7x57 Ackley improved

26 March 2009, 04:37

I am looking for any reloading data that anyone is willing to pass on I have purchased a Brno combination in 12 ga over 7x57 Ackley improved. I was thinking that 150gr Scirocco would be the bullet that I would be looking to reload. I don't know if the heavy weight bullets are better or not? any and all reply would be great

26 March 2009, 06:01

craigster

The loads listed below are from Ackley's Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders.

145gr bullet:

44gr IMR 4064
48gr " 4895
46gr " 4320
53gr " 4350
58gr " 4831

He shows the one load only for each powder and makes no mention of starting or maximum loads.

26 March 2009, 06:52

Von Gruff

Be aware of the scirocco's. I got them for my custom 7x57 but while waiting for the rifle to be finished I ground one in half to display on my wall. I found a void against one side that is .287 long by .104 wide. I weighed a good number of bullets in the box and found the weight was all over the place with 5 gns of difference. I checked eight other types of 7mm bullets and they were all in the = / - .2 -.3 gn of nominated weight. I contacted Swift and had a reply that said they would contact me further but have heard nothing. from them since. I would think seriously about the scirocco's and look to something else. I have gone to the woodleigh 160gn PP and it is a great bullet for all round hunting. I have a load for the 168gn Berger that prints exactly one inch above ( and into 3/4 in) the Woodleigh so that is my long range load sorted as well.

Von Gruff.

27 March 2009, 03:22

merlinron

be careful with Ackley's published loads. most consider them kind of hot.
i think he purposely published hot loads to proove his theory of the blown out, straight -walled case being able to work at higher pressures without producing the proportional bolt face thrust that a regular case would.

27 March 2009, 11:09

tom holland

The 7x57AI was my first wildcat and it was in a bolt action rifle and I'm shooting a custom 7x57 now. I would start working up with 7x57 loading data and I've had pretty good luck with IMR-4350 in both 7x57/7x57AI. I'm shooting a 150gr TSX in the 7x57 using the same bullet in a 280AI and those loads Craigster posted are max loads.

27 March 2009, 17:02

DMB

quote:
Originally posted by merlinron:
be careful with Ackley's published loads. most consider them kind of hot.
i think he purposely published hot loads to proove his theory of the blown out, straight -walled case being able to work at higher pressures without producing the proportional bolt face thrust that a regular case would.

Amen, you got that right. I consider Ackley's published loads to be WAY hot in some of my rifles.

What Tom said. Use standard 7x57 data and work up to find the accuracy sweet spot.
That's exactly how I developed loads for my 223AI and a 250 SavageAI last summer.

Don

27 March 2009, 17:40

Hot Core

quote:
Originally posted by Accumark:
I am looking for any reloading data that anyone is willing to pass on

Hey Accumark, Any load you find will only be a guideline. In your rifle, it could be low Pressure, just right, or high Pressure. There are only two ways to find the Safe MAX in a custom chamber, CHE and Primer Pocket Expansion. CHE is much quicker and requires less trips to the Range. Velocity means nothing when it comes to Pressure - too many variables.

quote:
I don't know if the heavy weight bullets are better or not? ...

It depends on what you are Hunting and if the rifle shoots the Bullet well that you pick. Occasionally a rifle just won't shoot a particular weight or brand of Bullet well, regardless of how much we want it to. The only way to know is to try them and see what works the best in "your" rifle.
-----

Hey Von Gruff, Thanks for refreshing my memory about the Scirocco's. Not hearing back from them kind of surprises me. Perhaps they just don't care, which I don't see as a good thing at all.

NOTE to self: Scratch Swift Bullets off good supplier list.

27 March 2009, 19:38

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by Hot Core:
quote:
Originally posted by Accumark:
I am looking for any reloading data that anyone is willing to pass on
Hey Accumark, Any load you find will only be a guideline. In your rifle, it could be low Pressure, just right, or high Pressure. There are only two ways to find the Safe MAX in a custom chamber, CHE and Primer Pocket Expansion. CHE is much quicker and requires less trips to the Range. Velocity means nothing when it comes to Pressure - too many variables.

quote:
I don't know if the heavy weight bullets are better or not? ...
It depends on what you are Hunting and if the rifle shoots the Bullet well that you pick. Occasionally a rifle just won't shoot a particular weight or brand of Bullet well, regardless of how much we want it to. The only way to know is to try them and see what works the best in "your" rifle.
-----

Hey Von Gruff, Thanks for refreshing my memory about the Scirocco's. Not hearing back from them kind of surprises me. Perhaps they just don't care, which I don't see as a good thing at all.

NOTE to self: Scratch Swift Bullets off good supplier list.

A pretty good post by Hot Core.....hits it dead center in my opinion.

However about Swift Bullets:

A lot of companies don't reply to emails.....and it really pisses me off.....but I still do business with some as their product is that worthy....Swift (at least A-Frames) is one of them.....This is cutting off one's nose to spite the face thing.

However I have written off several companies for this reason.....