7x57 bullet choices

[Hunter-Habib]

I generally try to avoid cup & core style bullets. I bought my Churchill Model Deluxe 7x57mm Mauser in 1989, in order to contend with my third and final man eating Royal Bengal tiger ( during my posting as DFO ). I also bought a 20 round box of Winchester Super X 175 Gr cup & core soft points.

I gave the tiger a broadside lung shot from our boat at 7:30 PM ( with the aid of a spotlight ) and he seemingly went down. But then he got back up and disappeared. We cut off pursuit for the night and the next day, I returned to the scene with several more armed forest guards. We followed the blood spoor for four hours and found the man eater dead ( this time for real ) several miles away. A post mortem revealed that the cup & core style 175 Gr Winchester soft point had only penetrated one lung and not managed to get through to the other. That first experience was an eye opener.

I’ve also had penetration issues with this type of ammunition on Nilgais and the larger jungle boars. For hunting big game with a 7x57mm Mauser, I’ve found the best bullet to be the 177 Gr Brenneke TIG soft point ( as loaded by RWS ).

They give very excellent penetration, even on game as large as Asian sloth bears.

 

[Tgood1]

Once this damn snowstorm passes I'll provide pics and some limited additional info about the use of cutting edge esp raptor bullets in 7x57. Needless to say I'm impressed

 

[C.W. Richter]

Well according to Nosler's manual, with IMR 4350 I was supposed to get 2622 at 46gr and 2730 at 48gr with 160gr NP and 150gr ABLR respectively. Their test barrel was 22". Mine is 24 with the usual 1:8.6" twist. I was getting 200 - 222 fps less velocity with both. I may have a slow barrel but that seems quite a bit slower. No pressure signs though. Maybe I will try different powder. But even according to them the IMR4350 was the most accurate powder tested. I wanted to try the NP as it is popular here for deer, moose and elk but also wanted to try the ABLR as it would give me more effective range with even the 7x57 mild velocities, opening up at 1300fps or more. In the bush I do not care as distances are short. But in the prairies, 300m+ is not unusual, and quite common. I'd prefer the 160gr ABLR but could not find any at the time.

The North American (Federal, Winchester, Remington) and PPU factory ammo with 175gr bullets is clocking at 1900-2100 fps brand depending. S&B only slightly faster. Norma and RWS are king in factory loadings and bullets used (156gr Oryx and RWS ID Classic and H-mantel).

So if I could get 175gr at 2450-2500 or so, 150-160gr at 2650-2700 and 139gr at 2850-2900, I would not be complaining.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Well according to Nosler's manual, with IMR 4350 I was supposed to get 2622 at 46gr and 2730 at 48gr with 160gr NP and 150gr ABLR respectively. Their test barrel was 22". Mine is 24 with the usual 1:8.6" twist. I was getting 200 - 222 fps less velocity with both. I may have a slow barrel but that seems quite a bit slower. No pressure signs though. Maybe I will try different powder. But even according to them the IMR4350 was the most accurate powder tested. I wanted to try the NP as it is popular here for deer, moose and elk but also wanted to try the ABLR as it would give me more effective range with even the 7x57 mild velocities, opening up at 1300fps or more. In the bush I do not care as distances are short. But in the prairies, 300m+ is not unusual, and quite common. I'd prefer the 160gr ABLR but could not find any at the time.

The North American (Federal, Winchester, Remington) and PPU factory ammo with 175gr bullets is clocking at 1900-2100 fps brand depending. S&B only slightly faster. Norma and RWS are king in factory loadings and bullets used (156gr Oryx and RWS ID Classic and H-mantel).

So if I could get 175gr at 2450-2500 or so, 150-160gr at 2650-2700 and 139gr at 2850-2900, I would not be complaining.

I fully agree that 4350 is the most accurate powder in 50-70ish gr capacity cases!!! Swear by it in the 257s, not 6.5-too low V, 757, 3006, 338-06. Hmmm...your twist is ok. It's possible your chamber was cut a bit loose or something(s) are worn out. Have you tried Norma brass (harder, creates more P) and using a magnum (i.e. CCI 250 LMR) primers? Also, the powder charges recommended have come down over the years by the mfrs, for liability and reformulation reasons...those Vs you report are LOW. Try these out for size...

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4320​

​

41.5M​

​

2,555​

​

2,175​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

IMR-4831​

​

46.5M​

​

2,575​

​

2,209​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

IMR-4955​

​

48.3CM​

​

2,575​

​

2,209​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

joesmoe3​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Vihtavuori N-150​

​

43.0M​

​

2,576​

​

2,211​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

Accurate AA-2495​

​

40.0M​

​

2,578​

​

2,214​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-414​

​

46.0M​

​

2,590​

​

2,235​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon Varget​

​

38.5M​

​

2,617​

​

2,282​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4895​

​

36.0M​

​

2,619​

​

2,285​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Barnes

​

IMR-4955​

​

49.0CM​

​

2,621​

​

2,289​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

joesmoe3​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

Accurate AA-2700​

​

46.0M​

​

2,626​

​

2,297​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4064​

​

40.5M​

​

2,640​

​

2,322​

​

29.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Barnes

​

Alliant/Herc Reloder-22​

​

49.0M​

​

2,650​

​

2,340​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

jeffcaldwell​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Winchester 760​

​

47.0M​

​

2,664​

​

2,364​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-414​

​

47.0M​

​

2,701​

​

2,431​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4350​

​

47.0M​

​

2,739​

​

2,499​

​

29.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-4831SC​

​

50.0M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-4350​

​

47.6M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4350​

​

47.3M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4831​

​

47.6M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Accurate AA-4350​

​

47.0M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Alliant/Herc Reloder-19​

​

48.3M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-4831​

​

53.0CM​

​

2,813​

​

2,636​

​

29.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

Norma-MRP​

​

52.5CM​

​

2,820​

​

2,650​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

eagleye​

 

[C.W. Richter]

Build your loads up until you start to see signs of overpressure, then back it off a bit (i like 0.5 gr because it allows for the increased temps of Africa, TX, etc.) The pressure curve rises very sharply at a particular point, and that's where you get the desired V! IF you tested it in the heat, it should work just fine anywhere.

 

[C.W. Richter]

If you have to, try some of the other more modern powders which tend to generate excellent pressure and V without the extreme temp sensitivity (which gives the impression of overpressure sometimes). 'Never an accuracy issue with IMR powders, most RL, some AA/Western/TAC-all the same. Nobody lists RL17 on this particular forum, but it was developed for the short mag cases 60ish gr capacity-which is similar to the Improved versions of the 57 case. Also IMR 4320 seems to generate higher Vs in 60ish gr cap cases. There are faster than 4350 when powder cap is ltd! It's just so darn accurate. Use a diff powder (or have the chamber reamed out to AI and the headspace checked!)

 

[C.W. Richter]

these came to me in a dream. i cannot recall the source. lol Also check your chrony performance with a known round. The std 757 velocities are not all that impressive, but with high SD .29->.30 bullet selection it does the job well! Improve it and it does it better!

160 Speer

​

IMR-4831​

​

49.0+P​

​

2,616​

​

2,432​

​

22.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

160 Speer

​

Hodgdon H-450​

​

52.0+P​

​

2,625​

​

2,449​

​

22.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

160 Barnes

​

Hodgdon H-380​

​

44.5M​

​

2,641​

​

2,479​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

160 Barnes

​

Hodgdon H-4831​

​

50.5M​

​

2,642​

​

2,481​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

160 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-450​

​

51.0​

​

2,650​

​

2,496​

​

22.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

roadrn1​

​

​

​

160 Sierra

​

Alliant/Herc Reloder-19​

​

49.0​

​

2,665​

​

2,524​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

ammoguide​

​

​

​

160 Sierra

​

Alliant/Herc Reloder-22​

​

50.0​

​

2,690​

​

2,572​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

ammoguide​

​

​

​

160 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-4831SC​

​

49.1M​

​

2,700​

​

2,591​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

160 Sierra

​

IMR-4350​

​

45.6M​

​

2,700​

​

2,591​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

160 Sierra

​

Accurate AA-4350​

​

46.6M​

​

2,700​

​

2,591​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

160 Sierra

​

Alliant/Herc Reloder-19​

​

47.4M​

​

2,700​

​

2,591​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

160 Sierra

​

IMR-4831​

​

47.7M​

​

2,700​

​

2,591​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

 

[C.W. Richter]

Also take the extra time to crimp your bullets in after seating (adds a bit of P/V.) Even a worn out neck sizing die to can result in low P and corresponding V! Brass that has been reloaded too much can do the same due to enlarged primer pockets/holes and minute cracks. I typically do not crimp on PG-type rounds as a light, just-right neck tension aides in accuracy, but also bleeds off a bit of pressure on hot, long-range cartridges! There are many "overly-efficient" rounds out there-.416 comes to mind. (Taylor 4350 fps/400 gr/80 gr, Rem 4350 fps/400 gr/90 gr, Rigby 4350 fps/400 gr/100 gr). The 757 case is not one of 'em. Just perfect, like the 06 case in many calibers! Do not full-length size your cases in a bolt-action rifle. Just neck size (you may wish to get a new and slightly tighter collet for inside your sizing die-to make the neck tension higher, tighter.) So many variables, but most factory ammo falls short of the glory (of their ad campaigns!) LOL I've chronogrpaphed some (they got me for 1 box or 1 lb of powder-but that's ok $Ms for them from all) and they've fallen WAY short of the glory of their commercials!!! (ad: 3,900 fps. reality: 3,500 fps in a quality 26" bbl varmint gun) The same reason people voted Biden/Harris. Don't do that.

 

[Milan]

I fully agree that 4350 is the most accurate powder in 50-70ish gr capacity cases!!! Swear by it in the 257s, not 6.5-too low V, 757, 3006, 338-06. Hmmm...your twist is ok. It's possible your chamber was cut a bit loose or something(s) are worn out. Have you tried Norma brass (harder, creates more P) and using a magnum (i.e. CCI 250 LMR) primers? Also, the powder charges recommended have come down over the years by the mfrs, for liability and reformulation reasons...those Vs you report are LOW. Try these out for size...

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4320​

​

41.5M​

​

2,555​

​

2,175​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

IMR-4831​

​

46.5M​

​

2,575​

​

2,209​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

IMR-4955​

​

48.3CM​

​

2,575​

​

2,209​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

joesmoe3​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Vihtavuori N-150​

​

43.0M​

​

2,576​

​

2,211​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

Accurate AA-2495​

​

40.0M​

​

2,578​

​

2,214​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-414​

​

46.0M​

​

2,590​

​

2,235​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon Varget​

​

38.5M​

​

2,617​

​

2,282​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4895​

​

36.0M​

​

2,619​

​

2,285​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Barnes

​

IMR-4955​

​

49.0CM​

​

2,621​

​

2,289​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

joesmoe3​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

Accurate AA-2700​

​

46.0M​

​

2,626​

​

2,297​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4064​

​

40.5M​

​

2,640​

​

2,322​

​

29.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Barnes

​

Alliant/Herc Reloder-22​

​

49.0M​

​

2,650​

​

2,340​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

jeffcaldwell​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Winchester 760​

​

47.0M​

​

2,664​

​

2,364​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-414​

​

47.0M​

​

2,701​

​

2,431​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4350​

​

47.0M​

​

2,739​

​

2,499​

​

29.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-4831SC​

​

50.0M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-4350​

​

47.6M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4350​

​

47.3M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

IMR-4831​

​

47.6M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Accurate AA-4350​

​

47.0M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Alliant/Herc Reloder-19​

​

48.3M​

​

2,800​

​

2,612​

​

26.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Sierra

​

Hodgdon H-4831​

​

53.0CM​

​

2,813​

​

2,636​

​

29.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

stigma​

​

​

​

150 Nosler

​

Norma-MRP​

​

52.5CM​

​

2,820​

​

2,650​

​

24.0​

​

View​

​

​

​

eagleye​

Yes. Magnum primers is something I was going to try. Not sure if I have any left. LOL. Will have to check. Also 4831 and Reloader-19. We will see. I used to use 4350 with magnum primers for my 3006 and liked it so thought it should work well. Maybe I had my 20" barreled rifle with me but even there the difference is usually 100fps or less from the 24" I have. So still low.

 

[Milan]

Also take the extra time to crimp your bullets in after seating (adds a bit of P/V.) Even a worn out neck sizing die to can result in low P and corresponding V! Brass that has been reloaded too much can do the same due to enlarged primer pockets/holes and minute cracks. I typically do not crimp on PG-type rounds as a light, just-right neck tension aides in accuracy, but also bleeds off a bit of pressure on hot, long-range cartridges! There are many "overly-efficient" rounds out there-.416 comes to mind. (Taylor 4350 fps/400 gr/80 gr, Rem 4350 fps/400 gr/90 gr, Rigby 4350 fps/400 gr/100 gr). The 757 case is not one of 'em. Just perfect, like the 06 case in many calibers! Do not full-length size your cases in a bolt-action rifle. Just neck size (you may wish to get a new and slightly tighter collet for inside your sizing die-to make the neck tension higher, tighter.) So many variables, but most factory ammo falls short of the glory (of their ad campaigns!) LOL I've chronogrpaphed some (they got me for 1 box or 1 lb of powder-but that's ok $Ms for them from all) and they've fallen WAY short of the glory of their commercials!!! (ad: 3,900 fps. reality: 3,500 fps in a quality 26" bbl varmint gun) The same reason people voted Biden/Harris. Don't do that.

I was not going to crimp but may try. I will neck size after I figure something out and then see what changes.

 

[shootist~]

I suggest you measure the neck OD of your sized brass, then again after seating the bullet. The difference should be More Than .0010". I shoot for .0015" minimum and .002" is excellent. That way you know you have good neck tension.

If needed, you can chuck up the expander ball in a drill and turn it down a hair with Emory paper.

 

[Milan]

will do. Thanks for all the tips.

 

[Ernie Shipman]

Ask you PH - he has seen it all & is the best one to advise.

 

[Nevada Mike]

You could also buy a Lee Factory Crimp Die from Lee for about $15. I like them and have them for most of the cartridges that I load..

 

[Milan]

I think the typical RCBS bullet seating dies can crimp as well. You just set the die deeper.

 

[Rare Breed]

I recently aquired a CZ550 Euro stocked 7x57 with a 24" barrel with a 1-10 twist, While my 35Whelen will handle the heavy game I want my 7x57 for Baboons, Jackels and lighter game, accuracy it still the prime objective I also want to shoot a lightweight bullet that shoots flat, Any suggestions based on Knowledge would be appreciated

I’m shooting a 154 Grain bullet with 4831SC powder compressed load at 102.9 shoots 2725 FPS

 

[Nevada Mike]

There is a Norma load for the 140 gr. jacketed bullet... N203B at 2890 fps. THAT would be what I would use, provided it was adequately accurate. I like 140 Grain Accubonds - very accurate in my 7mm RM at 3400 fps.