The first deer rifle I was going to use was a milsurp Mauser (can't remember what country or if it was a '98 or not) 7X57. Dad bought it for me and we couldn't hit squat with it. I believe the barrel was pretty much without rifling by the time he got it. So it went down the road. I had a soft spot for the 7X57 ever since. Short version is that the last two centerfire rifles I purchased were in 280 Rem (for me) and in 7mm-08 (for Dad). Oddly enough I worked up a very accurate handload in my 280 with 139gr Hornady SPs that is well....like a stout 7X57 load velocity wise. Guess I got what I wanted...so to speak.
