ARGENTINE 1891 MAUSER RIFLE (safe for modern ammo?)

[CGZ]

I found an M1891 Argentine Mauser at my LGS and decided to pick it up. It was at a good price, It's a Loewe manufacture, appears to me to be in good condition with matching numbers and had the bayonet too (the bayonet was marked as for the M1909 model though).

Though when I looked up some online stores to compare it, some of them stated that theirs were not safe to shoot modern ammunition though it. Is there any way to tell if it is safe to shoot modern ammo though it? I'd like to avoid going to a gun smith if necessary.

If it's good to go some of the store near me have PPU 7.65x53 after which I'll need to find a recipe and reload for it.

Thanks for any info you guys can provide.

[Mustang]

If it is in good shape it should be safe to shoot with modern ammo.

The action is "small ring", but then so is the M96 Swedish Mauser, the 1895 Chilean Mauser, and untold numbers of early Turkish Mausers.

[Enfield47]

You should be fine as long as everything is in good condition. When you end up reloading for it, just do hot loads and should have many happy shooting years ahead of you.

[I Swan]

I read somewhere that surplus Argentine ammo is a bit hot for these guns but I've fired a moderate amount with no problems. I prefer to use my 1909 Argentine if possible though. I do have two 1891 variants. I picked up a bunch of early 1980's production Argentine surplus 7.65 for like $3 a box a few years ago but I've fired off most of it now. Good ammo but the earlier dated stuff I hear has dead primers.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

You should be fine as long as everything is in good condition. When you end up reloading for it, just do NOT shoot hot loads and should have many happy shooting years ahead of you.

Fixed it for you.

I would stick to new factory ammo and light hand loads. Some of the surplus stuff (assuming you can find it) is loaded for the later 98 Mauser style rifles. IIRC, I use .311" bullets, and the load data that came with the Lee dies. Their data is always on the conservative side, and even their max loads should be safe for the 1889 and 1891 Mausers.

- Mb

[Eljay]

I shot some of the Privi to get started and reload my own a bit light. 150gr .311 or .312 bullets, IMR-4895. I think (this is from memory don't use it as load data) I'm down around 41gr compared to most similar calibers I'm up more like 47gr.

[Syntax Error]

It should be fine, small ring receivers aren't necessarily a problem, but the main design issue with the 1891 type Mausers is that it does not have a good way to deal with case ruptures and gas blowback from either a case head separation or a pierced primers that later Mausers have, so you have to make sure you're using good ammo with the gun. Prvi Partizan is going to be fine, and that's what I plan on shooting with my 1891 when I get mine in the mail. The Argentine surplus 7.65 ammo I hear can be pretty sketchy mainly due to their age and possible powder breakdown that leads to larger chamber pressures and I would not recommend shooting that ammo in an 1891.

[SMarquez]

I shot some of the Privi to get started and reload my own a bit light. 150gr .311 or .312 bullets, IMR-4895. I think (this is from memory don't use it as load data) I'm down around 41gr compared to most similar calibers I'm up more like 47gr.

I'm at 39 with Hornady 168gr. HPBT. Pretty consistent load and soft shooting.

[Enfield47]

Thanks for catching that monkeyboy, my mind was working faster than my fingers.

[Hinnerk]

I have had no problems with PPU in my 1891 modelo rifle but Hornady gives me grief (bullets hit lands and bolt closes with difficulty). If you reload, Midway has some Norma brass in clearance: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/131...gentine-mauser