Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 9x57mm(ish)???

Been kicking around ideas for a future project. Does anyone here have any experience with the 9x57 Mauser? I'm thinking if a guy did one with a .358" bore(vs. the original .356") he could basically duplicate .358 Win performance at lower pressure and still be ok with factory 9x57 ammo(assuming he lived in Wonderland and actually came across some for something that out of the mainstream)...

I know, 9.3 would make more sense and all that...but it wouldn't be different, I like different.

The 9x57 is a little longer than a .358 and will get a little more velocity.

Very obsolete round. The model 54 Winchester was chambered in it and evidently a few model 70's.

I have a 98 Mauser in 9x57. I haven't done anything with it for years but remember using IMR 4320 and .358 Win. data. Surprisingly the bore is closer to .358 than .356 but is not in the best condition and the small dovetail front sight is too low to be ideal.

Lot of Huskys available in this caliber. I think most get rechambered to 9.3x62mm

Tough to get a 9.3 mm diameter bullet down a 9 mm bore.

No there isn't. Husqvarna chambered the 9.3x57 but never the 9x57.

A 9x57 would be nice. I've wanted one for a while. I do have a 358 Win. A 9x57 in a Mauser action with a bore of .358 would have several advantages, in my opinion. 1st it is in an action that isn't limited by length/bullet seating. Which I think is most important. 2nd the case shape is better for cast bullets, feeding smoothly, and a variety of bullet weights.

A few years ago I thought I wanted a rifle in 9X57MM and almost bought one for $450 if I remember correctly. I dont reload and the ammunition is not easily found.

It would be a reloader's rifle, IMO

The more I think about the idea, the more I like it...thinking it would be a dandy little woods rifle on a small ring with about a 20" barrel...

Now that I think about it, an FN Mauser sporter in 9X57MM would be super cool.

Not a bolt gun, but a few years ago I found myself hitting the "Buy It Now" button on this custom "Martini" in 9x57R. Have no idea who made it. Try finding ammo for it at Wally World...

There has been one in my family for some time...it's found it's way to me for the last 35 yrs. JP Sauer 98, half hex barrel, express sights. Grandpa's load for it is .358 Hornady 250gr over 3031. I may try some 200 gr loads with whitetails in mind. Grandpa killed a couple moose, a bear and a few deer with it and I killed a couple of black bear with it when I was younger. Below is a poor pic, along with some 280gr Western Factory loads. It's a neat little rifle.....

That is cool. Couldn't be anymore Euro.

That is a very elegant rifle!!!!

Thanks Bob! It handles like a wand. Very slim in the wrist and forearm. I'd like to hunt it more before I absolutely can't see the sights....I have a specific deer stand, short range, that it will get carried to when our season opens....

Found this one for a friend who is a big .35 caliber fan a few years ago in a local shop...



Bob

Very nice!

Here's one at Simpsons. You'd have to slug the bore. It might be close enough to shoot .358 bullets just fine. You can also have Lee make you a push through sizer for the correct diameter and simply push some .358 bullets through and be ready to roll.

Mauser 9x57

My small ring '98 was an export to Canada from colonial Africa. It had a bore that measured .357 at the breech end and .356 at the muzzle. Rifling was not worn much, so I'm not sure what to make of that. It shot OK with Hornady 250 RN .358" bullets run through a Lee .357 bullet sizer die. I loaded it with 8x57 cases run over the expander ball in my 9x57 dies, no other changes. IMR 3031 easily duplicated the factory ballistics of 2150 fps. I had some very old Kynoch ammo to compare to.
The rifle was light, handy, and kinda elegant for a plain working grade rifle. It had a couple of nicks in the barrel from being involved in a knife vs. rifle fight and a couple dents in the stock that looked like leopard tooth marks. I wish that old rifle could tell its tales. I sold it a few months ago.

Sold??? What does "sold" mean?

sold = sent on to another rifle enthusiast and the funds used to finance another rifle for me of course!

Very nice Mauser sir. Have any of you seen a Winchester M54 or M70 9X57MM in the flesh?

One of the few rifles I regret not buying was a Mannlicher Schoenauer albeit as I recall it was a 9X56. Plenty of brass and dies and but it had three strikes against it.
1) The action had received the nee plus ultra bubba treatment of drilling and tapping for every possible scope mount or rear sight.
2) The stock had a crack through the grip with a repair of questionable value.
3) The rifle was priced as if items 1 and 2 didn't exist and it was in 95%+ condition.

Never seen another like it, too bad I couldn't talk the shop down to price it for what it was worth.

Tim, you are about 18 months behind me. I had the exact game plan. I bought a .358 bore barrel and a 9x57 reamer from PT&D. The barrel went on a FN military action and in a nice, slim stock. Unfortunately, it in no way resembles the beauty SSB has, but does very nicely in the field.

The brass is necked up 8X57 and I settled on the 250 gr Hornady RN bullet and a 246 gr cast bullet. They shoot close enough together that there is no need for a scope zero change. I had a very educational discussion with some knowledgeable people on the German Rifle forum...check this thread out:

http://www.germanguns.com/upload/showthread.php?947-9-X-57-anyone

I jumped into the discussion on page 5 with my questions.

I got my rifle ready after our season started, but still had an opportunity to blood it. I can only say that a 250 gr RN at 2250 fps makes a remarkable impression on a WT buck!




I highly recommend your pursuit of this project. It has been very satisfying for me. Of course, I am the type that enjoys having something unique and different. The double takes that I got when they asked what I shot that buck with were worth every penny of the project!

If you decide to build a 9X57, I may can offer some input. I also have a once used 9X57 reamer that you may be interested in.....

I have never seen a Winchester in this chambering, actually never saw any other rifle but mine in 9x57.