My dad is looking at buying a new hunting rifle, for deer, moose, and black bears out to 200 yards.

I suggested the 7X57, after reading good things about it's history in Africa. Looks like low recoil, efficient, different, plus, good ballistics wit handloads. He is open to this caliber. He is 62 yrs. old or so, so a heavy magnum rifle, and shooting 1/4 mile isn't as attractive as it once was.

Anybody have one of these Rugers mk2's?

Tod That would be a good choice,but if you cannot find a 7x57 take a look at the 308WCF. With 180gr. premium bullets it will make a good moose and bear rifle with little recoil.

Tod,

I had one several years ago and never got really satisfactory accuracy with factory loads. One reason I've had suggested was that Ruger throats these rifles long for old military ammo -- but given the game your father will be hunting and the under-200 distances, 175-gr. Partition handloads would probably be a great choice anyway.

John

I hunted with a 7X57 Tang safety Ruger for almost 30 years. Much more effective with premium bullets, like the Nosler Partition, than most would believe.
The problem is it is chambered in a long action rifle, and the already mentioned long throat. A 7-08 would work just as well, and probably be more accurate, last longer, etc.
I used the 140 gr. NP in mine. It lacks nothing in killing power even for elk class stuff. The newer Barnes X, or the Swift-A-Frame would be even better.
The .308 is an excellent choice as well. Lots of premium factory loads available for it. More than the 7-08. And cheap surplus ammo for practice. It is what I use now. With either a handload with the Barnes 168 gr. XLC, or the Federal 165 gr. Throphy Bonded ammo, you can handle anything you need to shoot.
I really like the Ruger Mk.II. The trigger is it's only drawback, and that is not that hard to deal with. It has many other fine points, like the FP & TG setup, the extractor, the ejector, the bolt stop, and the Ruger scope rings. E

Todd: Hope your eye is better. I shoot a 7x57mm Mauser, handloaded with 48.2 grains of H414 and a 162 gr. Hornady SST, in a Remington case and a Federal 210 primer for 2,815 fps and sub-.5 MOA. I used to own one in a Ruger Mark II, but I used it in a trade-in on a CZ 550 American in the same caliber and I have never looked back since that time. After a while the accuracy in the Ruger began to go south on me and no matter what I did, it could not make it improve. I read about the CZ on this forum and on HuntAmerica as well and couldn't find one person who had anything bad to say about them. There's a fellow in Georgia who sells CZ 550s. Go to GunBroker.com and in the search window write CZ 550 American. Every CZ in the site is the Georgia outfit. You can get his toll-free number and call him about a 7x57mm. The CZ 550 American has a 23.6 inch barrel, single set triggers, has fairly good wood-to-metal fit and for the most part has some stocks that are downright pretty in the Turkish Walnut. He charges $429 plus $18 shipping and handling for a total of $447.You have to find someone with an FFL to ship to, but that should be no problem. The American comes with CZ rings just like the Ruger. In my opinion, the CZ beats just about any major-rifle-manufacture going these days in price, quality and workmanship. On mine I refinished the stock with 16 coats of Lindspeed Oil, glassbedded the action, free floated the barrel, adjusted the trigger pull to 3 pounds, had the bolt jewelled in the small herringbone pattern and polished the bolt handle to a bright nickel. I topped it with a Leupold VariX-1 in 4x12. It is an honest tack driver. It does, however, have a long throat on it, and a 1x8.66 twist barrel, which means it is suited for the heavier bullet weights. Hope all this helps ... Tom Purdom

Thanks for the replies.

As I said, this will be a 200 yard rifle, no more. Not a benchrest rifle either. 1.5" groups with handloads would be plenty with handloads.

I'm not sure what the twist rates on the Mk2's are. 1-8.7" seems to be the standard 7X57 twist. If that is right, I should be able to get good accuracy with 160-175 gr. bullets. It's more the history of the cartridge and its excellent record in the field that we both like.

I like the 308 Win, great cartridge. It would serve the intended purpose just as well. So would a 280, or a 30-06. Ruger M77 in walnut/blued steel is what he wants. Something about the 7mm Mauser that is so appealing though.

Keep the replies coming!

Is there anything that could be done by a good gunsmith about the long throats? Like setting the barrel back and re-chambering?

[ 01-13-2003, 08:41: Message edited by: todbartell ]

A 1 in 9 twist works great with the heavy bullets.

Since the 150-175 grain 7mm bullets are so long(and have good BC's), the long throats are a good thing. Seat the bullets out, put some more powder in and you've got a hell of a rifle, and all the kids can shoot it. I shoot some heavy loads with H414(like Mr Purdom) and get 3038 with 140's and 2850 with 160's. Those 160 partitions will work on whatever you need to. I sure as hell wouldn't trade a 7x57 for a .308, which is the only thing in it's recoil class. I loaned mine to my brother's son- it just got back from a cow elk hunt and it's taking a plane ride to Namibia in May.

Todd,

I bought a Ruger 77 mk2 in a 6.5x55 a couple of years ago and could not get that rifle to group at all. Eventually sold it and bought a Tikka 308 which is marvellous.

I subsequently was told by someone much older (and wiser)than myself that if you purchase a European caliber then do so in a European gun. The Czs by all counts are great guns for the price.

I have nothing against a Ruger - its a great basic rifle and very popular here in Aussie but if you buy one, stick to a conventional caliber (ie 308, 30-06, 270 etc).

Maybe the throat on the Ruger is too long for today`s modern loads/projectiles.

Best of luck.