I just ordered a set of dies for my 7x57. Any suggestions on what powders to start with? I plan on loading 139-150 cup/core bullets for deer. Thanks for any info.....
....Fishster, As fexible a powder as you'll find for the old 7mm Mauser round would be Winchester 760 ball powder,or IMR 4350. Either of these powders will work fine with the bullet weights you've detailed. The 760 has a slight edge with the heavier 150gr weight bullets. With a 22" barrel length Hornady lists 48.5gr of 760 for 2700fps with the 139gr weight bullet,and 52.4gr of the same 760 powder for a maximum recomended load at 2900fps., 49.9gr of IMR4350 gives 2700fps,and 53gr IMR4350 2900fps maximum load...The 150 gr.bullet with 47.7gr of 760 will top 2600fps and 51.2 of 760 will max out at 2800fps(Hornady lists thes last loads for a 154gr bullet)...I've a friend who swears his Remington 700 mountain rifle in 7X57 pops a 162 gr weight bullet out at 3000fps with his worked up handloads,sounds plenty risky to me!..
Forgot to add....Hodgdon and IMR powders are the most available locally.Also have one local source for Reloader powders. Was thinking maybe one of the 4350's, just have no experience loading this cartridge. Thanks for the help guys!
Do a search there have been a few posts before. I am using H4350 with 150-154 gr bullets. Just got the chrony so should have more usefull information soon.
From a lady friend that shoots a 7x57: 54grs of IMR4350, 139SP, WLR primer, Win brass, 2830fps in a 20" bbl Steyr.
56grs of Norma MRP, 160 Grand Slam, same primer and brass, 2790fps in same gun.
With those 2 loads she's taken scads of African plains game, WT Deer, Elk, Moose, Black Bear, Bison, etc...and with a FMJ load has taken Cape Buff, Rhino, and Hippo.
52.5 gn of 760 behind the 140gn TSX for 2940fps with 22 inch barrel or 45gn 760 behind 175gn Woodleigh Weldcore for 2480fps. Call the taxiderminst before you go out to hunt.
AGW
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
My commercial FN load is 48.5 H4350 with a 150PT @ 2720fps seated long for my long throated Mauser. It shoot one inch three shot groups with this load. Over 1550lbft at 300 and 1340 at 400. two inches high at 1200yds and dead on at 200yds. It'll do a little over 2800fps with 50gns, but why push it? capt david <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds.
If you are a hunter, and farther than that, get closer!
Sounds like one of the 4350's is good place to start......will have check on 760 availability. Appreciate all the info, should make for a great starting point.
All I shoot in my CZ 550 American in 7x57mm is 48.3 grains of H414 in back of a 162 grain Hornady SST, or a 160 grain Nosler Partition. The SST chronos out at 2,815 fps. My rifle has a 23.6 inch barrel and it must also have a tight chamber as well. I get about half inch and less groups with this load at 100 yards. The attachment shows a couple of the groups. This load is well over book max, but it shows absolutely no signs of high pressure. With the bullet going this fast I don't bother trying to develope a load for 140 and 150 grain class bullets and stick only with the SST and partition. Would like to test the TSX just for grins. The CZ has a very, very long throat in it. My SSTs have an overall length of 3.40 inches and they look funny as hell with the bullet seated so far out, but boy, do they shoot. I think with this load the full potential of the old 7x57mm Mauser has been reached. It is a wonderful old cartridge. It the cartridge I use for whitetail deer, mule deer, antelope, elk, wild pigs, coyotes without hesitation. Tom Purdom
Looks like I am working my way toward the same load you are using. What overall cartridge length are you using for the Nosler PT's?
I started with the 154 gr Hornady SP's and have most of the loads ready to go. I stopped at 48 grs of H4350. Now all I need is some time to figure out my new chrony.
Of course we have determined that 760 and H414 ARE interchangable ... right?
Right! they are one the the same powder sold under two different names. Because of different lot numbers maximum loads may vary slightly, so as always, back off and work up when changing lot numbers of the same powder.
Did some shopping today....ended up with IMR-4350 powder, CCI 200 primers, and a box of Hornady 154 grain spire points. Already had about 50 Norma once-fired hulls. Hope I'm on the right track now....
