Author Topic: 7.65mm Argentine (Read 1019 times)

Lawdog · « **on:** April 28, 2004, 09:31:21 AM »

I am curious, just how many here have had or still have a 1891 Belgium Mauser tucked away in their safe? I still have the one my Dad gave me at the age of 12. My first big game rifle. Broke my heart because I wanted Win. M94 .30-30 like all my friends were using. Actually it worked out for the better. Got me started into reloading and customizing rifles, a hobby that I havent stopped yet. Every time I pick that rifle up I say a little prayer to Dad for giving it to me. Lawdog

CzaRon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2004, 02:17:12 PM »

I have the Belgian M36 conversion that my father sent home fromWW2. My uncle bubbaized it beyond restoration for use as a deer rifle and my father shot one deer with it.Many years after he died I took it upon myself to finish the sporterizing that my father had in mind. A Fajen stock,the addition of a scope and a bent bolt handle later and I've got a pretty nice looking deer rifle that shoots good enough for a 100yd deer sized target, 2in. at that range offhand. Been trying to take a deer with it then pass it along to my nephews to take a deer with the "Granpa" rifle and maybe start a tradition in this family of deerhunters. Have yet to see a deer while carrying it. If I change guns during the day I always start to see the deer when the Mauser is back at camp.I also have a Arg. Model 1909 in original condition, crest intact, no importer's mark , and all numbers match. The 7.65 x 53 is one of Mauser's best cartridges at least in my humble opinion.

Kragman71 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 03, 2004, 04:07:36 PM »

I have had a model '91 for quite a while.It is vey fine inside and out,but has the crest polished off the breach. It shoots pretty good,but the trigger is LOUSEY. I've been meaning to fix it or have it fixed,but it never got done.
Frank

ajj · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2004, 09:54:20 AM »

I have a '91 of which I am very fond. Saw it about seven years ago on a table at a gun show. A guy with one table selling half a dozen rifles. It's sporterized, but a REALLY nice, tasteful job of simply shortning the barrel, finishing the stock, installing a nice set of open sights, Williams as I recall. The forend is finished out to the muzzle, all smoothed out, just lovely. Crest is ground off, unfortunately. "Wow, always wanted a Mannlicher." He wanted $125, came down to $115. "Man, I don't even know what cartridge it's chambered for." "That's OK. I do." I already had my average-condition '09.
Fellows, this little gun will shoot, and it's just a joy to carry. All the bluing, except for the crest which I touched up with Oxpho, is in fine condition. It likes various handloads and also the non-corrosive "SF" military ammo that was so cheap for so long. I've quit shooting that ammo since someone told me it was too hot for '91s. Anybody have an opinion on that?
Great little rifle and I agree that it is a fine cartridge. I'm glad you reminded me of it. I'm going to shoot it this weekend!

gewehrfreund · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2004, 02:22:37 AM »

Years ago I had a '91 by DWM. The quality of construction of this military rifle was second to none. Later I had a 1909 Argentine calvary carbine which I still dream about to this day; I was a fool to get rid of it, but who doesn't have past gun regrets?
The 7.65 Mauser is an excellent cartridge that, beacuse of it's caliber never really got the attention it deserved on this side of the pond. It is every bit the equal of the 308 IMO, just doesn't have the factory load/component selection that the 308 received.

Zcarp2 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2004, 11:13:06 AM »

I picked a chopped one up for my first center fire rifle. Still haven't hunted anything with it. The thing shoots at 4" groups with 150 through 180 grain bullets. Recently tried the SKS 123gr SP and the group size shrunk to 1.5". Best this rifle has ever done. It has become one of my favorite plinking rifles. 1891 modelo argie.

Buckeye · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2004, 12:38:50 PM »

Sold mine 2 weeks ago,It had been sporterized,before i was born ,it was a nice gun,perfect blueing,crisp action,old scope probley dated back to early fiftys.Sold it cheap $ 150.00.

Buckeye

kombi1976 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2004, 02:01:12 PM »

Here's a bit of trivia for 7.65 Argentinian fans. In the Boer War many of the Boers started out with the Martini Henry .450 rifles that the British trading firms were bringing into South Africa as ex-military stock. However they soon realised that there were definitely better rifles out there and most invested in the new 7x57 "Spanish Hornet"(which had been a nasty shock for the US forces in the Cuban-American war) and, surprise, surprise, the 7.65x53. In one incident 300 Boer settlers held off 1200 British troops armed with Lee Enfields and Lee Metfords.