7X57 Mauser Loads

dgradinaru

dgradinaru

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Well im getting a zastava 7x57 with a 24inch barrel. Im looking for a good stout load...I looked at my reloading books , but most of it is loaded for the 93 action mausers. Mine will be in a modern new mauser 98 action.

What im looking for is 160-175gr bullet @ approx. 2600-2700.

Powders I want to use is imr 4350

Can anyone recommend me a good load. For big game hunting.
 
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I use the Hornady 175 gr RN and can load it to 3.150" in my long-throated military M98.

I have used:

- 45.0 grs of IMR4350;
- 51.0 grs of H4831 (my favourite); and
- 54.0 grs of Re22.

None of these loads exceeded 2600 fps in the 24" barrel.
 
Be careful about your assumptions re: published 7x57 data.
Starting low and working up to a reliable reasonable load is a good idea.
If you really want max velocity from a 7 mm bore with heavier bullets maybe you should start with a .280 or 7 mag.
There ain't no free lunch, nor any substitute for case capacity. The variability in 7x57 chambers and throat lengths makes it necessary to be cautious.
 
Would have to agree about trying to hot rod a 7x57. A new modern Zastava could take stout loads, but really if you want to push a 7x57 then why not buy a more potent caliber?

Find a load for the 7x57 that shoots accurate, each rifle is going to have its own sweet spot. Even so, the most potent 7x57 handload is going to be approaching weak 7 mag factory power. Use the right club for the shot to steal from Golf.

The 7x57 is a wonderful game killer. Just have to know its limitations.
 
Buckets of data on Hodgdon's site. IMR 4350 does not go to those velocities with a 175 though. Highest velocities are with compressed loads of Hybrid V100. And those are only 2300 fps with a max load.
A 160 IMR4350 Max load runs 2499 fps.
Read and follow your manual.
 
nowarningshot said:
Would have to agree about trying to hot rod a 7x57. A new modern Zastava could take stout loads, but really if you want to push a 7x57 then why not buy a more potent caliber?

Find a load for the 7x57 that shoots accurate, each rifle is going to have its own sweet spot. Even so, the most potent 7x57 handload is going to be approaching weak 7 mag factory power. Use the right club for the shot to steal from Golf.

The 7x57 is a wonderful game killer. Just have to know its limitations.
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Im not trying to hotrod the caliber, and I understand I can get a 7mm rem mag in the same rifle @ the same price, but I want to get what the 7x57 is capable of getting and not weak factory ammo results.

For bullet selection I was thinking 150 and up as my 6.5 will cover my 120-140 class bullets probably better. I was thinking of getting the 154gr Hornady SST or Nosler Accubond 160gr.
 
sunray said:
Buckets of data on Hodgdon's site. IMR 4350 does not go to those velocities with a 175 though. Highest velocities are with compressed loads of Hybrid V100. And those are only 2300 fps with a max load.
A 160 IMR4350 Max load runs 2499 fps.
Read and follow your manual.
Click to expand...

See this is under load data. I looked around and found better data suitable for a modern action. 160gr bullet @ 2650-2700fts and a 175gr@ 2550-2600.
 
dgradinaru said:
See this is under load data. I looked around and found better data suitable for a modern action. 160gr bullet @ 2650-2700fts and a 175gr@ 2550-2600.
Click to expand...

SAAMI standard pressures for the 7x57 are set as 46,000cup. This is in deference to the pre 98 Mauser actions.

I use 7-08 loads as starting loads for the post 98 and later commercial actions.

If things look OK, I will add more powder. My favorite load for the 160gr SST Interlock is 50.5 grains of Re19 over a CCI 250 magnum primer.

The rifle I use it in is a cut down 1935 Brazilian Mauser that I picked up many years ago. The barrel has been docked at 24 inches and I get an honest 2700fps from this load. The twist rate is 1-9.

Caution, this is a stout load. It may even be dangerous in your rifle. Use it at your own risk. It is very slightly crushed.

One thing many people are mistaken about is the so called light recoil generated by the 7x57 cartridge. When it is loaded to 50,000 cup or more, it has as much recoil as any other cartridge when loaded to pressures of 50,000cup to 60,000 cup.

There is a very good reason why the 7x57 is considered to be such a fine all around cartridge. It is. Just like the 6.5x55 it is just plain good at what it does.

The 7-08 is a kissing cousin as far as case capacity goes.

Commercial 7x57 cases will hold more powder than milsurp cases, which are thicker in the web area. Not that I've seen any surplus 7x57 ammo in Canada for the last 30 years or so anyway. Most of it, even back then was Berdan Primed and was tossed out after shooting, even that excellent stuff out of Brazil and Spain.

Great choice for a hunting cartridge OP. I actually thought you were a die hard 8x57 shooter, which is another greatly under appreciated cartridge.
 
bearhunter said:
SAAMI standard pressures for the 7x57 are set as 46,000cup. This is in deference to the pre 98 Mauser actions.

I use 7-08 loads as starting loads for the post 98 and later commercial actions.

If things look OK, I will add more powder. My favorite load for the 160gr SST Interlock is 50.5 grains of Re19 over a CCI 250 magnum primer.

The rifle I use it in is a cut down 1935 Brazilian Mauser that I picked up many years ago. The barrel has been docked at 24 inches and I get an honest 2700fps from this load. The twist rate is 1-9.

Caution, this is a stout load. It may even be dangerous in your rifle. Use it at your own risk. It is very slightly crushed.

One thing many people are mistaken about is the so called light recoil generated by the 7x57 cartridge. When it is loaded to 50,000 cup or more, it has as much recoil as any other cartridge when loaded to pressures of 50,000cup to 60,000 cup.

There is a very good reason why the 7x57 is considered to be such a fine all around cartridge. It is. Just like the 6.5x55 it is just plain good at what it does.

The 7-08 is a kissing cousin as far as case capacity goes.

Commercial 7x57 cases will hold more powder than milsurp cases, which are thicker in the web area. Not that I've seen any surplus 7x57 ammo in Canada for the last 30 years or so anyway. Most of it, even back then was Berdan Primed and was tossed out after shooting, even that excellent stuff out of Brazil and Spain.

Great choice for a hunting cartridge OP. I actually thought you were a die hard 8x57 shooter, which is another greatly under appreciated cartridge.
Click to expand...

Well I still am a die hard 8x57mm shooter- Its pretty hard to beat the 8x57 with a 200gr bullet @ 2650fts for non magnum calibers- even the 30-06 falls short at this point. Im getting the 7x57 to complete my hunting rigs family. 6.5x55,7x57,8x57,and 9.3x62 is all I will ever need. Which I think are the best cartridges- very powder efficient and hit fast and hard.
 
I use 52 grns of IMR 4350 with 160 Grn.noslers in my Ruger # one.Good killer to 500 yds if you can shoot that far.Been using this load for many,many years.It is taken from the old Hornady loading manual.I also long throat it for my Ruger.The joy of the 7x57 is its mild recoil.My little wife carries one and shoots it well.
 
Ronforca said:
I use 52 grns of IMR 4350 with 160 Grn.noslers in my Ruger # one.Good killer to 500 yds if you can shoot that far.Been using this load for many,many years.It is taken from the old Hornady loading manual.I also long throat it for my Ruger.The joy of the 7x57 is its mild recoil.My little wife carries one and shoots it well.
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Your load generates around 45,000cup, that's why the recoil is so mild. Nice combination though. Does your Ruger have the 25 in barrel or is it an international????
 
Mine is the Light Sporter.Have had it for a long time.It has the 22 in . barrel.I use the 160 Grn Noslers for Deer,Moose,Elk and Black Bear.Good shooter.
.
 
I bought a CZ 550 ( 24" barrel) in 7X57 last year from Prophet River ( awesome guy !) and have tried a few loads. I currently use 47 grains of IMR 4350 and a 140 grain Accubond. I have chrony'd the load at just over 2700 fps. I have tried the 160's but I never did follow through as the 140 works so well. I also tried H414 and IMR 4831. The H414 wasn't bad and the IMR 4831 just didn't work well at all. The seating depth of my bullet is something I am still trying to figure out. I believe most data loads use a COL of 3.00" which is short in my rifle.

I did the blacken a barely seated bullet in an empty case and chambered it but I need to find a better way.

Back in the fall of 2012 Rifle Magazine did a whole issue on the 7mm's. There is a ton of stuff on the 7X57. I am sure you could find a back issue. It is worth having if you are big into 7mm's like me.
 
Why not? said:
I have loaded various 175 gr bullets in several 7X57s over the years. It is no trick at all to get past 2600 fps with excellent accuracy and long case life.

Ted
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...and many others report the same. I have not been able to do that in my present hunting rifle (a sporterized Brazilian M98) and keep primer pockets tight after four firings, but 2500 fps with a 175 gr 7mm bullet will drill through a lot of animal!
 
I use the RL-19 2800 fps 150 Nosler Partition load right out of the Nosler Manual in my 22" 1A. Had also tried 175 RN Hornady, 139 Hornady SPBT, 140 Partition, but settled on the "Speer 145 for practice and Nosler 150 for real" combination. Well worth to read articles by John Barsness - I have had very good experience with his advice on cartridges and loads.
 
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