Argentinian Model 1909 Carbine in 30-06

Tbolt

Tbolt

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Hi All

I was going through the various auctions that are going on now and came across a Model 1909 Argentinian Carbine, but instead of being in the normal 7.65x53 it has been modified to shoot 30-06, and is stamped cal 30-06 on the left side of the receiver ring.
It is in gorgeous shape for its age except for the fact that the caliber has been changed.
The question I have is how safe is it?
 
It's basically a Mauser 98. Mauser 98's have been safely chambered in calibers more powerfull than 30-06. If the rifle is in good mechanical shape and headspaced properly, it should be fine firing 30-06. BTW, 7.65X53 and 30-06 are very similar in working pressure. Back in 1935, the Argentinian army rechambered the M1909 to 30-06. You can safely assume that this conversion was safe.
 
I am not familiar with the "re-chambering" - if that is what occurred, a 7.65x53 uses .313" bullets - same as .303 British. So cutting out that chamber to use 30-06 - bore would be slightly oversize, since normal 30-06 barrel would be .308" groove-to-groove size. However, no doubt could have been re-barrelled - I am guessing USA was probably in there somewhere - even if only as supplier of ammo. I have a made-in-Germany for Argentina Infantry and a Cavalry rifle - both are in 7.65x53. There was also licensed Mauser 98 made in Argentina Armoury - F.M.A.P. (?) - I think they were also named 1909 - Ejercito Argentino Mauser Mod. 1909 - I have no clue about proof testing protocols there, so maybe makes no difference between them - but which maker made them, and where they were made, from what ore, seems important to some people.
 
I think you are confusing Argentina with Peru for rebarrelling to .30-06. As far as I am aware Argentina never adopted .30-06 and kept using 7.65 Mauser until they adopted 7.62 NATO with the FN-FAL.

Either way I wouldn't be worried about .30-06 in a Argentine M1909, it is still a M98 Mauser.
 
Tbolt said:
Hi All

I was going through the various auctions that are going on now and came across a Model 1909 Argentinian Carbine, but instead of being in the normal 7.65x53 it has been modified to shoot 30-06, and is stamped cal 30-06 on the left side of the receiver ring.
It is in gorgeous shape for its age except for the fact that the caliber has been changed.
The question I have is how safe is it?
Click to expand...

I can not answer about "how safe it is" - but, maybe to assist in ID - on receiver of what I believe is original Model 1909 Carbine, on the receiver ring on right side it has serial number - a letter, then four digits, then a funky symbol - perhaps a stylized "M" - on the wood stock, lower and forward of that is the same serial number. The left side of the receiver ring has "Mauser Model" on one line, then "Argentino 1909" on second line. On left side rail is stamped "Deutsche Waffen Und-" on first line, then "Munitionsfabriken, Berlin". The 1909 Argentine Cavalry is about the only Mauser that I know of that the rear hand guard has a wire around it (in a groove) to hold to the barrel - is a hole drilled in main stock to accept the twisted ends of that wire. I believe it was supposed to be a bronze or copper wire, originally - perhaps 14 gauge or so.

I had read that Argentine 1909 were prized by home gunsmiths for conversions, since they were apparently sold off as cheap mil-surps in the day, and were one of the few military mausers to be made with a hinged floor plate. To see what would happen, I took a couple 30-06 rounds with 165 Hornady SP bullets seated to the crimping groove - they fit into the Infantry 1909 rifle's magazine with some room to spare.

The front end of the Cavalry Carbine is a bit "different" - is a lug attached maybe to main stock about 10 cm back from front end - to catch the rear part of the bayonet handle. The front "ring" of the bayonet goes on a front piece that appears like a nose cap to the wood stock, but also goes over the front sight - so like a sight guard - from the front it looks like the thing has been counter bored - but the actual barrel muzzle is back inside that sight cover - so the bayonet "ring mount" (if that is what it is called) is larger diameter and extends forward from the barrel muzzle.
 
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Seem to remember one of the larger milsurp companies selling 1909’s that had actually been rechambered to 30-06, likely to make them more saleable. I might be wrong.
 
SIR offered these in the late 1970's or early '80's at their store on Empress St. They were re-chambered original military barrels; on the display sign there was a taped-on hand-printed note stating accuracy could be improved by the use of Lee Enfield bullets.

I passed and bought a New England Westinghouse M1891 with sling, cleaning kit, cruciform bayonet & leather ammo pouch for $24.95.
 
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