I know that the Boers(Afrikaans) and Bell used the 7x57 with around 175gn full metal Jacket round nose bullets. Most probably used Milsurp, except bell, who used Rigby and Mauser factory ammo. BTW, I understand that he never used soft points. By The early '20s spire pointed soft point hunting ammo was available. Does anyone know what the predominate 7x57 bullets weight and bullet type were used by sportsmen, between the wars? capt david

This may be interesting. I like these medium bores in moderate velocity speeds over normal hunting ranges where I live.

Yes, Rigby made two distinct 275 bore rifles; one for 175 grain bullets and the other "High Velocity" one for 140 grainers.
I believe the primary bullet on the continent was 175 grains.
Bell, using basically FMJ ball, is a different thing.

In anticipation of our little 275 Rigby project I have procured for myself 500 Hornady 175 gr RN bullets and anticipate running them around 2400 fps in that excellent Douglas barrel!

I'm closing in on 71 and don't get around well as I used to.I plan on shooting a cull or management red stag next week. After that I don't plan to shoot any more horns. I'll just be hunting whitetail and exotic does and pigs. Most of my shots will be around 100yds. Almost none over 150yds unless I plan and I'll use my 280.

I have two commercial FN 1898, a 30-06 and a 7x57. I plan on Equipping/modifying/retrofitting one, probably the 7x57 to at least resemble an early Mauser B Modle. I've even ordered some 275 Rigby brass and when I figure out which one I will reload rounds to fit. The 150gn Partitions will be my main hunting load these will probably be used sparingly. capt david

The 150 Partition would not be in the (design) spirit of any historic bullet used in the 20s, so you are, in effect, shooting a different cartridge from what was available then.. Which is fine.
The one that blue is talking about will be a re-creation of an original pre WW1 275 Rigby in every way. Lock, stock, and barrel. And sights.
Carry on and have fun.

I've always wondered WHY I was told by many of my mentors from way back that FMJ's were "nopuckinggood"..."just poked a hole and went on across the country to kill a ranchers cow". I believed them...somewhat.

Being the "CHEAP BASTID" I am, I used them whenever I could...Never had a problem. I DID grind off the noses on some of them now and then...sometimes it helped, sometimes it didn't, BUT they killed whatever I was shooting at...this included 7mm for 7x57, 280, 284, 7-08(not so much the last two) and 7mm RM, 30 cal for 308, 30-06(mostly) and 300 WM and 22 cal(for varmints in my AR's, mostly).

A very strong argument can be put forth that FMJ's whether military or commercial are nothing but "SOLIDS" used on DG game AND for eating game...no one complained about those.

I wonder why the lessons learned by Bell didn't make it across the big water or maybe there were few choices back then and Bell was "economically" minded also.

I never got ANY bullet weight other than ≈175 gr to shoot in my early model Ruger, but I was a speed freak back then so <3000 fs just didn't get it...took me a few years to understand reality. Damned Ruger would only shoot RN's and THAT was another bone of contention. It has changed personalities several times over the years.

I STILL shoot FMJ's in several rifles , and hunt with heavier than middle weight bullets in the middle to large cals...at whatever speed the bullet likes for accuracy.

Good Luck on your endeavor Blue I have a few of those same Horn bullets left over and they work very well in my 7mm RM and 284...the others are long gone.

I always have a 20 rnd box of FMJ's loaded for some of my rifles...just in case

Good Hunting

maybe dpcd will send you a few progress pics. he has attached a nice 1909 Argie BM unit I sent along and, in a tip of the hat to modernity, a nice 3 pos safety. Got to get a nice new bolt handle on it and then he shall recreate the nice period sights and sling swivel and she'll be ready for a stock.

Then we'll cerakote it all up... just kidding. rust blue I guess or I'll be accused of heresy by Ray Atkinson.

Where does that leave the 318 WR, Alf?

I have a suspicion it was the Georg Roth Ammunition Company in Austria who made the steeljacket bullets for Rigby ammunition. They were the only ones to make(as far as I can see) steeljacket bullets at that time. Rigby ammunition was famous for their penetration using steel jacket bullets.

Would the #2s be regulated for round nose or spitzer?

In general how popular were round nose vs spitzer 173?

Same questions for # 1s

Also, what would Corbett have used?

You will never know how much I appreciate our help thanks capt david

Regulated means sighted in the case yes? Bell clearly tells us what kind of ammo he used so were his writings not accurate? I presume they were myself. Thanks as always Alf for your detail.

Yes regulated means sighted, and Rigbys that were sighted for the 140 grainers are marked as such. If not marked then it is for the 175s. When I make them, I have different reamers for each bullet, but back then, I assume they were the same. Long throats; but I do not know for a fact.
If you want to shoot fmjs at small things, just turn them around and shoot them base first. They explode on fox and kill them fast. I did that way back with 150 grain M2 ball bullets. Might alter the trajectory though.....but in the woods it didn't matter.

Regulated is the process of sighting in double rifles with wire and solder so the barrels contour together to a particular zero...

"Technically" it does not pertain to sighting in rifle, sighting in is sighting in the rifle by moving the front or rear sight, or using the adjustments on a scope..

I know it probably makes little difference to some but I consider it unprofessional to mix the two in a conversation or post unless your talking to the uninformed..

You regulate a double gun, but you can sometimes "sight it in" or change the zero with a hammer and brass punch by moving the sights if your lucky, otherwise you must "reregulate it" with heat and wire.

You sight in a bolt gun, a lever gun, etc..

Thank you Alf.
Ray I do believe that Regulation of ones rifles sighting system is an acceptable adjective to describe a process whereby one endeavors to get the bullet to land where you want it to when the rifle is fired. Regulating a Double rifle means you have two barrels and one sighting system to deal with thus the process is different of course. Regulation of the sighting system on a single barreled rifle is pretty much as you described but in my mind still, Regulation. Regulation of a single barreled trap or skeet gun was sometimes done with a clamp and a tug to bend the barrel slightly. Kind of gave me the willies but the old timers had no such problems and since they won the shoot, hard for me to scoff at.
Either way, I did understand when Bell had his Rigby #2 "regulated" for the "excellent" 173 full patch bullet that it meant Rigby had sighted it for that bullet.

Aw the English language continues to decline in various ways and means..Ignorance is bliss... just creating a disturbance!!