Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 7x57 Mule Deer loads

I came across your 257 Roberts load of 46.0gr of H4350 for rifles that have problems with working loads up. Well that load works very well in my rifle so now I'd like to know if there is anything like that for the 7x57 Mauser in a M70 Winchester? I've looked around and have not found it through search. I'd appreciate any help you can give. Thank you

Unfortunately, there�s no exact load like that for the 7x57, since chamber throat lengths vary so much. But H4350 works very well. Start with 40 grains, no matter the bullet weight, then work up until you get about the following velocity with these bullet weights:

140�2800
160�2650
175�2500

Unless the barrel on your rifle is under 20�, you should be able to reach those velocities safely, and accuracy will usually be good.

John knows! powdr

Thank you John. I appreciate it.

I had a nice load of 44grs. of Big Game with a 140 BT that was well under an inch but I can't get anymore of that powder nor have I seen any Western powders period. I just got this 8# jug of H4350 and happy to have it.

48 g of h4350 and 140's works very nicely in my 7x57

160 gr. TSX 50.0 gr.H4831





162 gr. Hornady BTSP 38.0 gr. IMR4895




175 gr NPT 45 gr H4831




160 Grand Slam 39 gr IMR 4895





* note: these loads are a bit warm and intended for modern actions

The M70's I've played with were not as long-throated as the Rugers, so took a considerable amount less powder. Not a rule, but that's my experience.

I've gotten good velocity and accuracy with the 140gr Nosler BT using H414. Magnum primers seem to improve accuracy in my rifle anyway. But, H4350 works well too.

50 gr of IMR-4350 over a 140 gr Nosler Partiton or a 139 gr Hornaday SP dose the trick in my current 7 x 57, I had a couple of rifles that would not shoot that load, but would shoot a 160 gr Speer SP over the 46 to 48 gr of the same powder, Your rifle will tell you what it likes pretty quick, I have shot the 140gr/ 50 gr of IMR 4350 for good 44 years now, and I will be shooting my deer this year with that load!

50.0 gr of H4831 works well with 160 Accubonds and 160 Deep Curls also.

Awesome pictures Ingwe, great bucks and load info. Thank you.

John, is that your favorite powder for 7x57?

175 Hornady with 41gr H4350. This is the load for my tight-chambered 7x57s. The looser guns can handle a couple more grains. Don't like 140gr bullets. Use only 154+, and prefer 175s.

I went to the range today to try these loads. 49.0grs is where I will get to 2800fps. I need to load that weight and will chrony them next weekend. Big_Redhead why don't you like 140gr bullets in the 7x57?

The 140 grain Nosler Partition has worked very well for me for years in a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight. I use Reloder 19 powder.

mustanggt,

Maybe I didn't say it right. I don't like "standard-grade cup-and-core" 140gr bullets in the 7x57. They don't penetrate as well as I like.

Besides, if you want to shoot 140s, they make .270s for that�.

RevMike,

I usually try H4350 first in any new-to-me 7x57, because it's worked in so many rifles. And before H4350 came along, IMR4350 did the same things. I've owned over a dozen 7x57's now (and am planning yet another) and can't remember one that didn't perk with one 4350 or the other. I prefer the H version these days because it's less temp-sensitive and the short-cut granules meter far easier in a powder measure.

Another powder that usually works very well, both in accuracy and velocity, is H414, whether it's called 414, W760 or Accurate 2700. I used a lot of it in the 7x57 years ago, but for my purposes it's just too temp-sensitive. I'd work up a load in "normal" temperatures, and accuracy would degrade in colder temps and pressure would rise surprisingly in higher temps.

Sometime in the 1990's I took a 7x57 that shot really well with 140 Ballistic Tips and H414 on a pronghorn hunt in New Mexico. When checking the scope on arrival the temperature was around 85-90, and encountered some stuff bolt lifts. However, the load shot even better than at 70 degrees, with three usually touching! At down around 20 degrees, the same load wouldn't group any better than 2 inches.

But like a lot of cartridges with moderate powder capacity for their bore, the 7x57 works pretty well with a wide variety of powders. One of the articles I do now and then with various rounds is "newer powders and bullets in the...." and the 7x57 is on my schedule.

Among several powders ranging from standbys like Varget and RL-15 to H4831 and RL-22 will be a new powder of medium burn-rate from Hodgdon, part of a new series that may turn out to be even better than the Extremes. I can't reveal anything more for a month or two, but they sent me a jug to play with last spring and it's kind of like the 4895's, very flexible, but temp-resistant and clean-burning--but also contains a de-coppering agent. My guess is this particular variation with work very well in the 7x57 with lighter bullets in the 120-150 grain range. We shall see.

Slightly off topic JB,. but is AA 2700 and H 414 also pretty much the same powder, like H 414 and W 760 are?

Some one I know, wants to sell me a few pounds to try out...

but if they are the same, I won't waste the time and bullets.. as I have a good 8 to 10 lbs of H 414 in the powder cabinet..

it works real well in my 6.5 x 57 with 120 to 140 grain bullets..