7x57 Mauser

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joeyclimbing

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Gentlemen,

I have acquired a Brno 21h and a Cooper Jackson Game, both in 7x57.
I'd like to use the same bullets; 140 grain Nosler partition spitzers in both rifles, and have both Win760 and
IMR 4831 powders on hand, but am not adverse to trying other powders. Does anyone have a favourite recipient for either, or both, of these rifles?
I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences.
Thanks,
Joe
 
I haven't used 4831 with 140 gr bullets, just a bit too slow in my opinion, but I do use 760/H414. IMR 4350 works well too. My pet load is 52 gr. 760 with a 140 partition. Velocity is 2925 fps. Be aware that this is over book max. My rifle has a long throat, and every chamber is different, so work up cautiously.

I have used 4831 with 175 gr. bullets, but still find it a little on the slow side... I can't get enough in the case to get anywhere near max.
 
Check out Terminal Ballistic Research, a man out of New Zealand. He does research of different calibers, and projectiles. Mates up on game performance, with common loadings.

His pet load for the 7x57 is a 162 Amax, followed by IIRC a 140 partition. Only animal i shot with 162 Amax so far, could almost have been bayoneted so no results from me.

The old 7x57 in a modern rifle, loaded to potential is of course the ballistic twin of the 7-08. Certainly equal to any hoofed animal on the continent...will do the job, but probably better choices. I stick to 140-160 range, there just isnt the case capacity to push the larger pills at much more than 30-30 or 303 velocities.
 
I worked up to the 51.0 grains of RL-19 load straight out of the Nosler manual, with 150 gr. Partitions - 2,800 +/- from Ruger #1A 22" barrel. To be honest, could not find a measurable difference in ranging or performance among Partitions - 140's at 2900, 150's at 2800 and 160's at 2650 (all loads from Nosler #7 Manual). Drop tables show about 1 1/2" difference in 300 yard drop from 200 yard zero - I have never been able to shoot 300 yard groups that would prove that difference.
 
I have used both powders in my 7x57, the 760 with the 140's and 150's, and the 4831 with the 160's. Always got stellar performance with them.

However, my new darling with the 140 partition [and Accubond] is Reloder 17, which gives me superb accuracy and top velocities.

I'm running this in a M700 "Classic", so loads are a bit above most book listings.

Regards, Dave
 
Eagleye said:
I have used both powders in my 7x57, the 760 with the 140's and 150's, and the 4831 with the 160's. Always got stellar performance with them.

However, my new darling with the 140 partition [and Accubond] is Reloder 17, which gives me superb accuracy and top velocities.

I'm running this in a M700 "Classic", so loads are a bit above most book listings.

Regards, Dave
Click to expand...
I'm also using Reloder 17 but in my 7mm-08. 48.2g with 139gr SST's is what I've settled on so far. Now to play with the OAL and try to shrink the group's under an inch.
 
You can use the same brass if you want, but you'll have to FL resize every time. What bullet doesn't matter. You will have to work up a load for each rifle too. Both rifles will not shoot the same ammo the same way.
An A-Max is not a hunting bullet.
 
Hornady 139 grain SP, Reloder 17 gave one holer at 100 yards. Case R-P.
For Hornady 175 grain SP, Vihtavuori N165 50.2 grains gave good accuracy and average 2,470 fps. This is below max according to Vihtavuori.
 
This is a blast from the past. The best all around powder I have found in the 7x57 and 7-08 was the old H414 SL 10 that was marketed by Tom Higginson. His suggesting load data was W760. He told me it was the same thing but about 5% slower. Higginson's had reports from people like myself that it was one of the most consistent powders they ever had. It was. It wasn't temperature sensitive, metered like all ball powders and above all, it was cheap.

It gave better velocities than W760 in all of my 7x57s and 7-08. It was also the best performer in the 257 Roberts with heavy bullets.

For the 7x57, 49.0 gr of W760 will give close to 2800fps at 39,000cup and 140gr bullets. It will easily hold more in the case if you have a modern rifle.


I have taken moose, elk, bear and deer with both the 7x57 and 7-08 with those same bullets. None of them ever noticed the bullets were to light.
 
I appreciate everyone's comments, and feel I'm on the right track, thank you. Dave, can you manage the same load in more than one of your 7x57s, or are they all different? I do recognize that my brno 21 h and Cooper have different barrel lengths and clearance from the lands, but what are the chances that I may produce an accurate handload for both?
Thanks!
 
joeyclimbing said:
Gentlemen,

I have acquired a Brno 21h and a Cooper Jackson Game, both in 7x57.
I'd like to use the same bullets; 140 grain Nosler partition spitzers in both rifles, .
Thanks,
Joe
Click to expand...

Wow you are lucky these are awesome rifles. Pictures ? I have shot three different 7X57's and currently I have a CZ 550 in that caliber. I am partial to 140 grain Nosler Accubonds. I have tried IMR 4831, H414 and IMR 4350. I didn't have much luck with 4831 but H414 worked well. I used 47.5 grains.
My best load in all three and the one I use currently is 48 grains of IMR4350 ( chrony'ed at 2820 fps) . I should also tell you that in every rifle I extended my COL and with the CZ I am at 3.09". I know it doesn't seem like much but my accuracy improved quite a bit.
The reloader powders are fine but unless something has changed I found them temp sensitive so I haven't tried them in quite some time.

You might be able to use the same load for both it depends on how particular you are. I most certainly would try working up a load for each individually first. I would also determine a optimal COL for each. Those are very different rifles and I would suspect they will behave that way. You are lucky.
 
I've reloaded 139/140gr bullets extensively for 3 different 7x57 rifles. All of W760, H414, and IMR4350 worked very well. One or the other of these 3 propellants worked a tad better in each rifle, but they are all worth a try.
 
joeyclimbing said:
I appreciate everyone's comments, and feel I'm on the right track, thank you. Dave, can you manage the same load in more than one of your 7x57s, or are they all different? I do recognize that my brno 21 h and Cooper have different barrel lengths and clearance from the lands, but what are the chances that I may produce an accurate handload for both?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

They tend to differ slightly, but not so as to be unable to use the same powder for 2 different rifles. I did have a M77 Ruger Tang safety, that would digest a lot more powder than anything else, but it had a very loooong throat, and the bore was a smidgeon oversize. Did not affect accuracy, but sure did give some nice velocities. :)

Generally with W760/140 [and 139] grain bullets, I start at 49 grains and work up to a decent load. I like to see 2850 or so across the 'graph, but some rifles will not quite go there, while some will make [or even break] 3000 with that weight bullet.

I had a smoking load in my #1 Ruger 7x57 with the 150 Partition, using IMR 4831, but I cannot post that load publicly, since someone might just try it in an older Mauser and come to grief.

I also have had pretty decent results with IMR 4350 and 140's, but most of those loads are compressed, something that many reloaders are not comfortable with.

Let us know on here how things develop. Regards, Dave.
 
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