So, I picked up about 500 rounds of Iranian Surplus Mauser ammo here in the classifieds. My plan was to pull the components and at least reuse the bullets. I have pulled about 100 rounds, reloaded 80 and shot 60. After taking the original powder which looked good and passed a burn test, I took the average fill from 10 cases which was 45 grains. Dropped down to 40 and loaded up 40-45 with 1 grain increments looking for overpressure signs which there were none. PPU cases and CCI LR Primers. The Bullets have a HUGE crimp or canelure, not sure which but the surface below the crimp which is actually 323 is very little. When reloading them, I loaded the bullet to the new crimp was just above the old one and used a light crimp on the Lee FCD.
Bullets are FMJ non magnetic and 197-198 grains with a big boat tail on them.
At 45grains of this Iranian Powder, through my Persian Mouser, the POI elevation is nearly dead on at 50 and 100 yards. After purchasing a Persian Mauser front sight adjusting tool, it shoots as well as my eyes can handle.
(pictures to follow)
I did try to shoot the ammo w/o reloading and as expected, I got LOTS of hangfire/delay fire. I did not have any duds that I recall. But anywhere from an immediate bang to a delay of almost a full second. I even took some pulled cases w/ just the primer and set them off in the reloading room. anywhere from a bang to a fizzle. You can definitely hear the differences.
Reading some old posts that this ammo was for machine guns. I purchased a 30lb striker spring and tested it. Posts mentioned a new spring was about 22lbs?
Sure enough, the 30lb spring made a huge difference and shooting off 10 empty primed cases nearly all were a solid loud pop.
Took the Persian mauser to the range today to try the new spring and out of 15 rounds (some into the berm) I think I had 1 or 2 delay fires that were noticeable at about 1/4 second. Most were instant and there was MUCH improvement. I was not being very precise with my aiming and my groups were minute of man at 50 yards. I shoot these old milsurps with an eyepal which is most effective under good daylight so I'm sure the grouping will reduce the next time I take the ammo out. Its "tolerable" but not nearly as accurate as the reloads were.
Pulled components
Bullets are FMJ non magnetic and 197-198 grains with a big boat tail on them.
At 45grains of this Iranian Powder, through my Persian Mouser, the POI elevation is nearly dead on at 50 and 100 yards. After purchasing a Persian Mauser front sight adjusting tool, it shoots as well as my eyes can handle.
(pictures to follow)
I did try to shoot the ammo w/o reloading and as expected, I got LOTS of hangfire/delay fire. I did not have any duds that I recall. But anywhere from an immediate bang to a delay of almost a full second. I even took some pulled cases w/ just the primer and set them off in the reloading room. anywhere from a bang to a fizzle. You can definitely hear the differences.
Reading some old posts that this ammo was for machine guns. I purchased a 30lb striker spring and tested it. Posts mentioned a new spring was about 22lbs?
Sure enough, the 30lb spring made a huge difference and shooting off 10 empty primed cases nearly all were a solid loud pop.
Took the Persian mauser to the range today to try the new spring and out of 15 rounds (some into the berm) I think I had 1 or 2 delay fires that were noticeable at about 1/4 second. Most were instant and there was MUCH improvement. I was not being very precise with my aiming and my groups were minute of man at 50 yards. I shoot these old milsurps with an eyepal which is most effective under good daylight so I'm sure the grouping will reduce the next time I take the ammo out. Its "tolerable" but not nearly as accurate as the reloads were.
Pulled components
