175gr - 7x57 load recommendations?

Mount Sweetness

Mount Sweetness

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I would like to try out 175gr RN in my modern 7x57 with a 20in barrel.

As you know the max loads are all over the place for 7x57, so I am here to ask for real world recommendations on a hunting load using 175gr bullets.

Do you have a pet load to share?

I have W760 and Varget on hand.
 
You can go to www.surplusrifle.com. You can look up threads on 7mm Mauser. It's not a common round any longer so you'll have to ask some Mauser connaisseurs about a good load. Good luck. I'm only loading for 6.5x55mm, 7.5x55mm & 8mm Mauser. I have zero data for the 7x57mm.
 
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Mount Sweetness said:
I would like to try out 175gr RN in my modern 7x57 with a 20in barrel.

As you know the max loads are all over the place for 7x57, so I am here to ask for real world recommendations on a hunting load using 175gr bullets.

Do you have a pet load to share?

I have W760 and Varget on hand.
Click to expand...

The load I use for my 7x57 Brno is as follows

Federal case
CCI 200 large rifle primer
38.5 grains of IMR4064 powder
175 grain round nose CIL KKSP

I know this doesn't match with the components you have listed but I am very happy with the results in my rifle.
I was fortunate to inherit a bunch of 160 and 175 grain CIL KKSP bullets from an old friend. I have also used the 175 gr Hornady RN and it also works very well.

I find 4064 to be a very good powder in the 7x57.

Cheers
 
Mount Sweetness said:
I would like to try out 175gr RN in my modern 7x57 with a 20in barrel.

As you know the max loads are all over the place for 7x57, so I am here to ask for real world recommendations on a hunting load using 175gr bullets.

Do you have a pet load to share?

I have W760 and Varget on hand.
Click to expand...

In that fine chambering, of the powders you have, W760 is the better of the two.

However, to squeeze performance out of that 7x57 with 175 grain pills, I would recommend RL22

You could start at 46 grains and work up carefully.
In a modern, strong action, you should reach optimum at around 50 grains, possibly even 51. [I had one Ruger 7x57 that would digest 52 safely]

I have always had good accuracy in the 7x57 with the heavy bullets, but my 700 Classic likes all weights from 130 up.

Regards, Dave
 
If your rifle is a strong one, the 7X57 can be a top performer. With a 175 start at 40 grs of 760 or 35 grs of Varget, then work up in the normal fashion. While I'd expect better performance with 760, I'd be inclined to experiment with slower extruded powders when loading with heavy bullets. Those powders (760 and Varget) might do better with 140 gr bullets, and a 140 gr TTSX at 2700-2900 would be a lightning bolt out of the blue.
 
It depends too on the OAL you can use (my rifle's throat is long and I can go to 3.150") and the case capacity of the brass you use (I use Prvi which has a large case capacity). My best load with the Hornady 175 gr RN is with 51.0 grs of H4831SC. I get about 2400 fps in a 20 barrel.

Here's some data for "Modern Strong Action)" that's useful as a guide: http://www.speer-bullets.com/pdf/7mm_Mauser_DeepCurl_1640_Modern_DataFile.pdf

There's no W760 (H414), listed, but IMR4350 and H4350 approximate the loads you can use, and Varget is not listed for the 175 gr bullet and there's a reason - it's not the best choice with the heavier bullets.
 
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I prefer this from the Nosler online data:

http://www.nosler.com/7x57-mauser

Viht N165 ~2500 fps, load density ~95%, most accurate, 46.5 to max 50.5 grains
175 grain spitzer, 3.045 O.A.C.L., Primer wlr, barrel 22", case holds 48.7 grains water.

BTW Vihtavuori data has max for this calibre at 50.7. In new Winchester brass this is a seriously compressed load when seated to the cannelure, and is good for <1 moa.
 
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I have found that W760 or H414 are excellent powders in the 7x57 up to about 145 gr bullets. W785 or H450 were better for the heavier bullets. However neither 450 or 785 are on the market anymore. Accurate Magpro is a ball powder with a burning speed very close to W785 or H450 and it is available at most dealers that handle Accurate powders. There is a wide variation of throats in 7x57 rifles and case capacities can vary quite a bit as well. I would suggest you start at about 45 grs of Magpro with a 175 gr bullet and work up 1 gr at a time watching for for signs of excessive pressure and what groups well in your rifle. Hope that helps
 
rokoro said:
There is a wide variation of throats in 7x57 rifles and case capacities can vary quite a bit as well.
Click to expand...

All German-made 7x57s made for a military contract should have the the standard long throat/freebore; Lothar-Walther still makes Mauser replacement barrels to that specification unless you specify otherwise. (and pay for it)

Mausers are strong rifles, but I agree that it is best to start small and increase powder charge with caution.
In my Zastava Mauser with new Lothar-Walther barrel at the posted max load the fired case and primer show no signs of high pressure, but I can't be sure that I'm not feeling stickybolt.
 
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