Thread: Low recoil load 7x57.

Hey team, I have recently acquired a Brazilian Mauser in 7x57 to use in the local deerstalkers "open sight only " shoot. I'm hoping to work up a low recoil load that my boy can shoot aswell. I'm thinking 120gn pill. Something flat based like a V-max. Looks like rifle has a 1 in 8.6 twist. Not sure if that weight pill will shoot well at that twist rate?. Only needs to group well at 100m. Any suggestions much appreciated.
Cheers.

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I shoot 7x57mm. Never really noticed recoil using 150gn Rem CorLokt at full house loads with RL19 doing around 2500fps. Going down to 120gn I'd just pick a point a bit above Start with a powder you have data for and go from there. A 120 or even 130gn bullet has significantly less inertia to get it going. It will also shoot pretty flat so ideal punching paper or slapping metal for a young fella. If you dont have powder theres a bunch that will.do the job. For what you want it for I dont believe you need to over think it. And thats a lovely long barrel on it. To be honest I doubt you'll get a recoil problem even at the common 149/140gn mark. Of course, someone else just may be able to recommend the perfect load lol

Greetings,
I would also suggest 140 grain or there about projectiles and definitely flat base, no boat tails. The 7x57 has a long throat and a 120 grain projectiles may not shoot well in it. I would also suggest light loads and neck sizing. The 7x57 chamber can be quite generous and FL sizing can reduce case life significantly. For powder it would be hard to go past AR2206H which should work well with light loads as it has done in my .308 rifles and others. 35 grains of AR2208, AR2206H, BM8208 or BM2 should produce 2,300 to 2,400 fps. This is the same velocity I was getting in my .308 with the 150 grain round nose. Cases should only need neck sizing and give periodic annealing last almost forever.
GPM.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. @grandpamac you make an interesting point about the long chamber. I believe the original 7x57 loads were around 170gn?. So the 120 may have a long way you jump. @Jhon the recoil isn't too bad. He's just a small lad so don't want to knock him around. I have some 139gn interlok I can try with a light load. Will see how it goes. I might even load up some heavier pills and see if I can't tip over a stag one day.

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Dare I say it,cast and trailboss might be a LOT of fun for closer stuff. I know a spoon of trailboss under a 130 GRN in 270 is rather....meek n mild but close possums seem to object .

Originally Posted by hunter Al.7mm08

Thanks for the suggestions guys. @grandpamac you make an interesting point about the long chamber. I believe the original 7x57 loads were around 170gn?. So the 120 may have a long way you jump. @Jhon the recoil isn't too bad. He's just a small lad so don't want to knock him around. I have some 139gn interlok I can try with a light load. Will see how it goes. I might even load up some heavier pills and see if I can't tip over a stag one day.

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Greetings and thanks for the kind words,
I worked through the headspace problem a few years back with my 6.5x55 rifles. I had had a M38 6.5 for some years and just neck sized with mostly light loads with no problems. Fortune smiled on me a few years back and a new T3 in 6.5 had joined the ranks. About that time my son lent me his Hornady headspace comparator and some competition shell holders. Cases fired in my T3 and new Lapua cases measured about the same but the Redding FL size dies set the shoulder back 0.25mm (0.010). My older Lyman dies were even worse. A recent article in Handloader suggested that the same problem existed with the 7x57. There is clearly a difference between the Continental and US standards. If you can manage with neck sizing this is your best option and based on your tag you may be able to do this with a 7mm-08 FL die at a pinch.
Regards Grandpamac.

@grandpamac. I think you are right about the long throat. Had a little play with a few projectiles. Seated touching the lands. The 120gn BT would have quite a jump if seated properly in the neck!. Think I will try the 139 interlok and failing that the 162 eld-m is maybe an option. Also tried neck sizing with a 7mm.08 die. I was surprised how much it squeezed the neck up. Left an obvious step between the resized portion and the shoulder. Not ideal result. A bit more fine tuning, but as you say at a pinch it will do the job.

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I made some some up for a mate's 7m08 a few years back.
100gr pill and a minimum load of Varget or H414/W760

Having seen the comments about the long throat of the 7x57 this may not be the most accurate load but for goats etc at sub 100 mtr
a 2" group would be fine.
Z

Originally Posted by hunter Al.7mm08

@grandpamac. I think you are right about the long throat. Had a little play with a few projectiles. Seated touching the lands. The 120gn BT would have quite a jump if seated properly in the neck!. Think I will try the 139 interlok and failing that the 162 eld-m is maybe an option. Also tried neck sizing with a 7mm.08 die. I was surprised how much it squeezed the neck up. Left an obvious step between the resized portion and the shoulder. Not ideal result. A bit more fine tuning, but as you say at a pinch it will do the job.

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The step in the neck is normal on neck sized cases and is no problem.

A long jump isn't necessarily the end of the world. I've recently tried some 120 Pro Hunters with varget in my 7x57 and they went fine.

Softest load I have for it is 175gn round nose and trailboss doing just under 1050, tends to be a light push.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

The step in the neck is normal on neck sized cases and is no problem.

Ah. Good to know Thank-you I'm fairly new to reloading and have only FL sized before.

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I’ve used both 120gr BTs and 130gr Speer hot cores in my 7x57s…2 of wish have military chambers…With good hunting accuracy..usually an inch or a bit less at 100yds. With the rifle you have, recoil shouldn’t be much if you stick to the starting end loads. Good on you for getting that lad into shooting.

I use 120gr ttsx in 7x57. They dont mind the jump and shoot an inch at 100m. Very mild to shoot and still good velocity around 3000fps

130gr speer btsp.

Call it done.

Cheap and simple.

Plus they dont need to be going very hot to work.