7 X 57 MAUSER

HISTORY

The 7×57 was developed by Mauser during 1892 and was based on the 7.9mm necked down. At that stage the Germans had already adopted the 7.9mm in 1888 and because they were already committed to the 7,9 and were happy with its performance, the 7mm was not adopted by them although it was designed as an infantry rifle. It was however adopted by many other nations around the world. Small numbers of the M92 rifle was made when the 7mm was adopted by Spain, but it was quickly changed to the improved M93 rifle. The 7mm Mauser was used with great effect by the Spanish against the US forces which led to the demise of the 30-40 Krag and the development of the 30-06.

The countries of the Commonwealth (Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) encountered an enemy armed with the M93 7×57 during the second Boer war (1899-1902). The Commonwealth forces were armed with the Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle and when they encountered the South Africans equipped with the M93 rifle they promptly received a very costly lesson in precision shooting. This was also where the term “war of the flea” was born where guerrilla style tactics were used with great effect against an enemy not used to ambush and escape tactics. Were it not for the concentration camps and Kitchener’s scorched earth policy, the war might have had a very different outcome. The 7mm Mauser is known as an accurate, flat shooting cartridge with mild recoil and is still a favourite with many hunters and sport shooters in South Africa.


                               

Unknown loads, in all probability done for the Spanish Civil War.

   Marked “Boer War”, so assumed German manufacture


AUSTRIA

   Assman Blank

                               AP load

                              

   NEDERLAND PATRONEN-FABRIEK IN DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS (HIRTENBERG SUSIDIARY)


BELGIUM

   Hollow dummy on old F.N 95 case

   Tracer

   Commercial reload with original headstamp (FN 46) milled off.

   Blank loading from refurbished 30-06 cases.

 

         


BOSNIA


BRAZIL

  

  

                              

                              

Fábrica de Cartuchos e Artifactos de Guerra

  

  

Fabrica de Cartuchos de Infanteria

                                        

  

                              

Fábrica Realengo, Rio de Janeiro


CANADA


CHILE

  

Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejercito (FAMAE), Santiago, Chile

  

Fábrica de Material de Guerra. This was the previous name of FAMAE


CZECHOSLOVAKIA

   Proof load

  

  


ENGLAND

                              

These are probably early British loadings

    ELEY variations         KYNOCH

  


FINLAND

 


FRANCE

  

   ETS LOUIS DIEU, PARIS

   MANUFACTURE DE MACHINES DE HAUT-RHIN

                              

  

                              


GERMANY

                              

                              

        Box: Courtesy Will Reuter

  

  

  

   Gallery

  

   

  

  

   Tool dummy

 

   


GREECE

   Greek Powder & Cartridge Co. contract load for Spain


HUNGARY

Manfred Weiss, Budapest


MEXICO

      FÁBRICA NACIONAL DE MUNICIONES


NORWAY

   Bakelittfabrikken A/S, Aurskog


SOUTH AFRICA

                               Pro-Amm Load

  Box: Courtesy Will Reuter

   This is a BOSS loading from the late 80’s

   Boxes: Courtesy Will Reuter

                               Different proof/HPT loadings

                               PMP in-house proof

  

  


SOUTH KOREA

  


SPAIN

   Artillería, fábrica de Toledo

   Unknown manfacturer for the Spanish Civil War

  

Fábrica Nacional de Toledo

   T not visible, could have been an old bunter used

GM spitser bullet

  

Fábrica Nacional de Toledo

  

   Brass Jacket

  

   AP load

   Tracer

Pirotécnica de Sevilla


SWEDEN


SWITSERLAND

   PATRONENFABRIK, SOLOTHURN


USA

    

   

WRA Co board dummy

 

  

   “exploder” with red seal


VENEZUELA

   Contract loading for Venezuela, probably by FN, although not 100% confirmed (yet)

   Companhia Armamentos Venezuelos y Industrias Militares, Caracas


UNKNOWN/UNCERTAIN