Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 7x57 Mauser

I need some input from some of the more informed elk hunters(killers). The wife and I are headed to N.M. in late oct for an elk hunt. she will be toting a 7x57 handloaded with 150 gr Nosler partitions and 50.5 gr of RL-19. Don't know what it would chrono at but my guess is 2750 out of her Rem 700 Mountain rifle. If the nut behind the trigger does what is necessary it will group 3/4 inch at 100 yds. Outfitter has said shots will be less than 300 yds,

Does she have enough gun and cartridge? She is quite capable of putting the bullet where it is needed. Thanks Daniel

Heck yes it’s more than plenty. My son used the same combo with 150 BTs and PTs with 17. Works fine. No Elk will take that combo for Long at less than 300 yards if you’re planting them in the lungs.

Not exactly as your setup, but Don, and older guy back in the day killed bull elk with his 280 loaded with 150 gr partitions, I specifically remember seeing, and helped packing out at least three of his public land Colo bulls, don't ever recall having any tracking jobs to his bulls.

The 7x57 works on elk....

I have taken elk with the 7x57, cleanly .My bullet of choice was the Barnes 140gr TSX. Total penetration even thru heavy bone. A hunting buddy of mine uses a 7-08 same ballistic's & the Barnes 140gr TSX. Always complete penetration even thru heavy bone. . You don't always get the picture perfect broad side shot. You may be forced to take a shot from any angle. I recommend the deepest penetrating bullet you can get. If it were me it would be the Barnes 140gr TSX. I have no emotional connection to this bullet, just years of positive in the field results. If any thing can go wrong it will. Be prepared to be presented with the worst toughest angle of a shot & hope it doesn't. If it is presented you will be glad you have the one piece mono copper bullet. They out penetrate any other bullet I have tried.

I have never killed an elk with a 7x57, but a have killed a bunch with a .280AI. So stay with me on this, what the .280AI does at 450yds the 7x57 does at about 350yards. My experience with Nosler Partitions is that to ensure full expansion impact velocity should be close to 2000fps. That means about 400yards with your 7x57 and the great 150 NP. I think that combo is good to go if you load the pointy tip forward and shoot the elk in the front half.

The load you describe is plenty adequate.

Guys, You have been a big help! This information will give the wife some additional assurance when the time to pull the trigger. Thanks Daniel

Eleanor O'Connor used a custom 7 x 57 for many years on deer, elk, sheep, and various African Plains game.

1972, Jack and Eleanor both went to Africa with 7x57 rifles.

she had Jacks previous VZ33 7x57 , jack the Winchester he ordered in 1955.

https://gundigest.com/more/classic-guns/forty-years-little-7mm

150 NP at a little over 2700 fps works on cow elk

And they aren't the only ones...Ive taken a 7x57 to Africa three times and killed everything from Oryx and kudu on down with it...

Tom,

It always astonishes me how many hunters apparently consider the 7x57 "marginal"--or whatever similar adjective--when it's been killing BIG game reliably for well over a century. Especially since today's bullets are so much better.

Like you, I've used it on elk-sized "plains game" with no problem--and in North America on the range of game Jack O'Connor mentioned in one of his books--javelina to moose. And yes, the 7x57 did this very well even before the invention of monolithic bullets!

John: you know me better than most on here...the 7x57 is what I'd consider a "big" gun..because Ive used it to kill a few literal tons of large game.

These days I try not to shoot anything larger than a deer ( though I 'backslide once in awhile...) and as the forum knows, most of it gets done wit a .22 centerfire...

Hello,

Agree! My first, and only, big game rifle/cartridge, from 1972 to 1992, was a 7x57. Had not other to compare but I had no problem with MANY big game animals, from our brocket deer, javelina, BIG wild boar, guanaco, axis deer, fallow deer and BIG red deer. Period. At first I use factory ammo, all 175 grs both Winchester (those yellow boxes) and Remington (those green boxes). Then, handloaded 154 grs Hornady, pre-Interlock and Interlock, and various made in USA and European bullets/factory cartridges. The lightest bullet I ever use was the great Winchester Power Point 145 grs factory loaded. I still have 12 boxes bought at a sale down here. My favorites made in USA bullets for big red deer and wild boars are the Nosler Partition 160 and 175 grs. Loaded at 2750 and 2650 f/s respectively in my Mauser 1935 with 60 cm barrel. I see no problem with a 150 grs NP at 2700 or so velocity, for a biggest Elk. By the way, I got my biggest Red Deer, head and body, with a shot at 200 meters with that Mauser using the Nosler Partition 175 grs at these 2650 f/s. More than enough....

a classic cartridge and a lot of vintage also, just right!

I have done it myself and I never had any problems at all.
Your caliber is JUST FINE!
Your bullet is JUST FINE!

You are JUST FINE!

No rounds through this one yet, but I'm betting it would get the job done.

More than enough for 300 yards - although there are those that would argue using a bullet with such a low B.C. (.456) is done only by the ignorant.

Ignore them.