'91 Argentine Mauser

[filmokentucky]

Is anyone shooting one of these? Any thoughts on handloads? Thanks.
                                                                           Dan

[coyotejoe]

Not at present but I've owned a couple in the distant past. Handloading seemed a necessity at the time because the only ammo available was Norma brand which has always been rather expensive. I think the '91 is a fine rifle. The design was critisized from the military perspective because of the "push feed" which permitted double feeding but then most American sporting rifles are push feeds as well. Some dislike the protruding magazine but I think it makes for slim and smooth stock lines without the pot belly look of later Mausers. The 7.65x53mm cartridge is a twin to the .308 Winchester and what more could one need?

[filmokentucky]

Thnks Joe. I've got a line on a really fine one and with ammunition more available now and since I reload anyway I think I'll go for it!

[simonkenton]

They are a beautiful example of 19th century German craftsmanship.

[Rex in OTZ]

I was given a old sporter, with all matching #'s ther is a date on it from the sporter job (1974) the serial number dates it to 1900 the stock is useable but seen better day's.
Im in the process of rounding up relaading supplies for it , dies, bullets & Brass, have the powder & primers
I havent taken the time to put together any rounds yet.

[jsh]

Fine rifles. I made all of my cases from 06 milsurp brass. A pain, but I ended up a custom fit for shooting cast bullets. I also used 308 cast data.
Jeff

[Larry Gibson]

I reload quite extensively for this very fine round and have been for 30+ years.  I have 4 M91s in 7.65; 3 that were cut down into sporters with 24" barrels and an original long rifle.  One of the sporters has a Lyman receiver sight and the other is in "scout" configuration with a 3X Burris.  I also have a very fine M1909 in in original condition still chambered for this cartridge (many M1909s were reamed out to take the '06 case creating a 31-06).

Using jacketed bullets I load .310/.311/.312 bullets from 123 to 180 gr.  I mostly use cases formed from R-P 8mm buth us LC62 '06 cases reformed for the M91 rifle and M1909.  Powder is most often 4895 of any flavor.  Accuracy is excellent. Since I have the ability to pressure test I keep the pressure of my loads comparable to Hornady's very fine factory ammo using their 150 gr .312 SP.  In the M91 "Scout" it runs 2761 fps with 53,200 psi(M43).  That is very similar to 7.62 NATO M80 out of an M14.  I've one lot of milsurp 4895 that at the same pressure runs 2860 fps.  Varget is another very good powder with either the Remington 180 .311 CL or the Sierra .311 GK.  Either of these bullets can be pushed to 2625 fps with the same pressure.  With quality 123/125 .310/.311 gr bullets loaded to 3100 fps makes for a deadly varmint round.  This cartridge has essentially the same ballistics as the 7.62/.308W cartridge except it uses a .31 caliber bullet.

With cast bullets the 7.65 Argentine is also excellent.  I like the Lee TL314-90-SWC (Hornady 90 gr swaged .32 bullet is commercial equivelent) over 3.2 gr of Bullseye for 900 fps making it an excellent plinking and small game load.  The Lee C312-185-RN is an excellent bullet but I favor the Lyman 314299.  Loaded over 4895 with a dacron filler to 1950 fps either of these bullets is quite accurate.  For hunting I've a 314-041 (group buy mould on the Cast Boolit forum) that throws a perfectly dimensioned FP bullet 190 gr bullet for this cartridge (other .31s also).  Loaded to 1950-2000 fps with this bullet the 7.65 Argie is basically then a 303 Savage which is a fine deer/bear/elk close range cartridge.

Larry Gibson