I am finally, finally getting around to building on a Mauser action I've had for a long time. I'm pretty much settled on 6.5 X 57mm. The "easiest" to find brass is Prvi Partizan (PPU) but I've read that its quality it inconsistent. Otherwise, I'd have to get 7x57 brass and fire form it. So here is the question(s)

- Anyone have recent experience with PPU brass and what is the quality ?
- For those who have fire formed brass, what's your process and how much of a hassle is it ?

PPU brass has behaved pretty much like any other non premium brass for me. Word on the street is that 8x57 brass works better for the conversation than 7x57, but I forgot the details. I’d do some research before I bought a bunch of 7x57 brass.

My experiences with PPU have been terrible. Many necks cracked after the first firing with factory ammo. The last I tried was 5 plus years ago.


How much fireforming is involved? Isit not just resizing the neck? I didn’t know they made a 6.5x57. The neck may be a little long and have to be trimmed. You can use 6mm Remington and size up as well.

Or 257 Roberts but that resembles blasphemy.


I have not looked at specs to confirm my thoughts but it’s worth looking into.

When I’ve fire formed brass, I’ve used the pistol powder plus cornmeal process with satisfaction.

StraitShot, pm me your number and I'll call you. I have a 1909 argentine sportorized with the gunsmith work done already to be chambered in 30-06. I will be selling this in a few weeks and will be happy to cut you a deal of you're interested I have several boxes of ammo too. I bought a Tikka tx3 in 30-06 and don't plan to shoot either.

The mauser is super sweet but I need to clean out the safe.

Let me know if I can be of any service to you.

Andrew

Then again, why reinvent the wheel?

Some additional commentary about forming from 7x57.

Thats a pretty funny write-up and a good explanation... I was hoping I could just use sizing dies.. but I might have to go this route...

6mm Rem and 257 have both been used but I don't believe you can do it all with just sizing dies... that is what I've been reading about..

That all suggest 30-06 is the way to go.

That is that the chambering which the action is being converted from !! I know this is heresy but I am not a fan of .30 cal. I've shot 6.5mm's and 7mm's ... love them.

I was talking about making making the brass from 30-06 brass. At least that was my understanding from one of the articles linked above.

Ahh... my apology, I misunderstood... yes that is a possibility and the main option I think... and I also just confessed to not liking 30cals...

Forgive my Aggie ways...I don't understand how to respond to what people are saying. But, the question about the caliber and ammo is one reason why I was drawn to the Argentine 30-06. I bought a .243 this year too after using a guide's on a hunt in Pearsall. I will be selling both 30-06 (Mauser and Tika) and the .243. All great guns, but I shoot my Remington 700 7mm Rem Mag. It's been a tried and true and drops WT.

Good luck with your project. I hope it goes well. They are really sweet and nice guns to have!

Andrew

Clean and anneal 7X57 brass. I have done fine with PPU brass before.

Neck down the brass, it will probably make a donut at the neck shoulder junction.

Two ways to deal with the donut, neck turn, or force the bolt handle down and shoot it. The times I've done option two, the brass was sized and formed into shape in one firing. Do not jam bullets in the lands of the rifling.

GIG'EM - Class of '83... I've built on Mauser actions before... I've got a nice 7x57 and just love the rifle... I bet that Argentine is nice too...

I may try the PPU... and / or might trim down a '06 case.. I guess there is really no elegant way to go about this if you are chasing an uncommon caliber.

I've used hundreds of PPU brass in 6.5x55mm Swede for three different rifles. I've reloaded a bunch 3-4 times and have had no issues. I've reloaded some .25-06, 270 Win, and 7.62x54R and all have been fine.

I have about 200 Plus PPU 7x57 brass and have used PPU for several other calibers when what I wanted was not available. I have never had any trouble with it. I am in the process of making 7x57 AI brass out of the 7x57 PPU brass. Thanks Daniel

6.5mm is a common caliber.

What you are doing is making a "Wildcat" cartridge.

Elegant, no. Do-able, yes.

Ive got 7mm-08 and 7mm-08 Ackley Improved brass that headstamps read 7mm-08, .308 Win, .260 Rem, and .243 Win.

Paul Mauser invented 6.5x57 in 1893, it's been around a long time and still loaded for by the big European ammunition manufacturers. I've seen PPU and Sellier & Bellot for sale here.

The 6.5X57 is available in factory loads in good times, we are not in good time for non mainstream ammo these days. It has been quite a few years since I loaded a Japanese Arisaka Chambered in a wildcat version. I had plenty of Hornady 257 Roberts brass available, ran it through a sizing die which just expanded the neck up .007 inches. Worked well and was easier then some other routes getting to working brass. That is my experience with the 6.5X57.

As I posted earlier in the thread, 6.5x57 brass is available from Grafs right now.

Had a discussion with the Gunsmith, apparently 6.5x57 reamers are not exactly common... but a 6.5mm-06 is achievable. So the action gets shipped Monday... I'll take pics of the project as it goes along.

So are you going with 6.5-06 now?

I've got my dad's 6.5-06 built on a Remington 721 action. Great rifle and easy to load for..