Does anyone reload for the 7 x 57 Improved. I've not been able to find much info on this cartridge on the web, but lots of good things said about its parent, the 7 x 57mm.

The 7x 57 Improved seems like a good alternative to the .284 Win. I have an action which will accomodate an cartridge OAL of 3.10". A 22" bbl with the 7 x 57 Improved sounds like it might make a good all-around cartridge in a light rifle.


Jordan

While I haven't had a 7x57AI I have had a 6mmAI and 6mm and a 257RobAI. It is the same case. I also have more AI or full blown out wildcats than factory.

The rule of thumb is 1% velocity for 4% powder increase that is for an 06 type case. It will be a little more in a smaller case less in a larger one.

There are huge claims in velocity for the AI version of the 257R and 7x57. But very little for the 6mmRem. That is due to the fact that the factory ammo for the Roberts and 7X57 is loaded to around 51,000psi. The 6mm is already at 65,000. AI shooters normally push the pressure to the max because the case just doesn't show pressure until 70,000 or higher. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Load a 7x57 to the 63-65,000 range and you will only see a small gain from an AI. Using my 6mm case I saw a 7.2% capacity increase. Assume you can use all of that you would get 1.79% veloctiy increase or about 51fps. Loadtech calls it 57fps.

My wife "unlike me" wanted one rifle to use for everything she would hunt. I built a less than 7# 7x57. she has used it for deer, hog, elk and next year she will take it to Namibia.

If I wanted a nice light rifle I would build a basic 7x57, throated to allow me to seat my normal bullet out as far as possible. Load to 63-65,000 and never look back. If I wanted something different, something to talk about around the camp fire I would build the AI.

As to the 284. Factory is loaded down and the bullet seated deep. The velocity would fall between the two 7X57s. However if you were able to seat bullet out and load to the same pressure you could gain 75-100fps over the 7x57AI. What you shoot would never know the difference.

Ramrod:

Thank you very much for that informative and useful post.


Jordan

Hope some of it made sense.

I have a Husqvarna chambered to 7X57AKL and absolutely love the rifle and chambering. I use it for pronghorn with a pretty swift 130gr load sighted in at 300 yards. The rifle cuts a ragged hole at 100 yards.

Two years ago I decided to take a nice fat younger speed-goat with it for some good young meat in the freezer. I decided to try a "what-the'hell" 300+ yard neck shot, accordingly. There was no wind and the temperature was about mid 70s. I had a steady rest over a larger rock with my hat under the rifle. I shot the bottom of the throat out of the goat, and he ran about 250 yards...back toward the road...

I had a 7X57 I.C.L. Tortilla in a Winchester Mdl 70 XTR LW prior to finding the Husky, and thought well of it, too. They both generate about Rem 280 ballistics and seem to make for exceedingly accurate chamberings.

ramrod340 has it exactly right!

It is great to see an Ackley enthusiast who does NOT think that the "Ackleyizing" allows a reloader to sidestep physics.

For example, I've seen some loads for the .280 Rem that claim to exceed the 7mm Rem Mag in velocity but not pressure. They are half right...

Seat the lightest bullet (or perhaps the bullet you want to use most) you plan to shoot about a calibre deep, then have the rifle throated for that, subject to magazine length limits. Load to the 62-65000psi range that ramrod340 mentions, and Bob's yer uncle.

A non-Ackley rifle will have greater resale value, should you ever tire of it. Even though I kind of like the way Ackley loads look, I'd never buy a Ackley rifle because so many of them have been pushed to really high pressures by overly-enthusiastic loaders trying to get those "missing" fps. I would worry a little about headspace or setback...

Oh, one more thing... Print out ramrod340's post so, if, in the future you doubt your decision, you can refresh your memory on just how measly the velocity gain at the same pressure is...

John