Agree with what ned posted about JB and the 7x57! And what denton wrote in his 2009 answer to this post. It matches what my Mauser 7x57 do with very easy pressures, taking advantadges of the long magazine plus the original CIP leade in the barrel chamber.
[quote=PJGunner] I'm still trying to figure out how in hell does one limp on both legs. Paul B. /quote]
Try alternating sides - ask me how I know.
I hear that. Sometimes though it just doesn't work that way. Paul B.
Our forefathers did not politely protest the British.They did not vote them out of office, nor did they impeach the king,march on the capitol or ask permission for their rights. ----------------They just shot them. MOLON LABE
Back in '09, I promised to post my load. I see that I have been remiss for a long time. Here is some info from my rifle. Yours will undoubtedly be different:
CCI 200 primer, Rem brass, 48.5 grains H4350, 162 grain Horn BTSP, 3.190" COL, 2732 FPS at 54KPSI.
CCI 200 primer, Rem brass, 51 grains RL19, 162 grain Horn BTSP, 3.190" COL, 2762 FPS at 56.1 KPSI.
CCI 200 primer, Rem brass, 50.5 grains H4350, 150 grain NosBT, 3.230" COL, 2864 FPS, 56.6 KPSI.
Granddaughter's elk load: CCI 200 primer, Rem brass, 48.3 grains H4350, 139 grain Horn Interlock, 3.018" COL, 2800 FPS.
Denton, yes give us that load when you get back home. I am a convert to the 7x57 so I enjoy hearing people tell their stories. Surprised Mule Deer or AussieGunwriter haven't chimed in yet.
JB and I have posted a lot over the years on this cartridge and the variances stated are real enough that every rifle owner needs to learn his own rifle. Coming from different hemispheres, John recommended walking away from some powder that recorded more temperature variation where that was never an issue for me where Winter is 40-60 degrees and with no hunting seasons or bag limits, we hunted and killed game until it got either too hot or there was too many snakes.
My latest 7x57 has the tightest chamber and shortest throat of the rifles I have owned or tested and also has a slower twist being a BACO Super Grade Model 70.
Although I have maybe a dozen or more different 7mm bullets on my shelves, the best 3 loads for this rifle uses:
175gn Partition over 46gn of Rel 17 for 2640fps. Several groups are slightly under or around half inch. 175gn Accubond over 48gn of Rel 22 generates slightly larger groups and 2645fps average velocity. The 150gn Nosler BT is hugely underestimated in the 7x57 case where I have shot as tight as .194" groups with extreme spreads as little as 9fps. My best load todate uses 50gn of H 4350 for 2755fps.
The same 50 grains with the 150 grain Parition opens the groups slightly and still around MOA for 2765fps velocity averages.
In my Rigby .275, that rifle liked the 140gn Barnes X and TSX bullets but this new BACO, shoots best groups using 46gn of VARGET and 2820fps. This is a heavy charge for Varget but the rifle likes it. The last recommendation I would offer is the 120gn TTSX which shoots very well in the BACO using 53gn of H 414 which was always the best performing powder in all my 7x57's over the last 35 years or so.
I used Winchester 120 Primer through the 80's and 90's, Federal 210's from the 90's until now and tried some CCI 200's recently, but my current rifle doesn't like them and opens the groups so I am staring with the Federals.
Because of the variations in these rifles, travel your own road and start a couple of grains down with any recommendation.
John
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
The wifes Rem Mountain Rifle in 7x57 loves 50 gr of RL19 and 150 Nosler Partitions. Have not put them across a chronograph but QL says ,2700 fps. When shooter does their part consistent less than 1 inch group at 100 yds.
Here's one I have been shooting for a few years and have taken to Africa for plains game with my Ruger 77. Then i picked up an RSI in 7x57 and low and behold it shoots great in that rifle as well. 42.0 grains of Reloader 15 and 160 grain Nosler Accubond. I seat the bullet to an OAL of 3.100" and get 0.5" three shot groups. In my 77 I get 2600 fps, never chronographed this load out of the RSI. I have taken bushbuck to kudu with this combo and performance was excellent. Great blood trails, no bullets recovered.
BigBullet "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness.
I called Hornaday over 25 years ago to find their factory recipe for the 154 grain bullet. I was a new reloader and Hornady had stopped making that factory round. It was accurate in my 19" barreled 7x57.
It is 46.5 grains of H414 behind the 154 grain Interlock. That was safe then but current load books have that load a couple of grains over max now.
I've killed a bunch of whitetails with that load out just a little farther than 300 yds. It's been very safe in my 98 Oberndorf action and I'm sure a Ruger Number One could handle it with ease.
WOW! Another thread proving there is life after death. This one started in 2/9/09. I wonder if AZ Southpaw ever found the sweet spot for his rifle? Paul B.
Our forefathers did not politely protest the British.They did not vote them out of office, nor did they impeach the king,march on the capitol or ask permission for their rights. ----------------They just shot them. MOLON LABE
WOW! Another thread proving there is life after death. This one started in 2/9/09. I wonder if AZ Southpaw ever found the sweet spot for his rifle? Paul B.
Wow...forgot I even started this post, and (I type with a little tear in my eye) that beautiful 7x57 is now being drooled upon by another owner. But to answer PJGunner's question - YES! I found the sweet spot.
Seems everyone gravitates to 140's or 160's in 7mm and ignores something like the 150gr. And, those that try them all including the 150gr tend to forget Speer makes a 145gr in between all that. That's what did it for me - H4350 and the 145gr Speer Hot Cor shot the group below at 100 yards, and with a little 1-4x scope too. Runner-up to that load was the combination of W760 and the 154gr Hornady.
but for my couple of 7 x 57s.... the best hunting load, involves bullet weights from 139 to 175 grains... but they all are fueled by 40 grains of 3031....
My Model 70 will shoot anything you feed it... the Ruger 77, will only shoot the 40 grains of 3031.. regardless of bullet weight..
those Ruger 7 x 57s in the 77 Mk 2, had to be one of the most finickly guns out there for that caliber...
I had two of them and both gave ya 5 inch groups at 100 yds with Anything but the 40 grains of 3031... and that gave you a half inch group... didn't question it... just smiled and went ahead and used it...
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
47.0 grain of H4350 in R-P brass, WLR primer and a 160 grain Partition is THE load in my push feed Model 70 Featherweight 7X57. It shoots lights out and kills stuff cleanly.