Hi, I'm trying to make a 7x57 sporterized Mauser shoot better; the rifle looks good, the bore seems to be ok, I have installed a good Leupold scope, but accuracy is only average. I tried some loads, different bullets, ranging from 120 to 150 gr. 140 gr. Nosler BT gave the best results, 6/7 cm. at 100 m. Since I seated all bullets at 0.5 mm. (0.02 inches) far from the lands, do you believe that it could make sense to try to seat deeper, or deeper is (almost always) worse, knowing that now C.O.L. is well over the recommandend lenght? Thanks.

so often we fidget with the little things when really big things need addressing.....You didn't say what groups you are getting.....so It's hard to tell where you are.

IMO you must be confident the bedding is good and the barrel is not being stressed by the stock.

You need confidence that the scope is good and the mounts are secure.

After those things are set aside try different bullets.

Seating dapth is down the road a ways....

I'd stick with the 140 for now because your gun seems to like it. You didn't mention a powder. IMR 4350 seems to work well in almost all 7MM's give it a try. Vapodog is right about the stock; is it bedded? I don't think deeper seating is going to resolve your problem. Sounds like the rifle may have a pretty long throat.

If I can't find magic with .020" to .040" of bullet jump, or if a long throat prevents seating that close, I go to setting the bullet one caliber length into the case neck. That seems to work quite frequently

Can you describe this one caliber into the case option you mentioned please?

wildboar: you said you are trying to get a sporterized Mauser in 7x57mm to shoot better. Since you are in northern Italy, I am assuming your rifle barrel has a Euro-twist rate of one turn for every 8.66 inches, or 1x8.66. This type of barrel twist is made to give stability to the 160 grain and 170 grain bullets more-so than the lighter bullets. You might give us an indication of what Mauser you own, is it a Model 98, a Model 95 or a Model 93? If it is a 95 or 93 you should not load hot with your rifle. I own a CZ 550 American in 7x57mm. It was brand new when I bought it. I glassbedded the action area, freefloated the barrel, polished the bolt handle, jewelled the bolt body, put Talley Rings on it and a Leupold VariX-1 through them. With 162 grain Hornady SSTs and H414 powder I can get half minute of angle groups. Again, you might give us more information on what type of rifle you own. Also, do you live near Vachinza (I know I messed up the spelling on that) in northern Italy. My older brother lives and is part owner of a business there. Good luck ... Tom Purdom

I agree with what the others have said but I have one rifle that shoots best with bullets .100" off the lands- go figure. It shoots ok (1.25 to 1.5") at .020" off the lands but will consistantly go under an inch at .100" off. If I figured in my head right you must be getting groups about 2.5" or so, I don't think bullet seating depth will make that much difference. I would look somewhere else also.
Good luck - Nimrod308

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
You didn't say what groups you are getting.....so It's hard to tell where you are.
Seating dapth is down the road a ways....

He did, groups were 6to7 cm. about 2.5"

Yes a cut down mil rifle could have some real bedding problems.

I agree seating depth is the last of his worries but I wouldn't be supprised if deeper was better.
A calibre depth would be 7mm of projectile
inside the neck.

20 thou off the lands might work.
Certainly heaver bullets might help, but 2.5 inches for a mil clunker doesn't sound too bad.

Thanks all for these interesting hints. It's a friend's M98 rifle. As soon as possible I will check for twist rate and bedding. Here we have many difficultes to find american powders, that are VERY expensive. Tests were made with Vith. 150.

@Tom: Vachinza = Vicenza?

If you are seating to within .02" of the lands, how much bullet do you still have in your case necks?? In my experience, most factory 7x57s (and very likely, this may be even more true for military guns) have LOOOONG freebores. If this is the case on the gun in question, have you still got sufficient bullet in your necks to assure consistent neck tension?? A longer bullet than the ones you have tried may bring better results...

In general, accuracy wise it is good to be able to seat close to the land. However, the World is full of rifles where it is simply not possible to do so, yet where people find they get excellent accuracy. Included in this collection would be a healthy proportion factory rifles chambered for European cartridges, practically all Weatherbys and, and , and... Long throats are a fact of life in factory rifles. Seating close to the lands (as much as we all like to be able to do so) is no panacea for accuracy.

I would not worry overly about having to change your powder manufacture initially. Changing your bullet, or modifying the rifle (bedding, trigger etc), are likely to be what will give you the pronounced effects on accuracy. Also be aware, that the European "7mm" calibers are not strictly .284" bore, but are slightly larger. If your bore is set up for the European caliber, trying a European bullet (e.g. RWS) can sometimes bring relief. If, however, your bore is truely .284" cal, using a European size bullet may raise pressures... Not all European 7mm bullet are made according to the CIC spec, though - Norma is one such example.

Good luck

- mike

It's a rebarreled, sporterized M98 and it seems to have a quite short freebore; the longest reloaded cartridges were 81 mm. long. It's a good idea to make some tests with euro bullets, we will see...

Wildboar, I don't know if this is available to you in Italy, but one European bullet, which normally gives good accuracy is the RWS "KS". If you can't get it down there, maybe I can send you a box or two (provided Italien Customs will let them through)??

- mike

Try some 160-175 grain bullets, they usually work better for me in a 7x57. Most are long throated and have a quicker twist for heavy bullets.

Thanks a lot mho , KS are available in Italy and in France (I live very close to the border)