R U going to any more on the 7x57? roger

Blue Dot Range Report: 7 x 57 Mauser

Bullet: 100 grain Sierra Hollow Point

Case: Remington, New

Primer: CCI Large Rifle

OAL: 76.25 mm

Max Capacity: 40.5 grains of Blue Dot

40%: 16.2 grains
60%: 24.3 grains

Tested: 16 to 24 grains

Rifle Used: Ruger 77 Mk 2, 22 inch factory barrel, Sporter Weight

Velocity Results:

16 grains: 2057 fps
17 grains: 2190 fps
18 grains: 2263 fps
19 grains: 2310 fps
20 grains: 2390 fps

21 grains: 2468 fps
22 grains: 2530 fps
23 grains: 2574 fps
24 grains: 2687 fps

Notes:
1. All cases extracted very easily
2. 24 grains was fine, representing the 60% mark. Increases can be made, but I recommend stopping there.
3. The rifle is long throated so the bullets were seated out to take advantage of that fact. If your rifle is not long throated work up to that point.
4. After 10 shots, in short succession, the barrel heat was minimal.
5. This load was tested at the request of someone who was looking to use this load for a Ground Hog load.

Seafire,

I find your data a little odd in at least one area. I loaded some 40% loads in new Rem 6mm Rem brass, which is the same case as a 7 X 57, and ended up with 17.2 gr of Blue Dot (capacity was 43 gr instead of 40.5 gr) with 100 gr Rem Corelokts and RWS/Alcan LRP. I shot them out of a Mod 600 Rem with 18 1/2" barrel with a 5 shot average velocity of 2007 fps at 15'. The group was 6" low (unusual for Blue Dot loads) at 100 yards in 3/4".

Paul,

This was brand new never been fired Remington brass. The first time I weighed it, I was surprised since I had just weighted a 243 case at 38 grains. So I weighed the 7 x 57 case again, and got the same amount. So I tried another case, and got the same 40.5 grains.

The walls on their 7 x 57 brass must be relatively thick. I don't have any Rem 6 mm Rem brass, as I use Winchester for that.

It caught my attention also, but a couple of cases confirmed that. Go figure.

Cheers & good shooting
seafire

Yeah Roger I am. I went and bought some brand new Rem 7 x 57 brass for just that reason.

I have noticed some new patterns that I am developing into theory; however being a little cautious since the 40 to 60% theory with Blue Dot went south with testing the 30/06.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

This afternoon, I took the time to call Sierra on this particular bullet and its use on deer. Living in Oregon, where our deer average between 75 and 100 lbs, I asked how suitable the 100 grain HP is for deer.

Speaking with Paul Box, who has been on the Sierra Tech line as long as I can remember, he indicated that the 100 grain HP was a good bullet for deer in that weight range ( 75-100 lbs). He recommended the classic lung shot.

Not sure how it would do for those that like to take out the shoulder. I did shoot a deer with a 100 grain HP in 6.5 mm out of a 260 Rem and it went straight down.

Paul recommended keeping the velocity under 2850 or so at the muzzle.

So 23 or 24 grains of Blue Dot in a 7 x 57 with a 100 grain HP would make a good deer load, where the deer size is appropriate, for Kids and Smaller shooters ( male and female.)

Recoil was comparable to a 243 at most.

I am going to try and test the 120 grain bullets next in 7 x 57.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

Seafire,

That certainly is unusal, but would certainly account for the lesser capacity.

Based on the numbers you posted, I went ahead and loaded the next round of 6mm at 20.0 gr. #1 son wasn't too impressed with 2000 fps, but my 13 year old grandaughter is the one who is possibly going to shoot this load! Maybe he just doesn't understand velocity losses in short barrels.

BTW, the brass I'm using is brand new, never fired.

These Blue Dot loads have me acting like a child in a candy store. I need to try a little of this one and a little of that one and so on.

seafire, could you give me a 40%-60% capacity range of blue dot that would work in a 7mm-08? not exactly sure how you get the measurement.