My uncle has a rifle I'd like some info on. I'm not a historian, but here we go:

The cartridge has only the numbers 55 and 10 opposite of the primer for a head stamp. It is a rimmed case.

The rifle is an old military deal with a box magazine. It has DEUTSCHE WAFFEN - UND MUNITIONSFABRIKEN, BERLIN on the receiver. A cursive "B" is followed by the numbers 6197 and a circled B. On the opposite side it has MOD. 1908.

It appears to be a nice old rifle. He has asked if I can reload for it, but I have no idea what caliber it is.

Thanks for the help.

Born

Need a lot more info to identify the cartridge. Dimensions and/or a photo?

Ray

Born-

It's almost certainly a Brazilian Mauser. A very desirable rifle.

The 1908 fires 7x57, an equally desirable cartridge.

flaco

Okay, belay that Born-

The 7x57 is not a rimmed cartridge.

Curiouser and curiouser.

flaco

7 x 57 R? More info Born.

I goofed and posted this discussion twice. A poster on the other discussion asked for these measurements:

If you own a set of calipers, provide the following dimentions
Rim diameter; 0.5635
Base Diameter (just above the rim)- 0.4845
Shoulder diameter-0.4445 (I think I got this right??)
Neck diameter- 0.330
Bullet diameter (where it exits the case)-0.310
Length of the case- 2.105
Total length of the loaded cartridge- 3.007

sounds like a 7.62x54R to me...

also pretty close to a 303 british..pictures would really help

Here are some pictures:

Those dimentions match the 7.62x54R Russian in my hand
The 303 Brit isn't even close BTW.

The rifle is definatly one of the Mauser military family, and those normaly take a rimless cartridge (there are always exceptions) as they leave the factory. It dosn't look like it's been "sportered" or had a aftermarket barrel installed on it (if it has been reworked into something else, than a chamber cast is needed). If you can get a clear photo of the "crest" on the receiver ring, it would make it fairly easy for someone to identify what country it was made for (which will help narrow down the choice of cartridges it was origionaly chambered in)

My best guess is that the rifle is NOT chambered for the rounds you have.

Edit, typo correction. Thanks beretta, for catching it.

Like I said, it's almost certainly a Brazilian Mauser.

flaco

Who cares what the cartridge is?

It's not for that rifle.

i've never heard of a 7.63x54R, just a 7.62x54R. Sounds like they're almost identical.

quote:

Rim diameter; 0.5635
Base Diameter (just above the rim)- 0.4845
Shoulder diameter-0.4445 (I think I got this right??)
Neck diameter- 0.330
Bullet diameter (where it exits the case)-0.310
Length of the case- 2.105
Total length of the loaded cartridge- 3.007

Sounds like a 7.62 Nagant cartridge (Rifle not handgun)

quote:

Originally posted by flaco:
Like I said, it's almost certainly a Brazilian Mauser.

flaco

Who cares what the cartridge is?

It's not for that rifle.

flaco,

I hadn't considered that, but it is possible that the round my uncle gave me for it is not even for the rifle. He said it was, but he also said he'd never fired the rifle. Wehn I can get over there, I'll try to chamber the round.

Don't try to chamber it, Born.

Getting the wrong round stuck in the chamber is a royal PITA.

Just see if the rim will fit on the Mauser bolt face. It most likely will not.

Most Mauser cartridges are about .473.

flaco

Now... your only real problem is that Springfield Sporters screwed with a bunch of 1908s back when these rifles were plentiful. They may have chambered it to another more popular cartridge. If it's one of theirs.

Still, I'd bet dollars to donuts that this rifle shoots 7x57, which would be the best of all possible worlds.

Were I you, I'd just get a box of 7x57 on the way over to uncle's.

(Although the really safe option would be to take the rifle to a smith, and have the chamber cast.)