So I am in the process of picking up a used M954 Mauser in .30-06, and from the information and rumors I have been reading for the past couple of days about these rifles having poor receivers leads me to believe I should start looking into reloading for this rifle as not to destroy it. When it finally arrives I will be taking it to gunsmith but I was wondering if anyone else has a Mauser M954 from Brazil in .30-06 and what type of load do you use? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading -Miller854
30-06 loads for surplus rifle's
- Thread starter Miller854
- Start date
The M1954 Mauser was made post WW2 using modern steels. Assuming that headspace checks and everything else is sound, it should be fine with any .30-06 load in your loading manual.
I like both IMR4895 and IMR4064 for a 150-168gr bullet in the .30-06 with 4064 performing a tad better in a number of .30-06 rifles. Try IMR4350 for a 180gr bullet.
I like both IMR4895 and IMR4064 for a 150-168gr bullet in the .30-06 with 4064 performing a tad better in a number of .30-06 rifles. Try IMR4350 for a 180gr bullet.
That's odd: my M954 has Imperial-era inspectors' marks on the receiver and barrel. It is unabashedly a Model 1907 short rifle or a M1908 long rifle which has been refurbed completely, the barrel line-bored and rerifled and rechambered: the base of rounds expands a bit much because the original rusted-oversize 7x57 chamber did not clean up completely when it was rechambered to .30-'06.
Nevetheless, I use pretty much standard mil-grade performance '06 in it, just seating the bullets a tad short because that original 7x57 magazine doesn't want to handle full-length M2 Ball rounds more than 2 rounds at a time.
Next summer is going to be fun: new bullet-mould on order and a big can of Red Dot has been purchased. The C.E. Harris "Universal" load (13 grains with a 180 cast slug) is going to get somewhat of a workout in the old girl. Besides, 1850 ft/sec is MUCH easier on the shoulder!
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Nevetheless, I use pretty much standard mil-grade performance '06 in it, just seating the bullets a tad short because that original 7x57 magazine doesn't want to handle full-length M2 Ball rounds more than 2 rounds at a time.
Next summer is going to be fun: new bullet-mould on order and a big can of Red Dot has been purchased. The C.E. Harris "Universal" load (13 grains with a 180 cast slug) is going to get somewhat of a workout in the old girl. Besides, 1850 ft/sec is MUCH easier on the shoulder!
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I had a brain fart on this one and was thinking of the postwar FN Mauser .30-06 rifles, a number of which were sold to S. American countries. These are excellent rifles, but are not the M954 rifles which were indeed built up on the older M1908 actions.
I have no first hand knowledge of these ones, so will withdraw my comments about reloading for them. The original M1908 rifles were chambered for the 7x57 Mauser and, if in good condition, are suitable for reloading the 7x57 with the usual caveats about starting handloads at the bottom and working up with an eye to pressure indications.
I have no first hand knowledge of these ones, so will withdraw my comments about reloading for them. The original M1908 rifles were chambered for the 7x57 Mauser and, if in good condition, are suitable for reloading the 7x57 with the usual caveats about starting handloads at the bottom and working up with an eye to pressure indications.
No problem, purple!
I have seen a couple of those post-War Mausers and they are indeed objects of beauty.
Worst thing I can say about them is that I can't afford one!
But the old M954 should handle mil-spec ammo just fine. Mine has no trouble with Ball M2 and it positively thrives on handloads which are (like all my loads) just a little bit on the mild side. But then, most rifles are their most accurate with slightly-mild loads, even though our neighbours to the South really seem to have a thing for lotsa lotsa pressure.
Very good friend of mine (a dealer) once said, "Everybody should have a Magnum rifle; you can just miss your target SO much faster!" His hunting has been done for the last 40 years with a Johann Peterlongo K98 Mauser conversion........ in .30-'06.
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I have seen a couple of those post-War Mausers and they are indeed objects of beauty.
Worst thing I can say about them is that I can't afford one!
But the old M954 should handle mil-spec ammo just fine. Mine has no trouble with Ball M2 and it positively thrives on handloads which are (like all my loads) just a little bit on the mild side. But then, most rifles are their most accurate with slightly-mild loads, even though our neighbours to the South really seem to have a thing for lotsa lotsa pressure.
Very good friend of mine (a dealer) once said, "Everybody should have a Magnum rifle; you can just miss your target SO much faster!" His hunting has been done for the last 40 years with a Johann Peterlongo K98 Mauser conversion........ in .30-'06.
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Thank you all for replying. When I start reloading cartridges for this rifle I will stick to a mild load and keep checking the head space to make sure its safe. I will have to buy a few books on the history of the Mauser to see if this rifle is mentioned anywhere because it is very strange to know close to nothing about its history. -Miller854
This rifle has popped up in this forum several times in the last 5 years.
Try the SEARCH function, if you can get it to work (I can't) and several threads should pop up.
In my pesonal opinion, I would call them "ugly, but certainly safe enough to shoot". They are REAL Mausers, built a century ago...... just brought up-to-date on the cheap. They are a great example of where Brazil's arms industry, now one of the world's best, started off.
Just try to avoid modern hot-rock loads. There are modern loads that run a 150 at better than 3100; a few years ago that was strictly Magnum territory. I shudder to think of some of the pressures.
Most important of all: have fun!
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Try the SEARCH function, if you can get it to work (I can't) and several threads should pop up.
In my pesonal opinion, I would call them "ugly, but certainly safe enough to shoot". They are REAL Mausers, built a century ago...... just brought up-to-date on the cheap. They are a great example of where Brazil's arms industry, now one of the world's best, started off.
Just try to avoid modern hot-rock loads. There are modern loads that run a 150 at better than 3100; a few years ago that was strictly Magnum territory. I shudder to think of some of the pressures.
Most important of all: have fun!
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