Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Ruger 7x57 second range trip.

I have taken advantage of our mild winter with a repeat trip to the range with new loads. I ended up with a 48gr H4350 load yesterday with an average of 2668fps. After reading the posts, I kicked it up a notch and here are the results.

49gr. H4350 with WLR & 140gr. Partition @2.070" (-.030")
Average nine shot string is 2780fps and an ES of 32fps

50gr. H4350 with the above data shows:
Average nine shot string is 2838fps and an ES of 44fps.

Still no pressure signs but am at the limit of the case without getting into compressed loads. This is in line with what is being written here and I will go no further. All loads today had two shots nearly touching with the 3rd one out a bit. I am wondering if I have to tweak the OAL or put a shim under the barrel out at the end of the forearm. Ruger is sending me a synthetic drop in stock. I'll see how that works.

Again, it is just fun to have such a well mannered caliber to work with.

I'd say a 140 grain bullet going 2838 fps is nothing to sneeze about, I suspect deer arent going to like it at all. Really, you are pitching a slightly heaver bullet with a bigger OD than a 270, and are running them at factory 270 speeds. Should be a great setup.

You should be VERY happy! The 7X57 is truly an awesome caliber!!

Huntr

Try seating the bullets a 1/4 turn deeper in the seating die and re-shoot the group. May have to do it a couple of times but it usually brings that 3rd bullet into the group.

AGW

Thanks AGW, I'll do that and get to the range once the wind subsides.

My 7x57 shoots 51 grains of AA4350 under the 140 grain Hornady flat base into nice neat groups. My brass is Sellior&Bellot and my action allows an overall length of 3.160. A very accurate load in my rifle is 48 grains of H414 and a 150 grain Sierra Gameking. On fact my rifle likes bullets of 150 grains and up for the 3 shots touching groups.

Sounds like you are all over it. Tweaking is next-- "ain't" it fun? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yes and I've missed a lot never owning this 7x57caliber. Ruger is sending me a synthetic drop in stock. It'll be interesting to see if that makes any difference. Now I am debating, no, agonizing over a 1A and in which caliber.
And so it goes.

Hello....you are using the wrong powder.....IMR 4064 will crank it around 2900 and very very accurate. Try it, then thank me later......this is many years experience with the 7X57.....not me.... a friend who has been shooting this cal for 40 years....he got me to switch 3 years ago.....good plan and good results. Regards, Rick.

If you are getting 2900 with the 7x57 and IMR 4064, you are loading to pretty high pressures, unless you have a 28" barrel. 2900 is possible in that grand old cartridge, but better with slower burners. My personal favorite is Norma MRP with the 140 in Winchester brass, fired by the WLR primer, But Reloder 19 also works very well and keeps the pressures where they belong. Even Norma loads their excellent Eurospec 7x57 ammo with slower burning powders. Regards, Eagleye.

It's awful hard to tell older 7x57 users that RL19 is the best powder for velocity/pressure but it really does usually do better in both categories.RL19 has less pressure per volume than other powders thus allowing one to get 2900fps pretty easy.I load 51.5gr in an old '95 Mauser w/a 24in Shilen barrel with no pressure signs and a bit over 2900fps.

Lots of options I guess. Keep the recipes coming!!!!!!!
this little 7x57 is starting to give the .280 and .270Win a run for the money!!!!!
Might try a 7-08 Montana - just to minimize the overall weight when sheep hunting. Time to open comments on that idea.