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Hi all, I bought a Tikka T3 lite stainless and had it rebarreled by PacNor for 7x57. Bought a custom stock for it by Robertson Composites out of Canada. It has a 22" fluted 1:9 twist barrel. I've tried H414 pushing 140gr Nosler parts, IMR4350 pushing 140 NP's, accubonds and 150gr NP's. I'm loading by Nosler manual's data. Win brass, WLR primers. Nothing is shooting well at all. i've broken in the barrel (cleaned between each of first 20 rounds, then after every third for 30 rounds and then after 5 for 50 rounds.) I'm looking for 2600-2750fps 1/2" or better. So far results have been sketchy. typically 3" groups. I can have a load shoot rounds 1 and 3 touching, then the other 3 scattered around. I've played with action screw tightness and it doesn't change much at all. I'm loading -.010 off lands and have tested -.020 and it's about the same. Anyone have success with Varget? or maybe I should ask - what are some good accurate loads you've had success with. I'm not interested in HOT! - high pressure loads... | ||
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You may have started off in a hole if you did not study the chamber, leade lenght and angle, and twist rate of the 7X57 before you started spending money. The chamber for this round is usually optimized for long 175 grn RN bullets and has a large diameter neck. I have gone through the same process that you did with a Ruger M77 and had about the same results. I eventually got some Federal 175 grn RN ammo in a swap for about the price of the brass. I found that the Federal factory ammo shot much better in the Ruger than any reload. The Federal ammo shot about 1" groups in that rifle and a like new 1895 Chilean Mauser. The Chilean Mauser has no scope but does have a 29" barrel. | |||
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IIRC, the load I used in my ZKK 600 7x57 was 139 gr. Hornady spire points, 47.0 grs H-4831, RWS LR primers in cases made from U.S. G.I. '06 cases. It was NOT a hot load in my rifle...rather mild in fact. But, I don't know whether it will be mild or over Max in your rifle. I shot moose with it. A shot which hit on one shoulder blade and angled back just enough to go through both lungs, would exit the rib cage on the other side every time. Again, IIRC. its 5-shot 100 yard groups were about 7/8 to 1-1/4 " from the completely stock and unaccurized rifle, depending on how tight the nut behind the trigger was. Speaking of "a "tight" nut behind the trigger, I had a good friend in Edmonton who made illicit schnapps from prune stock (French Plums) which he gave me plentiful supplies of...but that is another story. My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still. | |||
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I would suggest trying 175gr bullets, something inexpensive like the Speer Spitzers. Most 7mm's perform best with heavier bullets. The caliber was designed for 175gr bullets, yet for some reason in America we always want to downplay it to 139-140gr. I've owned several 7mm's over the years, and the only one that shot well with 139grainers was a Ruger #1A. I currently own a 7mm and I shoot the 175's out of it. Maybe worth a try if you are ok with heavier bullets. JP Sauer Drilling 12x12x9.3x72 David Murray Scottish Hammer 12 Bore Alex Henry 500/450 Double Rifle Steyr Classic Mannlicher Fullstock 6.5x55 Steyr Classic Mannlicher Fullstock .30-06 Walther PPQ H2 9mm Walther PPS M2 Cogswell & Harrison Hammer 12 Bore Damascus And Too Many More | |||
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I had the same experience with my Weatherby Accumark 300 mag. I could not get decent groups with several factory loads and considered sending the gun back to Weatherby for service or replacement. I tried Barnes 180 TTSX bullets and bingo my 2" groups became consistent .6" groups. Sometimes barrels can be finicky about bullets and you just need to find the majic combo for yours. Have you bedded the action and barrel? If you have and saw no improvement consider a full length bedding job. I used to be a big free floated barrel believer but now prefer full bed jobs especially if a bipod will be used. BTW I really like the build you described and think with some experimenting you will find the load it likes. Best of luck and don't let it get you down. | |||
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FWIW, I've posted this here before, perhaps it will help........... here is a little number chambered in 7 x 57 on a mauser action, handcarved mesquite stock, bedded, douglas barrel, timney trigger and leupold 3 x 9 scope. Shot these a while back. Not exactly the velocity you were looking for, but what the hey. I too do not hot rod my 7 x 57. I have a 7 mag and a 7stw for that. GWB      | |||
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I had my 7x57 built specifically to shoot 175gr Nosler Partitions for use in Africa. It's based on a 1909 Argentine. Don't know the twist or even the barrel manufacturer as I left that up to the builder. Went to Zimbabwe on my final safari as my plains game gun and took several Kudu at various ranges with total sucess. Load was 175gr Nosler Partition,44grs IMR4350,W-W brass and Federal 210 primers. Easily shoots into 1/2" for 3 shots. Barrel is such a slim taper it strings vertically after 3 shots. I am most pleased with it.       SCI Life Member NRA Patron Life Member DRSS | |||
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mine is built on a Sako L691 action, has a 25' 1:8 twist PacNor barrel and is bedded on a McMillan Sako Hunter stock. Shoots 139, 140, 150, 160, 162 and 175gn bullets all in the same POI and all at 3/4 inch or considerably less. I use Sierra GMK (140, 150, 160), Hornady Interlock (139, 162), Nosler (140 partition) and RWS factory ammo. The powders that work best is RL19, H4831SC and VihtN160, all with CCIBR2 or Fed210M I found that small tweaks on the seating depth made a 1' group into a .3' group... Might you need to bed it? or play with seating depth? I don't shoot mine hot at all (2500-2700fps) best wishes, Finman better have a gun and not need it than need a gun and not have it.... | |||
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 We have a winner. Just like other replys here I struggled and failed with 140 weight projectiles in my euro (long) throat custom 7x57 Mauser '98. Accuracy came together with Hornady 154 & 175 Interlock Spt's and RNSP's, 160 and 175 Woodleighs and 175 Sierra SptBt's. You won't get accurate top velocity loads either. Circa 2,400fps with 175's and H4350. If you want faster 140's get a 7-08 or the barrel re-chambered with a short throat 7x57 reamer (they exist). You will have to lose a little barrel length though. | |||
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I have 2 7x57s that shoot the 140's just fine. One is a m700 classic the other is a m98 custom. Both are long throated 1:9 bbls. I shot 44grs of IMR 4350 with 140gr TSX's and NAB's, both 1/2" loads. Your problems seem like a bbl issue. Try a few factory loads and try to get a standard. Pery | |||
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Gunsrgood I have a custom M98 in 7x57. It shoots 139 Hornadys with W760 powder and I have been using WLR primers. It also shoots the old 160 gr Speer bullet very well with W760. Start @ about 44 grs for the 139 gr bullet and work up to best accuracy. A couple grs less with the 160s. Hope that helps. | |||
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My best load so far. The rifle is a 1909 Argie action, Lothar Walther # 1300 contour barrel i in 9 twist. Barrel is floated from the receiver forward. Walnut stock. I used a stock Clymer reamer. I checked my data & the best that I did so far in this rifle with the 139 Hornady was 1 1/8"     Doug Humbarger NRA Life member Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73. Yankee Station Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo. | |||
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for some unknown reason or another i always found that if i was having trouble with a 7mm i'd go to the 139 gr hornady and everything was fine | |||
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Try 40 grains of IMR-3031 and you may be surprised. I've used that charge with bullets of 130-175 grains in weight and is the load I use for any 7mm that's giving me problems. I don't know why but, it just works for me. | |||
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hi Finman - your velocities are what I have in mind although your extra 3" of barrel contribute to that. But I really like the variety you have. I've seen a couple of posts here where H4831sc is used. Maybe I should try that next. | |||
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Thanks all for your input. I sure is nice to have people you can bounce issues or ideas off of and will genuinely care. Thanks again. Seems like h4831sc, RL19 and some IMR3031 may be my next options. Thanks greatly!! | |||
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I'm liking the looks of that w760 result you received. Thank you for sharing! | |||
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A Tooney!!, eh? | |||
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Just for interest, this is what I got for tyhe first testing of the 120gn GS Custom bullet and I called the pulled shot as I let it go.(Dont we always when this happens  I load with the 51gn for 3235fps and carry a few in my scope bag for the odd occasion I cant get inside my aperture sighted 160gn cast soft nosed bullet at 2415fps(39gn H4350) 200yd range. Have a 160gn Woodleigh at 2700fps that covers the spectrum of game I might chase with this 7x57.  Von Gruff. | |||
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My 7x57 is made on a 24/47 M98 action and has a 19 inch barrel on it for use in tight box blinds. My rifle has a pretty longthroat and it does like the heavier bullets but it shoots the 140 gr. Nosler Partition into just over an inch when pushed with 48.0 grs. of H414. It will put three touching if I substitute the bullet with a 150 gr. Ballistic Tip. The 160 gr. Speer and 175 gr. Hornady also shoot very well in this rifle. I meant to build a 308 but a good deal on the 7x57 barrel came up and I took it, absolutely no regrets! | |||
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[url=http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/000oo/target.jpg] Its interestingthat two folks are getting the same results with practically the same load in two different guns. Also i'm shooting a 23" bbl & Gunsmoker is shooting a 19" barrel. Pretty good conframation for that load. Doug Humbarger NRA Life member Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73. Yankee Station Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo. | |||
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All of my 7x57s are set up with an 06 length magazine and a very long throat. I can seat a 175 gr. Hornady half way to the cannalure..the magazine and chamber are the same specs as the Brno 21 and 22...With the extra powder space I an go way beyond all the loads mentioned and I only use H414, but I can get 2960 FPS with a 160 gr. Nosler and no pressure. I can get 2700 plus a little with a 175 gr. bullet. I notice tow posts wherein the users go with 48 grs. of H414 and that is considerable over the book max and I use several grains more than they do..My brass lasts at least 11 reloads and most last 14 or 15...Its an easy fix in most 7x57, but then the beauty of a 7x57 is mild recoil in which case this may not be your cup of tea.. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Hi All, just wanted to offer a very PLEASED update. I finally hit on a load that works in this rifle. In review. Tikka T3 lite, rebarreled by Pac-Nor to 7x57. Had a heck of time get a load to shoot. Yesterday morning I found a very promising load, went home reloaded another 5 of the same recipe and shot this morning...5 in a row..no cooling ..just took my time..clean barrel. 40 degrees, calm. Varget 43.5 grains, WLR primers, WIN brass, Nosler 140gr accubonds. Avg 2652 fps. OAL 3.160. See link. I'm pretty satisfied- measured .488" I tried 3 of the load suggestions I received from earlier post and unfortunately didn't get great results. But wanted to thank everyone anyway for encouragement and support!! target | |||
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I think the beauty of the 7X57 is its ability to handle the 160, 175 gn slugs. That is where the long throat and faster twist really shine.... AK-47 The only Communist Idea that Liberals don't like. | |||
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