Need help identifying mystery rifle ammo

[wiscoaster]

At a gun show this past weekend I spotted some surplus military rifle ammo for sale labelled as 8 mm Mauser. As the price was attractive and as I needed some, I purchased several boxes, but because I was in a hurry only briefly opened one box to check on the condition without closely looking at the headstamp. When I got home I discovered that it isn't 8 mm Mauser and I have no idea what it is. It came in unmarked white cardoard boxes of 20 rounds each. Here's a photo of the cartridge and its headstamp:

View attachment 971761

View attachment 971762

Your help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

BTW, if it's not something I can use it might be for sale.

 

[Scooter22]

7.65 Argentine?
https://i2.wp.com/collectibleammuni.../03/dsc01026-4-scaled.jpg?fit=2560,1920&ssl=1

 

[troy fairweather]

Looks like 7.5 French. Or 7.5 Swiss.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

It looks like 8mm to me. How do you know it's not?

 

[bigpower491]

Looks like 7.5 French. Or 7.5 Swiss.

Yea I'm thinking 7.5 French. Used to have a MAS, and its been a while since

 

[lysanderxiii]

French.

 

[troy fairweather]

Yea I'm thinking 7.5 French. Used to have a MAS, and its been a while since

Looks like some I have on links, believe that's what the hollowed base is for.

 

[troy fairweather]

Yea it's 7.5 French.
https://www.cartridgecollector.net/75-x-54-french-mle-29

 

[bigpower491]

Get out the calipers and measure the bullet
.323 will be 8mm
.French would be .308 or close

 

[wiscoaster]

It looks like 8mm to me. How do you know it's not?

It didn't fit in my Mauser.

I only have a cheap slide-rule type micrometer, and as close as I can measure, the bullet I pulled looks to be about 7.5 mm in diameter.

It's not 7.5 Swiss because I have some of that and the mystery case is shorter.

 

[wiscoaster]

The consensus so far seems to be 7.5 French. I don't have a MAS 36 so no way to check.

 

[Vkt]

7.5x54 French

 

[wiscoaster]

Thanks for the links above. The headstamp format seems to match the French headstamps, but I couldn't find a match to the actual characters stamped on mine.

 

[troy fairweather]

Here's a blank version.

 

[wiscoaster]

OK, I finally found a match, way down the list - this headstamp from the link above matches mine, but mine isn't a blank; it's got a Spitzer bullet; also the primer seal is red, not green; the cartridge had a full load and the powder was of a type I haven't seen before - kind of like little semi-spherical BB's instead of long cylindrical or flattened pellets. (Sorry, I'm not a hand-loader so I don't know the terminology)

View attachment 971782

 

[bigpower491]

Reckon its just whatever color sealer they were using that shift
The good news is....
If you got a good deal on "Mauser" ammo, you got a great deal on that.
Not a common ammo to find, it always commanded a premium, ammo shortage or not. Theres enough 36s 49/56s, etc out there, somebody will want that

 

[wiscoaster]

If it's ammo for a MAS 36 I think I'll just keep it. I might get one of those some day. For now, I can just store it - along with my 9mm Largo - in the "for possible future use" ammo box.