I am in the process of deciding to build a semi-custom rifle. I would like to hear discussions about your preferences between these two rounds. Do you think one chambering would have a higher re-sale than the other?

The 7x57 is more alluring. I remember getting the response at the gunshow one time when I was toting around a very nice 06 and people would look at it with interest until they saw it was an 06. Then it was, "oh it's an 06 huh"......I love em, I've got 4 of them right now but still think the 7x57 has the cool factor going for it....

Oh nooooooo.... here we go.....

7x57 majorly cool, but from a real world performance standpoint pretty much two peas in a pod. What one will do the other will do about as well with very little difference.

If it were me, I would build a 7x57 but have it stamped "275 Rigby" and do the whole rifle in a classic Brit pattern.

I think that 'someone' around here has a pic or two of such a rifle.....

When someone posts that they are going to "Build a rifle" I cringe. The common sense way to get a 'rifle' is to buy one already built. Then you can see what you might get and buy or pass.

When you 'build' lots of things can happen that you did not order!

As to the two cartridges the 30-06 is by far the most common sense choice.

The 7mm mauser is just about dead here in the USA. Of course among gun aficionados its popular.

Get what you want. That's the fun of guns.

For me it would all depend on the action, I wouldn't build an .30-06 on a Mauser any more than I would build a 7x57 on a '03 Springfield. Some calibers just belong on certain actions IMHO. If it were me I would figure out what action I wanted to use then go from there. I like the .275 Rigby proposal myself.

Bob

Jeez I don't know about the 7mm Mauser being dead in the USA! I see it in various weights in every gun store I visit.

My only complaint after shooting a few deer with a Ruger No 1 was the bloodshot meat; 140 NPs here in Maine is too fast. I'd shoot RN 175s here with that caliber and be totally satisfied.

How could this even be a question?

Can't get Lapua brass for the 7x57, but you can get Norma. Good dies are available for both.

I'm fond of the -06 myself. But I'm not building it.

I am going the semi-custom route because I want to put an octagon barrel on an existing Ruger M -77 action with a 270 barrel on currently. I also want to get a nice piece of wood for the finished product. As this crowd knows, rifle loonies, will go to no end to get what they want and none of what I want exists on the routine production market.

I'm a .30-06 fan, but yeah, the 7x57 is going to attract the Loonies.

Building a custom rifle and already thinking about resale value? What's up with that?

yeah, the best way to protect resale value on a custom is to buy a factory rifle in the first place, because you will never come close to getting your money out of a custom.

depending on the type of rifle, though....assuming you're talking about wood stock, blued metal, classic custom....you'd probably be a little better off with the 7 x 57, if only based on supply and demand. the supply of .30-06s being basically limitless.

I personal would go with the 30-06. There is cheaper ammo and better choices for factory ammunition. The 30 has more reloading data available for it. The 30 has more power that you can use on many more animals. If you do resell it will appeal to more people.

DMAX,

WELCOME to 24hrcf! Glad to have you aboard.

The 30/06 is a tad bit more powerful, but not enough to notice in real world terms, IME.

And, (again in my experience) 30/06's are slow sellers. Not that resale should be a consideration when building a custom.

MARK

I recently sold two custom rifles, one in .280 (Husqvarna) and the other in 7x51 Improved (Sako). They both cost a fair bit to build and I lost substantial money on both when they were sold. The Sako was an octagon barrel with intergral quarter rib and about as neat as a rifle can get. The post that advises buying what you want has a ring of truth to it for me anyway. Resale on semi-customs is generally not good and a Ruger Semi-custom is probably not going to be high resale in either caliber. The 7x57 would be my choice just because I think its a wonderful cartridge and it does have an element of "cool". Just my opinion of course.

I do like the Brit rifle thought and the .275 Rigby would be great.

7x57. It is just plain a cool cartridge. Also not everyone and their brother has one.

I have rifles in both calibers and have shot deer with both. The deer couldn't tell the difference, both ended up dead! I like the 7x57 cause you got almost as much performance at the muzzle end as the '06, but less kick at the butt end! If you decide on down the road to let wife, son, daughter or girlfriend hunt with it, they will appreciate the reduced recoil of the 7x57.

I was at a gunshow last weekend and I saw a beautiful Steyer Mannlicher rifle with a full stock (my weakness) for a very reasonable price. I was really excited until I saw the chambering ... .30-06. I turned to my son and said "if it was a 7x57 it would be going home with us".

I have many rifles and chamberings to choose from, but when it's time to go deer hunting, my go to rifle is a 7x57.

I carried and hunted a 7X57 for almost 30 yrs. I've used the '06 as well. Have two at present.
If you want to build a rifle, I can hardly be opposed as most of my serious hunting rifles are customs.
If you are inclined towards a classic round, and appreciate minimum recoil, then do the 7X57. If you might need to buy ammo in remote places and like using factory ammo, then do an '06. The 7X57 owner reaally needs to be a handloader. E

Rolly,

I see the Ruger action as a perfect fit for the 7x57. There's enough room to seat 175s out, but not too much left over, ala Rem 700 and it's 3.6" length. Make sure and specify the throat dimensions for the bullets you want to shoot, and bring it on over this fall to shoot a deer .

Billy

Billy---You caught me ! Thinking about just that !
See you in the fall. (if I get licenses)

If you are going to build something, build something you can't buy off the shelf. If you could buy it off the shelf, why build it?

OK - I own up....

I did this with a Tikka M695 action, rebarrelled it from 25-06 to 275 Rigby using a PTG reamer, and had it proofed as such. ( uk requirement) . The whole thing was blued and sits in an McM sako hunter pattern stock, and shoots Nosler 140 anythings into less than 1/2 " at 100. It is gentle to shoot and just simply kills stuff.

What's not to like, plus it's just a bit different.

Heck - "attract the Loonies" - well cart me off to the asylum then!!! Anyone else coming, the bus will be here soon!!!

Gus

Rolly, since your going with the ruger m 77 action I personally would go with the 30/06 as the magazine is designed to accommodate the 63 mm case length.
I don't know if the rifle would have feed issues or not with the 57 mm case. If you like 7 mm better have you considered the 280 remington? As far as resale value I'm guessing the 30/06 may be the number one saleing hunting rifle caliber in the world but that is an uneducated guess. Whatever you decide have fun with your project and it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance.

The 30-06 is about as common as a sparrow on a bird feeder. If I had the choice between the two, I'd opt for the 7x57! I put one together last summer and couldn't be happier with it. It is a great cartridge to shoot, but the whitetails hate it!

Nothing wrong with the 06. but i like the 26 cals. Thinking about a 6.5 x 57 or a 6.5 -06 rebarrel on one of my rifles. Any one ever heard of necking down a 30-30 to a 26 cal?

25-35 win 7-30 waters?

It is very unlikely that you will recoup your money once you go the semi-custom route. I would get what intrest me the most and not let resale value inter the picture.

GB