Name This Caliber

Dabears1132 · September 12, 2013, 11:38 AM

This has been driving me crazy for awhile, so hopefully one of you guys can help out. My uncle gave my Dad a FN 49 before he past, but he did not give him any info about the gun. I have one round of ammunition that came with it, and I am not sure what caliber it is. I would like to sell the gun, but clearly cannot without knowing what it's chambered in. The head stamp reads "11" at the 12:00 and "51" at 6:00 with a star at both 3:00 and 9:00.

It's taller than a .308 and shorter than a 30-06
.30-06 Springfield

From what I've researched these are the calibers that the 49 has been chambered in:

8×57mm IS,
7×57mm,
7.62×51mm NATO,
7.65×53mm Argentine

Can anyone name that caliber?

Mike38 · September 12, 2013, 11:43 AM

Post the case length, overall length, and bullet diameter. I’m sure someone can help you out.

wogpotter · September 12, 2013, 03:51 PM

Please post any markings that are on the gun, especially on the breech end of the barrel, but everything will help. You can frequently work out the cartridge by the nation that it was made for & the stamps will tell that.

From the pics I'd guess (no more than that) 8mm Mauser AKA 7.92 X 57mm rimless?

BillM · September 12, 2013, 04:06 PM

Touch longer than 308, quite a bit shorter than 30-06, and 30 cal?

7.65x53 Argentine.

You might want to have a chamber cast done to be sure. A lot of the
Argentine FN 49's were re-barreled to 7.62 x 51 NATO.

If you have a good pair of calipers or a micrometer, measuring the
bullet diameter will settle it. 7.62x51 and 30-06 use a .308 bullet
7x57 is .284, 8x57 .323, and the 7.65x53 uses a .311 bullet.

SHE3PDOG · September 12, 2013, 04:20 PM

It looks like 8mm Mauser, but that is purely a guess. If you could post pictures of the weapons' markings, the nation of origin is usually a pretty good way to know what it is chambered for.

bedlamite · September 12, 2013, 05:17 PM

Without any specific measurements, you might as well name it Ralph.

jonnyc · September 15, 2013, 08:23 AM

That's a very common Yugo headstamp on 7.92(8)mm Mauser ammo. Assuming it's not reformed brass, and the fact the FN49s were made in 7.92 Mauser, I'm pretty sure you have an FN49 in 7.92x57 Mauser.

SHE3PDOG · September 15, 2013, 02:28 PM

The FN49's were manufactured in more than just 8mm Mauser though. While it does look like an 8mm round, it is still better to be 100% sure.

wogpotter · September 15, 2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Without any specific measurements, you might as well name it Ralph.

OK, OK so its 7.92 X 57mm Ralph.

tahunua001 · September 15, 2013, 07:00 PM

well if it's taller than a 308 then 7.62x51mm is out of the question since their dimensions are identical. if you were to wrap some calipers around it then that would go a long way towards narrowing down the field. if it's 323 rather than 308 then it is not a 30 caliber bullet and is rather an 8mm(or 7.92 for the picky guy) and therefore would be 8x57mm. if it's smaller than 308 then it is 7x57. the only other option is if it is 308 in which case it is 7.65x53mm.

ms6852 · September 15, 2013, 07:16 PM

I believe the is the 7X57 which was used by the German and French in 1913. Except that the original loads was a 173gr round nose bullet. This could be a reload.

pilothunter · September 15, 2013, 08:07 PM

8X57 or by another name, 8mm Mauser.

jonnyc · September 16, 2013, 11:04 AM

I'm amazed by all the "opinions" offered here, without understanding the question or reading the OP. From the pics and info the OP offered, there is only one possible answer.

"That's a very common Yugo headstamp on 7.92(8)mm Mauser ammo. Assuming it's not reformed brass, and the fact the FN49s were made in 7.92 Mauser, I'm pretty sure you have an FN49 in 7.92x57 Mauser."

"8X57 or by another name, 8mm Mauser."

edharold · September 16, 2013, 01:15 PM

Did you try to put the bullets into the end of the barrel, All but the 8mm should go in easily. I had a FN49 in 8mm. It beat the Garand in every way. I think we would have been in big trouble if the Germans had found it it WWII but FN hid it.

edharold · September 16, 2013, 01:17 PM

Did you try to put the bullets into the end of the barrel, All but the 8mm should go in easily. I had a FN49 in 8mm. It beat the Garand in every way. I think we would have been in big trouble if the Germans had found it it WWII but FN hid it.

edharold · September 16, 2013, 01:19 PM

.

BombthePeasants · September 16, 2013, 02:10 PM

I would name it "Dolphin's Fist" or "Fang of the Penguin". Clearly more awesomer than "8mm Mauser"...

September 12, 2013, 03:51 PM	#3
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Please post any markings that are on the gun, especially on the breech end of the barrel, but everything will help. You can frequently work out the cartridge by the nation that it was made for & the stamps will tell that. From the pics I'd guess (no more than that) 8mm Mauser AKA 7.92 X 57mm rimless? __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

September 12, 2013, 04:06 PM	#4
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	Touch longer than 308, quite a bit shorter than 30-06, and 30 cal? 7.65x53 Argentine. You might want to have a chamber cast done to be sure. A lot of the Argentine FN 49's were re-barreled to 7.62 x 51 NATO. If you have a good pair of calipers or a micrometer, measuring the bullet diameter will settle it. 7.62x51 and 30-06 use a .308 bullet 7x57 is .284, 8x57 .323, and the 7.65x53 uses a .311 bullet. Last edited by BillM; September 12, 2013 at 04:41 PM.

September 12, 2013, 04:20 PM	#5
SHE3PDOG Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 988	It looks like 8mm Mauser, but that is purely a guess. If you could post pictures of the weapons' markings, the nation of origin is usually a pretty good way to know what it is chambered for. __________________ Semper Fi Marine, NRA member, SAF Defender's Club member, and constitutionally protected keeper and bearer of firearms

September 12, 2013, 05:17 PM	#6
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	Without any specific measurements, you might as well name it Ralph. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

September 15, 2013, 08:23 AM	#7
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	That's a very common Yugo headstamp on 7.92(8)mm Mauser ammo. Assuming it's not reformed brass, and the fact the FN49s were made in 7.92 Mauser, I'm pretty sure you have an FN49 in 7.92x57 Mauser. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

September 12, 2013, 11:43 AM	#2
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	Post the case length, overall length, and bullet diameter. I’m sure someone can help you out.

September 15, 2013, 02:28 PM	#8
SHE3PDOG Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 988	The FN49's were manufactured in more than just 8mm Mauser though. While it does look like an 8mm round, it is still better to be 100% sure. __________________ Semper Fi Marine, NRA member, SAF Defender's Club member, and constitutionally protected keeper and bearer of firearms

September 15, 2013, 07:00 PM	#10
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	well if it's taller than a 308 then 7.62x51mm is out of the question since their dimensions are identical. if you were to wrap some calipers around it then that would go a long way towards narrowing down the field. if it's 323 rather than 308 then it is not a 30 caliber bullet and is rather an 8mm(or 7.92 for the picky guy) and therefore would be 8x57mm. if it's smaller than 308 then it is 7x57. the only other option is if it is 308 in which case it is 7.65x53mm. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

September 15, 2013, 07:16 PM	#11
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	I believe the is the 7X57 which was used by the German and French in 1913. Except that the original loads was a 173gr round nose bullet. This could be a reload. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

September 15, 2013, 08:07 PM	#12
pilothunter Junior member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Tn Posts: 400	8X57 or by another name, 8mm Mauser.

September 16, 2013, 11:04 AM	#13
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	I'm amazed by all the "opinions" offered here, without understanding the question or reading the OP. From the pics and info the OP offered, there is only one possible answer. "That's a very common Yugo headstamp on 7.92(8)mm Mauser ammo. Assuming it's not reformed brass, and the fact the FN49s were made in 7.92 Mauser, I'm pretty sure you have an FN49 in 7.92x57 Mauser." "8X57 or by another name, 8mm Mauser." __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

September 16, 2013, 01:15 PM	#14
edharold Junior Member Join Date: September 15, 2013 Posts: 3	Did you try to put the bullets into the end of the barrel, All but the 8mm should go in easily. I had a FN49 in 8mm. It beat the Garand in every way. I think we would have been in big trouble if the Germans had found it it WWII but FN hid it.

September 16, 2013, 01:17 PM	#15
edharold Junior Member Join Date: September 15, 2013 Posts: 3	FN49 Did you try to put the bullets into the end of the barrel, All but the 8mm should go in easily. I had a FN49 in 8mm. It beat the Garand in every way. I think we would have been in big trouble if the Germans had found it it WWII but FN hid it. Last edited by edharold; September 16, 2013 at 01:18 PM. Reason: duplicate please delete

September 16, 2013, 01:19 PM	#16
edharold Junior Member Join Date: September 15, 2013 Posts: 3	FN49 .

September 16, 2013, 02:10 PM	#17
BombthePeasants Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 351	I would name it "Dolphin's Fist" or "Fang of the Penguin". Clearly more awesomer than "8mm Mauser"...