Folks,
to all the devout 7 mm Mauser hunters out there - any favourite factory loads?

Not reloading (at the moment) - but want to try a few different loads first up. I can probably get Winchester and Remington loads (around the 140 gr projectile) but may look at the European offerings - I know Norma, RWS and Sellier Bellot load for them.

Cheers,
CK

I killed 2 deer with the 140 gr Prvi factory load last year, inexpensive and worked quite well.

I think the last I used was Federal. I have read consistently good reports about the Prvi. It's worth a try. And save your brass. It's good brass for reloading. After you buy your Lee Anniversary reloading setup and 7x57 dies. In the meantime, try the Prvi and Winchester factory loads, and Federal if you can find it.

I use Winchester 145 gr PP in my Ruger No.1 7x57. I'm getting about 1 inch group at 100 yards.

I mostly reload with this caliber, but to start with I used the Remington 140 gr. Corelokts for the brass and to break the rifle in. They shot into 3/4 inch or less in my Ruger Mark II and killed several deer and one hog very well.
For more performance Hornady made the light magnum 7x57's for modern guns or M98's. They also shot quite well at @MOA out of the same rifle and give a good boost in velocity over the remington loads.
If you can swing it, reloading is the way to go with the 7x57. Some very good bullets and powders for this caliber. Reloading brings the 7x57 equal to the 7/08 with light bullets and past it with the heavy bullets, and not too far behind the .280 rem.. Very good company for a 100+ year old cartidge.

Having said all that, the basic Corelokt load will take your deer sized game out to most reasonable ranges with very modest recoil and good penetration.

Just noticed you being in Australia. With the wide assortment of sizes of game available to you the 173/174 grain sized bullets from one of the European manufacturers may be a better choice. It is this load that made this cartridge famous in Africa. Finn Aagard's father only owned one rifle, and it was in this caliber, and used it with the 173 grainers on everything including lions. Should work for you. Just like the 6.5x55, this cartridge kills well beyond what the reloading tables say it should. It is one of my two favorites.

I couldn't get anything other than S&B 173 SPCE to shoot < 2" in my 700 Mountain Rifle. The S&B's, though, would do 3/4" on occasion, and 1�" far more often than not. So far, that ammo has delivered 4 hogs in 4 shots. I liked it well enough to take it on my elk hunt, though I couldn't find a wapiti willing to help me with testing.

FWIW, my buddy has an identical rifle in 7x57, & his also likes the S&B's the best.

FC

Norma 156gr Oryx ammo is my new fav factory load.

Flew into Canada for a Black bear hunt last spring and the commercial airline lost a piece of my luggage with my 160gr Nosler Partition reloads. Guide service made some phone calls and he purchased 2 boxes of Norma Oryx ammo. (very expensive)

The good news was the Norma ammo POI was only a couple clicks off from what the Partitions would have been.

When I got back to the states, I shot a couple 3 shot groups off the bench at MOA which I could never do with factory Winchester, Remington, Hornady or Federal.

My custom FN mauser in 7x57 thrives on the 145 gr. Winchester Power points. Groups run in the .75" range. Some of my handloads do even better. I don't shoot factory loads in my M70 Featherweight ot Ruger #1A. Damned if I know why.
The now discontinued factory load that impressed me was the Winchester 175 gr. RN. Did a decent number on deer. I don't like the federal 175 gr. load and I have not ried their 140 gr. load. Haven't tried the Remington load either. I saving the Winchester brass for reloading the Mauser and using Remington brass for the Winchester. I got hold of 5 boxes of Herter's 7x57 brass that says made in sweden on the box. Norma? I'll use it for the Ruger #1A. It's a shame Sierra dropped their 170 gr. RN. damn fine bullet that killed well and very accurate. I still have a few and I'll probably use them in the #1.
Paul B.

The blue box Federal 175gr. RN shot well in my son's M70 XTR.

Does anyone happen to know what bullet Federal is loading? Hornady Interlock??

Fed Powershok (and its predecessors I've been buying since c. 1978) have always shot consistently well in every rifle I've shot them in. Same goes for its handgun ammo; particularly the 230 Match load for .45 ACP.

Hi,

In my two 7x57 I use mostly my reloads. But of all the factory options I would use, depending on the game to be hunted, first: RWS 173 H-Mantle or Norma Orix 156 grs, and for general practice and also very good for hunting the Winchester Power Points 145 grs. Very accurate and a very good bullet also!

Good luck!

PH

Hornady with 139 Interlocks work well. Bought several boxes a few years back for my son to run thru his Ruger for the brass. He hunted with it that season and shot several deer. The only bullet we recovered was from a 110 to 120 lb doe facing at about 100 yds. Bullet entered between the left shoulder and neck and stopped in the right ham. Had just enough steam left when it hit the femur to make a flat spot on the mushroom. Jacket stayed intact.

the federal premium with 140 partition is shoots very well in mine, and works like a charm on every deer I've shot with it. It's kind of spendy at regular prices.....I've got a pretty good stash I got on sale.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=773637

My wife's #1A loves the Remington 140 gr load. My sister's 700 Mountain really likes the Federal Premium Steve mentions above. My #1A won't shoot either...but loves handloads with 140 SGK's or 154 Hornady's.

I have managed to locally source Winchester 145g Super X for $210 per 100 ($42 per box) and the PMC 140 g for $155 per 100($31 per box)

I will go for the PMC 140 grainers - that should be fine for my needs.

CK

Norma 150gr sp or 156gr oryx shoots well in every 7x57 I've ever owned.

Remington Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Point 140 Grainers

I once tried all factory ammo that was out there about 13 years ago. The Winchester 145 gr Power Points were the ONLY ones that shot well (nickel size spread at 100 yards) out of my Custom 7x57 carbine. Unfortunately this stuff is available only on a special run by Winchester every couple of years. I always buy two boxes and have been tempted to buy the dies for this one every time I run low and work out a duplicated reload.

One more vote for Prvi or Hornady SSTs.

Yep, those cheap Serbian cartridges shoot very well out of my 7x57s.