Thread: Any 7x57 Experts?

Originally Posted by gundoc

An excellent cartridge with a versatile range of projectiles available. Pre-WW2 'Karamojo' Bell used one (with 173 grain RN FMJ's) for head-shooting over 1,000 elephants (as well as the 6.5x54) but his technique of creeping into a sleeping herd then climbing a step-ladder to get precise shot placement is not for the faint-hearted!

He didn't do that. At one time he did stand on his telescope tripod so he could see to shoot elephant over six foot high tall grass, but what you described about sleeping elephant and a step ladder was some big bore enthusast being sarcastic posting on the net. (ie, that's the only way they figured he could kill an elephant with a 7x57...)

He shot 1011 elephants - 800 elephants with a 7mm Mauser (and the rest mostly with a .318 Westly Richards.) But people forget to mention he shot 800 buffalo and about 50 lions with his 7mm or a 6.5mm too!

Forget the gunsmith, unless its obviously rusted and pitted anywhere, its going to be fine. I had the exact same rifle in 8x57.

The 7x57 is underloaded both in factory ammo and the reloading data, because of the old Remington rolling blocks which can only handle low pressure. But with a modern Mauser like yours it can be loaded to the same pressures as the other modern cartridges your rifle was chambered in.

With factory ammo you are stuck with what you get, which is low power but will still kill deer fine - the best of the lot from the shop is the Sellier Bellot 139 grain, which is faster than the American brands and has a good round nose, its quite an impressive killer on deer.

For reloading the 7x57 I use 7mm08 data (and you are safe here also, because the 7x57 case is 8% bigger volume so pressures are very slightly lower.)

In my rifle I load 50 grains of AR2209/H4350 with a 139 grain HOrnady soft point and it shoots one ragged hole. This is a max 7mm08 load.

Three deer with it so far this year, and I have observed that for some reason I cant explain the 7mm kills better than my .308 even though the bullets are going about the same speed and are the same interlock construction. I dont know why, but I notice it whenever I use the 7mm.

A beautiful old classic rifle! They sure don't make 'em like that any more.

Had the opertunity to shoot and hunt with a 7x57 Brno many years ago. It was an absolute hammer. Accurate as. This one seemed to love 139gr bullets(Hornady). Dropped Warthog, Kudu and Bluewildebeest like they were stuck by lightning.

Wanted to build myself a 7x57 Ackley ever since - even got the reamer.

The 7x64 would be a good one too.

I was thinking of moving to a .280 but I’ll stick with my 7x57 till I leave the uk.

I've got two M70 winchesters in 7x57 an older push feed, and a newer, limited run controlled feed, from 7-8 years ago,
I run them with a 48 Gr, charge of 4381, and either a 162 gr a max, or ELD, or 150 gr ballistic tip,
Love em, great rifles and a solid performer with 162 gr A-max,

Being on the receiving end of the 7 x57 fired from a mauser impressed the americans so much that they ditched their new 30 krags for a Springfield mauser and the 3003 later to be the 3006.
How can you go wrong

Originally Posted by southernman

I've got two M70 winchesters in 7x57 an older push feed, and a newer, limited run controlled feed, from 7-8 years ago,
I run them with a 48 Gr, charge of 4381, and either a 162 gr a max, or ELD, or 150 gr ballistic tip,
Love em, great rifles and a solid performer with 162 gr A-max,

Gees if only I could buy one…
I had one and it was a great rifle. Beautiful and accurate, beautiful balance.
Before being stolen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m running the 139g to interlock with a charge of 44 H4350. Sadly I’ll have to change this as they have banned the Hogdgon powder here on in Europe. Also leads on the way out. So I’ve started looking for a substitute.
The new N555 Vihtavuri powders look promising and I think I’ll go for the Hornaday GMX.
Just need to wait for some stock to come in.

Why the Hodgdon powder ban?.

It’s a great caliber, certainly easier recoil as I found when I was a teenager compared to a .308

I bought a Winchester Model 70 7x57 and hunted everything with it from goats, pigs, sika, fallow, reds & tahr.

I used 139 gr Hornady with AR2206 which was a lethal accurate load.

I did try some big 175 gr RN but from memory can’t remember how they went.

As others have said factory ammunition especially from the states is well under powered however if you get some European ammo it’s got more grunt but reloading will bring the best out in the 7x57

As others mentioned there’s a lot of history with the 7x57 from Karamojo Bell, Jim Corbett, American Spanish & Boer War to it being well used here in NZ as it was a well mentioned calibre from numerous authors including Philip Holden.

Great calibre, great rifle.

Best of luck & hot barrels