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10.75 x 68 Mauser

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29 July 2001, 08:51
Atkinson
10.75 x 68 Mauser
I just posted this on Big Bore Rifles, and went into some detail.

After doing some research on this caliber, one that has intrigued me for years, I think we have all missed a bet on this one...It should be more popular...

I bought one last week and am going to wring it out, it is a model A Mauser, light and trim, but I bet it kicks a bunch with a 400 gr. .423 bullet at 2208 FPS...

If any of you have any loading data or hands on experience with this caliber,let me know.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

29 July 2001, 09:59
Nickudu
http://www.cordite.com/wwwboard/messages/2564.html

Some good discussion on it here Ray. I'll look around for some load data. Nick

http://www.gunshop.com/roberts/fr_185close.jpg

Photo

[This message has been edited by Nickudu (edited 07-29-2001).]

29 July 2001, 10:14
Nickudu
http://www.gameguns.com/riflesd.htm

Some nice stuff here Ray. Scroll down to a nice 10.75 x 68 Rifle & photo

29 July 2001, 12:42
Santala
Ray,
There is a post under Favorite Loads for it.

"10,75 x 68 or .423 Mauser in an old E. Eckoldt:
400 grs Woodleigh Weldcore, Bertram brass, 61 grs of Vihtavuori N135, 2030 fps. Prints nice clover leafs. Boha "

Steve

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Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

29 July 2001, 23:44
<Dutchgus>
I can provide you with some info from the RWS manual "Wiederladen". It says that the original factory ammo was loaded with a 345 grain RN solid. The manual also gives data for a 400 grain RN solid. Here they are.
345 RN solid COL 80.8 mm
R902 min 63.0 gr 1985 fps max 69.0 gr 2295 fps
R 903 min 70.0 gr 2065 fps max 75.5 gr 2345 fps
400 RN solid COL 81.0 mm
R902 min 57.0 gr 1805 fps max 61.0 gr 1985 fps.
R902 should be in the range of IMR 3031, VV N130 and Reloader 11; R903 in the range of IMR 4064, VV N133 and Reloader 12.
Hope this helps.
30 July 2001, 01:27
<500 AHR>
Doesn't sound all that impressive to me. The muzzle engery is lower than the 458 Win Mag by a considerable margin. Falls short of the 404 Jeffery also. I agree with Ray though it is an interesting old cartridge, which I have considered before.

Todd E

30 July 2001, 05:21
Atkinson
Todd,
Apparantly 74 grs. of WW748 will give the 400 gr. solid 2208 FPS and that beats the 404 Jefferys in its original loading by 60 FPS....

I have used the original loading of the 404 on a number of Buffalo and it is just as effective as my 404 load of 95 grs. of IMR-4831 for 2652 in my 27" barrel, for all practical purposes...

I have done the same with my 416 Rem. and the 2150 is still very effective on Buffalo...If one wants more actual killing power then he must go up to the 458 with a hot load or the 458 Lott...

The above is why I find the 10.75 x 68 such an interresting caliber....It has a lot of punch for such a small case when properly loaded..and it could be rechambered for the 404 in a heartbeat, but I'm not so inclined at the moment.....

Remember that 2150 FPS is the standard by which more dangerous game has been killed than any other figure, followed by 2400 FPS

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

30 July 2001, 06:59
Santala
Ray,
Most of those rifles weighed in at 7 1/4 to 7 1/2 lbs. A 400 gr bullet should punish at both ends.

Good Hunting
Steve

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Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

30 July 2001, 07:11
<Norbert>
The 10.75x68 as a factory load in the 1920s was a flop, at least in europe. The reason was the low SD and poor bullet construction of the 347 gr. Nowadays there was only a revival of the 404, nobody wanted to have a x68. There is not too much gain in magazine capacity.
But for nostalgia it is a good option for a reloader.

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30 July 2001, 08:41
carcano91
quote:
Originally posted by Norbert:
The 10.75x68 as a factory load in the 1920s was a flop, at least in europe.

Contrary to Norbert's - mistaken - perception, the 10,75 x 68 was quite popular well over 50 years. RWS factory loads were produced up to 1991, and can still be found here on the shelves. The cartridge enjoyed some loyalty in Germany and France alike, and the MAS-36 sporter was produced for this cartridge after WW II for French-African big game hunters.

However, it never conquered the hearts of British or US hunters; reason is probably, as Norbert then writes, the bullet design, and the availability of already established better cartridges. Early German FMJ bullets were reputed to be less sturdy than British "solids", and the 22,5 grams (347 grains) RWS roundnose softpoint bullets - the only load offered in 1940, 1956 and 1958 - were unsuitable for pachyderms.

The same seems to be true for the 10,75 x 63, and the rare 10,75 x 57, although this latter one seems very interesting, compared to the .400 (Brown-)Whelen which nowadays meets with a resuscited interest.

Carcano

30 July 2001, 09:07
Atkinson
Gents,
All these things you say are true, and apply to many of the old calibers such as the 10.75 x 68 and the great 9.3x 64, both of which suffered bullet problems of one sort or another....

But with todays bullets it's a whole nuther ball game, such as a 350 grain Barnes X in the 10.75x68 that would churn up an easy 2450 or a 400 gr. at 2200 plus,in a bolt gun or a Swift or Barnes X 250 gr. 9.3 x 64 at at 2800 plus...These old relics have become very pugnacious killers...

Once you have taken out the bad bullets equations, things come together in most all calibers, and we suddenly have more toys to tinker with, ain't that great?

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

30 July 2001, 13:02
Oldsarge
Not only more toys to play with, but more nostalgiac toys as well. I can see a run on pith helmets and monocles. Dodge touring cars will become a status symbol. Black porters will be able to send their children to the university on the back of their now highly prized (and priced!) services. A cruise line may even specialize in taking hunters to Tanzania from London through the Canal "Port Out, Starboard Home." A round of claret for the house and a port and cigar for Bwana Ray. Oh, it's going to be wonderful!
30 July 2001, 23:47
Rikkie
Ray,

I tinkered a fair bit with a 10.75x68, which belongs to my partner. Working with South African (Somchem) powders, we were hard put to make the Woodleigh 347gr bullet go over 2100fps. We could only get 1950 out of the RWS 400gr bullets. If you can achieve the velocities you refer to, you will surely have a pugnacious killer! Even 1950/2100fps is mean medicine for Eland / Giraffe-sized animals at close range.

My partner's rifle (weighs 7.5lbs and has a very short stock [for me]) It kicked a bit with these loads - in fact, it pounded the *crap* out of my cheekbone. My (smaller) partner was less affected, but it got his attention anyway.

My partner has since had to rebarrel the rifle due to a badly eroded chamber and some nasty pitting, so he's gone the .404 route. .404 cases are easier to find (in RSA) and there is a distinct ballistic advantage (2250fps with 400gr bullet).

Hopefully you can do better with US powders - I should be surprised if you can't. Enjoy it!

Rikkie

31 July 2001, 02:46
<bigdog>
Ray!!

Where do you find such nostalgic gems!!!!

It sounds like a winner to me, but I like anything classic and on a standard action.

Good luck

31 July 2001, 05:16
Atkinson
Bigdog,
I'm like a coiled rattler, ready to strike when oppertunities arise, love the old guns and they are increasing in value by leaps and bounds...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com