Hi Chaps
Hope everyone is well? I have been very busy so forgive me for not being around on the site.
I would like to know if a 150gr flat base spitzer bullet would perform well in the 7x57? They are ProAmm bullets sort of conventional bullets but with a difference, ie semi premium.
I want to load them at around 2500fps and can only get to testing them this weekend on paper. How many of you are happy with 150 grainers in the 7x57? Currently I am loading 175gr Hornady round nose and am extremely happy with them. Just feel like experimenting with another bullet weight. Asssuming all else being equal, will they shoot flatter at 300m than the 175 grainers and how would they perform on kudu etc.
Rifle is a cz 550 lux with a 1:8.6 twist. Your input would be appreciated.
Many thanks

lal, I know your powder choices are a little different down there, but if you have some Somchem S365 on the shelf, out of normal length barrel, I'd expect you could get somewhere around 2800 out of the 150gr pill. I don't know much about Kudu, but if they compare to our Elk, I'd probably stick to the 175. For anything the size of our deer, the 150's would be a good choice.

I've always been happy to swap a bit of velocity for a touch more bullet weight, as you were doing with the 175s.

That said, I do understand the desire to experiment, otherwise why bother to reload?

I'd look at it this way. The 150 gr bullet is probably the single most popular bullet weight in the 308. In teh 7x57 it weighs the same (surprisingly), but the Sectional density will be quite a bit higher.

A kudu is about the same size as an elk (I think), but I have heard (from Boddington) that an elk is way tougher, so, yep, I'd give it a go.

IIRC a 175gr from a 7x57 gets maybe 2450 fps, you should be able to push these quite a bit higher.

One good thing is the rifle isn't an old Mauser mod '93 or '95 so you can push the pressures up past the weenie loads in the manuals (IIRC the Speer book had sections for Remington rolling block and '93 Mausers separate from the more modern, robust loadings).

When I loaded for the 7x57 while in ZA, I was never really happy with the powders, S335 was a bit too fast and S365 was a bit slow, but the "new" S355 should be right on.

I'd give Somchem a call, though.

... and another thing I just remembered, I cannot recommend ANY standard PMP 7mm projectiles other than for jackals or meercats.

Both my father and I have been disappointed with them - me with a 7x57 and him with a Brenekke 7x64. They blow up and misbehave badly - he has culled hundreds of blesbuck with his 7x64 and on a behind-the-shoulder shot at about 2,700 fps there will be multiple entry holes. Sierra Game Kings solved the problem.

Writing to PMP was a waste of time as you could imagine.

quote:

Originally posted by Bren7X64:
Both my father and I have been disappointed with them - me with a 7x57 and him with a Brenekke 7x64. They blow up and misbehave badly - he has culled hundreds of blesbuck with his 7x64 and on a behind-the-shoulder shot at about 2,700 fps there will be multiple entry holes. Sierra Game Kings solved the problem.

An interesting article by Jack O'Connor in an old RCBS reloading booklet tells of his safaris to Africa, at least one of which he was accompanied by his wife Eleanor. She took 17 head of plains game up to and including Kudu with a Mauser 7x57 rifle and 19 shots. All were one shot kills except the Kudu hit through the heart with the first shot was followed up with two more to anchor on the spot. Her load was 160gr Sierra Game Kings at 2700fps using H4831 powder.
I'd be very happy with that performance.

I have several hundred of what appears to be old 154 gn core locks that I intend to use for a Mule deer hunt this year from my 7X57.

I agree that the 175 gn slug is probably much better suited for Kudu, but for lighter deer sized game the 150 gn loads should be excellent from the old Mauser case..

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:

quote:

Originally posted by Bren7X64:
Both my father and I have been disappointed with them - me with a 7x57 and him with a Brenekke 7x64. They blow up and misbehave badly - he has culled hundreds of blesbuck with his 7x64 and on a behind-the-shoulder shot at about 2,700 fps there will be multiple entry holes. Sierra Game Kings solved the problem.

An interesting article by Jack O'Connor in an old RCBS reloading booklet tells of his safaris to Africa, at least one of which he was accompanied by his wife Eleanor. She took 17 head of plains game up to and including Kudu with a Mauser 7x57 rifle and 19 shots. All were one shot kills except the Kudu hit through the heart with the first shot was followed up with two more to anchor on the spot. Her load was 160gr Sierra Game Kings at 2700fps using H4831 powder.
I'd be very happy with that performance.

Sorry, I love my 7x57 - I just learned not to use PMP bullets in it - not in 130gr or 170gr (or was it 175?)

PMP bullets in other calibres were not too bad at all.

I think the 160gn is the best compromise bullet weight for the 7x57, and was superb in my 7x61 as well. I used the Sierra bullet for many years but have since gone to the Woodleigh. My own 7x57 gets the 160gn Woodleigh away at 2700fps and I would be confident pointing it at anything in the large deer-antelope species.

The 150 psp will arrive at 300 meters with greater velocity and energy than the 175gr. RN. Never shot a Kudu. roger

But then as has been said time and again, velocity is not the be all and end all of killing ability.

I used a 150 grain Nosler Partition at 2717 fps for the last elk I killed. Completely through and through with a just behind the shoulder shot. Probably an identical outcome if I had used the Hornady 154 grain SP Inner-Lock. Powder was IMR-4350.
Elk traveled 35-40 yards after the shot.

For more years than I care to remember I've used the Sierra 150gr. flat base bullet in my 7x57. I use a standard LR primer and a max. charge of 4350. This load shoots well under an inch for 5-shot groups at 100 yds, but I'm getting around 2700fps.

swampshooter, where do you get the 7mm 150 gr flat base Sierra bullets?

I've used the 154 gr. Hornady bullets quite a bit in the Texas Hill COuntry and they seem to work ok on everything up to Sika deer. I am of the opinion that a decent 7mm bullet in the 150 gr. range will work on just about everything.

Although I do admit a fondness for the 173 gr. SPCE bullet from S&B. That's the only factory load I shoot in mind and it works really well.

I like the 130 gr. Speer for deer size animals and I have used it successfully to cull Springbok and Kudu in my 7x57..The 145 gr. speer works great also..For larger game I use the 160 gr. Nosler and the 175 gr. Noslers partitions. The GS Customs bullets from So. Africa are fantastic bullets in any weight..

The 7x57 is very kind to bullets and I have had good luck with Hornady, Woodleigh, GS Custom, Speer, North Fork, Swift, Sierra and Win. Power oints and Rem corelokts to name a few.

My 13 year old son used the 160 gr Accubond at 2650 fps on all manner of critters a couple of months ago in Africa. Impala, blesbuck, wildebeast, warthog, etc. Worked fine and is wild accurate in his old Walther Mauser.

Ray the 120gn GS gets away at 3235 from my own 7x57 and is the light bullet of choice for me. The best match up with the heavier 160gn Woodleigh for an accross the board two bullet choice for me.

Ηi Lal,

I've used 150gn Sierra Gamekings (boattails) and they are superb, with 47.8gn of N160 (I think...), a CCIBR2 and Norma cases. I also fired quite a few of the 150gn PMP Pro-Am ammunition when last in SA. I can only say that I was most impressed: accurate and deadly. We picked up some bullets from the back stop and all who saw them thought they were Partitions. I would not hesitate to use the 150gn in the 7x57, particularly if I could find the PMP heads on offer here. They seem to work best around 2500-2600fps, perhaps that is why folks here who use them in larger cartridges have problems with blow-ups.

best wishes,

Finman

PS: brought a few of the loaded PMP rounds back with me to England at the end of the trip. Run them through the concentricity gauge and found them to have less than 2thou run-out and practically no weight variation (for 5 rounds). Now, I wish I could reload them as well...The cases are also superb, concentric and robust, not unlike RWS and certainly stiffer than Norma. For my money that batch of PMP Pro-Am were the best factory ammo that I've put my hands on....

Many thanks for the input. On Sunday I went to test some loads and when I removed the bolt to pull a boresnake through to get excess oil out the barrel before shhoting it fell into sand and was completely drenched in sea sand! Have had sleepless nights! Anyone know how to strip the bolt completely on the cz550 for a clean? I soaked it bin eds red and let all then
gunk come out but would like to do it properly. The odd little gratingb of sand is driving me nuts! Thanks and take care.

Posted this question in the Reloading forum: looking for a load for my G&H 7x57 using 154 gr Interlocks. By the way, thr rifle has a 20" barrel.

Thanks

I worked up a load using 154gr Horn RN bullets. I only killed WTs with that combo but they would really knock a 100# WT on its ass. The same bullet worked extra well in a 7-08 also.

Hi Doublegun,

I use 50 grs of AA4350 or IMR4350 with 154 gr Hornady Spire Point. I get 2750 f/s in my Mauser 98 (1935) with a SIG military barrel cut at 60 cm. With Winchester cases and WLR primer. A perfect use for all in the 7x57 Mauser.

Good Luck!

PH

Thanks, PH. Exactly what I was looking for.

JDG

I stand corrected, the flat base bullets that I've used are 140 gr Sierras. The 150 gr Gamekings are boattails. I don't notice much difference though. Deer die very shortly with both bullets out of my 7x57. I use a max load of H-4350 in my load which is more than the manuals quote, but are very safe in my long throated rifles.