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

Alright, Ken. Details!!

Thanks John, I should have written ready to hunt instead of scoped.

It's the last as there is no more space in the gunsafe......

MD, curious so weighed a (nylon) sling and 4rds of 280 140g last nite at a touch over a half pound.

Guessing that would require some thought to blank selection and stockmaker's effort to keep it all up at 8#, eh?

Granted, the shells were loaded to the gills...:)

Leupold 6x36 in Talley rings.

Shilen barrel cut to 22" with a 1-11" twist. Going to use either a 140 gr TBT or Nosler Partition in it and NOTHING HEAVIER!

13 5/8" L.O.P.

Black Walnut stock with wrap around Fluer De Lis with ribbons checkering.

Herestal Dumoulin Safari Action standard length.

Red recoil pad.

Winchester Super Grade style sling studs.

That is outstanding! May I ask who did the stock work?

That is a beauty, Ken.

Did you specify that 1-11" ROT or did it come that way?

Wayne

tomk,

Yeah, the wood makes a difference, along with stock dimensions and barrel contour. Back when the standard custom rifle, like Jack's, was built on a 98 Mauser or pre-'64 M70 action weighing close to 3 pounds, it was a trick, but could be done.

It's a lot easier with some of today's actions!

Roy Bedeaux did the inletting,finish and bedding,while Dale Goens did the checkering.

Roundoak,I did specify a 1-11" twist. Only want to use 140's in this one. The two other 7mm Mausers I own can shoot the heavier bullets.

Ken, if I had a rifle that looked that good I'd sleep with it.

Who says I don't.

I have had the pleasure of fondling it, but he probably is not going to let me shoot it!

Fixed it.

Haha. I have an attachment to my 270 that is hard to explain. Nothing wrong with the 7X57, and I doubt that either me or the elk would notice any difference.

You can shoot it,but you have to wash your hands first.

OR NOTHING LONGER such as a 140 gr TTSX, correct?

Re Cactus Jack’s last two 7x57 rifles.
The first of the two was a small ring 98 type action identical to the G33/40 except they had different markings and there were fewer available for use. Tom Burgess did basic metal work. His later jobs were much more elaborate. The stock was made by Russ Leonard who made his living as a sales rep for, I believe, Leupold and perhaps other companies. Leonard’s stock styling was a very big influence on Earl Milliron’s “racy classic” design. Earl told me so. I believe Leonard built a rifle stock for Joyce Hornady. Mr. O’Connor used it for a short time until it was claimed by his bride. The stock was shortened. She being 5’3” or so and him standing over 6’.

The second rifle was a pre64 M70 which was remodeled by Al Biesen. The wood is pretty plain. But that was not unusual at that time. Biesen recontoured the standard weight barrel and cut it to 22”. I have handled both and prefer the 7x57. Mr O’Connor let me fondle all of them while visiting him in his home. I was 21 and thought I was in heaven.

I have weighted quite a few of the wood stocked rifles which were being built by the top makers of the time. Most of those stocks weigh 2 1/2 pounds.

I have owned and weighed stocks by Fisher, Milliron, Kennedy, Goens, and Brownell. Weight could vary by plus or minus 2 oz depending upon wood density. M70’s and 98’s were pretty close with a 98 being about 2 oz less. Of course that depends on the barrel and sights.

My lightest rifle of that period was completed in 1977 and is a G33/40 270 blind magazine Burgess metal with a slim barrel e.g. .535” at 23”. The stock was made by Monte Kennedy from a blank that came from Purdey’s wood pile.

The “formula” for a custom was pretty well established so 270 class rifle went 7.5-8 with a 4x Leupold and no iron sights. In those days 90% of the “mountain rifles” being built by the top makers were 270 Wins. The rest were 7 RM.
Milliron built one stock with a very light blank that was 2# because he hollowed the butt and fore end.

The 7-57 has the digit 7 in it's name twice. Other than than it's just an old cartridge that some folks talk about.

I just looked to see that I have one. It's an old ZB Brno 22 H with a 20" bbl, m70 type 3 position safety, scoped with a Vari X 3-9 Compact in a zb slide off top mount.

Correct.