Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 7x57 Mauser loads

That is the load I used for the 140 Sierra PH for 2755 fps.

They've about covered everything in my reloading notes. You can't go wrong with IMR or H4350 although my guns are a bit more accurate with R19. Recently had really good results with 49 grains of IMR4007ssc and Nosler 120 gr. ballistic tips. Also worked well with 140's and it's available.

As JB mentioned, throats can vary greatly with this round. My original 1958 vintage Brno ZG47 takes 50.5 grains of H4350 to make 2800 fps with either 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip or Partition.

52 grains will get 2900 with a 139 Hornady Interbond.

Agreed ...760 has been a heart break for me because while velocities were really good and accuracy excellent, the stuff dumped a lot of velocity in temps around 20 degrees. I stopped using it in the 30/06 and 375H&H so never tried it in the 7x57.I suppose in consistent temps it would work great but I don't have that where I shoot and hunt.

My last 7x57 was a Rem Mountain rifle that stacked bullets and doted on 51 gr RL19 and the 140 Partition for about 2840 or so fps.

R-P brass
175 gr. Speer GS or Partition
48 gr. H-4350
CCI-250
COL 3.100"
2700 fps

24" barreled DWM Mauser in 7X57mm, unreal speed, accuracy and penetration, this old Mauser rifle is a very well mannered killer.

Gunner

W-W brass
160 gr Accubond or Deep Curl
50 gr H4831
CCI BR2

Use in modern rifle only.

On our trip to Africa last year my youngest son, age 14, took all manner of critters up through kudu and wildebeest using the 160 gr AB behind 47 grs of IMR4350. All good.

I never experienced hunting in cold temperatures until I immigrated to the US so found the temperature instability comments fascinating.

In Oz, Winter is generally n the 40-50's until the sum warms the day with only an isolated day here and there requiring outer garments. You could hunt most of the year in a dinner suit and be over dressed literally, so the powder variances were not apparent unless you hunted in summer months, which we seldom did, because of the snakes.

I did experience some higher pressure when using 760 in hotter weather but put it down to working too close to max rather than pressure fluctuations so generally backed off a little on subsequent loadings. (Never missed an animal that would indicate a POA shift in the field)

The US and Europe has greater temperature swings so it is a great experience to have to relearn and adjust thinking when handloading.

I have much more than a lifetimes supply of bullets and way too many powders but see great scope to select a minimal amount of powders and a few hand picked bullets for a given cartridge. With the 7x57, my newest rifle likes H4350 and generates great velocities in the bullet weights I have tried it.

In previous 7x57's I have owned or tested, H4350 was seldom in the top velocity range with medium burners like Rel 15 through 760 powders generating the highest velocities for most bullet weights.

The chamber dimensions and their variance cannot be overstated.

This cartridge delivers way above its diminutive size would indicate because of the ease of use for the average rifleman and the terrific range of hunting bullets available that are capable of tailoring to 98% of the worlds game, especially if the user is a hunter.

My current intent, is to load it with bullets in the 150-175gn range, as it prefers. If I want flatter trajectory, the .289A1 and 7mm Remington are sitting beside it in the safe and would be selected based on the possible ranges that may be encountered.

The .280A1 of the three, is on shaky ground as velocities are equaled by the .30/06 I actually prefer and the 7mm Remington is not in any way, inferior to it.

The 7x57, always pleases and so far, has never been inadequate nor inappropriate to any hunting where I have carried it.
John

I'm intending to compare TAC and exterminator and pos 17, to H4350, just to see.

My Featherweight uses the same load of 4064, with a 140 grain Ballistic Tip.. the 22 inch barrel yields 2800 fps...

Pretty darn accurate to boot...and highly capable...

IMR4350 and 139 Grain Hornady Interlock bullets. I use these on pronghorn and it would make a great load for deer too. Usually Pronghorn season is not too cold, sometimes as warm as 70 degrees. (For cold weather shooting I like my 280 Rem w/ 154 grain Hornady Interlock bullets and H4831SC powder. This load is good for white deer, mule deer and larger species of the deer family.) I have not worked up a load for the 7x57 for deer where hunting could easily be 20 below. With the new temperature tolerant IMR powders, I'd bet that a person could find a good "all temperature" powder to go with my favored 139 Grain Hornady 7mm bullets. I stay away from ball powders for hunting but like ball powders for target shooting where I'm certain the temperature is likely shirt sleeve temp's.

Only for use in strong actions, not small ring military Mausers, Remington Rolling Blocks, or any similar actions.

For deer, any 139 or 140 grain bullet ahead of 42.5 grains of H4895.

For bigger/heavier game, the 160 grain Partition ahead of 38 grains of H4895.

I just finished setting up a load for my Brno ZKK 600.
Settled on 175 Speer Mag-Tips over IMR 7828. I'm getting 2425 fps and 2" groups at 200 meters. The Brno's got a really long throat, I had to seat the bullets at 3.160" C.O.A.L to get them 0.030 off the lands.

I have some Speer 175 gr. Deep Curls on hand as well. To get them out to the rifling, I'll have to seat them at 3.310" C.O.A.L.to get to the rifling. Good thing the Brno's got a long magazine box.

It's going to be my moose rifle this fall if I get a draw.

I fear that you will find TAC & X-Terminator too fast, but RL17 ought to be good.

I used RL15 when playing with 120's.

RL17 has been working really well for me with 140's and 150's.

Rel 15 works well with 160's as well.
John

H-414 is the huckleberry in my 7x57. Works well with 120 grain bullets up to 154's. I haven't tried it with anything heavier.

H-450 was very accurate with 170 grain bullets. But that powder I found to be very temp sensitive. Pressure really spiked during summer temps.

Dan

My limited work with Reloder 17 was unsatisfactory in 7x57 and 140s. But I did not push much passed a educated guess starting load and never got back to it. In my other guns 17 worked better as it reached max. pressure and fuller loading density. I do wanna go back and restart testing it. But am trying to get rid of other components that have worked in the past

44 grains of IMR 4895 or 4064 with a 140 grain Ballistic Tip or 139 grain Hornady SP, yield 2800 fps MV out of my Model 70 Featherweight.... and is accurate enough that it must think it is a varmint rifle...

Tag. I don't want to lose this thread. Any chance of making it a sticky?