Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7X57 handloads.

Ok, right from the start I'm not trolling or trying to stir the pot. Why is the 7X57 load data so mild. I know there are a ton of old guns out there chambered for this round as it is older than the 30-30. But, why not have a separate section for modern rifles like they have for the 45-70. It's hard for me to believe that the 7mm-08 should be out doing a 7X57 which has more usable case capacity. Is this a case design issue or just they usual fear of loading and old number to modern specs. Just FYI I own a 7mm-08 and love it. However, I hate it when good old cartridges are left to go into obscurity because they aren't loaded to their potential.

If you have a 7 x 57 on a strong action, then just take 7/08 load data and work up...

however there are a lot of good bullets available for the 7mm Mauser, that are perfect for the cartridge, even it is loaded for milder older actions..

contrary to what serious hunters want to hear, the fact still is that most game in this country is taken within 100 yds..and even a higher percentage is taken within 200 yds..

so anything a little better than a 30/30 is more than adequate..

The Speer data I have is suppose to be loasded a little warmer. Try buying a Loadbook and seeing what each bullet company has to say.
What I do with all of them is to load where I get any sort of high pressure indication, say a little head expansion, on a hot day, then reduce that load by a full 5%. Check the velocity and see where you are.
My old 7X57 Ruger would throw 140 gr. NP's close to 2800 fps. That would deal with anything I cared to shoot out past 400 yds. any time. I found, long ago, that 2700 fps. will do for almost anything with a BC near .400. 2800 fps. is plenty. E

I agree that the 7x57 data in the Speer manual is not so "mild." It depends a lot on the rifle too. The maximum loads in Speer manual #13 are right at maximum in my Ruger M77R MkII. There seems to be a little more room to "play" in my M77ST round top and my #1A, and my old pre-warning 77R seems almost immune to pressure. I suspect differences in the throat dimensions, but haven't really checked.

The loads in Speer #13 will handily kill any game I would care to shoot at with a 7x57.

I do have to agree that factory loads and most data for the 7x57 is a little on the puny side. Yet, those loads do kill well. I do push the 140 gr. ballistic tips to 2800 FPS in my Winchester M70 Featherweight but that same load is way too hot for use in my custom rifle based on an FN mauser action. Both rifles are extremely accurate, more so than they really need to be for hunting, but I'm not gonna complain. Probably the best powders to get the 7x57 going strong are H-414 and W-760. It is said that they are just different lots of the same powder and I'm inclined to agree. All I know is the 140 gr. ballistic tip averages .75" and the 170 gr. Sierra round nose .375" from the M70 and the Mauser will do right at .75" with Winchester's 145 gr. Power point factory load. At 2600 FPS, that load is no barn burner but is more than adequate for hunting. you just have to sneak a bit closer.
Paul B.

I agree the 7X57 as is would be adequate for game up to moose as long as you were a HUNTER. What REALLY made me question the load data was when I picked up Richard Lee's latest load manual. In his manual he lists the useful case capacity by cc or volume and also lists the operating pressure of each load. The 7x57 has more useful case capacity than the 7mm-08 and it has a lower operating pressure (48000 psi v 55000 psi) when using nearly the same charge of like powders. Obviously it has a lower pressure when using like charges because of the larger case volume. So in a modern bolt or single shot one would obviously assume there is room for improvement unless case design limits you, such as the case with the 30-30. So I was just wondering from you who own 7x57's what you were getting out of your loads. And you answered my questions and it was as I thought. I figured that the 7x57 case was up to the task being that modern cartridges were based off of it and worked at higher pressures. I believe the 30-06 was based off the 7x57 and the 257 Roberts was formed by necking it down. Not that those are modern but many more hot numbers were based off them.

Hogdon data manual has two sections...7MM Mauser and 7MM Mauser Heavy loads for Ruger only.

Speer data manual developed loads in a Ruger and stated data can be used for modern commercial rifles and Model 98 Mausers and stated Model 93 and 95 Mausers owners should not exceed starting loads.

Hornady data manual was developed in a Ruger and stated data should be reduced by 10 or 15% in the Mauser 93 and 95s and approached cautiously in Model 98 Mauser.

I have no fear pushing up to and many cases exceeding reloading manual data in Ruger M77 TS 22"bbl. Accuracy is not always found on the high end so I back off until it appears.

My VZ24 with 24" McGowen Barrel is not too far behind the Ruger.

Recently (last night) purchased a 7x57 Pre-64 Win M70 with a 24" Buhmiller barrel all put together by the late Emil Koshollek of Stevens Point WI. I expect this setup will handle the Ruger loads.

Ive been loading for a push feed (!) Win M70 Fwt..in 7x57 and I am presently shooting a 160 gr. Barnes TSX at 2650...pretty well red-lined....


Ingwe

I'm still waiting on the poster that breaks 3100fps with 140s and Reloder 17

My whole thought on building a 7x57 was nice, mild, adequate performance...I'll take 140-145s at 2700-2800 all day long. If you want maximum performance grab your 7mag IMHO.

True dat...stuff will die day in day out with the boolits and velocities you are talking about...LOTS of advantages to them...

Ingwe

Ruger: Back in the long-ago 70's and 80's it was fashionable in some circles to work up gorilla loads in the 7x57 with certain lots of N205 and MRP with 140 gr bullets....some of these velocities were pretty wild!

I never heard of anyone getting hurt but just reading the loads and velocities were enought to make me flinch!

Since the action lengths were the same it always made more sense to me to just get a 280.....but apparently there is a special fascination in getting a smaller case to do the work of a bigger one.....this approach is alive and well today near as I can tell.......

Might want to take a look in Steve's pages and see what sort of loads he's worked up.

stillbeeman: Sorry I don't know who Steve is.....(?)Where at?

Back to the .458 Vs Lott argument again? LOL

I like the 7x57 and the .458 and I'm happy.

JW

I've owned many of the 7's just not a 7x55. That will soon change. I have a VZ24 getting barreled, a Douglas, should have it next month. I've got a supply of brass, a Lee collet die to start with, and dozen or so different bullets and several powders. Can't wait, should be fun. From the posts, looks like one of the 4350's or maybe H414 should be the go to powder. Think I'll give IMR4320 a go too.

Would be interested in the powder used. In a Ruger M77, red pad, TS I shot 160gr Nosler Part, 48grs H4350 at 2650fps. It is hot, but the one shot group is perfect in a fouled cold barrel. I trimed cases once, for 6 reloads and then discard. H4350Extreme registers 2660fps and new batch of H4350 Extreme with same load is 2700fps. I did not trust this reading so I shot it across a couple of other Chronys at the gun range and they registered +/- 5-6fps. I backed the loads down .5gr to 47.5grs and the load is at 2670fps.

If I was not loading Hodgdon Extreme, I would not screw around and would back off a bit more.

Holler back when you can

50 gr. of H4831sc...

It is stout, but accurate and effective...

Ingwe

FWIW..IMR4320 did not do well in both my 7x57s with 140gr and heavier bullets. 115gr Speer HP and 120gr Sierra SP shot pretty good with IMR4320. 115gr Speer HP over 48grs IMR4320 in M77 and 47grs in VZ/24.

I tried to equal a 270 Win with a 130gr Speer and IMR4320 almost got me there, but came up short.

Thanks Roundoak, I may hold off trying the IMR4320.