Question on a rifle caliber

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lonetrukr01

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I have a Fabrique De Armas Oviedo 1924 Model 1916 7mm mauser, I was told it will not fire standard 7mm ammo which I understand since its an old spanish military rifle, but I was told it needs something like a 7x 57 round (aka .237 or .239 rigby) not sure. Hoping someone that knows antique military weapons can help me out here.. never heard of a 7 x 57 but possible I rekon
 
The 7mm mauser is the same thing as a 257 Rigby and 7x57. All the same cartridge. Rigby just wanted to sell their own special ammunition so they simply called it by a name they made up. The True name of this cartridge is 7x57. The "7" stands for bore diameter 7mm or in english .284" the "57" stands for case length in millimeter. The case is 57 millimeters long. Confused yet?
 
Yup, 275 Rigby.

I have a modern Ruger #1 in 7x57. It's a sweet little cartridge that offers performance that's hard to see on graph paper. It kills quickly with a minimum of recoil.

It's an intermediate length best fit in the intermediate length Mausers or single shot rifles. Modern short actions are too short and the long actions waste a little bit of action length and add a little extra weight.

In modern actions it can be handloaded a little hotter than factory loads. It's right on par with the 7-08 in the right rifle. Old Mausers are not safe with these handloads and factory ammo is "dumbed" down with respect to these old warhorses.

The 257 Roberts is it's offspring.
 
Don't get too confused, it is just a 7mm Mauser (7x57mm). Not too much around in decent military surplus for it, but it is a pretty common cartridge.
 
The 7X57 Mauser ammo

is normally available in larger gun stores in Remington Core-Lokt, 140 grain, with a muzzle velocity of 2,660 fps.

Winchester, Federal, and Hornady also produce 7X57 ammo in 140 grain, 139 grain, and 175 grain loads.

The 175 grain is round nose, rated at 2400 fps muzzle velocity, I believe.Think of it as 30-30 (2,200 fps in 170 grain round nose) on steroids.

This is a European origin cartridge (circa 1892), and is therefore loaded by Norma, Sellier & Bellot, and RWS, among others. Sellier & Bellot Ammo is usually available at gun shows, at bargain prices.

I don't recall the velocity of Sellier & Bellot, but other European brands are usually both more expensive than U.S. brands, and loaded to higher velocities (meaning they generate higher pressure)

For safety considerations, any 7X57 from late 1800's to mid 20th century are not strong actions, due to action design and/or weak metallurgy (soft steel).

In short, U.S. loads are safe in older 7X57 firearms, but most European loads are not.
 
"...it will not fire standard 7mm ammo..."

There is no such thing as "standard 7mm" ammo!!!

In the U.S., the 7mm Remington Magnum is probably the most popular 7mm, then the 7mm-08. The .280 Remington also fires a 7mm bullet, and older rifles chambered for the .280 Remington may be labeled "7mm Express". Other Made In America 7mm rounds include the 7mm STW (Shooting Times Westerner), the 7mm Weatherby Mag, the 7mm WSM (Win Short Mag), and the Rem 7mm SAUM (Short Action Ultramag). The 284 Win is also an American 7mm. Lazzaroni makes both a long action AND a short action 7mm. I may have missed a few, but you get the picture.

From Europe, in addition to the 7X57 Mauser, there is also the 7X57 Rimmed (usually fired in break open action rifles with 2 or 3 barrels), the 7X64mm, and the British 275 Rigby (.275 is the diameter of the lands, whereas .284 is the diameter of the grooves).

Please learn to be VERY specific as to which 7mm/.284 caliber you are referring to. It is a SAFETY issue, as the 7mm/.284 cartridges which are of shorter case length could quite possibly be inserted in the chamber of a longer cased 7mm/.284 rifle, with very unsafe/DANGEROUS results!:eek:
 
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While there is no real "standard" 7mm cartridge, there is no mystery about what to shoot in your Mauser. As johnnyc says, look for 7x57 or 7mm Mauser.
I don't know about "hot" European ammunition for the European market but the Privi Partisan and Seller & Bellot 7mm at Midway is of about the same specification as US products.

.275 Rigby is legitimate but not relevant, I doubt you will find ammunition with that label from any usual American source.
 
Thanks Guys

Thank You guys for the help, Rekon its true you can teach an old dog new tricks... Again I appreciate the info and help.. Safe shooting
 
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