Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Let's talk 7X57 - just got one today!

The 139 Hornadys are all I've loaded for mine, and a buncha one shot kills later, see no need to change.

I'm not sure what they are worth right now. I paid 300 a number of years ago and wouldn't take 500 for it now.

Another thing I like about the older Rugers is the bluing. It's as good as it gets. Polished well and very deep bluing. Those older Rugers have a very classic look to them that I really like.

140 grain Partitions for deer and antelope, 160 grain Partitions for elk, Bighorn, moose, etc. Kills em Black Flag dead.

Wayne

I'd look to 140 gr Barnes TSX. Use em in my 280, 284 and 7/08 (a close cousin to 7x57) with outstanding results.

The cartridge has a fine reputation built on 175 grain bullets, at around 2400 fps. Great penetration and good killing power on big critters. The modern loadings of 140 grain bullets can lead to some accuracy complications from bullet jump before the rifling is engaged. Give the old 175 grain loads a try. You might like them.
You asked about factory loads. Federals are very weak, in my BRNO 22f they clock only 2400 fps for the 140 gr. PSP and 2200 fps for the 175RN. Remington factory 140's are a bit better at 2500 fps. I just bought a box of Norma 156 gr. Oryx, I hear they are loaded closer to the round's potential but I have not shot them yet.
The one handload i've developed for mine uses a 160 gr. Speer GS and H4350 at just over 2500 fps. I think that's a nice combination.

I have a SS lefty Model 70 being re-barreled with a Pac Nor tube in 7X57 right now! I can't wait to get this rifle built! I will be loading the 120-140 TSX for anything that walks in N.A.. The 120 Nosler ballistic tip will also get a good workout as well.....grin I am having my PTG reamer custom spec'd to eliminate the long throat.

THAT sounds very nice indeed, Huntr!
How soon until you will be shooting it?

Hopefully I will have it back next week! Redneck, here on the campfire is building this one for me. My 3rd rifle he has built for me this year......and, it won't be the last he see's from me! The man knows the Model 70!

That is sweet!
I would like to have a 7X57 as well as a 9.3X62 built on an M70 action, probably a Classic-I don't know diddly about P64s.
Ah well, maybe someday.

Everyone should have at least two 7X57s. They are very needful.

I like the 150 grainers the best myself. It shoots great in my two.

Purdy sticks there Larry. The Mannlicher style is right up my alley. I'd like a shot of the buttplate and muzzlecap if you are willing. Heck, I'll take a bunch of closeups. I'm thinking my #1 RSI in the aforementioned caliber could use a makeover.

Larry,

Two beautiful rifles!!!
You have great taste.

Don

Larry, those are CLASSY looking rifles!
I also like your choice in scopes.
I prefer the lower power scopes and really like the Leupold VXII 2-7X33 on my big game guns.

Larry,
Those are beauties!

Here's a picture of the Ruger without the rings:

First, get the back issue of Handloader 246 Apr-May 2007. JB did a great article on handloading the 7x57.

Your throat geometry will have a huge impact on bullet selection. For example my FN Venezuelan has not been able to touch lands with 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and still keep servicable neck tension. OTOH, the "blunter" ogive of the 120 TSX has hit a sweet spot that lets me use a 99% full case of R15 and still stay 50 thou off the lands.

For cup and core bullets I LOVE the 7mm 139gr Hornady SP (Flat Base Interlock). Truly a great bullet. Have had excellent results with H4350. Am currently comparing/contrasting it with Ramshot Hunter.

Loading the 7x57 is an interesting challenge given the conservative book data.

GE

I like the idea of a 7x57 in the Ruger No.1-A, but it seems best to not expect super accuracy out of them. I like iron sights, anyway, and it seems you can find nice used ones for $450 to $500, which seems resasonable.

WFR - The 7x57mm has been my all-time favorite cartridge ever since I first heard about it from Outdoor Life and Jack O. My first one was a tang safety Ruger Model 77, my second was a Ruger Mark II, I replaced that with another Mark II and now, I own a CZ 550 American in 7x57mm. I shoot nothing but 160 grain Nosler Partitions and 162 grain Hornady SSTs over H414. The CZ has the long, very long in fact, throat on it and I load so the bullets' ogive is .15 off the lands. This means the bullets are seated way out there. I have slightly less than one caliber in the neck of the Remington cases. My SSTs measure something like 3.295 inches OAL. My load is 48.3 grains of powder fired by Federal 210 primers. With this load I chronographed it in New Mexico when I lived there and it measured 20 shot string average of 2,815 fps. That was at 8,000 feet elevation. In El Paso, at my brother's home, the same load measured 2,784 fps. El Paso was at 4,400 feet or something like that. I have used that combo on whitetail deer in Texas, wild hogs in Texas, Elk in New Mexico and Colorado, antelope in Wyoming, mule deer in New Mexico. I even used it on a wild turkey with a head shot in Texas where shooting turkey with a rifle is okay. With the SSTs my group averages off sandbag rests have been .461 inch three-shot group and .540 groups with the partitions. By the way, all of the animals I hunted, with the exception of one hog, were one shot kills. I popped a 5x5 bull broadside at 325 yards into the boiler room with the partition and it was not a bang-flop, but at the shot he hunched slightly, took a couple of steps backwards, sat on his butt like a big puppy dog and then fell over dead. The hog was shot with a killing shot the first time, but I put another round into him when he moved. The cartridge is fantastic. I did have to bed my Ruger rifles, but I did not have a pressure point in the forearm area. The barrels were freefloated. Good luck with your rifle and that wonderful little 7x57mm. Tom Purdom

Thanks Tom!
A few more questions:
What is a decent factory load to try so I'll have some brass to reload, Hornady?
Also, what's the preferred brass to reload with?
What's the best online place to order reloading supplies?
What's the best dies for rifle reloading?
I have a RCBS Rockchucker Supreme reloading kit that I haven't opened yet.
I think I'm going to start my reloading this winter with 7X57/.280 (have 7MM bullets and .280 dies already) and .375 Win (have brass already).
Thanks for all the help and advice.
WFR

You wanna know the meaning of life too?