First whirl at reloading, I have a Lee Loader, an 1895 Mauser in good shape and a scale on the way.

Looking for a forgiving load for this old rifle.

What is a good start- powder, charge, primer, bullet and weight?

Thanks.

i'm sure the throat is cut for the heavier bullets.
go straight to hodgdons websight and look at a heavy bullet recipe.
things will go easier starting right from the book.

The Lee Loader should have a dipper and a chart for loading. That would be a good starting place.

This is a Lee Loader in an old box, I don't think most of the powders listed in the instructions are made anymore, the copyright is c.1969

I gathered three starters from the Hogdon page @ 150, 160, and 174 grain bullets.

What is the lightest bullet I should consider heavy?

Thanks, and thanks for the responses above.

The 170gr bullet would be somewhat "traditional" for the 7x57.
IMO, the 150gr @2600fps would be a fine start toward killing stuff.
You might want to be a bit pragmatic and try all three and see which your rifle likes best. There wouldn't be enough difference between the three in veleocity to worry about.

I'd be willing to bet the powders listed, most of them anyway, on the Lee chart are still made. What are they and what is the dipper size?

I prefer generic 150 gr Rems or 175 RNs in my own M95.

Larry Gibson

Lee Loader instruction sheet:

110 to 150 Nobel Rifle No.2 37gr
110 to 150 Norma 201 39.5gr

130 Hercules Hi-Vel No.2 38gr

130 to 145 Dupont IMR 3031 36gr

140 to 150 Hercules Reloder II 35gr

160 Dupont IMR 4320 38.5gr

160 to 170 Norma 203 39.5gr

160 to 175 Dupont IMR 4064 37gr
160 to 175 Dupont IMR 4895 37.5gr

-the dipper is "#167" and I don't know its capacity.

from the Hogdon site I see at the least the IMR 4320&4895 is still with us:

175 GR. NOS PART IMR IMR 4320 .284" 3.025" 34.0 2103 39,100 CUP

160 GR. NOS PART IMR IMR 4320 .284" 3.000" 34.8 2212 39,100 CUP

150 GR. NOS BT Hodgdon H4350 .284" 3.000" 41.0 2364 38,800 CUP

140 GR. NOS BT IMR IMR 4895 .284" 3.000" 37.8 2454 40,000 CUP

4895 will be just fine with any bullet weight in the 7x57. 4350 also works well with heavier bullets.

I have an old Lee Loader of the same vintage for 32 Spl. The dipper is #16, it holds 32grs of 4895.

4895 is a very versatile powder.
other weights that should work is the 160 or the hornady 154.
but i'd look around a bit for the heavier weight bullets for the older mausers.

Hello, tin can. For a forgiving load in that old Mauser...down the road, you might want to try cast-bullets.
I have a pre WW1 Mauser sporter in 7X57. Have been using H4895..had to go to a custom mould because groove dia. so large..nearly .289"dia. This is shooting around 1 1/4" at 100yds. Have fun!

From the Lee Loader instruction sheet the following powders are still readily available in the US:

130 to 145 Dupont IMR 3031 36gr
160 Dupont IMR 4320 38.5gr
160 to 175 Dupont IMR 4064 37gr
160 to 175 Dupont IMR 4895 37.5gr

-the dipper is "#167" and I don't know its capacity.

Lee dipper #167 is listed by Lee to thrown the following of the above powders;

3031; 36 gr
4320; 38.5 gr
4064; 37 gr
4895; 37.5 gr

My Lee #167 also throws the following;

H4831SC; 40 gr
AA4350; 38.8 gr
IMR4350; 38.8 gr
RL19; 39.5 gr
RL22; 39 gr

Be best to check the actual weight on a good scale as you may "throw" slightlt different charges. Compare what your dipper throws of a given powder with data in the loading manuals for your chosen bullet weight in the 7x57.

Larry Gibson

Well, I certainly don't lack information now- I thank you all for your responses&I'm anxious to get started.

Thanks to all again.