Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Loads for 7x57

Hi guys, I'm new here and looking for a good load for my Winchester Featherweight in 7x57. I am currently using 50.0 gr H4831SC behind a Sierra 140 gr spbt in Remington cases and cci 200 primers. 2640 fps. Shoots good. Killed a Wyoming speed goat this fall with it. But I'm not satisfied. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to magnimize it, I like the historical mildness of it and if I wanted a 280 or a 7 mag I'd of bought one. I guess what I'm looking for is a classic load for it. Like the 60.0 4831 130 gr bullet of a 270 that Jack O'Oonnor liked and works so well. Does anyone know what his wife Elinore used in her 7x57? A classic load for a classic cartridge? Thanks. Mark

I shoot a 140 Nosler Partition with CCI 200 primer and 51.0 gr of I-4831, at 2893 fps. Win 70XTR Featgherweight (early-mid 90s?). Not a "classic: load, but it's worked well on Balck bear, deer and caribou.

I think a classic load would involve a 175 gr round nose.

While I have not chronographed it, last weekend I used mine to take a pretty good sized oryx with the 140 gr Accubond behind 48 grs of H4350 in Winchester brass. Very accurate so I am done with this combo.

Thanks guys, it seems the 140s are popular, I load them in my wife's 7mm-08. If a classic load used a 175 grainer I may have to pass. I'm also practical. Maybe someone can open my eyes to them.

I've been using the Partition/I-4831 load for about 15 years, so it's "classic" for me!!!

O'Connor's classic load for the 7X57 reads thus:

"Probably the best all-purpose, big game load for the 7X57 is the 154-grain Hornady or 160-grain Speer, Sierra, or Nosler bullet with 52 grains of No. 4831 in Western cases." The Hunting Rifle, page 94.

His other load from the same page in the book is the 140-grain bullet behind 45 grains of No. 4320.

Be advised that the 4831 that Jack O'Connor used was the surplus version and it is supposed to be a little slower than the currently manufactured powders labeled 4831. So start lower and work up according to your own rifle.

ckw, thanks, that was what I was looking for.

In "The Hunting Rifle" Jack stated: " Probably the best all-purpose, big game load is the 154 Hornady or 160 grain Speeer, Sierra, or Nosler with 52 grains of No.4831."

My rifles like:
49 grains of IMR-4350 with Nosler 150s or Hornday 154s for a little over 2700 fps.
Or:
44 grains of IMR-4320 with Nosler 140 or Sierra 140 flat base bullets.
And:
51 grains of MR-3100 with 139 grain Hornadys is a fantastic low pressure load developing 2526 fps.

I run the 160gn Woodleigh over 46gn H4350 with WLR in Graff cases for 2700fps.

Von Gruff.

You guys have given me some great ideas. Thanks a bunch.

One thing I never understood about American loadings of the 7x57 - the very widespread use of 140 grain bullets. The cartridge was originally designed to use 175 grain RN slug, and works well with 10 gram ( 154grain) or 160 grains, but the 140's seem too light for optimum fit with the long throat and fast twist of this cartridge. Jack O'connor even commented about premature throat wear of his 7x57's when shooting light bullets. All 5 of my 7x57's all shoot best with heavier bullets. I have settled on 160's and H4350 for my rifles with no worries.

48.5 grains H4350 behind a Hornady 162 grain bullet, 3.190" COL, Rem brass, CCI 200 primer, 24" barrel, 2732 FPS at a measured 54 KPSI.

Substitute 51 grains RL19 for 2762 FPS and measured 56.1 KPSI.

Substitute 52.5 grains RL22, 3.290" COL and a 160 Nosler AccuBond for 2736 FPS and measured 55.5 KPSI.

Results in your rifle will surely be different from my rifle. Use as reference info only.

I have been very happy with the 140gr Accubond and 50.0gr's of H4350. Been a great combo now.

castnblast:

My 7x57 was built new in 1984 from a Sako action and a Douglas barrel, so it does not have as long a throat as the ones found on "the [European] continent".

The 140-160 all shot well for me, and the 140 is attractive for deer...maybe due to the speed ? But, for the 140 grains and 150, IMR 4064 worked pretty well - I killed a deer at 400 yards with the 160.

The 140s and 160s I shot were Nosler Partitions. The 175 I never loaded, but it is no slouch.

The classic 170-175 grain loads are quite useable at the vast majority of typical distances and targets. Practice and familiarity goes far......pun intended. (And, of course, you could also run an Interlock or Partion spitzer if you wish.)

Mine don't have long throats either.

I'm inclined to agree with you. However, these days speed apparently rules.
Another thing about American loadings. They're underpowered because liability lawyers are afarid some of those 1893 and 1895 Mausers will cime unglued if they load the 7x57 to it's full potential.
Currently, I have three rifles chambered in 7x57 and I've started to really experiment with them along two levels. One with loads like the originals and two seeing just what the cartridge truly is capable of producing. Naturally, it was the latter I did first. My Winchester M70 Featherweight will push a 140 gr. ballistic Tip to 2800 FPS with a near max load of W760. One grain more does 2880 FPS but bolt lift is a bit sticky. My Ruger #1A likes that load and it's decently accurate in both rifles. When it comes to my custom FN Mauser, that load will lock up the bolt good and solid yet show absolutely no pressure signs in the other rifles.
Some factory ammo is drasticly underloaded. Federal 175 gr. RN factory ammo struggles to reach 2000 FPS in two rifles but make 2050 FPS in the Mauser.
I loaded some 175 gr. Hornady RN's to 2400 FPS in the Winchester and Ruger and when I shot them in the Mauser velocity jumped to 2510 FPS. methinks it's the match grade barrel and chambering that causes that gain in pressure, thus the higher velocity. I have another custom Mauser in .308 Win. with match grade barrel and chambering that does the same thing. My gunsmith is very anal about the quality of his work. I'm gonna keep him.
I haven't chronographed what the Winchester 145 gr. Powerpoint ammo does but they advertise something around 2600 FPS and maybe that ain't so bad.
Obe of my favorite rifles is a Ruger M77 RSI, the one with the full Mannlicher stock and 18.5" barrel. That rifle os a one trick pony and will only shoot the 165 gr. Speer Hot-Core over a stiff load of W760. It will not shoot anything else as every other load, powder and bullets has made shotgun patterns. That bullet only does 2550 FPS, but that was more than enough to take down a nice Kaibab Mule Deer with one shot at 250 yards laser measured. The deer was facing me and the bullet hit just below the neck and stopped against a back leg with enough force to break that leg. Can't ask for any more penetration than that. So maybe a 150 to maybe 160 gr. 7MM bullet at 2600 FPS, give or take a few FPS might be a pretty potent package after all.
You know, the 7x57 made it's reputation using a 175 gr. round nose bullet at roughly 2300 FPS. With today's modern powders, it shouldn't be any problem for that bullet to do 2500 FPS plus in perfect safety. When I think of how many long range shots I've had to take out here in the wide open spaces of the American west, a whole two deer to be honest, I really see no need for some hard kicking rip snorting magnum. FWIW, probably the average distance I've shot deer since 1949 has been right at 100 yards or maybe a bit less. Hell, half the fun is sneaking up and seeing how close I can get.
Paul B.

I had a M70 Featherweight and the lighter weight bullets it shot well, were the 145gr Speer GS (old version). Powder was 4350.

I think the more longer, the better when it comes to the M70's though. Long throat on mine.

Travis

Denton, thanks for posting such useful information for those that load 7X57s.

I believe that the 140 Gn bullet was the Traditional load for the 275 Rigby HV (7x57), I ve got mine going at 2805 fps ish, from a 22", 1:9 twist barrel, using H414 according to Nosler Book 6, with Fed GM210M primers out of RWS brass.

I think that the original Mauser load was 175 Gns round nose or FMJ .... Whatever, it killed the Gordons at Spion Kop to the satisfaction of the Boers, and Elephant to the satisfaction to WDM Bell. I also heard that the Mexicans used it some effect ? .... not being smart, but it is a very good effective calibre; I reckon that Mr Mauser got it about right all those years ago.