Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7x57, 175 gr bullet, 2,500 fps, IMR 4831

Anyone foresee any problems with this? I know various guides list 2,400 fps with a 175 gr. bullet but I was wondering how achievable 2,500 fps might be.

I'm not interested in pushing any envelopes but I know that some of the 7x57 load data is on the mild side in deference to the 1893 actions out there. I would use this in a modern action. Any thoughts?

In my #1A-7x57 I worked up a nice woods load with a 175 Hornady RN/H4831SC/W-W case&CCI200Primers. It clocks in at 2490 ft/s. And everything is holding up alright/easy ejection & tight primer pockets.

from an older reload manual from Hornady, I run 40 grains of IMR 3031 with a 175 grain RN...Hornady claimed less MV than I am getting... I am getting 2650 fps with it... and brass reloads have gone well over 10 reloads with still tight primer pockets..

that load is running more pressure than ANY load with 4831 SC is going to generate..

in my opinion, you can't get enough IMR 4831 in a 7 x 57 case to cause a pressure issue..

Addendum:
this peaked my curiosity, so a fast check on the old IMR brown sheet reload info, shows a max charge of 4831 of 47.5 grains and a pressure of about 45,000 CUPs, with an MV of 2550 fps..

Looking at a Speer manual from 1966 it shows a max charge of 50 grains of 4831 with a 160 grain bullet, and shows a max charge of 55 grains with a 130 grain bullet...

I have no idea on how Speer even managed to get that much into the case... they had to have crimped the bullet just to keep the powder from pushing the bullet back out of the case!

It is no trick to achieve 2500fps in the two rifles I have. Ruger M77 ts 22" bbl and VZ24 24" bbl.

Sierra, Speer and Hornady bullets 47-48 grs IMR4831. Nosler took 50grs to get to 2500 in the Ruger butfor some reason was too hot in the VZ24.

My old Hornady book shows 50.2gr of 4831 with a MV of 2600fps, however, my newer Lyman book shows a max of 46grs but it's showing a presssure of only 41.6 so if you've a strong modern bolt rifle, I'm gonna guess that could be pushed.

In the FWIW dept: I always used 160s in my various 7mm's. The downrange velocity and energy hold up better.

Needless to say, if you are foolish enough to use any information I've given and end up with smoking shards of steel in your head, I'm not responsible.

Seafire, is this applicable to all rifles chambered for the 7x57?

Well as soon as someone commits to a 'yes' on a statement like that, some one will show up with a rifle chamber that is the exception to the rule.. Murphy's Law....

however if Speer once upon a time was suggesting a max load of 55 grains with a 130 grain bullet, I don't know how it could be anything else but true..

however, don't quote me on that..I can verifty that it is true for the 7 x 57s I have owned.. which currently are a Ruger 77 and a Model 70 Featherweight..

Taking a closer look at the Lyman book, it shows every max load with H4831 as being compressed so's I'd say Seafire is right. On a closer look and doing a little figuring, I'm gonna guess that the max load with a 175 was limited by case capacity not pressure.
IMO, a better powder for the 7x57 is H414.

A 7x57 loaded with 175 grain bullets of any kind will get you a lot of taxidermy expences.

My .275 Rigby is currently loaded with 175 gn Woodleigh Weldcores. There isn't much I would not use it on. My son has killed cattle with that rifle load and I believe it replicates the old Kynock bullets that Corbett used on tigers.

I havn't killed anything larger that wild horses and Red Stag with it yet.

I like 7mm Mausers immensely.

John

Don't forget that IMR 4831 is faster than the other available 4831 powders, almost as fast as H4350.

47 gr IMR4831 or same amount of RL22 is what I used under 175 gr. Sierra GK. Don't know what the velocity was, but was under an inch at 100 yards. 4831 gives me better consistency with compressed loads.

Wismon,

Based on my experience with this cartridge, I don't see any problem achieving what you want. In my present 7x57 (23" Pac-Nor barrel on a small-ring Mexican Mauser) I have used 46.5 grains of AA4350 with the 175 grain Remington Core-Lokt with no pressure problems, and that powder is supposed to be just a bit faster than IMR4831. This load chronographs about 2550fps, is accurate, and does a fine job on game, while being easy on meat.

Hope this is of some help,
M Bell

Wismon, my experience mirrors most of what has already been said...shot a 175 Nosler PT out of a Win M70 Fwt. in 7x57 for years, at 2550 fps....
And as Aussie Gun writer said, I incurred a LOT of taxidermy expenses...
Likewise, there isnt much roaming anywhere I wouldnt shoot with it....
Ingwe