Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7x57AI

I'll keep it in mind!

RevMikek, I acquired a 7x57 AI several years ago for the wife to take on an elk hunt but we found out the rifle was just too physically large for her. I set it back in the safe and that is where it set for several years but I took it and decided I was going to make a shooter out of it. It has all the right stuff, Rem 700 action, 25 inch Proof fiber carbon barrel, McMillan stock and aftermarket trigger. I found an outstanding load , Hornady 162 SST with 51.5 gr of RL22. Shoots less than 1/2 group and if you want a little more the 51.8 gr load shot just over 1/2 inch group. MV is a big question since I don't have a chrono. My guess is both loads are about 2750 fps .

Sounds like a cool rifle. Looks like you could really lean on it quite alot too.

Cartridge : 7 x 57 mm Ack. Imp.
Bullet : .284, 162, Hornady SST InterLock 28452
Useable Case Capaci: 53.404 grain H2O = 3.467 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.071 inch = 78.00 mm
Barrel Length : 25.0 inch = 635.0 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-22 *C

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 83 41.20 2161 1680 26106 7606 85.5 1.751
-18.0 85 42.23 2218 1769 27844 7883 87.0 1.705
-16.0 87 43.26 2275 1861 29702 8154 88.4 1.660
-14.0 89 44.29 2332 1956 31690 8419 89.7 1.617
-12.0 91 45.32 2390 2054 33822 8676 91.0 1.574
-10.0 93 46.35 2448 2155 36109 8924 92.3 1.532
-08.0 95 47.38 2506 2259 38563 9162 93.4 1.488
-06.0 97 48.41 2564 2365 41198 9388 94.4 1.442
-04.0 99 49.44 2623 2474 44032 9603 95.4 1.398
-02.0 101 50.47 2681 2586 47082 9804 96.3 1.356
+00.0 103 51.50 2740 2700 50369 9990 97.1 1.315
+02.0 106 52.53 2799 2817 53911 10161 97.8 1.275
+04.0 108 53.56 2857 2937 57749 10316 98.4 1.237 ! Near Maximum !
+06.0 110 54.59 2916 3058 61895 10453 98.9 1.199 ! Near Maximum !
+08.0 112 55.62 2974 3182 66390 10571 99.3 1.163 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 114 56.65 3033 3308 71269 10670 99.7 1.129 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 103 51.50 2891 3006 61896 9877 100.0 1.209 ! Near Maximum !
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 103 51.50 2540 2321 40502 9504 89.5 1.450

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I'm not one to point out the failures of others...but...you failed to mention the introduction of feeding issues.

Not always a given and I've seen less of the issue with longer rounds. All of my .223AI's would feed but none were smooth. AICS and M5 bottom metal was THE fix.

The lack of trimming from your first listed result of AI'ing is why I love it for the .223. That love is likely fostered more by my hatred of trimming brass than anything else.

They have those. They're called 7mm-08.

I have one but it doesn’t stop the want.

Plus the Montana 7-08 is pretty short on mag length if you wanna get into some longer than normal bullets.

It does work fine though and has quickly become a great rifle to carry.

I'm not being argumentative; just trying to learn. Given a gunsmith that knows what he's doing, are the feed issues any worse than with a .284 Win or any of the older/newer straight-walled sharp-shouldered cases? I'm thinking the SAUMs and WSMs, as well as the new PRCs.


Thanks

I'd stay with a vanilla 7x57 Mauser and build a rifle around it. This will give all the desired mag length and the barrel should be selected for the length of bullets used. If you simply must, ok fine, make it a 7x57AI.

The 7x57 Mauser has been getting it done for a long time, and removes any questions regarding reliably feeding.