Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Reloading "experts"

There are two kinds of self-proclaimed reloading "experts." There is the guy who insists we all stick to lab-tested book loads no matter what gun is used. And then there's the guy who says he loads above the book but "knows" his load is safe.

I'll let you decide who is smarter.

I think Jack O Connor 's wife took a 7×57 to Africa.
She may have used a 30-06 on the big five.

Lots of variables, is the brass new?
Are you blowing primers?

Chamber and bore diameter or twist could be different than somebody elses.
Wear safety glasses if you like your eyes.
Try a Ruger #1 in 45-70 for fun.

I see nothing wrong with your rifle, caliber choice or load. I probably would use a different bullet, but thats just personal. Your results speak for themselves. I don't pay much (read that as any) attention to those "experts". I kind of feel the same way with most of the stuff that I see on Utube.

I use most of the published load data as a guide. In a modern rifle I would push cartridges like the 7 X 57 a little more than most factory. With more modern cartridges I don't try to hot rod them.

My load for my match rifle in 6.5-284 is over most of the listed book max loads. Its been used by a lot of competitors and I approached it cautiously. Its a custom action thats very smooth and would be easy to feel if the bolt lift became sticky. There are no pressure signs on the primer or case head. Case head expansion never approaches .001. I'll shoot the same 40 cases for an entire season, so case life is normal.

Never seen any reason to push the loads in any of my rifles. If I feel the need for more power I move up to a bigger rifle.

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I think you might be able to go a bit higher than that. I read on another site where a fellow ran the 150 gr. Nosler Partition to 2900 FPS using RL17. I PM'ed him asking for details and he said he was using Winchester brass and primer and loaded 49.0 gr. RL17. His rifle was a Winchester M70 Featherweight. I worked up to 48.5 gr. Remington brass and WLR primer and got 2847 FPS with an ES of 39 FPS. Of the three shots, two were literally in the same hole and number three in perfect alignment with the other two but .50" above the group. Brass life has been good and after 6 reloadings primer pockets were still tight. Case head and pressure ring measurements were within tolerances. Primers flattened but still have rounded outside edges.
FWIW, I also tried working up to that level in a custom Mauser with a very tight chamber. That rifle shows high pressures signs even on the weak factory ammo. Measurements are on the tight side but within SAAMI tolerances. That rifle is driving me sane. It is very accurate though.
I still haven't tried working up with RL17 in a Ruger #1A due to time constraints and now it may be some time before I can go that route. A vehicle crash has me fairly well messed up for a while with a fractured sternum, and yes, 27 days after the accident it still hurts like hell in two ways. One is the pain from the injury which is taking its damned sweet time going away and two, the only thing the doc will allow me to shoot in a .22 LR.
So far tough, I really do like the results I've gotten from RL17 in the 7x57 and it shows a lot of promise for the 30-06 as well.
Paul B.

Armednfree: I have killed Bull Elk with a 280 Remington Rifle - see no reason a carefully placed shot with a 7x57 and a good bullet would not do the same.
Enjoy.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Avoid the "book smart reloader" at the club.

Or........ use him as a source for entertainment. See what other BS you can squeeze out of .

Congratulations on shooting a classic cartridge. I like the 7x57 round.

Some reloading manuals have data specific for both older and newer rifles in 7X57. The manuals will give advice on which loads can be used in different rifles. I would consult the manuals and abide by the information in them. I have used a number of the newer loads in a Ruger 1-A. Those loads perform similar to a 7mm-08.

Saami chamber psi is 51,000 for 7x57.

Remington 700 is clearly capable of handling 65,000, as in some Weatherby chamberings.

Brass is just a gasket, some might hold better than others. Necking down 8x57 Lapua could produce the best brass in the chambering.

Nothing says you can or should load it to the wall, but at equal pressures the old 7 is as capable as anything above ,below or beside it.

It can outclass a 7mm08 & comparing it to a 284 Win. or 7mm06 is fruitless. The later 2 can outpace, but only by a slim margin. Like picking the pepper out of fly chit.

You might inform him that Kilimanjaro Bell (aka, W. D. M. Bell) killed over 800 elephants with Mauser 7x57mm (aka, 275 Rigby) rifle and military sold, round nose 173 grain ammo. Not bad for an inadequate round.

ArmedandFree:

Yes, About 1986 I had a custom 7x57 built on a Sako action and Douglas barrel; I was using a similar load to yours, and same results. People sometimes know what they are doing and happen to be correct about their knowledge.

And, gun clubs often have ignorant aspirants.

Talkin' rifles in Ohio or Pennsylvania is bound to draw some hilarious comments.

When I had my 7x57 M70, I was using data out of Hornady's #3 manual. Compared to everyone else's manuals, the data was HOT! I had no excessive pressure signs out of my rifle, and I was loading on an RCBS Junior press, and noted no more difficulty in sizing the Winchester cases, either. That press hasn't got the juice a Rockchucker has, by any means.

Didn't matter, it killed coyotes and deer without drama. I was running a 139 SP at 2860 fps, roughly the same fps. I was getting out of my .270 with 140s (I loaded it pretty mildly). Same weight bullets, more or less the same diameter bullets, same effect on critters. Big deal.

People keep mentioning Bell and the elephants but it isn't really relevant to the way the heavy majority of people use the 7x57.

I shoot an FN Mauser 98 in 7X57 that was made in 1952. My "go to" load is a 160 grain Partition with 47 grains of H4350, WLR primer and R-P brass. I haven't chrono'd it, but it's my rifle of choice here in Utah for deer, antelope, elk, bear and if I can ever draw a moose tag, I'll take it on that hunt too. Very little can't be done with a 7X57 and a 160 grain Partition. Sometimes shooting range "experts" are idiots. Lord knows there are plenty of them around. Remember the definition of "expert" An ex is a has been and a spurt is a drip under pressure.

Bell used a .275Rigby, according to what I have read. A rimmed version of a 7X57mm.

The 275 Rigby is not a rimmed cartridge. It is the British name for the 7x57 and is the same exact, rimless cartridge.

Fugg him......
Always bring your 7x57 to the range.
When Tackleberry is their shooting his awesome stuff.
Lay down a 3 or 5 shot group.
Pull the target
Show the "reloading god" the group and point out the 1st hole from the cold barrel.
Just make the comments

"Thats the one that counts"
"This rifle kills schitt dead other than paper"
And simply walk away and dont give him a chance to respond to feel smug.
Try and do it around his fan boys also if he has some.

If ya really wanta fugg him up.
Lay a previous target with a date on it pointing out # 1 again and how they line up nicely.

Sometimes the best approach is a "in your face cold approach".
Fugg feelings........
Never give the dude the least little chance of an interaction ever again either, dont feed his ego.

Really wanta fugg him up...
Go the "pics or it never happened" route with dead schitt from that rifle pics.
LOL!!!
Fugg him....
Let him eat fisheads....



Just saying.....
LOL!!!