7.65x53 Argentine

[lgm270]

Anybody have any practical experience with this caliber? 

I have a friend who want's to re-barrel an m-48 mauser and is considering the 7.65 Argentine  because the action is too short for 30-06 length rounds and he things the .308 is too short for it.   

The 7.65 Argentine bullets are .311" and there is a good selection of them.  Norma and priv make ammo and cases are easily formed from .30-06's.
 

[Huffmanite]

Well, the 7.65 Argentine is a decent cartridge ballistically.....however, not one I'd think about using.  Might have a problem finding a barrel with its bore size and then he just might have a problem finding a chamber reamer.   

He'd be better off making his rifle a 7X57 Mauser, which is a darn good cartridge.  7mm  barrels easy to find, as is its chamber reamer.  Its ammo and componets more commonly available than the 7.65.

For what its worth, its been my experience that the recoil of the 7x57 is much more pleasant than that of the 7.65x53 Argentine.

[Mikey]

To be perfectly honest, unless the 8mm barrel on that M48 has gone smoothbore he should leave it and shoot it.  IMO the 8mm is a better cartridge than either the 7.65 Argentine or the 7mm Mauser but you will always find the apples and oranges, fords and chevies arguement regarding calibers.  If your friend intends to hunt mostly in north America then either of the 3 rounds mentioned will suffice but unless the 8mm barrel is bad, why rebarrel.  Hey, if your buddy needs something to do he can come over to my place and clean my rifles...........

[chutesnreloads]

Dito what Miket said.Unless there's something wrong with the barrel on it,you're not gaining anything.

[lgm270]

Dito what Miket said.Unless there's something wrong with the barrel on it,you're not gaining anything.

His wife  is from Argentina and his father in law is a big fan of the 7.65 Argentine.

[Mikey]

Well, that sort of explains it all, in which case I would send the rifle to the Montana Rifleman and have them rebarrel to the 7.65 Argentine.  I would also have them give the barrel a long (or longer) throat so you can handload the bullets out as far as you need to to obtain smooth cycling.  While it is true the Argentine is a 53mm case and the 8 is a 57mm case, the bullets for the Argentine can certainly be loaded longer for better accuracy and cycling. I also believe you can also obtain a detachable magazine for the 98 Mausers (which is what the M48 is) from Brownells (I also believe) that will hold 308 length rounds and replaces the box magazine of the Mauser.

The Montana Rifleman (add a www and a .com to get to their website) also offers (I believe) a very wide range of gunsmithing services to make certain their products (barrels) fit, work and look good. 

You can always try and find a mil-spec bbl but by the time you are through with everything a new barrel - maybe a #4 contour - will make that M48 into anything you want.  I was thinking of sending them a #4 Mk1 SMLE for a new tight bbl in .311 diameter because I know the quality of their work.  HTH.

[lgm270]

A great response Mickey.   Many thanks. 

[Larry Gibson]

I am a fan of the '06, the '308W, the 7.65 Argentine and the 8x57.  If the gentleman prefers the 7.54 Argentine then the M48 would be an excellent action for it.  I would not have any qualms about hunting antelope, deer, pigs, black bear or elk with my 7,65 Argentine.  I load 150 and 180 gr bullets to equal .308W velocities at slightly lower psi (yes I messure the psi with an Oehler M43) given equal barrel lengths.  For example; in my M91 with 23 3/4" barrel I push the 150 gr Hornady at 2800 fps at 54,000 psi(M43) with sub mos accuracy.  In my M1908 (M98 action) with 24" barrel I push the Sierra and Remington 180s at 2520 fps at the same 54,000 psi(M43).

However, as mentioned, the 8x57 is also an excellent hunting cartridge and if the M48 barrel is still in ecellent condition it should also be and excellent rifle for antelope, deer, elk, pigs and even bear.

Larry Gibson

[Huffmanite]

L. Gibson, 

Just to be sure I read your post correctly,  you shoot an M91, this is the 1891 Argentine Mauser and your loads are at 54,000 PSI?   

[Larry Gibson]

L. Gibson, 

Just to be sure I read your post correctly,  you shoot an M91, this is the 1891 Argentine Mauser and your loads are at 54,000 PSI?   

Yes, I shoot that load out of several M91 Argentine Muasers and a M1909 and the psi(M43) is 54,000.

If you are questioning the psi then you need to understand the CIP PMAX is 3900 bar which converts to 56,565 spi.  Kindly do not confuse the older CUP measurement method and stated psi (now lists was "C.U.P") with modern psi measurements, if that is the question(?).

BTW; Norma and Hornady factory loads run (measured in the same M91 rifle as mentioned above) 53,000 - 55,000 psi(M43).  You don't really want to know what some of the Argentine SF milsurp runs!
 
Larry Gibson