Very Kool cartridge with a Long neck - Powder capacity is about the same as a 284 Win - I like it Anyone have a rifle chambered in it ? RJ
7 x 57 Ackley Impoved
- Thread starter remington jim
- Start date
I have had two 7X57 AI's, both were Ruger M77's, one a tang saftey and the other a MKII... both were accurate and I liked the cartridge just fine... but as it turned out, in the long run, I liked the original cartridge even better. I have two 7X57's now and the AI versions are gone. Gone also are the .22-250 AI, .257 AI and .280 AI... I had a bit of an AI phase... I am back to original cartridges in all cases... when I need "a little bit more," I pull a rifle chambered for a cartridge that is "a little bit more."
I'm shooting a 7x57AI. Started with a Tikka T3 in a 7-08, got it reamed out to the original Mauser throat length (important for more powder capacity and longer bullet seating depth), and swapped the bolt stop and mag to full length. I find that H414, H4350, IMR4350, RL17 & RL19 are the best powders. I use the later 2 for my loads currently with a 140 gr TTSX and 145 gr LRX, respectively. My favorite load is 145 LRX on top of RL 19. I also have a 150 gr ELDX load that is really accurate but I'm not too fond of the bullet performance on game. I need to crimp the neck on that one as well as there isn't a lot of bullet shank for the neck to grip! I fire form using the COW method. Started with Win brass but found too many imperfections in the brass (like off centre flash holes!), so now use Hornady 275 Rigby brass! I use a collet seating die and a Redding FL sizing die set to just touch the shoulder back a couple thou.
PM me if you're looking for some loads and likewise I'm interested in any you might put together. It's a unique cartridge for sure; gets a lot of eye brow raising at the range. I find it is really efficient. I used to shoot a 7RM but found that there was way too much throat erosion with that one - shot a barrel out at 750 rounds. So I decided to go to something like the 7AI. Don't regret it. So far, I've taken a couple deer and a bull elk with it. I built this as a sheep gun.
PM me if you're looking for some loads and likewise I'm interested in any you might put together. It's a unique cartridge for sure; gets a lot of eye brow raising at the range. I find it is really efficient. I used to shoot a 7RM but found that there was way too much throat erosion with that one - shot a barrel out at 750 rounds. So I decided to go to something like the 7AI. Don't regret it. So far, I've taken a couple deer and a bull elk with it. I built this as a sheep gun.
Have both standard 7x57 and 7x57 AI rifles. I like the AI versions a little better. But I wouldn't stay up nights over it. - dan
Hi Dan Good to hear from you ! Yes it a Very KOOL cartridge and i like the long neck too ! The 416 Taylor is done and ready to shoot too !
RJBrno284 built my 7AI rig.
