7x57 reloading question

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timsinc

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Hi all

I got into reloading this spring and have a question....

I was loading some 175gr ELD X with IMR 4350 41, 43 and 44 gr to start with. I'm using the Nosler site to get the load data- they have 175gr Accubond LR that are about the same length as the ELD X so I figured it was ok....but not sure.... The ELDX measures at 1.58 and the ABLR 1.54 so close. the concern I have is seating the bullet into the to case you can tell its compressing/crushing the powder. is this ok?
45gr IMR 4350 is supposed to be 99% full case according to nosler so this is a little under but its kind of concerns me about over pressure etc? so is .04 longer an issue?

Thanks Tim
 
I like to avoid overly compressed loads if I can, though from a safety perspective I don't think there's any reason to do so.

If I were forced to use X-bullets in my 7mm I would lighten up on the weight, 140 or 150, perhaps even as light as 120 or 130. From what I've been told, X-bullets like speed, and you're not going to get much of that with 175 grs.
 
I used 7x57 on Saskatchewan white tail and mule deer close to 20 years?? Many dozen, I think? Was always RL-19 and 150 Nosler Partition. I am quite aware that the 7x57 made its "bones" in Africa with 173 and 175 round nose, but do not think we are "stuck" with that? My old Shooting Chronograph read about 2,800 fps. That worked just fine. No reason 160's or even 175's wouldn't work as well - certainly decades of stuff about the 7x57 with 175... And the 275 Rigby apparently did just fine with 140's. Old time guys were almost all "cup and core" I think - no real reason would not work today??
 
ELDX bullets are terrible hunting bullets, regular Interlocks or Speer hot core are far superior.
 
I've got a 'good enough' load worked up for 139gr Horn BTSP and Barnes 140 TTSX using W 760 still got some work to get it better but it will work on a deer for sure!

When I started getting reloading gear and stuff I picked up around 500 bullets from a guy who was getting out of reloading... 110g up to 175gr so its more of trying it out to see how they shoot because I have them.... I've always just been a cup and core kind of fella with no frills and I have seen some terrible stories of the ELDX but I have them so why not see how they shoot and if the rifle like the larger ones.
But now that I have made the rounds up just curious as to see if it safe to shoot them now.... I have a 'modern' rifle so nothing too old. Interarms Mark X
 
I use win 760 as well for 140gr bullets with mag primers re: ball powder and RE#22 with 160gr Speer Grand Slams in a BRNO 22H boringly accurate and kills game dead.Never played with the 175gr but I have a quantity.
 
Well - A noted board member looked into this years ago, and I found the same. Different brands of 7x57 cases have quite a variation in case volume, which can cause the issue you describe. In my survey, throwing 48.5 grains of H4350 in both Rem and Federal cases left a 3 mm difference in powder height at the case neck, corresponding to a difference of 3.3% in case volume.
You need to be cognizant in dealing with this when working up a load.
Otherwise, all the LR bullets are long with a gradual taper on the boat-tail. This long boat-tail ends up protruding into the case much farther than a flat-based bullet, meaning you are intruding into the space occupied by the powder. If this bothers you, tap the case with your finger to settle the powder before seating the bullet.
 
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My Hornady loading manual 9th is not new enough to show 175 gr. ELD-X bullets in 7x57. But I read that their 7x57 testing was done with Frontier / Hornady brand brass. The Nosler 9 manual uses Winchester brand cases for 175 grain in 7x57. You might be discovering the differences in case volumes described above?? Need to read the entire recipe when swapping from one maker's data to another - I suspect, in your case, it matters?? If you change components, sort of invalidates their pressure tested results? Hornady bullet, instead of Nosler bullet, different cases used by them, but I note that both used WLR primers to test. From Speer manual's warnings about TBBC bullets, apparently the internal construction of bullet can make pressure response differences - do not think you can go just by the outside shape?

In this Hornady book, they do not list IMR 4350 powder with their 175 grain bullets in 7x57. They do list Accurate 4350 with Max load at 41.1 grains.

FYI - I had read that some makers "cut off" at a certain fill level - or do not list powders that they find to be unsuitable for some cartridge and bullet combinations. Not always about a pressure level limit being reached.
 
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I have found that Remington 7x57 cases have considerably less volume than do Winchester cases.

Hornady cases are close to Winchester. I have some Herters cases, and they have less volume than
even Remington. RWS are heavy, but great quality. I have a few Hornady 275 Rigby cases here, and
they are virtually identical in Volume to the older [very good] WW Super, Winchester cases. Dave
 
Thanks all for the info, lots of things I didn't know.
I did want to get Win brass and primers (seems to be popular in the load data I was looking at) but could not find any so I am using S&B and PPU brass that I harvested from just plinking prior to starting to reload and some once fired I picked up on here. I didn't figure the cases would vary that much other than quality/longevity... figured the volume would be real close! clearly its a thing. since I started getting stuff this spring I could only find CCI and Federal primers, Win 760 and IMR 4350... not the best time to start reloading I guess.
Thanks again
 
Not sure that I go along with the "red-line" thinking any more - for sure, I used to. So, if standard 7x57 performance is not enough, then re-barrel to, or get, a 280 Rem. Or 280 AI. Or 7mm Rem Mag. Or one of the "boomer" 7mm like the STW, Weatherby or the Rem Ultra Mag. No need, any more, to try to get 280AI performance out of a 7x57. Or 7mm Rem Ultra Mag performance from a 7x61 Sharpe and Hart, for that matter. If bullets not going fast enough to your taste, get longer barrel or larger cartridge? But I am old, now, and no longer enjoy "surprises"...
 
I really don't care to hot rod it, I live in NS and most deer shooting distances I would be doing are 150m max and likely under 80m. I want to keep very close to what the load data says it was just a little concerning seating the bullets and crushing powder like that.... not a real fan of surprises either!

its the 20" barrel 'continental' with double triggers so I really don't want to blow it or me up! I really like both of us!!!

I know that being a short barrel you'll lose some speed but I have a 140gr TTSX load that shoots well (still want to tweak it a little ) that chono's at 2520 and plan to use that for deer this fall.

I just figured since I had the bullets why not see how they shoot.
 
There are techniques to "settle" a charge of powder further into a case - tapping, vibrating - recently read a post of a guy that uses an electric toothbrush against the case to vibrate it to get powder to settle - might help to alleviate that "crushing" sound and feel that you get. Was also a thing to use a very long drop tube to place powder more compactly within the case - might be an option as well. I have never seen, felt or chronographed any consequence of settling that powder into the case, so my experience is that it does nothing to the pressure curve? But I might be wrong. So I always "start low and work up". Most of my choices end up with a "dumped in" charge being reasonably close to the base of the seated bullet. Was a thing back in the day to "shake" a loaded round to hear the powder inside - might have been as much to ensure it had not gone bad or caked up, which I think can happen. But sort of have to know how it started - will not get that sound if using compressed loads from the start?

For the ranges you mention, even quite a bit further than that, should maybe focus on "precision" over "smack" - virtually most any weight of hunting 7mm bullet is going to kill deer at those ranges, if the bullet is placed properly. At 80 to 150 meters, if you did not kill that deer with 130 grain or so hunting bullet, would not likely have killed it with a 175 grain either. But notice that I wrote "hunting bullet" - some lighter ones sort of designed as a pest control or varminting bullet - very light and thin jackets - come apart very easily and do not likely penetrate like a hunting bullet should. If you have an assortment of weights, might want to watch for that?? Also, I am now getting some supply of target bullets - almost all are full metal jacket, or tiny hollow point - but similar weights to hunting bullets on hand in the same caliber - I would not expect them to expand at all on game - so likely a very poor choice, as well.
 
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OP - As you become more proficient at reloading, you can endeavour to seat the bullet out farther in the case than factory spec. "Chasing the lands" gives you more free case volume, less pressure, and more accuracy if done correctly. When you do decide to pursue this, remember that these are hunting loads, so dont "jam" the lands. Give yourself some margin, say 30 thou or so, assuming your magazine can handle the increased length.
 
I would be more concern about the loaded round fitting the magazine and having a gap from rifling to bullet.
Know what you mean about Euro double set triggers in 7x57. Have 2 myself.


and with Mannlicher stock

 
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