Yeah, she's pitted...run a patch through it and it comes out shredded. It is also quite dark, and I didn't inspect it well enough before I bought it.Is the bore just dark and frosty? Or is it pitted? A dark frosty bore doesn't necessarily mean it won't shoot well....
The 1891 Mauser action used on Argentine carbines will not withstand modern 7x57 ammo. Stick with the original caliber or some US cartridge with a similar CUP and gradient.30-30 0r 30-40. Ishoot my 1891 Arg carbine with Norma ammo and it is a good cartridge out to 150 meters.or 200 on stretchYeah, she's pitted...run a patch through it and it comes out shredded. It is also quite dark, and I didn't inspect it well enough before I bought it.
The 7.65x53 was never a black powder cartridge, according to Ken Waters' Pet Loads. It has always been a smokeless round but did suffer from those old military mercuric primers.
I'm wondering if a 7mm Mauser barrel could be fitted, then rechambered... but would probably double or triple the worth of the rifle!