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

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.