Siamese Mauser what can I chamber it for?

[Bigboar]

I am toying with the idea of customizing my Siamese Mauser.  I know you can do 45/70 but I was thinking about 405 Winchester, can it be done?  What other cartridges should I look at?


bigboar

[StrawHat]

Get hold of "Bolt Actions Rifles" by Frank deHaas.

There is a section on the Siamese rifle and the cartridges it can accept.

Mine is packed up in storage or I would copy it for you.

As I recall, the 405 is possible as is the 30 US.

Also the 303.

And any cartridge with the same head size as the 45-70.  ie 40-65, 33 WCF, 348 Winchester, 38-56, and others.  Not sure if the 45-90 or variants of that length (2.4") would fit.  It appears there is enough room in the magazine. 

As a side note, I have read of a 405 WCF on the Ruger M77.  Not seen it but I read about it.

[Mikey]

I think you can also barrel them in 444.  And isn't there a Marlin 40 bore cartridge necked from the 444??? Mikey.

[StrawHat]

Spoke with a pal of mine, he recalls seeing one chambered for the 7.62x54 Russian cartridge.

If you want to go with wildcats, heck the sky is the limit!

[iiranger]

#1). RCBS/Huntingtons.com has the dies to make cases for the 8x50 Siam Mauser and the 8x52 Siam cartridges from .45/70 brass. Did anyway. Not cheap, but...
#2). As indicated, the factory round resembled the .45/70 US. So you can go from there anywhere you wish. .38/56 WCF of .38/56 Imp is interesting. Not quite a .375 H&H but close. .40/65 from the old days that kicks a bit less. .45/70 is you don't mind the kick.
The .348 WCF was on the old .50/70 rim, slightly larger. Works fine. So you can work the .348 field. From the .30 Howell (?) up to the .50 Alaskan. Form .348 brass and go.
As suggested, the bolt/magazine will handle somewhat smaller rimmed cartridges. .303 Brit and .30/40 Krag are very, very alike. Ackley Improved the Krag from .228 up. Mr. Epps, Canada, did the same with the .303 case. [Steve at .303british.com has a link to the Epps gunshop, handled by the offspring, I think, even yet.] .25 Krag IMproved, full length equalled the .257 Roberts Improved exactly.

I had Mr. A rebored to .35/348 WCF Imp. Love it. Kicks. Equals .358 Norma Mag approx. Mil stock needs a pad bad. Nice platform. More like a 93 for parts than 98 often. Enjoy. luck.

[Rangr44]

Besides the .45-70, what works the best, with the least extra hassle is the .30-04 Krag & the wildcats based on it; and the .348 Win (which needs the boltface slightly relieved) and the wildcats based on it.

So:

.30-40, 6mm Krag, .25 Krag, .35 Krag, & .30-40 IMP.

.348 WIN .35/348 IMP, .40/348 & .450 Alaskan.     

They will fit the action (feed) better than either the .303 British or the 7.62mm Russian - although both can also be made to work.

[Mikey]

You also have the option of going with one fo the Epps calibers, wildcats based on the 303 British case. 

[lrs]

I wonder if a 9.3x74 would work?

[Mikey]

I think the 74mm length might be a problem for the Siamese Mauser.  Mauser made a number of action lengths and the one the standard 57mm cartridges was made for is not the longest. 

Whichever length action usually manages the 57mm length cartridges may not be trouble free and I believe one problem with rebarrelling 8mm Mausers to 06 was the cartridge length of the 06, which is 62-63mm long.  Mikey.

[torpedoman]

Info available at www.ammoguide.com one of the more useful sources of info and available subscription rate is less than one reloading book.

[EsoxLucius]

Any rimmed cartridge with up to a .610" rim diameter, and a cartridge overall length up to 2.925" depending on bullet diameter and configuration.  Cartridges at the maximum length with large diameter bullets will reduce the magazine capacity.  Many possibilities. 45-70, 45-90, 30-40 Krag and derivative wildcats, 348 Win and its derivative wildcats such as the 30/348 Improved, and 450 and 50 Alaskans.  The maximum overall length of the 405 Winchester is 3.25", making it an unlikely candidate.

Siamese Mauser Information

[Mikey]

BigBoar:  Have a gunsmith fit a standard 98 (rimless cartridge) bolt to the rifle and go with a veritable 'plethora' of rimless wildcats.  I once asked if anyone had come up with a .323 wildcat for the 308 (but don't think so..) or a 35 wildcat on the same case (sort of like the 358 Win).  Mikey.