Does anyone know what bullet Federal is utilizing in their 175gr. RN for the 7x57mm Mauser? Hornady bullet??

Also, for those that have used it on game larger than white tail, how did it perform?

Curious as it's shooting very well in my youngest boys M70 (under 1/2" consistently).

I've shot several deer and 1 elk with 175 grain 7x57 factory loads. Through/through penetration on the deer, even on a big deer in ME that dressed out around 240 lbs., and nearly so on the elk, a fair sized cow. The elk was quartering away and the bullet entered the right side just behind the diaphram, traveled forward through the lungs, and punched a nickel sized hole through the left shoulder blade before stopping under the hide.

I prefer the 150 grain Partition in most of my 7x57s, but think that the 175 grain 7x57 factory loads shoot flat enough and hit hard enough for anything that I'd be likely to shoot inside of 300+/- yards. Federal's 175 grain 7x57 bullet looks like a Hornady, but my only box of Hornady 175 grain bullets is about 40 years old.

JEff

I've shot a bunch of those rounds through my 7x57 because it loves them...and although I can not say for sure, I'd speculate it's a Hornady bullet. That's what I buy to reload with and they sure look the same.

YMMV
Rob

Fost- Ive killed a bunch of larger game with 175s in a 7x57...just not with that particular bullet. I too suspect its a Hornady and at the velocities it is traveling, performance should be assured.I wouldn't hesitate to use it on virtually anything I could think of...

This bruiser fell to the 175 Fed out of a M70, he didn't like it

WOW! Nice rifle...and a whopper buck!
I'll bet he's good with a little mesquite marinade....

Thanks and he was

"was"....you didn't save me any...?

I might actually make it back there on dog biz this year....

There is a pack of steaks waiting for you

Hear lotsa folks here using the 175 gr RN in the 7Mauser ... how many folks use them in the 7-08?? If NO .... why not a good fit for this cartridge??

Appreciate the input.

I too think the bullet utilized by Federal is the Hornady Interlock. Sure looks like it...

I've always heard the 175gr. Hornady is a very tough bullet, and is ideal for penetration at 7x57mm velocities, however, it doesn't open and expand well on light deer sized game unless bone is struck.

From a couple members, it appears it works just fine on white tail.

I'd say that COAL issues are the primary reason.

AT 57mm in length, the 7x57 is an intermediate length cartridge, so a long action allows plenty of room to seat long for caliber bullets so that they don't intrude below the neck of the case. The 7mm-08's 51mm long case and COAL limits of a short action magazine would require the 175 grain bullet to be seated below the neck. Same/same for the 55mm long 284 in a short action.

JEff

When I started shooting and loading for the 7x57, back in the early 1970s, Winchester/Olin's 175 grain 7x57 factory load had a lot more lead exposed at the tip than either Federal or Remington, so the "common wisdom" was that the Winchester/Olin bullet expanded and killed deer more quickly, while the Fed/Rem 175 grain bullets with very little exposed lead were "tougher" and penetrated deeper. I don't know if it was true, but I did shoot more deer with the yellow box Winchester/Olin 175 grain factory loads than I did the Green box Remington load.

JEff

260 - on 7mm-08:
If the rifle has a Long-action bolt-stroke for a short-action caliber, as well as a longer throat, could you set the bullet out further/extend the COAL? What would be the harm in doing so?

None, but why put a short cartridge in a long action?

If I was going to build a long action .284" bore rifle, it would probably be a 7x57, 280, or 280AI, rather than a 7mm-08 or 284.

JEff

I can only attest to the Hornady's performance. If the Federal load uses Hornadys, have at it. My scout rifle in 7X57 is 6 for 6 on running/walking whitetails with the Hornady at 2300 fps. All were one shot kills.

I'm loading up Hornady 175 SP in my Kimber 7-08 right now. Getting 2600+ out them but am looking for best accuracy so may end up lower than that. I stated in another thread that I think you get a little extra push from the 175's in the 7-08 due to the base of the bullet resting on the primer (only partially kidding)!

My friend has M70 FW in 7x57 and he shoots the Hornady 175 RN's with excellent accuracy. I would love to shoot an elk with those 175's in my 7-08 but I'm on a medium bore kick and just don't get to hunt enough in a year to try out all my rifles--guess I need to downsize.

Received an e-mail from Federal (as they don't answer their phones) and was informed that they utilize Speer bullets.

Obviously the 175gr. is not a Deep Curl nor Grand Slam as neither of those bullets are round nose. Does or did Speer make a 175gr. Round Nose Soft Point??

Speer lists no other 175gr. .284 bullet on their site....

UPDATE: A second e-mail from Federal as I asked for clarification. The 175gr. RN SP Federal is utilizing in their 7x57mm ammunition is indeed the Hornady Interlock.

I don't know why exactly, but I am glad I know that. Thx for the update.

Rob

I was about to suggest pulling a bullet and sectioning it to see if it had the innerlock feature but, Federal's reply saves the trouble.

before I knew better, I killed whitetails dead with a '95 Mauser "sporterized" by a local shade tree gunsmith, using WW factory 175s. No spectacular, DITD highlight reel kills....just pass through, quarter size exits, and dead deer at the end of a short blood trail.

the 175 7mm, like the 215 gr. in the .303, the 220 in the '06 and .30-40, and the 6.5 Mannlicher with its long 160 RN....all coasting along about 2400 at the muzzle....didn't need trick bullets or high velocity. They just killed stuff, and still do.

Unfortunately, Steve, now we've all been taught to know 'better' and we realize that those long, heavy-for-cal bullets at moderate velocities just aren't fast or 'cool' enough to work anymore!

...so since I'm a n00b, I should sell my 7mm-08 and go with something close to a .577 tyrannosaur necked down to fit a .257 right? :P