A friend and I have been reloading for M98s, his a custom and mine a FN commercial with 24" barrels. We use IMR4350 and RL19. Using 140gn Sierra PH and GKs and Nosler BTs we are having a hard time reaching 2800fp using 'book' loads. The RL seems to be very slow. Using sane reloading practices has this been your experience. Don't get me wrong, I can live with 2750, I just don't understand this. BTW I just recieved some Speer 145bts and 150GKs. Comments please.

If your rifles have a long throat, you will have problems reaching 2850-2900 fps with loads from the book. My current ones will go about 2700 with some old 140 grain loads that went 2875 in a featherweight model 70. However load them with 52-53 grains of H414 and they'll go 3000 fps safely and 2780 fps with 160 Noslers. These loads go 64000 psi with the pressure trace system. How much 4350 are you loading now? My load with the 140's was 51.5 gr. (my old load)

capt,

I have been reloading for the 7X57 for several years, and use 140 gr Nosler BT's as well as others. I have found the 140 Game King to give the highest "SAFE" velocity, using 51 grs of H4350 in a Ruger 77 having a 22 inch barrel, at 2825 fps.

Try some Win 760, or H 414. I have a 7x57 AI custom, with a 24 inch tube. It will shoot a 140 Nosler BT all day at 2950 using 51.2 gr of Win 760.

Good luck.

Probably any normal 7x57 will have a long throat. Unless the rifle is a custom job, most will be throated for the long 175 gr. round nose bullet. The suggestion of using H-414 is a good one. I use W-760 which is just a different lot of H-414 as both come from the same plant. I experimented with the W-760 and reached 2850 FPS with a 140 gr. Nosler ballistic tip in the middle of an Arizona summer. (100-110 degrees) No obvious pressure signs were visible. I later reduce the load by 100 FPS, just in case. The original load probably was OK, especially at the cooler temperatures during hunting season. In this case, I was more concerned about the Nosler BT coming unglued on a game animal. FWIW, the hotter load gave three shot groups that looked exactly like three leafed clovers. The slightly reduced load opened up to .75".
Paul B.

I don't remember now, but none of my loads have been 50gns or over. capt david