Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots New to me 7x57 No 1 red pad

So, I had asked if anyone had a No.1 that they wanted to sell and a member here sold me this beauty, 7x57 Mauser circa 1976. Never had this caliber before, but I love the 7mm caliber. Have 280, 280 AI, 7mm-08 and 284 win.

I know some no 1's can be finicky and not very accurate and Ive read a lot of the tweaks used. When I measured the lead, it is ummmmm substantial. But I can load .20 off and keep the bullets in the case. Put an older Vari-x III 3.5-10 on it and took it out 30 min before sunset.

He also gave me a recipe for an accurate load he used in it. well the results speak for themselves. These are at 100 yds. 2 loads- Factory Hornady 139 SST and the load suggested by the previous owner 150 Nos BT/RL17, which I checked through quickload and the reloading manuals.

Good gun.

Seems the prev owner found out what it liked.

If mine, I’d stick with that load. It’ll do what needs doing on most critters.

DF

I have an older red pad 1A 7x57 nearly identical to yours - nice rifle!

What’s your best load?

DF

Great rifle, it will grow on you and become one of your favorites. I have had mine since ‘77 and could it could easily be my only hunting rifle. I use 150 grain Nosler BT or Partition and Hunter powder lately. Used IMR 4350 before that.

I haven't spent a lot of time working up loads and it's been a couple years since I shot it. I don't have my notes handy, but think I settled on H4350 (48 gr - but don't quote me on that) and 160 Partitions seated way out due to the long throat.

It has a tendency to group two shots close, then string the 3rd shot vertically for 1" - 1.5" 100 yd groups. It would probably benefit from some friend bedding...

Friggin auto correct - forend bedding...

Great find. I think the 7x57 is the ultimate chambering in the Ruger 1A. The 150gn Ballistic Tip is a long bullet so should reach the lands and still have enough bullet left in the case neck.

Not sure what happened to the original post but here are the targets at 100.

Hornady 139 SST factory
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Qru37I3.jpg?1[/img]


150 NBT/ RL-17
[img]https://i.imgur.com/bJx5Xg7.jpg?1[/img]

Top stuff with the 150gn Ballistic Tips. That's great accuracy. I load them in my 7x64 and they drill through fallow deer and pigs and are very very accurate.

Nice! that's a sweetheart, Congrats!

I have same gun, well my son has it now. It likes the old 150 gr Nosler Solid Base bullets
pushed by RL17.
I relieved the wood from touching the rear of the action, bedded the tip of the forend and have
a hard plastic shim between the hanger and the barrel. Shoots well.

I also have one. Picked it up for a song at a gun show. The metal was all good, but the finish on the stock and forearm was totally trashed. All clouded and spots missing, could not see grain under the finish. It took a lot of careful scraping, and sanding with very fine sandpaper to get it to the point where it could be refinished. Turned out to have a very nice piece of wood. It is one of the earlier red pad models. I have a little Leupold VX3 1-5x scope on it.

I also have one. Picked it up for a song at a gun show. The metal was all good, but the finish on the stock and forearm was totally trashed. All clouded and spots missing, could not see grain under the finish. It took a lot of careful scraping, and sanding with very fine sandpaper to get it to the point where it could be refinished. Turned out to have a very nice piece of wood. It is one of the earlier red pad models. I have a little Leupold VX3 1-5x scope on it. I am getting to the point where I like those smaller, straight ocular scopes on smaller guns. I have a couple of old Weaver K 2.5 and K3, post and crosshair and German #3 on a couple of Marlin 39a Mounties.

beauty

Agreed.

Beautiful rifle Lhead.