7x57 reloading question

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diopter said:
I would be more concern about the loaded round fitting the magazine and having a gap from rifling to bullet.
Know what you mean about Euro double set triggers in 7x57. Have 2 myself.


and with Mannlicher stock

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I do like them, mine is almost the same as the one you have in the middle there. Was thinking of getting another 7x57 as I don't think mine is going to be the everyday rifle. maybe a Win 70 or Zastava m70 or Husky...maybe a Ruger m77.... something bolt and not mil surplus. My first 7x57 was a Spanish 1892, it was nicely sproterized with a Wiliams peep sight, still shot great for being made in 1914!

Thanks again all for the info! its very much appreciated
 
OP - if you have cash to spend, and want something most others do not use, get a Ruger #1A in 7x57 or 275 Rigby. First was what I carried for about 20 years after realizing that about all the deer I ever got were with the first shot - I might have taken 50 or 60 all told - I can remember exactly one that was first hit with a round from the magazine - so decided that the single shot was actually no great hardship. At least out here, made me discover that I actually had more time to shoot, then I had thought - it made me bear down and make that first one count. Eventually, with practice and some shells on the ugly sleeve on the butt stock, I could pretty much keep up or surpass aimed fire (only hits counted) with several not too experienced bolt action users.
 
I did think about getting a #1 but worried I wouldn't want to take it out in the rain or snow or bushwalking around. I have some money but not too much to spend right now, I'm in no big hurry to get another one just on the 'want' list of things! I've never been one to fill the mag either, by the time you get to round number 2 or 3 its usually just a Hail Mary IMO
 
So another new guy question.... anyone have issues with S&B brass fitting into a #3 RCBS shell holder?

Up until now I was using a lee loader but picked up a press a little while back, tonight I was de-priming/resizing some cases and all the S&B would not fit into the shell holder.... the PPU, Remington was fine just the S&B was a little to large....

the RCBS site lists a 3 and 11 as fitting in the chart but when you click on them only the #3 says it fits the 7x57, the #11 was for 220swift, 225 win or 6.5 Japanese.

I think I will go ahead and get the 11 to see but just curious if anyone else has ran into this issue.
 
Not sure what you are actually seeing, but do not assume it is necessarily a diameter thing. I lost track of which it was, but on one supposedly correct shell holder, with a particular brand of brass - it was actually the angle on the top edge of the shell holder that was preventing the case from sliding in - was not the width of the slot for the rim, it was hanging up on the bevel on the upper edge of the extractor groove on the brass. So, might be what you have run into??
 
timsinc said:
So another new guy question.... anyone have issues with S&B brass fitting into a #3 RCBS shell holder?

Up until now I was using a lee loader but picked up a press a little while back, tonight I was de-priming/resizing some cases and all the S&B would not fit into the shell holder.... the PPU, Remington was fine just the S&B was a little to large....

the RCBS site lists a 3 and 11 as fitting in the chart but when you click on them only the #3 says it fits the 7x57, the #11 was for 220swift, 225 win or 6.5 Japanese.

I think I will go ahead and get the 11 to see but just curious if anyone else has ran into this issue.
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https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...-problem-solving-night?highlight=S&B+7x57
 
thanks again, I really got to get better at searching more than 6 months or a year! I just found a similar post on thestalkingdirector.uk.
off to Basspro tomorrow anyhow so maybe they will have an 11
 
timsinc said:
I've got a 'good enough' load worked up for 139gr Horn BTSP and Barnes 140 TTSX using W 760 still got some work to get it better but it will work on a deer for sure!

When I started getting reloading gear and stuff I picked up around 500 bullets from a guy who was getting out of reloading... 110g up to 175gr so its more of trying it out to see how they shoot because I have them.... I've always just been a cup and core kind of fella with no frills and I have seen some terrible stories of the ELDX but I have them so why not see how they shoot and if the rifle like the larger ones.
But now that I have made the rounds up just curious as to see if it safe to shoot them now.... I have a 'modern' rifle so nothing too old. Interarms Mark X
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It should be fine. You did the right thing and started loading with a lower powder charge and worked up. Start shooting them starting with the lowest charge and see what you get but watch carefully for pressure signs - that is what you would do with any other load. If you check on the Nosler site you can see suggested loads that are over 100% case capacity, 112% one one I saw. It happens
 
timsinc said:
So another new guy question.... anyone have issues with S&B brass fitting into a #3 RCBS shell holder?

Up until now I was using a lee loader but picked up a press a little while back, tonight I was de-priming/resizing some cases and all the S&B would not fit into the shell holder.... the PPU, Remington was fine just the S&B was a little to large....

the RCBS site lists a 3 and 11 as fitting in the chart but when you click on them only the #3 says it fits the 7x57, the #11 was for 220swift, 225 win or 6.5 Japanese.

I think I will go ahead and get the 11 to see but just curious if anyone else has ran into this issue.
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I had that problem with PPU brass back in the early '90's. I set the PPU brass aside and used brass that would fit the shell holder (generally Remington and Winchester brass).

As has been pointed out by others, case volume varies by manufacturer. So, it's a very good practice to separate your cases by head stamp to maximize accuracy and consistency . Keep that info in your load data.

You can expect excellent results with ordinary "cup and core" bullets at velocities in the 2,600-2,800 fps range (2,800 fps is entirely realistic in a modern rifle). I would suggest 140 grain Nosler Partitions for hunting deer or moose. That is more like the old "high velocity" load by Rigby (bearing in mind that the 170-ish grain loads were from the old military loadings for the 7x57.

My own experience with the 7x57 goes back several decades. I can tell you that the round is capable for any sort of big game that we are likely to encounter in North America (deer, moose, elk, black bear). There is no advantage, in my view, of hobbling the 7x57 with heavy bullets. Stick to 140 grain bullets and moderate to slow-burning powders (IMR 4320, 4064, 4350, H414) and be mindful of your bullet seating depth (so that you are not impinging on the rifling) and your rifle should do its job.

It's a good thing that you are chronographing your loads. Keep meticulous records and enjoy your rifle.
 
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Velocity ranges for 7x57 - I used that cartridge exclusively for deer hunting since about 2004 until about 2015 - was a Ruger #1 with 22" barrel - I just looked in Nosler #9 manual - still the same as I used - max load of RL-19 with 150 grain Partition - used a Shooting Chrony - within 10 or 15 fps plus or minus 2,800 fps every time I checked it. I had used the Shooting Chrony when I initially worked up that load - I was using Rem brass (not Win) and was using Fed 210 primers (not WLR), compared to what Nosler used. I got to almost same speed that they did, in my rifle, with same powder load and barrel length - but different brass and primer - so I called that good enough for me.
 
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