Great topic. I worked with my son's rifle a bunch last year shooting RL17 and 140AB's. Velocity was excellent and accuracy was very good as well. I liked it so much I sorta started looking for one of my own. I ran some QL numbers and was very impressed with RL17 but W760/H414 looked just as good.
Cartridge : 7 x 57 mm Mauser (SAAMI)
Bullet : .284, 140, Nosler AccuBond 59992
Useable Case Capaci: 52.245 grain H2O = 3.392 cm�
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.071 inch = 78.00 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17
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 81 40.80 2393 1779 31210 9266 93.8 1.411
-18.0 83 41.82 2454 1872 33354 9544 95.0 1.372
-16.0 85 42.84 2516 1967 35657 9807 96.1 1.334
-14.0 87 43.86 2577 2065 38123 10052 97.0 1.295
-12.0 89 44.88 2638 2164 40752 10277 97.9 1.254
-10.0 91 45.90 2700 2266 43604 10483 98.6 1.215
-08.0 93 46.92 2761 2369 46652 10666 99.1 1.177
-06.0 95 47.94 2822 2475 49929 10826 99.5 1.141
-04.0 97 48.96 2882 2582 53455 10962 99.8 1.106
-02.0 99 49.98 2942 2690 57256 11072 100.0 1.072 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 101 51.00 3001 2800 61355 11158 100.0 1.040 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 103 52.02 3060 2911 65784 11237 100.0 1.008 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 105 53.04 3118 3023 70575 11311 100.0 0.978 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 107 54.06 3176 3136 75768 11381 100.0 0.948 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 109 55.08 3234 3251 81399 11447 100.0 0.920 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 111 56.10 3291 3367 87530 11509 100.0 0.893 !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 101 51.00 3122 3030 75042 10685 100.0 0.962 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 101 51.00 2818 2468 49567 11347 97.1 1.142
I ended up right around 2940 with the 140AB.
I am sure the 7-08 is just as good, but man, it's hard to not really like the 7x57 when it is loaded to modern specs in a good rifle. Plus, Norma brass has been very good to me. Keep to sizing it tight and case stretch isn't too bad at at all.