After 30 years of fence sitting I finally jumped into the Ruger lottery pool.
I'm sure they will send me one of the accurate ones.
I just ordered a Ruger 1a in 7x57 and while it is being shipped I am going to order some brass.

Has anyone purchased any Remington or Winchester 7x57 brass lately?

Generally,I use Winchester brass but Remington is really good in some calibers.
I have most of the popular loading manuals, but they tend to be loaded to Model 93 Mauser levels.
I'm not looking to turn this rifle into a 7STW,but might go a little beyond 44,000 psi.
Is the brass up to it?

I guess what I'm looking for is basic advice on loading 7x57 especially for a Ruger #1.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Covey16

Covey,
I've got the same rifle and just started reloading for it. I've been loading Barnes TSX and nosler partitions in both federal and remington brass and both have been fine.
shooting 160gr TSX i started 2 grains below book max and worked up to 1 grain over max with no pressure signs.
IMR-4831
CCI-200 primers
.015 off the lands

Looking at your location i would guess i'm just across the lake from you.

Boomer
Thanks for the reply.

We just moved to Lows Creek area this summer.
Rifle is being shipped to wonderful down town
Zwolle,La.
Any tips on a local rifle range?

Covey16

I've been using Winchester 7x57 brass in my Ruger 77 MkII 7x57, and I've loaded some pieces of brass as many as 11 times and it is still going strong. Moreover, I've been using the loads that are appropriate for strong modern bolt actions, not the anemic loads recommended for trapdoor Springfields and old pre-98 Mausers.

As for powders, H414, IMR 4350, and IMR 4064 seem to be excellent choices. I use regular -- non-magnum -- primers for all loads and all powders in it. I've used Hornady, Nosler, and Sierra bullets from 139 to 175 grains.

I love the 7x57. It just may be ideal for everything in North America (and the rest of the world too) under, say, 800 pounds and at distances no greater than 300 yards. Among others of its virtues, it does its thing with less kick and blast than the bigger and more powerful cartridges, and it can do it in relatively light rifles with shortish (22") barrels.

I've noticed lately that Remington brass has been a lot easier to find lately, so I've been using it. Winchester brass will probably hold about one to one and a half more grains of powder, but I've been happy with the Remington stuff. Considering that my Ruger #1A has Ruger's usual long throat, you might find better accuracy with bullets of 150 gr. or heavier. My powder of choice is Winchester's W-760. In Remington brass, I've gotten velocities in the upper 2800s FPS. I did back off a bit as bolt lift was starting to get a bit sticky in the 105 degree weather I was shoot the loads in.
The load seemed OK in the Ruger #1 though. However, pressure signs are a bit more difficult to notice in a #1. I use case head measurements and velocity readings from a chronograph when working up loads anyway, but one does not have that feel of the sticky bolt lift to help out in the #1.
Paul B.

Just bought 100 7X57mm WW cases from an e-Bay site. I generally have used R-P 7X57mm cases, including the nickel-plated stuff, which has apparently been discontinued. In addition, I have some Norma 7x57 brass.

The WW cases hold a little more-2 grains or so, as do the Normas. However, I have no complaints at all about the quality of R-P 7x57mm cases.

I have a Ruger 1A, a Venezuelan FN M1924, and a Mannlicher/Schoenauer in 7X57mm - all very accurate rifles. I hope yours turns out to be a good one! Of these, the 1A is the lightest & handiest for a hunting rifle!

I have two "pet loads". One uses the 140-grain Nosler Partition bullet and 53.5 grains of WW760 powder, Fed. 210 primers, R-P cases. The MV of this load is over 2900 FPS. The other load is 54 grains of Re 22 and the 175-grain Nosler Partition, again R-P cases. This load has to be dribbled into the case in three increments, each increment settled before adding the next one, just to get it into the case so there's room in the neck to start tyhe bullet. The same amount of Norma MRP provides the same performance, with less problems loading, as it seems to occupy less volume for the same weight. MV of this load is 2720 FPS - both of these loads are OK in my rifles, and were developed in the long-throat 7X57mm 1A - mine is a 1976 Liberty Model.

I don't believe you can put enough RE 22 into a 7X57mm case to cause excessive pressures for a modern rifle with any bullet of 175-grains or less.

Nonetheless, both of the above loads are on the "warm" side, and need to be worked up to from at least 5% below, and used in modern, strong-action rifles ONLY! No Mauser M93-95's or Remington Rolling Blocks!

Thanks a million guys.
Lots of good info here to digest.

I guess it's time to abuse the old credit card.
I was going to get some 168 SMK,175 Noz Partition and some 175 Corelokt(breakin bullets that might actually be accurate).
Need some RE22 and WW760 and Win cases also it appears.
I've got RE15,H4895and H4350 on hand.

Thanks again

Covey16

Covey16,
If you have access to Ken Waters pet loads book, check out his articles on the 7X57. He rings a cartridge out and his loads are far above the factory soft loads for weak link rifles.

Covey,
I'm a little south of you..across from the indian mounds. I do most of my range work in Natchitoche (nice range there). If you need some basic reloading supplies there's a pawn shop on our side of the lake just south of toledo town on 191 that sells dies, powder, primers, tools -nothing too fancy but enough to keep you from having to drive to too far.
Welcome to the lake (or whats left of it)

Customstox
Pet Loads is one of those books I've been eyeballing for a while. Guess I need to order one.
Thanks for the recomendation.

Boomer
Good to know about the reloading supplies nearby.
If the lake drops another 6 inches, I can walk across to it.

Covey16