Favorite milsurp rounds?

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Excluding the U.S. military rounds (.30-06, 308, .30-40 Krag, .30 carbine, ect), what are your favorite milsurp rounds to tinker with? I've shot a sporterized M96 mauser in 6.5 Swede that I've taken a fair amount of game with (well, for me, anyway), and I had an 8mm Mauser 93 that was a bit of a disappointment (due to the gun...not the round itself). I have always wanted to try the .303 British Enfield, but never got around to it, and I did play with the 7.62x39 back before there was a plethora of reloading components for it (had to use .308 Sierra 125 grain SPs....no 123-125 grn .311 bullets made at that time!)
Never had a desire to work with the 8mm Lebel, or the 6.5 or 7.7 Jap cartridges. One that kind of interested me was the 7.65 Belgian, but that one is kind of unheard of anymore.

[Jack]

I've messed with a few, sometimes in a military rifle, sometimes in a commercial sporter.
6.5x55, 7x57, 8x57, and 7.65x53
All of those are fine rounds for deer hunting. The 7x57 is a particular favorite of mine- doesn't recoil a lot, it just works.
The 7.65x53 is also known as the 7.65 Belgian or 7.65 Argentine. Both countries used it. In a solid rifle, it's a fine cartridge, very similar to the 308 Winchester in performance. If you can't find cases for it (Norma makes them), you can make cases from 30-06 brass. The main drawback to the 7.65 as compared to the 308 is that the 7.65 uses a .311 bullet, which doesn't have the variety of bullets available that the .308 diameter does.

[Gil Martin]

I have quite a few military surplus rifles and enjoy playing around with them. My first surplus arm was a WWI .303 British Enfield that cost $15.88 back in 1958 and I still have it. I have acquired a few .303 Enfields since then and like them. Other favorites are the 8mm Mauser, 7.5X55 Swiss, 7.62X54 Russian, 7.7 Japanese, 6.5 and 7.35mm Carcano, 7.65 Belgian Mauser, 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser and the 7x57mm. I have a few 8mm Steyr rifles, but ammo has always been hard to find. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

Excellent thread! Most of the WWI and WWII military rounds are fine deer cartridges and good target loads in good rifles. I like, and reload for, the 6.5 Swedish and 6.5 Jap. The 7mm Mauser is a very good round along with the 7.5 Swiss, 7.65mm, .303 British, 8mm Mauser and the .30-06.

If I could find components, I would like to shoot the 8mm Steyr, 8mm Kropotchak, and 11mm Gras. I have handloaded the 8mm Lebel with mixed results due to the arms chambered for that round. I reload the M1 Carbine which is a kid's plinking load at best, in my opinion.

Adam