Spanish M1916 Mauser loads

[walgetty]

Anyone got any loads for the M1916 in .308 ???
It is marked 7.62 but may be CETME not NATO
I also hear that .308 loads may be too hot.
Anyone reloaded for the M1916 Mauser before ?
Thanks

[adrians]

hi ,i just loaded some 7.62(30 for my civil gardia spanish and keep my loads to about that of the 300 savage load data , my fav boolit is the 175grn(gc&lubed) its a lyman #311413 mould ,now discontinued.
i keep muzzle velocity between 1300---- 1600 fps, im still fiddling with this boolit but it does o.k at 50 yds.
my most recent load which i have not tested yet is 11grn --unique (it should give me a light recoil shot at about ,,oh 1300fps,we will see.)
have a great night.adrians.
P.S it is 7.62 cetme', factory 308 loads will eventually prove too hot,you probably don't want to go there!!.

[Mule]

I am using Hodgdon "Youth Load" data for mine. 125gr Sierra SP over a charge of H4895.

Shoots quite well in my gun.

[Smoke-um if you got-um]

A safe load would be 37 grains of Varget under most any of the 165 bullets on the market. It is very mild and has been very accurate in a Handi-rifle my nephew uses. It shoots just as well from my Rem. 700. Has about the same ballistics as a 30-30. I've also found that the 170 RN bullets designed for 30-30's are very accurate with this load and get the ogive closer to the rifling. Just don't seat them down to the crimp groove.

[fryboy]

308 is loaded to around 60.00 psi 7.62 nato is loaded to around 50,000 IIRC other than the thicker mil-spec brass that's about the main difference ( also implying that if loading 308 in mil-surp cases reducing powder charge by a grain or two is more than prudent )

[drhall762]

I have to say I keep my loads in the pressure range of the original 7x57. No factory loads .308WCF or 7.62NATO in mine.

[Paul B]

Very interesting. I believe your rifle was chamber to the original CETME round which used the same dimensions as the 7.62 NATO round. The original CETME assault rifle could not stand up to full power NATO ammo, thus the "softer" loading. I believ CETME made alteration and retro fits to the guns so that they would be able to handle full power ammo.
Wasn't it Kimber that bought up a bunch of those 1916 Mausers, put them in a cheap synthetic stock and sold them as .308 Win.? IIRC, they had the guns prooftested by the H.P. White laboratory and they were pronounced safe for use of factory .308 Win ammo. Seems like they may have been safe all along. The only things wrong are no third safety lug and they don't handle escaping gas well.
IIRC, the 1916s are based on the 1893 Mauser action rather than the 1895. At least the one I saw at a gun show was. Kind of kicking myself for not buying it as it would have made a great truck gun.
Paul B.