Observations on a South American Cat

[Drydock]

One of the more expensive bad habits I've developed recently, is cruising GunBroker for Misspelled items.  You'd be amazed.  

Well, maybe not . . .

In any case, based on a few things I'd seen, I decided to search "Mouser".  Sure enough, up popped an "Argentino Mouser" 8mm(!), the pictures looked good, and the shop was in a suburb of Kansas City, so I plopped the minimum bid, once the "Mouser" owner assured me I could come and get it and pay for it there, no shipping or transfer fee.  (Of course I tried to explain that an 1891 Mouser marked with the "Loewe" stamp was an antique and did not need an FFL xfer  (Loewe stamp discontinued Jan 1 1897) but I've learned not to beat my head against that wall too long. The serial number gave it an 1894 manufacture date as well.

Sure enough, for some reason I was the only bidder.  So my son and I had a boys day out to KC this last monday, hitting the Mouser shop, Cabelas KC, and Klienschmidts Western.  And Arthur Bryants for Lunch.

I am tickled with this thing.  Seeing it in person, I'd say it was unissued.  Ground off crest like most all Argentine long rifles, but factory pristine everywhere else.  No import stamps either.  Getting it home and apart, still lots of cosmoline in various nooks and crannies.  I'd sure like to know how it got into this country. All the numbers match, even the brass tipped cleaning rod.

The bore had a little copper fouling it it, but mostly greasy fuzz in the first 3" or so from the Muzzle.  I'd guess it was never shot with corrosive ammunition.  Someone shot it with maybe a box of commercial ammo, then cleaned and oiled it, and then it sat muzzle up in a closet with the winter coats for the next 40 years or so, thus the muzzle fuzz and the speckling on the butt plate.

It's lighter and more slender than my 1895 Chilean.  2 reasons:  the barrel diameter is the same as the 7mm Chilean barrel, (The Chilean bayonet fits just fine) but with a bigger hole down the middle (7.65).  The single column magazine allows a 1/4" narrower cross section around the action as well.  Thus its more lively in the hands than the later gun, which allready was a fine handling rifle itself.

Many describe the double column 1893 magazine as a significant advance, but I don't see it myself.  What I see is a missed opportunity.  What Mauser should have done is simply widened the 1891 design to hold 10 rounds, ala the SMLE.  What a combat rifle that would have been!

As it is, the push feed, 2 position safety and simple spring extractor are just fine, with a detachable mag you don't need the claw or extra safety to unload the rifle.  

An unissued rifle, like new and cheap!  Thank you Public School System!  Good kitty!

[pony express]

Those things sure are nice, aren't they? I got a twin to it in my safe, had it for maybe 20 years. Maybe that single stack magazine so many don't like saved a lot of them from Bubba's attention?

[Drydock]

You've got the right of it, I'm sure!

[Lord Eoin MacKenzie]

Waas it 8mm or 7.63x53?, like my last 1891?

[Drydock]

Oh, its a 7.65x53.  The Mouser shop owner just assumed Mousers are 8mm.  It says "Berlin" on it, ya know, so it must be in that German Caliber.

[pony express]

So, will this cat be prowling around Windy Ridge this weekend?

[Drydock]

Got no brass yet.  Probably not have loads for it until after the Grand Muster.  This months furren weapon evaluation will be my sons Spanish Mauser Carbine.  Pierre making an appearance?

[Niederlander]

You've got to love load development!  I'm going to be trying out a new Lee six cavity mold for the .303 myself.  It's supposed to throw bullets big enough for the .303.  You may want to look into it for that 7.65.  They have them in gas check or plain base.  The review I found online said the bullets come out of the mold at .313, so I'm hopeful.  Six at a time beats two any day, especially for what we do with them!

[pony express]

I'm thinking Pierre won't be there, probably going to have a hodge podge of "furrin weapons" to test, maybe even my Argentine.

Ned, hope you have good luck with the new Lee mold and .303. I've tried the Lee 185 gr, and the 155"soup can", and with 3 rifles in .303, both bullets tumble in all three. The 185 gr one was gas checked and sized to .312, soup can was tumble lubed and used as cast. Haven't tried them with GC yet, seems my .312 sizing die has been hiding from me. Guess I should get a .314 anyway. Most of my reading on Lee Enfields and cast says pay no attention to bore diameter, but use the biggest bullet that will freely chamber.

[Drydock]

Ned, I've got this bullet mold in the 2 cavity, everything I've tried it in so far likes it (2 Krags, 1895 Winchester, Enfield No 5, M-N 91/30, M-N M-38, my sons 7.62x51 Spanish Mauser and Ishapore Enfield)

BUT!  you have to gas check it.  I run it thru a Lee .311 sizer with aluminum checks for everything.  If I leave the checks off, they all keyhole, even unsized.  With the checks they all do nice little groups.  It drops something over .312.  I'll certainly try it in the Argentine when I get the brass.

Hey Pony, if you let me shoot a few rounds, I'll bring my Argentine down.

Ned, where do they have the plain base molds?  I'd like to try that.  Maybe its the rebated GC base that makes them keyhole out of these old bores.

[Niederlander]

I've found, for me personally, that MOST rifle bullets work way better with gas checks.  If this thing throws bullets at least .312 it should work just fine.  Go on e-bay and type in Lee 311041.  The plain base one is a six cavity mold.  It's a little pricey, but I'm looking forward to six bullet every time around as opposed to two.  I figure if I size them to .309 I can use them in my .30's as well.

[Drydock]

Those are a little different.  My Sons 93 won't feed that nose profile.  This one they all like:

http://leeprecision.com/mold-6-cav-c312-155-2r.html

[Niederlander]

I don't know if they'll feed or not.  Only one way to find out for sure!  (I do wish they'd have done a round nose version.)

[pony express]

Playing with some different options. Tried the Lee 6.5 "cruise missile" in the Carcano, 3 shots went in about an inch, shot standing. Only problem-I was SURE I had 2 clips for it-but can only find one now. Tried them in the Type 38 Arisaka, they didn't want to feed from the left side of the magazine. Swede worked well, but one of three landed sideways-I think maybe bullet was bent in sizing. Those long skinny bullets can bend when you size them, if you're not real careful.

[Drydock]

Hey Pony, Donnie took his Spanish back with him to mess with, so I'm bringing my Carcano tomorrow to evaluate.  I've got that same mold, the 91/41 seems to really like it.  I've got a few clips if you'ld like to borrow some.

I took the Win 1895 Musket out today, Fooling around with my son out on the farm.  I did 5 rounds thru it at 100 yards off the bench, Lee 312-155 gas checked over Trail Boss.  1st shot was a called flyer, the next 4 made a 1" group on the paper plate.  I'm not that good a shot, so it must be the rifle.  Its clumsy, heavy, and %#@ *%#&@!!! slow to reload, but it sure is accurate.

[pony express]

the fun and games at Windy ridge rainy ridge for today have been cancelled-hope you read your e-mail before driving all the way down!

[Drydock]

Got out of bed, put my uniform on, checked my e-mails, took off the uniform and went back to bed. 

[pony express]

I think maybe Todd jumped the gun on this one, turned out to be a beautiful day....

[Drydock]

Just spent 3 hours on the Motorcycle, yeah, I think he did.  Ah well.

[pony express]

I envy you....the C.O.W.S. match was my ticket OUT of a big Philippine-American get together(probably 100-150 people, too big of a crowd for me). Although the food was good, overall I'd rather be shooting(or riding).