No, this is not a P&R post.
I've got an old Mauser sportized back in the 1950's, chambered in 7x57 mm. As best I can tell it is either a Model 1893 or 1894 carbine, with the old 'barleycorn' front sight.
With it's antique Bushnell scope it is literally a blast from the past. As I bought it from a gunsmith who had not only checked it out but hunted with it, said it was one of his favorites but now had a Swedish Mauser 6.5mm that was his preferred gun at this time, felt in spite of being almost 120 years old it was safe to shoot.
I took it out to the range to dial in the scope, took 4 rounds to bracket the bullseye at 150 yds, the longest distance at this particular range, will take it to the one where you have to pay to shoot as they go out to 300 yds. While a LOT louder, it has no more recoil than my Ruger 10-22, vast improvement over the old .308 Marlin.
The only ammo I can find locally is Remington, shoots quite well but tends to shoot a bit dirty, typical of Remington compared to CCI (who does not make 7mm AFAICT). While very simple to clean and not something I'm going to put hundreds of rounds through, I've found Sellier and Belloit online for significantly less money but know nothing about them.
Does anyone have any experience with this manufacturer or any other good sources for 7x57 mm Mauser?
I have put a lot of Sellier and Belloit 7.62x39 through my WASR10 without any problems. BUT that is Russian ammo through a Russian rifle. They are made for each other, but then, what CAN hurt an AK-47?
Most of the Sellier and Belloit ammo is Berdan primed and steel cased and is supposedly non-corrosive. It seems to shoot well, but obviously it's not match grade. It's inexpensive and I have used it to hunt deer with success. It does not appear to have hurt any of my long guns, but then I am a bit OCD about cleaning my firearms.
Try a few boxes. I think you may like it.
Thanks immensely, will order a few boxes and check it out. I didn't know it was Russian, but no worries there, have used Wolf with no problems for years. I do miss the day when you could get 7.62mm by the thousand in the old metal cans for 40.00.
Great find! One of my shooting regrets is passing up a sporterized 7mm Mauser. It's a fine round and most Mauser actions are well built. Can you see which armory forged the action?
Your smith has good taste, I've taken several deer with my Swede and wouldn't trade her for anything.
To be prudent I would make sure the Sellier and Belloit used non-corrosive primers. Keep you ears out for someone who reloads 7x57. Or get yourself a Lee Loader and roll your own. It's easy to do and you'll be make (almost) match grade ammunition and a substantial saving. Reloading really comes into it's own with the less popular cartridges.
Congrats!
Rick
Try this site. I've been real pleased with these folks.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/sellier-bellot-rifle-7x57-139-gr-sp-20-rds.aspx?a=148320
Plus, these guys may be close to you. I have purchased a lot of their 30 carbine reloads at some of our local gun shows and have found them to be VERY good.
Rather than start a new thread, gotta respond to my own thread (the very definition of narcissism????) and relate the latest trip to the range.
The wife and I went to the free range today, in spite of intermittent rain on and off all day. All we took were .22's and never got the long guns out of the truck.
I set up handgun targets at 30', 45', and 90', as we have two new pistols, her father's old High Standard Double Nine and a brand new Browning Buckmark. The goal was to get my wife comfortable with both weapons and determine if her next one needs to be a revolver or an automatic.
This is the girl who for her 16th birthday turned down a car in favor of a S&W Model 16 .38 Special. She can wear it out at 30', shoots very consistent 3" groups with that pistol.
For some reason, she couldn't hit the paper with the Buckmark at all and had multiple misfires in spite of using good ammo. I'm breaking it in with CCI Mini Mag round nose, will use that exclusively for the first 5000 rounds. I'm shooting 1" groupings with the same gun at 45', so I know it ain't the gun or ammo. BTW, excellent automatic, highly recommend to anyone looking for a good plinking handgun.
After about two hours, she was piling them up in the tenring at 90', got to brag on my girl of 31 years. She then started coaching me, and darn if she wasn't right on the mark with her advice. My groups got much better, but never got as good as her's.
I also married far above my paygrade, gotta love and respect a woman who can outshoot you.
10-4 on that!
It is only sensible to respect a wife that can out shoot you!
I have used a bunch of S and B ammo in 9mm and .45 with no issues.
