7 X 57 Best Bullet Weight

albayo

albayo

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Born on PEI, Live in NB
Gentlemen I need some advice.
I have a Ruger No1 in 7 X 57 and last year I shot it and got excellent groups with it. This year I used some Remington 140 grain ammo and it grouped about 3"+ at 100 yds. Last year got 5 rounds inside a Loonie. I think I had heavier bullets last year. I gave the brass to a guy to reload and he tossed the boxes and is going to put them in the plastic loading boxes.
Now I have to search for a good load.
Is the 140 grain useless in a Ruger? Can I use the rest in a military Mauser and get better results?

What's the best bullet weight for a Ruger No1 in 7 X 57???
 
Depends on the throat, deep or not?? Some 7x57s were designed specifically for 175gns. I had a Ruger tang 77 in 7x57 & couldn't get it to shoot squat except long RN Sierria's. I ended up rechambering to 280 & now it shoots like a house on fire :)

Check the neck dia chamber specs of a 7x57, then compare to the dia of a loaded cartridge & you'll see why some have problems with that cartridge...can you say SLOPPY!
 
For general use, I think the 160 gr bullet is close to ideal in a 7mm bore size. Some folks seem to prefer the 139/140 gr bullets in the 7X57 for higher velocity, but I think the 160 provides a nice balance, not unlike what a 180 gr does in a .30 caliber, and you will notice that the 160 gr 7X57 loads produce velocity comparable to the 180 gr .308.
 
what is the rifling rate/twist on that rifle?

IMHO go for the heaviest bullet it will stabilize. Though you gain velocity by going lighter you start to loose the tremendous BC and SD that a 175ish grain bullet offers. The heavier bullet 'holds' more energy over distance then the lighter bullet at > velocity.
For the partial inch flatterness of a lighter bullet it is not worth it.

near any bullet from a 7remmag will flatten anything in NB.

The other considration with a Ruger, with it's stock, is that maybe it simply had it's self bedded better a year ago!
 
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I tend to agree with Boomer's take on an ideal bullet weight for the 5x57 although it would be dependant on the rate of twist. I have an 1908 Brazilian and a Brno ZH 304 and while I haven't done any serious testing with different bullet weights, one that seems to 'work well' in both is the Hornady 154gr RN.
 
maybe your ruger doesn't like that particular bullet. i have shot lots of 7's from 7x57 to 7 stw, all would shoot 140's but not the same bullet. try noz partitions or a/b's or even tsx's. i'm sure you will find a 140 that shoots well in your ruger.
 
Ruger #1 should have 1-9 twist, which will stabilise all currently available 7mm bullets. It may have a long throat, as mentioned. However, you mentioned that you got good groups with "last year's ammo", as opposed to the Rem 140s you are currently trying. I don't suppose you kept "last year's ammo" box, did you? That would give you your first clue as to what weight you rifle likes. The trick with a hunting rifle is to find a bullet that it will shoot accurately that is also a good bullet for the game you are hunting. If you don't handload (and I'm guessing from your comments that you don't), you are basically going to have to buy and try all brands/types/weights in your rifle until you hit the jackpot. Which is why a lot of us reload. - dan
 
Ruger #1's usually have a long throat--factory loaded 140's have a long jump to the rifling and accuracy usually sucks. If you can handload them out closer to the lands they usually do quite well. My last #1 would shoot 140's to 1 1/4" if seated out. It also give slightly more powder room if you are working up higher velocity loads.

FWIW, 44Bore
 
Hornady 154gr Round nose, Interbond and Spire point all go like this in my Brno. This is the fifth group like this so I am pretty confident in it. Needless to say I started stocking up on 154gr projectiles. Your mileage will vary, just try some different weights. Biggest thing in my rifle was adjusting the COL. I thought the closer to the lands the better but not in this case, it likes them seated to the cannelure and I am fine with that! The groups went from 2" to this just with that adjustment! 140-145gr shot just like your rifle but I did not try seating them deeper.
DSC01028.jpg


This load has two kills under it's belt this fall. Hopefully it will get one more before another caliber gets it's turn.
 
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I have tried everything from 139 up to 175 and I keep going back to the 154s. It seems to be the only thing that groups under an inch.
 
I have #1 RSI in 7x57. Before buying it, I did some reading on the internet, and it seemed a lot of guys had contact between the metal end cap on the stock, and the barrel. Many guys buffed it until there was no contact, and groups shrunk considerably.

Might help if yours in the RSI model.
 
I've owned three 7x57s and find it to be an excellent deer cartridge with either a 139gr Hornady or the 140gr Nosler BT. Both of these bullets performed well in the M700 Rem and a military M98 Mauser. I've also had good accuracy with various 150-160gr bullets,but have'nt used these on game.
 
7 X 57 Accuracy In Ruger No 1

I would like to thank you all for your advice and I will try to check out all you suggestions.
I will check the twist of the Ruger No 1 and try out my other 7 X 57 rifles with the 140's. I have a custom built commercial Mauser action, and a Brno 21 H in 7 X 57. I will check if I can identify any ammo boxes from last year. I never throw them out so I must have them around here. I need a commercial stock for my custom 7 X 57 as the one I have is too long and I don’t want to cut it because it will ruin the look.
When I bought the ammo I had some choices of bullet weight, I have a Remington 700 BDL in 7mm08 that takes 140 gr. I always buy 140's for it and I forgot about the older 7 X 57 loads. I have enough bullets and supplies to load a few hundred rounds but haven't reloaded a round in my life. I just never get the time to do anything without being interrupted, being ADD, and taking medication for chronic pain doesn't help. For that reason I get a friend to load some rounds for me.
I will fire some more of the 140 grains in my Mausers and see what accuracy they will get. I have two Brazilian 1935’s, three 1980’s, one 1922, five or six Spanish 7mm’s, two or three Mexican, and about 8 or more others I can try.
I have a weak spot for 6.5 X 55’s and 7 X 57’s.
 
Some of the south american countries switched to 140 grain bullets that really smoked out of the 29" barrels. You used to be able to find 50 round boxes of Kynoch loaded fmj's but they had cupro-nickle jackets--shot fast and flat and grouped decently in a couple of 1908's I had but the metal fouling in the bore took some work to get out.

7x57's rock for most deer (and larger game) hunting--as long as I can handload, my custom 7x57 would be the last hunting rifle I would give up.

44Bore
 
Don't have that rifle, so here are some general observations:

Each rifle is differnent and some have very pronounced preferences for a given bullet. If you find something that performs, stock up.

Your buddy can have the identical rifle and it could very well have very differnent preferences.

If a rifle is not grouping, make sure you try a flat base and a round nose bullet. These are much more forgiving in a mediocre barrel.

Deer are not difficult to kill. I hunt deer with my moose load (heavy bullet) so as to do less meat damage in a deer. My 7x57 moose load is a 160 gr Speer Grand Slam.

I am hunting in the east (short range). In the west I would use 140 gr spitzer.
 
7x57

I had a good friend load me up some Barnes TSX in 140 gr in my custom 7x57. That Shilen barrel on this rifle shoots real well with a variety of loads. The 140gr took care of a 300 lb mule buck, at close range and a whitey buck at 280 yards the day before, in southern Alberta last season and will be using the same load for cow moose in Wainwright. FS
 
1 7mm Bullet I have been waiting to try is the 154gr Interbond from Hornady. It has VERY high B.C (.525). Has anyone shot Deer, Elk or Moose with Interbonds.

I am going to use some 160gr Accubonds on Mule Deer hunt this Fall but would like to try Interbonds next year.
 
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