Portuguese Mauser M1904 - 6.5x58 Vergueiros

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I picked up a mauser at a recent gun show in good to very good condition. I still need to clean up the bore to be sure of real condition, but it looks good.

This mauser is somewhat special and I am attempting to find more information. I am also looking for more info on ammunition/reloading. I want to shoot this beauty. Anyone have one or want to help me figure some stuff out on this? I figure this will get more responces than my WTB ad in the Ammo section of the EE. Thanks guys and girls!
 
are you sure it wasn't converted to 8mm? they never wiped the 6.5 markings during the refurb.
 
R005t3r said:
I think I'm missing something here:onCrack:
Click to expand...

the portugese M904 was originally manufuctured by DWM in 6.5x58mm between 1904 and 1908? (the receiver has the crest of king carlos who was assasinated in 1908, anybody ever seen one with the crest of manual II - king from 1908-1910?). sometime prior to WWII, they were converted into short rifles in 8x57mm. during the refurbishment/conversion, the "6.5" markings on the siderail were no scrubbed.

there were many of these rifles in africa that were not converted to 8mm. from what i have seen and read, many of the rifles still in the original caliber have south african or mozambiquan (sp?) markings.
 
back to the original question though, if it is indeed still in 6.5x58, brass could be made from any of the '06 cartridges sized and cut to the proper length. i don't know where the shoulder is on the 6.5x58, but it is probably feasible to use 8mm mauser brass, since it would stretch being necked down. might need to necked down with a false shoulder, then fireform if the shoulder is farther back on the 6.5 compared to the 8mm.
 
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Necking from 8mm to 6.5mm will give you plenty of shoulder for that first firing.
In fact, you could probably use a 6.5x55 or a .260Rem size die for reloading as long as you only want to neck-size.
 
When the 1904 rifles were rebuilt to the 1937 configuration, the 29-inch barrels were sleo shortened to 23 inches, so if you have a 23-inch barrel, likely it is a 7.92mm bore still marked as 6.5mm..... but if youhave a 29-inch barrel, it is likely a 6.5mm marked as a 6.5mm.

These are sometimes found with British proofs and South African Mounted Unit markings, lkely being German-made Portuguese rifles traded to the british for Lee-Enfields to use in France, the rifles then sent to South Africa to use in the war against German East, as the fighting was going on in Portuguese colonies where there was Portuguese ammo to be found.

On the other hand, an original rifle with a 29-inch barrel, that was used by the Kaiserliche Schutztruppe, would still have original Portuguese markings..... it all just gets confoozin'.

But they are a wonderfully smooth action and they shoot really nice.
 
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