Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Good 7x57 Mauser loads

My Winchester XTR only likes this load and I've tried a bunch.

I got 60 Sellier and Bellott cases recently because I didn't want to hock one of my kids to get more Norma brass. The S&B brass looks Ok but is a good 2-3grains heavier than the Norma. I also found the normal 308 size shellholder was too small for the S&B stuff so had to get a no10 holder from Lee. I'm getting some 140gn Woodleigh protected points to use on hogs. Those bullets are well constructed and Woodleigh tell me they'll be fine for bigger deer as well. I also had to trim all those cases. The rifle is a Zastava that has been restocked, glass bedded and the action smoothed up. The barrels on these things are great, but the rest of Zastava's machining could use some improvement.

A friend of mine is having his m17 re-barrelled to 7x57 Rimmed. My Woodleigh Bullets hand book says the cartridge should be loaded a bit lighter than the rimless version due to the cartridge being designed to operate in break open rifles. Without going too crazy I think the M17 action could handle some reasonable pressure, although it was designed for the 303 British. Apparently the bolt face will handle the rimmed cartridge without modification.

I asked this up on the campfire room and got no response of that PPU brass was good stuff. Maybe I'll get more repose from those of us that shoot the 7x57.

"I never heard of the stuff. I snagged 5 boxes of 7x57 Mauser for a good price. Seems it's made in Australia according to Grafs and ain't cheap. Brass is PPU and the bullet is a 120 gr. all copper like the Barnes. Has anybody used it" Grafs was short on info and couldn't find an advertised speed or other pertinent data. They talk a good game but sparse on data. Grafs has them on sale for $9.95 a box of ten Ten? yeah, ten. Normal price is 29.95 for that box of ten. Thing is if it's all that good I might spring for another 100 rounds.Bullet is all copper and have what appears to be skiving down the sides to aid expansion, three skives equally around the bullet. Hey! I don't know what else to call 'em OK? I got that ammo plus a box of 156 gr. Norma Oryx for $40 and that included shipping. I can always just use the brass. Tried the PPU in a RCBS #3 shellholder and it worked just fine,
Paul B.

I saw that advertised at Graf's, did an internet search, and nothing other than Graf's came up. Let us know how it shoots, especially if you run it over a chronograph. I'm having a hard time figuring out how those things are worth $30/10, regular price, but that's just me.

Yeah, they seem to be awfully proud of that stuff. I figure at the price I paid which included shipping didn't hurt me and I'd still end up with reloadable brass..
Paul B.

My XTR used to love 175 grain NPTs and IMR 4895

It also REALLY loved 160 gr. TSX...

Ingwe, once everything dries out and the wind dies down a bit I'll let you know how it does with 160-gr NPTs and both IMR4350 and Hunter.

I've found Prvi brass to be pretty good, actually. I have some that are on their seventh or eighth round. The primer pockets are still tight and no neck splits. I do, though, anneal them using John's candle method after about the third time.

Mike, while this is not a full power loading, I have a cast bullet load that runs about 2000, maybe 2100 FPS with a 270 gr. bullet from a Ruger #1H in .375 H&H. I use that load when I practice doing a rapid reload. I neck size for four shooting sessions and full length on the fifth run with that brass. I anneal the necks at the time I full length size. Bras has been reloaded 20 times so far and still going strong.
Paul B.

Didn’t see much mention of RL19.....Might have missed it though.


RL19 and a 150g NBT has been working in my Ruger .275.



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That Ruger is a very nice rifle. I was a bit p-ssed that we didn't get them out here. There were a few of us wanting them but the Ruger importer wouldn't bring any in.

I use PPU brass for a couple of my rifles, actually 3. 223, 7x57 and 280 I have had good success with it, it is priced right and seems reload good. I forgot I also use it for the 7x57AI.

Back in the early 80's when I bought my push feed Model 70 Featherweight, I also bought 150 rounds of R-P 7x57 brass. I can't find it anywhere now, nor can I find any other R-P head stamp brass. Has Remington quit selling brass? I used to shoot 140 grain Partitions with IMR 4350, but have now switched to 160 grainers and 47.0 grains of H4350. This rifle really likes that load and shoots 3 rounds into an inch if I do my part.

Available at Midway. Product # 143497.

Tag

Check out the RL17 data in the latest Speer manual. I worked up to their max load in my M70 FWT push feed and saw no problems. According to the manual 2650 and change FPS. I shot three shot groups with two touching and one about .75" out of the group. It did that with most of the loads and I think playing with the seating depth will bring the odd shot out back into the group. I've had excellent results with RL17 and the 150 gr. Nosler Partition in the M70 FWT. Either load should work just fine to take an elk.
Paul B.

Anyone run 120gr NBT's in theirs? Mine can make tiny groups with them. It seems sacrilege to use those bullets in that cartridge though.

Haven't tried anything that light in my No. 1. It seems to like heavier pills.