Fr-7 spanish mauser

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Agent of orange

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Last fall my dad gave me his old rifle he had. He didn't know what it was but it was pretty easy to figure out once I had it in my hands. Unfortunately my mom got rid of t
ammo he purchased when he bought the rifle. Its chamber in 7.62. I know the cetme rounds where pretty tame and light bullets from what Wikipedia says. so I picked up so Hornaday reduced recoil 308 ammo with 125 grain bullets. I know the 7 is the small ring vs the fr8 being more rubust large ring. Is anyone else regularly firing a fr-7 if so what ammo are you using or reloading?
 
The small ring Mauser will handle the same pressure as a large ring. The difference is how they handle a serious over load and failure.

It will handle any military or commercial ammo.

If you reload, avoid the max load, to give your self some fudge factor, in case you make a boo-boo, like loading commercial brass loads into military brass.

We used small ring Mausers in the DCRA to make target rifles and fired a bazzilon rounds of military ammo up to 60,000 psi.
 
John, I'm willing to bet you folks shooting the small ring Mausers chambered in 7.62x51 for the DCRA were almost exclusively using M38 Swede actions. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I will agree that the Spanish small ring actions are much stronger than people realize and PO Ackley proved this during his strength tests of several different milsurp actions. Mr Ackley also felt that the Swede M38 actions weren't any stronger than the Spanish M93 actions.

I have a lovely heavy barrel chambered in 6mm Remington on a Swede M38 action and just like you mentioned load it between 50K and 60k psi.

As for other small ring Mauser actions I find myself a bit leery about putting my face behind one with loads over 45k psi.

The Spanish loaded a light 112 grain bullet with a plastic insert in the nose with 25.4 grains of a proprietary powder to appx 2500fps in their handy little 18in bbl carbines. Great low recoil round by the way. Still, it develops around 42K psi. Their CETME semi auto, roller retarded blowback rifles were also set up for this cartridge. It is said that with the proper kit the CETME rifles were fine for 7.62x51 ammo, which isn't really much hotter.

Still, most small ring actions, other than the Swedes are well over a century old. Mind you so are a lot of 98 actions.

This is just IMHO but at the very least I would suggest getting a small ring bolt and receiver magnafluxed by a professional before building a high pressure rifle on it. Even then, the chamber tolerances would have to be at absolute minimum.
 
fenceline said:
They were designed for 7.62x51 NATO. Don't believe Wikipedia about the cetme round being the intended ammo.
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It just doesn't come from Wikipedia. WHB Smith brought this up as well. The CETME rifles were always intended to be used with standard NATO 7.62x51 ammunition and were when it was appropriate.

Most of the CETME rifles being offered as surplus were intended soley for the full power Nato round. The Spanish used the CETME round interchangeably in their converted M93 rifles as well as the CETMEs.
 
I've had one for at least 20 yrs. Limited it's use to cast bullet plinker loads. Fun little rifle to shoot with those low recoil loads.
 
Thanks guys all great info. I was planning on reloading some ammo for this rifle eventually. But that is down the road, have to many things on the go ATM. So learning how to reload will be a project for another winter. The reduced recoil Hornaday ammo I do have is 125 grain bullet and the info says its muzzle velocity is just over 2600 out of a 24 inch barrel. What kind of chamber px would that round produce? Would I be correct thinking it would be low?
 
I tried searching what psi that round puts out and can't find anything.

But I'd have to think it'd be pretty close as to what to shoot from the FR7, unless you roll your own.

I had an FR7 too at one point.


Agent of orange said:
Thanks guys all great info. I was planning on reloading some ammo for this rifle eventually. But that is down the road, have to many things on the go ATM. So learning how to reload will be a project for another winter. The reduced recoil Hornaday ammo I do have is 125 grain bullet and the info says its muzzle velocity is just over 2600 out of a 24 inch barrel. What kind of chamber px would that round produce? Would I be correct thinking it would be low?
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I'd go with lower end loads using IMR 3031 or IMR 4895, both of which can produce excellent accuracy in a the .308 Win or 7.62. The FR-7 is a short barreled carbine which is not the place to look for either top velocity or gilt-edged accuracy.
 
Agent of orange said:
Last fall my dad gave me his old rifle he had. He didn't know what it was but it was pretty easy to figure out once I had it in my hands. Unfortunately my mom got rid of t
ammo he purchased when he bought the rifle. Its chamber in 7.62. I know the cetme rounds where pretty tame and light bullets from what Wikipedia says. so I picked up so Hornaday reduced recoil 308 ammo with 125 grain bullets. I know the 7 is the small ring vs the fr8 being more rubust large ring. Is anyone else regularly firing a fr-7 if so what ammo are you using or reloading?
Click to expand...

Which do you actually do you have? 7 or 8? Some people on here might say cetme is compatible with NATO 7.62 rounds but the Spanish had 2 different versions of this rifle. the 7.62 nato at higher loads and the cetme at lower loads for the 7. Absolutely make sure you know which version you have. If it's a cetme load your own ammo at lower loads. You do run the risk of over pressure with the 7.62 NATO despite what people may say.
 
ya I just want to use it to plink a bit at the range. My dad was glad it was getting a new lease on life as it has lived in his storage area since the 80's. for milsurp accuracy i have a k31 and a k11 karbine. I usually hunt with a crossbow.
 
cantom said:
I tried searching what psi that round puts out and can't find anything.

But I'd have to think it'd be pretty close as to what to shoot from the FR7, unless you roll your own.

I had an FR7 too at one point.
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ya i couldnt find the px data just muzzle velocity from hornady. 125 grain @ 2675 and wiki says the cetme was 113 @ 2600. that is why i figured the hornady must not make much more pressure then the cetme. I may be wrong in my thinking, maybe some of you reloads can shed some more light on that
 
259bravo said:
Which do you actually do you have? 7 or 8? Some people on here might say cetme is compatible with NATO 7.62 rounds but the Spanish had 2 different versions of this rifle. the 7.62 nato at higher loads and the cetme at lower loads for the 7. Absolutely make sure you know which version you have. If it's a cetme load your own ammo at lower loads. You do run the risk of over pressure with the 7.62 NATO despite what people may say.
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It is the 7 so built of the small ring mauser which any my googling came up with dont use 308 rounds or even nato as they make to much pressure. being so small i know my daughter will think its her rifle as she has seen my 10/22 and thinks its her rifle to come hunting. she is only 5 so i will continue to let her think the 10/22 its hers.
 
ok, so here is my take. I own an FR-7 which I reload my own ammunition for and shoot. The thing with this rifle is that the receiver was taken from a 1916 rifle that was chambered in 7mm Mauser. They were re barrelled and refurbished to be used with 7.62 CETME. The 7.62 CETME round is a lower pressure round. If I remember correctly it was a 115 grain plastic core bullet. I load my own ammunition for this. I have been using 110 grain Hornady soft points. Loaded with 43.5 gains of IMR 3031 powder. This is giving an estimated 2900 feet per second. The book tells me my pressures should be around 38,000 PSI. Personally regardless of what any """""Experts""""" tell me, I would not fire my rifle with 7.62 NATO ammunition and DEFINITELY NO .308 WIN!!!

Yes I know a particular importer tested one until failure and claims they are good for .308 win. Still. Not with my face or any of my loved ones faces behind it.

The original 1916 receivers these are made with, are of an older design with no safety lug and no baffle. Some also say they are made with questionable steel.

Take this as you will. I am not here to argue with anyone. I am here to present what I know about my rifle. I would not put my face behind it if MY rifle were loaded with anything but my hand loads. I would especially not take any chances with my children firing that rifle with anything but my hand loads.


If you want a .308 then sell that rifle and buy a .308... The FR-7 if in very good condition should fetch $400 to $500.

Examine your spent cases for pressure signs and if possible check your headspace at least once. A 7.62 NATO /.308 win no go gauge is something any gunsmith should have on hand.

Lastly make your daughter wear safety glasses with this rifle.

Not trying to scare anyone but this sort of thing needs to be taken seriously.

Oh yea and that 110 grain bullet I am using, pushed out at ~2900fps is 100 yard tim hortons cup accurate.... Definitely minute of deer and is a pleasure to shoot.
 
Thank you for the info... I want to lean towards a good level of safety. I want to check the headspace but I know my dad only put 10 rounds if that through it. The comment about my daughter was only in reference to the size of the rifle. When she is old enough I will probably get her a single shot 22 to start and eye and ear protection is a must for everyone in my house. Since the rifle was given to me and something my dad held onto a long time I will keep it and maybe take a white tail with it, I know he would like to hear that I did use it.
 
I am not sure how much use the rifle seen before it came into my dad's possession. I do know he bought it from Lem and Walters 30 years ago or more maybe. Have a friend who's son is getting into target shooting 308 he has given me the names of some Smith's they have gone to for equipment and ammo. I will have to get it again and get on checking the head space. Have access to a NDT shop but I not think my work like me coming there with a rifle lol.
 
rci2950 said:
ok, so here is my take. I own an FR-7 which I reload my own ammunition for and shoot. The thing with this rifle is that the receiver was taken from a 1916 rifle that was chambered in 7mm Mauser. They were re barrelled and refurbished to be used with 7.62 CETME. The 7.62 CETME round is a lower pressure round. If I remember correctly it was a 115 grain plastic core bullet. I load my own ammunition for this. I have been using 110 grain Hornady soft points. Loaded with 43.5 gains of IMR 3031 powder. This is giving an estimated 2900 feet per second. The book tells me my pressures should be around 38,000 PSI. Personally regardless of what any """""Experts""""" tell me, I would not fire my rifle with 7.62 NATO ammunition and DEFINITELY NO .308 WIN!!!

Yes I know a particular importer tested one until failure and claims they are good for .308 win. Still. Not with my face or any of my loved ones faces behind it.

The original 1916 receivers these are made with, are of an older design with no safety lug and no baffle. Some also say they are made with questionable steel.

Take this as you will. I am not here to argue with anyone. I am here to present what I know about my rifle. I would not put my face behind it if MY rifle were loaded with anything but my hand loads. I would especially not take any chances with my children firing that rifle with anything but my hand loads.


If you want a .308 then sell that rifle and buy a .308... The FR-7 if in very good condition should fetch $400 to $500.

Examine your spent cases for pressure signs and if possible check your headspace at least once. A 7.62 NATO /.308 win no go gauge is something any gunsmith should have on hand.

Lastly make your daughter wear safety glasses with this rifle.

Not trying to scare anyone but this sort of thing needs to be taken seriously.

Oh yea and that 110 grain bullet I am using, pushed out at ~2900fps is 100 yard tim hortons cup accurate.... Definitely minute of deer and is a pleasure to shoot.
Click to expand...
Go watch Forgotten Weapons , Ian McKellen settled that the experimental CETME round was not for use in the Mausers , they were rebarreled for 7.62X51 NATO , that being said with .308 your mileage will vary as they say , mine finds it to spicy but not enough for a board or mallet to open the bolt and eject the round ( PPU 150 gr .308)
 
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