Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Jack O'Connor wrote about the 7x57

I too have a long history with the 7x57. Having read several articles he wrote in praise of the cartridge, bought the first one I ever saw; a Ruger 77. This was at a gun shop in Phoenix in 1972. Ruger had made what was referred to as a limited run of these plus a like number chambered for the 257 Roberts. So, ok I found one of those too!
Then the fun began. I took the 7mm on a Coues hunt that fall and got my first real trophy Whitetail, I still have the mount. This was followed by a nice Mule Deer on the Arizona Strip, A 6 foot Black Bear, numerous Javelina, Columbian Blacktail, well you get the idea.
As for the 257 Roberts, a 16.5" Arizona Pronghorn, several Javelina,some Coues and a Rocky Mountain Bighorn in Eastern Arizona that completed my Grand Slam!
Thank God I have never had to limit myself just one of these two rifles/ cartridges. They have proven to be excellent mountain rifles, just as Jack said they were!

Boy. Not to hijack the JOC mojo but this thread brought back a few great memories. Not only of O'Connor (whom I still collect books & articles from) & Keith but Paige, Brister, Trueblood, Askins, Ackley, Cooper, Milek, Whelen, Skelton, Jordan, Hagel, Mattis, and more modern fellas like Weishun, Benoit, Boddington, Simpson, VanZwoll, Carmichael, Ayoob, many more that shaped my life in one way or another over the years. I'm new here so cheers to the Campfire & like minded folks for a collective stroll down memory lane.

Still sight 3" for almost everything and hand roll
60+ of H4831 behind a 130gr Speer or Nosler in WW cases.

Thanks for the link tomk, very good read. I’ve read most of JOC’s books but not much of his shorter pieces.

Not to stir the pot, but couldn’t you repeat every attribute about the 7x57 to apply to the 7mm-08? I guess you would be limited in bullets greater than 150 grains, but for bullets of 120-150 gr, the 7mm-08 seems like it would be much easier to find good factory ammunition for?

You can't get 7-08 in a rimmed version, factory loaded.

Yes indeed. And the 7mm-08 is the route I'd go.

All of this 7X57 talk has got me to thinking that I'm going to drag mine out of the safe. It's a Winchester 70 Lighweight, made back in the late 80's-early 90's period. I bought it from Grice's, where it was advertised as being made for the European market. It has iron sights, and the Featherweight barrel. I put it in a synthetic stock years ago, but I'm thinking I might put it back in the wood stock, and put the iron sights back on. I'll load up some heavy bullets, and make this my tiger rifle..............in case any ever make an appearance around these parts.

That is without a doubt accurate. But with handloads, which I expect most 7x57 shooters use, it's an entirely different story. I believe it was AussieGunWriter (John) who someplace wrote that the 7x57 is a hunter's cartridge. I think the versatility as a hunting cartridge, using bullets from 100- to 175-grains in all sorts of configurations, is where the old cartridge shines. And it has for the past 126 years.

JamesJr:

I see you're in Kentucky. You have elk there. Think of them as tigers with antlers, and not quite as ornery.

The catch is drawing an elk tag. I've put in for the drawing every year, but never luck out. My son put in for archery tag, and drew one, but I gave bowhunting up years ago. If I ever do get a tag, I'll more than likely use my 270, but the 7X57 would work just as well.

Beautiful rifles, but they look too heavy for modern men to hunt with.

and definitely more resolving power on top....

Jack wanted his rifles 8 pounds scoped so I'm sure these are about that weight.

My newest and last 7x57...

Very Nice!

Wow, pretty awesome.. But since the .460 is a jackrabbit gun, what would you use this tiny rifle for??? Field mice...

A classic beauty of a rifle, chambered for a classic cartridge. If it shoots as well as it looks, you have a winner!

Never say last 7x57 or anything else for that matter. My first 7X57 was a Ruger #1 AB over 30 years ago. I knew nothing about the cartridge at the time and bought the gun because it had nice wood. I later bought a custom 7X51AI from a friend and figured why have to and sold the #1. I still regret that decision and now have no less than 4 rifles for the 7X57

Joe,

Actually, O'Connor wanted his rifles in 7x57 (or .270, or .30-06) around 8 pounds with scope, sling and ammo. Which with a leather sling means around 7-1/2 with scope. I've handled some of his rifles, along with some built for others in the family, including Eleanor and his son Bradford. They're pretty nice in both weight and balance--which is why some of my own walnut-stocked rifles are pretty similar.

Elkhunternm, that is a very nice looking rifle sir, thank you for sharing the pictures.

Ken - gopher gitter?