Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7x57 potential

I currently own 4 7x57's, and like them all. My sons both have 7mm-08's and they seem to work OK too. I'm aspiring to become old, partway there, not fat and don't intend to let that happen, but am certainly nostalgic. The only cartridge that I like better for my all around hunting use is the 7x64 Brenneke. But that's another story!

Hell, the 7 x 57 works so well, this 210 lb blacktail keeled over just knowing I was holding one while aiming at him....



and you purists will love the load on this one...

28 grains of SR 4759, with a 115 grain Speer HP...

right thru the heart....

Model 70 Featherweight, Leupold 3 x 9 with a German # 1 reticle...since I am running a Euro Cartridge...

All in all, what's the best 7x57 brass? I have seen good comments elsewhere about Prvi....probably the cheapest source. Deer/hog bullet weight? 139/140, 150/154, or 160/162? Never loaded for the Mauser, but it's coming. Darn thing shoots way good with factory hornady stuff, already.

If you can find it Norma Makes some really nice 7x57 brass.
I haven't had the chance to use it on game yet but I have my grandfather's deer/elk rifle which is a Brno 22H in 7x57AI. I am really looking forward to hunting with it.
I know that my grandfather used it to take many deer and a few elk.

I push 175 gr Grand [old style] Slams and Partitions to 2700 fps with H and IMR 4350 powders in my DWM Mauser 24" barreled 7X57, 'A LOT' of game taking potential there.

Gunner

I'm fond of Winchester brass. Running light bullets in a 7x just seems wrong so I use 154 & heavier. Going to try some Dober Special 150 BT's though someday.

Can still find 139gr Prvi SPs for under $15/box, so they might be worth shooting up and saving some brass....for some 150gr NBT loads. Those might do it all in the 7x57, if I can run them to 2700, for sure.

I use Remington predominantly....I did make some tho out of nickle Winchester 280 brass...

also have 100 rounds of PMC brass I picked up at a store in Billings, like 10 years ago... it has held up well also.......

I run one load, that is my heavy duty load...

40 grains of 3031 and a 175 grain RN Hornady...with an MV of 2650 fps.. that is out of an older Hornady manual... but I am also getting 200 fps more velocity than their manual says I should be getting...

but some of my brass have been loaded over 10 times with that load and the primer pockets are still tight... and the Ruger and Model 70 Featherweight seem to handle them with no issues...

If I didn't have those few occasions where there wasn't a 200-400 window on deer/hogs, the round nose would probably do good. The 175 spitzer looks very good to 400...IF one could push it that fast.

Seems to just keep on doing what it was designed for, killing! Nothing magic, like most of you guys know. [img:center]http://[/img]

spell check issues...

Photobucket ain't working on the iPAD here in Taz of late but my Wisner built Swede based 7x57 has become my top dog. To date I have used the 140 AB's but I am fortunate that it has a throat set up to run these seated right.

If you get a 7x57 in a bolt, get in the 06 length, not 308 size.

That said and out of the way as others have stated and pointed out it just keeps doing what it was made to do. Kill things dead, and without much fuss about it on either end of the rifle.

Mine for deer I shoot a 120g X at over 3,000. If I going for hogs or bear it is a 175g bullet at around 2,400.

I have 139g load worked up but I never hunt with it. But have it I do just in case.

You will not regret getting a good 7x57mm .. even the single shooter ones :-D

There is an interesting article in the J/F (2014) issue of Sports Afield, written by Steven Hughes, about hunting with custom rifles. In describing a particular rifle, chambered in 275 Rigby, the author writes, "The rifle has a 23-inch barrel, a GMA short (Kurz or K length) action...." Note the fact that the rifle, a 7x57, is built on a short length action. I suppose it begs the question as to the length of a GMA short action as compared to a Winchester/Remington/Etc., short, but it does make one curious as to whether or not a rifle chambered in 7x57 and specifically throated for 140 gr. loads (as is the rifle in question) can be built on a short action. Evidently this one is.

Mike

I read an article today, written by a fellow who says he loads 162 gr a-max at around 2600 fps and it leaves incredible wound channels. Any of y'all have the same experience? I'm thinking it might be a good hog load (assuming I can find any - a-maxes, not hogs).

I love the 7x57!!!!! Currently have 5 - a Brno 21H, 22F, ZKK, a real commercial built FN and a mint Venezuelan FN. Sold two commercial FNs over the last couple of years. Oh, I have a Win. Classic Featherweight 280 just in case I get bored.