7.65x53 Mauser for 1891 Mauser Argentino

[Rex in OTZ]

I would like to reload a 1900dated 1891 Argentine mauser
I dont have any reloading dies or bullets
I do have (imr3031) and large rifle primers (federal) and a RCBS press and an RCBS reloader scale and 50 new brass cases (PriviPartizan)bought through Buffalo shooters supply.
I can get fresh powder as the stuff I have had been used and the lid is tight and seems drybut had been stored out on a shop shelf for 10yrs exposed to wide temprature variations -50 to + 100. (I live on the arctic coast and summers are mild topping out for short periods in the 80's)
The primers same age have been stored in the house in the cabinet above my refridgerator and should be good I think.
Any suggestions on starting up with a reloading manual, bullets and dies recomendation?
I do reload for the 7.62x54R Mosin useing my little Lee mallet loader.
I have never used a Press reloader so it would be a tad bit different than the mallet loader (too bad they dont make them for the 7.65x53mauser)
I want to use this rifle for hunting and am thinking of getting .311 hunting softpoints any specific types I should get I want to eventually have my son use it on Caribou or a Moose, The Rifle was a gift from a old relative to him and nothing else came with it.
I thought about just buying loaded ammo but I think reloading would be more flexable alternative, yes it will cost money way I figure pay allot now or a whole bunch more latter either way I'll pay.
The town Im in ammo prices are $30-$50 a box for ammo like 180gr corlockt  Remington 30-06 (non premium Green & Yellow box) is $39 a box and that's the cheapist I could find the Hornada light magnum 30-06 was over $55 a box
So getting any odd thing like loaded metric ammo of the correct type would not be much more cost effective.

[wncchester]

I have a nicely sporterized '91.  The original metal work was as nicely done as any I've ever seen.  The 7.65 cartridge is a near duplicate of the .308 Win., meaning it's a great medium game round.

Your stored powder and primers should be fine.  I don't believe cold does any harm to them, cold only slows the chemical decompositon of anything organic.  Heat on the other hand accelerates decomposition but the powder/primer chemicals can easily tolerate any high temperatures a human can.

If you can find commercial ammo/cases to reload, fine.  If not, you can reform .30-06 (that's what I do) quite easily.  All you need do is run the fired '06 stuff through a 7.65 FL die and then trim the excess neck length.  After firing, you will see a slight bulge just forward of the case head because the Arg. chamber is a tad larger in diameter but it means nothing to safety.  Keep your loads/pressures down to book levels, because of the lack of a safety lug on the bolt, and reformed cases will do great.

[Larry Gibson]

The 7.65 Argentine is a very nice cartridge.  I shoot it in 4 rifles, 2 M91s 3 M91s and a M1909.  Hornady, Norma and PRVI factory ammo run 52,600 - 54,900 psi(M43) which is a bit less thatn Surplus 7.65 ammo.  That is about right for max loads in the M91.  3031 is a decent powder to use for Hornady 150 gr .312 SPs.  You should be able to duplicate (given a 24+" barrel) Hornady's load at 2760 fps by working up to 44 gr of 3031.  For heavier bullets of 180 gr (what I recommend for caribou and moose (because you'll probably be in bear country also) I would recommend a bit slower burning powder like AA4350.  With it and either the Remington or Sierra 180 gr .311 SPs you should work up to 2500 fps.  Both bullets are very effective at that velocity.


Lee did make a Lee Loader in 7.65 Belgian.  I have one and it works fine for the Argenting as long as .311/.312 bullets are used.  In a pinch you can neck size the 7.65 cases in your 7.62x54R Lee Loader.  Just gently tap the case in and you will "feel" when the complete neck is sized and the shoulder is bumping the die.  The front of the extractor groove of the 7.65 case will be about even with the face of the 7.62x54R die.  Seat the bullets by holding the whole Lee loader in one hand while tapping the bullet in.  A "field expediant" for sure but it will work.

However, if the bore of the m91 is still decent (Milsurp ammo was corrosive) it will probably be a decent shooter and worth spending $s on a set of dies.  The Lee's work fine.

Larry Gibson

[Rex in OTZ]

Today I was surprised to receive some bullets I orderd fron Natchez Shooters Supply I did some searching round and ended up ordering .310dia Remington Core-lockt 180gr, 2 bag's worth last Tuesday (6-02-09) they arrived today via U.S. Postoffice (6-04-09) fron Chattanooga TN to Kotzebue AK in that time frame blows my mind, Ive orderd stuff from Anchorage AK and it arrived over a week later via Priority Mail!!

Im happy they arrived in good shape (none missing)

I plan on useing these to feed the Mauser 1891 Argentine and a Mosin P-27

I also orderd a set of Full Lingth reloading Dies for the 7.65x53 from Lee the same day I orderd the bullets, I hope the dies arrive in as good a shape as the bullets had.

[Rex in OTZ]

I used to have a couple different model mosins I'd reloaded for useing a LEE mallet loader for (once had 5 different Mosins) I traded off all but one I'd built up from a tomato stake status to scoped shooter. I had saved brass from two different rifles a T53 and a 91 (gone) and have this one a P-27.
I am wondering should I get FL resizeing dies to resize Norma brass that was saved from the other Mosins or should just buy new brass and continuse use my Lee mallet loader? Invest in new brass or a new set of Dies?
Im tempted just to buy more brass and shelve the outsized Fired Norma stuff.
The price in brass or Dies would be about the same.