7x57 vs. 7mm-08, ammo price and availability?

kyle700

kyle700

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what have you guys found. the two, as far as my reading indicates, are basically identical ballistically, but I tend to agree the mauser wins in the character department. what do shells cost and how easy are they to get?
 
Character is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but there are some very nice looking 7mm-08s out there in a few modern models of rifle. I had a very nice Ruger M77 MkII walnut in 7mm-08 that I recently sold. which was an outstanding looking/shooting rifle. The old Mausers are a nice looking rig too for sure. As for ammo, I have never looked for the Mauser, but the 7mm-08 are availalble at most (if not all) the shops in Ontario and are similarly priced to say .308 Win (the parent case) or .243. As for ballistics, I wold have to give the edge to the Remington chambering. I do like my .257 Roberts in Ruger M77 as well, since this is a necked down 7x57 and the ballistics are pretty well established with this 'wildcat' too. :)
 
I prefer old school myself, as far as 7x57 off the shelf ammo goes you'd likely be limited to Rem Corelokt or Winch Grey Box.
You could have a good gun shop bring in some Euro stuff for you. If you look around you could get some Sellier, Prvi or Norma.
This would be a good round to get into handloading is plan on shooting plenty, factory is readily available but handloading for this round is worthwhile unlike some others.
 
Mount Sweetness said:
I prefer old school myself, as far as 7x57 off the shelf ammo goes you'd likely be limited to Rem Corelokt or Winch Grey Box.
You could have a good gun shop bring in some Euro stuff for you. If you look around you could get some Sellier, Prvi or Norma.
This would be a good round to get into handloading is plan on shooting plenty, factory is readily available but handloading for this round is worthwhile unlike some others.
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I have seen plenty of Federal blue box 7X57 and I think some of the site sponsors can access PRVI Partizan factory ammo .
My hunting partner swears by PRVI 175 gr. loads in his 7X57..
 
If you are looking for factory offerings then the 7-08 is the way to go.

Factory 7-08 you will find is loaded to perform slightly better than the 57 due to the 7-08 being available in newer stronger actions and the 57 has to be settled down for safety reasons and use in older rifles that may not handle modern pressures.

However in a modern rifle chambered in either and handloading, you will be able to mirror the two pretty close.

140's IMO have been the best performers in these SA 7mm fellows.
 
^^^ what Kelly said, I have both, love both, but if you are just looking for one that you can easily get factory rolled, stick with the 7mm08. However, if you get into hand loading, the 7x57 is much classier!
 
I have seen it written that the 7mm-08 is a hammer at 500 yards.
I have not seen anything as such about the 7x57.
I too, have both and love them both.
 
I have been using the 7X57 for years and love it.
Lucky for me a buddy had one and sold it so I was able to purchase all 7 boxes of his Federal Premium with 140 Gr. Nosler Partition loads.
They shoot well and that bullet has never let me down, I handload as well but just for fun and practice have enough hunting rounds to last me a few years.

Have to admit I have never tried the 7-08 but it can't be all that bad ... comes down to personal preference as with all guns and ammo and that's what makes it fun.

JJ
 
two-dogs said:
I have seen it written that the 7mm-08 is a hammer at 500 yards.
I have not seen anything as such about the 7x57.
I too, have both and love them both.
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The 7x57 is a hammer at 500 yards.

There, now you have seen it written, on the Internet to boot! Lol
 
Al Simmons in Hamilton ALWAYS has plenty of 7x57 to choose from, this includes Prvi Partizan 173 grain and S&B 140 grain. I swear by Prvi, and the brass is excellent quality and suitable for reloading. Yes, 7mm-08 is more plentiful at places like Chinese Tire, etc... but most gun stores worth their weight in gold carry 7x57. Personally, I stay away from Remington and Winchester commercial 7x57 as they're soft loaded. I understand that Hornady now makes 7x57 in SST, but I haven't shot it yet to rate it. LeBaron carries the Hornady 7x57.
 
You need to be a handloader to get the best out of the 7x57. Mine gives the .270 a pretty good run for it's money. If you don't load your own, and aren't planning to, the 7-08 makes more sense, though to me it's kind of like recommending a Mazda Miata over a Porche 911 or Austin Healey.
 
9.3mauser said:
You need to be a handloader to get the best out of the 7x57. Mine gives the .270 a pretty good run for it's money. If you don't load your own, and aren't planning to, the 7-08 makes more sense, though to me it's kind of like recommending a Mazda Miata over a Porche 911 or Austin Healey.
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Would that make the 7.62x39 a Yugo?
 
If you are a slave to the ammo manufacturers, then the 7mm-08. If you handload, then the 7X57 does all that the 7mm-08 does and more.
 
If all you are hunting is smaller stuff like deer and black bear with factory ammo, 7mm-08 is superior. More selection of 140 gr bullets, higher velocity, and lower cost. But if you put big stuff like moose and elk and such in the program, European loads with 154 -175 gr. bullets definitely work better. Norma, RWS, etc ammo is very good but expensive, and not always readily available. I wasn't aware of the Prvi 7x57 ammo but it sounds like another good option. American ammo ( Rem, Win, Fed) is very weak and not loaded to full potential. I mostly shoot handloads, and as previously mentioned the 7x57 clearly pulls ahead of the 7mm08 in versatility when handloaded.

This little moose was taken at over 200 yds with a Norma 175 factory load from my Brno 22F. A 140 from a 7-08 would have worked as well on this calf , but moose can get pretty big and I have more confidence in heavy bullets for heavy game. FWIW, I shoot 4 different 7x57's, and my sons both shoot 7mm08's. I like them all.

IMGP1091.jpg
 
Andy said:
If you are a slave to the ammo manufacturers, then the 7mm-08. If you handload, then the 7X57 does all that the 7mm-08 does and more.
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Hit the nail squarely on the head, Andy.

My old BSA 7X57 will drive 140 Partitions well over 2900 fps, put them into less tha five inches at 300 meters, and kills like lightning!

Ted
 
You can load any 7mm with bullets up to 195 grain, maybe heavier I didn't check, so either way the both are versatile. The 7mm08 comes out on top if you don't hand load, they are equal if you do. It's all about what you want, I would just find a nice rifle chambered in either, the first one that fit me and I liked, I would take.
 
Other than some numbers on paper, what are the differences in the real world? does it give you 100 yards more range? or 500 ft-lbs more energy?

However you are correct, I have limited experience with loading the sweet little 7x57. Although it is a favourite of mine.
 
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