My last trip to the range with my 7x57 was disappointing.

Last year I had gotten good groups with 48.5 grains of H4350 behind a 140 grain Nosler Partition bullet with new preprimed bass. I don't know what the primers were.

I ran out of Nosler Partitions so switched to some 139 grain Hornady Interlocks with the same powder load and CCI 200 primers and the groups are now all over the map. I mean a five inch group compared to a one inch group with the NP bullets.

The previous owner of this rifle had had success with that charge behind Hornady 139 grain SSI bullets so I thought I should stick close to that recipe.

I see by the book this load looks a little hot too, but elsewhere I have read of others using up to 50 grains of H4350 in other commercial Mauser actions.

Maybe I should reduce the load a grain or two and try again?

Does anyone else have one of these rifles? What shoots for you?

Recipe's as such are generally not transferable bullet to bullet or rifle to rifle. You will have to load incrementally from medium low to reasonable to find a load your rifle likes, and not all rifles like all bullets.

Hublocker Did you happen to ask the previous owner what the complete overall length of his rounds were using the 139 gr Hornady's. Some rifles are quite fussy where those bullets are seated. In my experience most European made rifles (Husqvarna included) have long throats to accept heavy round nose bullets.I would suggest you try to seat that bullet as close to rifling as your magazine length will allow. If you still can't get better groups go buy some more Partitions, Nosler makes them every day.

Thanks. I was told it was long-throated.

The NP bullets shot fine seated "normally" but maybe the other ones need to be forward a bit.

You should try heavier bullets. I have the same rifle. I'm using Hirtenberger brass. 40,5 Grains of Norma 202 behind of RWS 10,5 grams KS bullets. L6 is 76,10mm. Primmer CCI Br2.

I have the action beded in Devcon A. The result could not be better. Amazing little rifle.

Hope it helps you to find a good load.

Leupoldo

what is "normal" seating? book value for C.O.A.L?

I would try a little more bullet weight. Try seating length suggestions all ready mentioned. The 162 grain Hornady is a inexpensive bullet that shoots decent.

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Ron, you do have this handloading stuff down to a science, for sure.

I have to seat the 139 Hornady so that the cannulare groove is about 1/4 inch fron the top of the case and then they shoot real well.

Try 47.0 grains of H4350 and a 154gr Hornady Interlock Fed 210 primers. My comnination gun(12ga/7x57R) loves this load above and beyond all others for some reason. Gives me about 2600 pfs with the 25 inch bbl on the gun and is consistanly 1 inch for 3 shots.

A little off topic, but does anyone know which rifle makers currently make rifles chambered in this round 7x57? I am interested in acquiring one and don't often see them for sale. my other rifles are Sako and I really like that manufacturer but don't know if they currently chamber in 7x57 Thanks, Paul W

Ruger No1 International.

Jerry LIles

Thanks everybody.

I did try a few loads of commercial Hornady custom cartridges with 154 grain bullets and they shot great, but they don't make loaded cartridges in 7x57 any more.


My buddy told me the gun ONLY shot 140 grain bullets any good.

I believe the husqvarna 7x57 had a 1 in 12 twist, so longer bullets would possibly be a problem. Those 154 hornadys are pretty short for their bullet weight which may be part of the reason they worked well.

That's a great idea. I should try to get some 154 gr. bullets

One other thought, were the 139 hornadys flat base or boattail? I have had very good success in a variety of 7mm cartridges with 139 flat base interlocks, as opposed to interbonds or boattails. Just a thought!

Flat based.

I shoot a stiff charge of H 414 under a 140 grain balistic tip from my ruger #1 and it shoots very well. and gets 2900 fps. That sounds like a heck of a nice rifle to me. asuming its a 98 mauser...tj3006

I would be shocked if you could not get the 139 hornadys shooting much better. Have you seated them out further than the nosler, like just off the lands (if possible). The fact that factory 154s shot well makes me wonder whether there is some factor in your 139 load that is decidedly wrong for the rifle?