Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 175 Grain Interlocks in the 7x57: Where to Start?

My buddy's long-throated 700 Mountain Rifle loved the now-unavailable factory S&B 173 SPCE stuff. 'Twas hell on deer 'n hogs, and about $17/box. After fiddle-[intercoursing] around for far too long with 150 NBT's and 154 Interlocks, I'm gonna just gonna try to feed it the heavies that it seemed to like.

I've got the following on-hand:





Where's a good starting point?

MD's "...Gack" tome showed he'd used both 46.0 of Hunter and 50.0 of R22 under 175's in a few different rifles. Might any of the other powders be worth a go?

Thanks in advance,

FC

Seafire has some great loads for the 7X57 using the heavier 160 gr and 175 gr bullets using iMR-3031. Send him a PM

I put this on the "Good 7x57 Loads" thread a while back, and seeing that you have both Hunter and Big Game you might want to give some of this a try. I've been using both powders since I bought a few pounds of each when H4350 became scarce, and all of my 7x57s seem to do fine with it. I've been using Hunter with 160-175 grain bullets, and Big Game for everything else. And while I'm not using magnum primers, I am using WLR since from everything I've read they're a hotter primer. As a matter of fact, the tech from Western says that this data assumes a standard LR primer. So far, all of the loads have been very consistent with them. The information is from Western Powder's blog.


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Since we do not have any specific lab tested data on this caliber, we can provide you with some guideline, based on calculations and information from other sources.

Caliber: 7x57 Mauser.
Barrel length: 24”
Pressure spec: <56565 Psi/3900 Bar (CIP) original


Powder: Ramshot – BIG GAME®. (1st Choice)

Bullet weight: 100-110 grains.
Start load: 47.7 grains (2975 - 3075 Fps)
Maximum load: 53.0 grains (3275 – 3375 Fps).

Bullet weight: 120 grains.
Start load: 45.0 grains (2700 - 2800 Fps)
Maximum load: 50.0 grains (3000 – 3100 Fps).

Bullet weight: 130 grains.
Start load: 43.7 grains (2575 - 2675 Fps)
Maximum load: 48.5 grains (2875 – 2975 Fps).

Bullet weight: 139/140 grains.
Start load: 42.0 grains (ca 2550 Fps)
Maximum load: 47.0 grains (ca 2900 Fps).

Bullet weight: 150-154 grains.
Start load: 40.8 grains (ca 2450 Fps)
Maximum load: 46.0 grains (ca 2800 Fps).

Bullet weight: 160 grains.
Start load: 40.5 grains (2350 – 2450 Fps)
Maximum load: 45.0 grains (2600 – 2700 Fps).

Bullet weight: 175 grains.
Start load: 39.6 grains (2300 – 2400 Fps)
Maximum load: 44.0 grains (2500 – 2600 Fps).


Powder: Ramshot – HUNTER®.

Bullet weight: 120 grains.
Start load: 48.6 grains (ca 2780 Fps).
Maximum load: 54.0 grains (ca 3140 Fps). LD ca 106%

Bullet weight: 140 grains.
Start load: 46.8 grains (ca 2600 Fps)
Maximum load: 52.0 grains (ca 2950 Fps). LD ca 102%

Bullet weight: 150-154 grains.
Start load: 43.7 grains (ca 2450 Fps)
Maximum load: 49.5 grains (ca 2750 Fps).

Bullet weight: 160 grains.
Start load: 43.7 grains (ca 2375 Fps)
Maximum load: 48.50 grains (ca 2675 Fps).

Bullet weight: 175 grains
Start load: 42.0 grains (ca 2300 Fps)
Maximum load: 47.0 grains (ca 2650 Fps).LD ca 99%

Tag

Y'all might want to check out ammoseek.com. There's plenty of the S&B stuff still available.

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/7mm-mauser/-rifle-173grains-

Midway:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/9...3-grain-soft-point-cutted-edge-box-of-20

49.0 grn of RL 22, Remington brass, 210's, and 175 Hornady RN's run 2500fps out of my 22" #1. It'll fling 3 into an 1-1/2" (I gotta try bedding that rifle) like most everything else.
Would love to run up on another box or two of RN's. Only thing I ever shot with them was a feral sow that weight around 125lbs. She was only about 15 yards away. Looked like you had shot a coffee cup all the way through her.
If I run out of RN's (which will be a while, no more than I get to hunt and shoot anymore), I'll prolly just run the regular Interlock.

I'd start with the H4831SC. Worked great for me with 160's, should be better with 175's.

Tag

Hi,

With my M98 Mauser (Argentine Mauser-Werke 1935) 7x57 and an original Military Barrel I use Nosler Partition and or Hornady Interlock 175 grs with R22 for 2650 f/s and the same POI. Great Big Red Deer or Wild Boar load! I increased the load and reach 2700 f/s without any dangerous sign, but 2650 or so is plenty without been close to border line...

Good accuracy with Re22 and 175gr SBT Sierra GameKing at 2600 fps muzzle speed from my 20" barrel 7x57.

Have loaded for a 7-06 RCBS Improved (30 deg) and used 175 Hornady RN & spitzers over Re-22; moving to Re-19, though. Too sluggish on the below max loads we were using.

I went ahead built some R22 & Hunter loads, working up to the MD levels of 50.0 & 46.0, respectively. I did 'em all with CCI 200's. If the Hunter loads show promise, I might try give them a 2nd go-'round using magnum primers.

I just spent way too long with the Tru-Angle tool trying to remove the runout in the loaded rounds with the S&B brass we're reusing. The necks are really uniform, but only 1 out of 20 rounds got seated to under .005 runout with RCBS dies. All are at or below .002 now.

Range results to follow.

If these don't show promise, I'll just advise him to stock-up on the factory stuff you guys found, while it can still be had.


FC

For general cheap loads don't overlook the Privy Partisan bullets. I was skeptical and they look funky with non uniform noses but they shoot just fine and perform like the old pre-bean counter Core Lokts on game. Grafs usually has them at bulk prices.

If the necks are good then the dies or how they are set up is suspect. I have had good luck with RCBS but even better with a Lee Collet and Forster competition seater. The Lee is not bad either another good value product.

I agree. In my limited experience, I can't tell the difference between the 139-gr Prvi PSP and the older 140-gr Core-Lokts that I have on hand. And the 158-gr Prvi Grom is a very stout bullet that works very, very well on pigs. I haven't recovered any bullets from game, but the ones I've recovered from dry newspaper (i.e., the Mule Deer Test) look like a TSX, petals and all. An added bonus with Prvi cases is that the brass lasts a very long time. Granted, I don't push my reloads to the limit, but I have cases that have been reloaded five or six times, and the primer pockets are still tight.

I've loaded those cases using a Lee Collet as well as a Lee Dead-Length seating die and don't have much issue with run-out. Last week I ordered a Redding Competition seating die (w/micrometer) when Bullets.com closed them out but haven't used it yet. Considering that my M98 already shoots my 175-grain Deep Curl loads into sub-MOA groups, it may have been a waste of money; but for $85 NIB - same as the Forster - I couldn't pass it up.

Is all the runout coming in at the seating step, or is some from sizing as well?

Both, I think.

And that's after I got them back from being checked/reconditioned/replaced/whatever the hell they did at RCBS.

FC

Knowing the distribution of the runout could be useful re what techniques to apply.

My best loads were generated with Rel 17 with this bullet weight. Accuracy was terrific and slightly better than Rel 22 in my rifle.
John

I think R22 might hold some promise:





Avg velocity = 2,604 fps
Extreme spread = 20 fps
Std Dev = 9 fps

No pressure signs. Actually, bolt lift was easier than it was with the 154/H4350 load I tried, that only got those lighter weight bullets to 2,650 fps.


'Twould seem to be an eminently huntable load. Still, I may tweak the COAL a bit, for giggles.



... and for those who are curious... 45.0 and 46.0 grains of Hunter gave 3"+ groups with this bullet, at under 2,400 fps. I see the data RevMike posted says I could go up another grain, but I already feel like I've chased my tail enough with this rifle.


FC