes of Norma brass and reloading dies. BU164 matching serial numbers, no bayonet, still blued (as I received it then). Barrel has picture of a book and says Battalon Universita R10 de la Capital Federal. Just cleaned the bore last month, maybe I'll check it with a bore scope. Cartouche on right butt stock and at least 3 on the underside of the buttstock between trigger and toe.

Always thought I might shoot it so I'm sorry to hear it has a long throat.

Is the R10 designation for a different University than the R11? Or a different year???

[Cmessina]

If anyone is interested in the US you can get 7.65x53 ammo all day every day through Cabelas or Bass Pro shops its the PPU brand but it shoots fine and isnt hard ont he wallet its around $24 a box of 20 rounds.. I take mine too my local gun shop and have them reloaded after shooting as I am partial to a 7.65x53.5 instead

[Jim]

EDIT; just noticed this runs to multiple pages. I well may have my 1891 already posed in there. If so, Sorry!

I have a pretty nice M1891 rifle. Nothing special about it, just a basic K series Loews. But then, this whole series of rifles is special... a classic example of the 19th century gun maker's art back when it was still art. Beautiful woodwork, fine finish and deep bluing, these rival some of the better custom rifles of the day and put anything made today but the most expensive custom rifles.
When I got mine several years ago I thought I overpaid at $179. Now lets just say I'm good with it.
I have only shot it a few times since I don't reload and the ammo is expensive. I find it a great shooter and the long sight radius helps too. Personally, I don't have any problems with the V notch rear sight as I have probably used such more than any other sight. I too have lousy eyes and yes, my target scores are pitiful with any iron sights these days too. I just prefer shooting them and accept the best I can do as the best I can do and that's good enough for me. If I should go hunting again, I'll use a scope even though I hate the things. I figure I'd owe it to the animal.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is ammo in this chambering marked SF. You never want to use these in an 1891. (For that matter, you probably don't want to shoot it in anything but the 98 action will handle any problems arising from it. The 1891 might not.

Anyway, here's pics...
Attachment 40652 Attachment 40653 Attachment 40654 Attachment 40655 Attachment 40656 Attachment 40657 Attachment 40658

Concerning the shortest Mauser, (from 1st page) I don't know how short that carbine referred to above is but, the Yugoslav M1924ЧК (CK) or Chetnik carbine. This weapon is entirely different from the FN M1924 based Yugoslav rifle and carbines M1924.
This shorty had an oal of 37" and a bbl length of 15.94".
Photo courtesy of MMRotW
Attachment 40659

[bearhunter]

I have two model 1891 rifles.

One is a long rifle that is in very nice condition but has the crest very nicely ground off. Some I've seen are almost as bad as some of the defaced mums on Arisakas.

The other is a short rifle. Not really a carbine. It has been cut down from a long rifle and either sold to Peru or the Peruvians did the job themselves. There are pics of the rifles in the fourth edition Mauser military rifles of the world on page 278.

They have also had the rear sight changed to the Lange Visier style to conform with sights they were presently using on their other issue rifles.

The muzzles were also turned down to the same diameter as their other issue rifles so they could utilize their existing "Quill"type bayonets.

The book specifies that the rifles had the receiver rings restamped with the Peruvian crests. Mine isn't stamped like that.

As Patrick mentioned, these rifles have extremely long throats. I don't know what they were originally loaded with but I suspect they used 220 grain bullets or something in that range.

I have a small supply of 220 grain round nose FMJ bullets, that I picked up somewhere. They measure out at .312in and the short rifle, as well as the long rifle shoot them better than my aging eyes can see the targets at . The long rifle is much easier to aquire a clear target and front sight picture with than the short rifle. Three to four inch groups are not unusual with these bullets.

It's obvious from the crimp marks on the bullets that they were pulled and sold as surplus. They work very well in any Lee Enfield, chambered in 303Brit I've used them in. Same can be said for the 7.7 Arisaka.

We tend to forget, long heavy bullets for calibre were the norm back in the days these rifles were designed and built.

[jmoore]

You people are making me very angry .............................. That I do not have one

After having delayed getting the almost mint (sans crest) '91 rifle, another was found in slightly less pristine shape for ~US$150 less. That one went home with me yesterday and is getting a minor cleaning. Doesn't appear that it's had hardly any rounds through it! Certainly not since it was shipped out of Argentina. That situation may be rectified before long...

[jmoore]

Phooey! Looks like range time will be delayed. No dies, only 16 old Norma cases, and no 174gr Hornady RN bullets...And none to be had locally. The reloading supplier from which the gear is coming states that it will be 3-4 weeks before delivery. At least I remembered to order the .43 Spanish brass this time...

I was sure I had dies, and reasonably sure that the preferred bullets were about, but apparently not.

Have any of y'all worked up any 200gr lead bulleted loads for this caliber? ~2000fps seem doable and would about duplicate the original round, just minus the cupronickel jacket.

[jmoore]

Went and gave another look at the rifle not purchased. Not quite as nice overall as remembered, more expensive than remembered, and the bore isn't nearly as good, but still pretty good. Happy not to have rushed into that one! They did have two 1891 bayonets with crests intact. One with aluminum scales, the other with brass. Both "A" series, IIRC. US$189 and 249, don't remember which was which.

Additionally, they had a couple of Argentine 1909 "short swords": They look like bayonets without the attaching hardware and guards that wouldn't work on a rifle. Not my "thing", but different.