Just for kicks this year I think I will pack my old, faithful 7x57 along on the elk hunt so that my 9.3x62 won't feel so lonely (my rifles are always lonely and so I must always take at least two of them hunting). For kicks I am thinking of trying the old 175 grain roundnose load (it is always fun to use a classic). I haven't decided if I will load my own or just try the Federal load (I may even try the 170 gr. Sellier & Bellot). Has anyone killed any large game (in the elk and moose class) with the 175 roundnose load? I know it will work just fine as I have used 162 gr. Hornady's and 160 grain Noslers with great success. I do most of my hunting in the thick timber where most of my shots will be under 100 yards. I am just interested in hearing the experiences of others. Thanks.

Yes, Grandpa used Walther sporter in 7x57+RWS TIG combo on European elk for years. Them new pilgrims get a firearm certificate....they reach for 8x68S, or something similar. I would hate to start my hunting career with that number, it's madness!
PS. With premium bullet 7x57 is a fine choice, but I heard that most of US factory loads are quite anemic.

I use or have used 140-150-160-175 gr. bullets in my 7x57. Hunted with them all. My favorite bullets are the 150 Nosler partition followed by my old stash of 175 Barnes originals. Almost as good as those are Speer 160 Grand Slam and the Nosler 175 gr.

I don't care for round nose bullets, unless I am shooting a solid, they work great on short ranges but I prefer the aerodynamics of spire points, with flat bases.

My favorite is the 150 gr. Nosler, better round if I need to push out to 200 yards, the only time I really carry my 175 grs anymore is if I am in Grizzly country. That is on the odd chance I need to use them at 25 yards or less, and I got to say that they are not my prefered elk round. I like having the extra yardage of the 150 grains if I need it. The bullet drop of the 175gr is 4" low at 200 yards, where the 150 gr is zero at the same yardage. At three hundred yards that is 18.5 inches for the 175 gr. and 8.5 inches for the 150 gr. If you need to take a long shot on a elk you also want the almost 500 lbs of energy difference of the 150 gr. at longer distance.

Just what works for me on elk.

The 7 X 57 is truly one of the all time classics and fares especially well with handloads. The 175 is a fine bullet for it but I'm just one guy that likes the spitzer bullets over the round nose. If one truly knows the range will be under 100 yards the round nose might actually be better.

You should have no trouble pushing the 175 bullet to 2,300'/sec with win 760, RL19, or IMR 4831. At 100 yards this will dump elk all over the place.

You might also consider the 160 NF or WoodleighPP.
7x57,What a babe!

I always carry a 7 x 57 with me( not exclusively, but it is always taken along, and used when I am scouting.. and hunting)...

My load in it, is always 40 grains of IMR 3031 for an MV of 2700 fps with a 160 grain Speer Mag Tip...

I have also loaded the same powder charge with 175 grain Hornady RNs... for an MV of 2650 fps..

YOU get the bullet where it needs to go, it will definitely be up to doing the job of downing an Elk...

Cheer
seafire

I used the 175 grain Hornady RN and spire points that I got on a closeout sale on several deer and hogs. I used a max charge of AA4350 and everything properly laid down for field dressing.

My brother used a 7 x 57 with 175 grain Nosler Partitions in a 1895 Chilean Mauser on plains game in Africa. Took wildebeest, kudu, zebra, etc. All one shot. No problems.

Hammer

I don't have much affection for the Federal 175 gr. round nose. You might wangt to run some over a chronograph before using them. I only used them on one fairly large Nevada Mule deer, but apparently the bullet not only passed through, but did nott open up very much. This was a close shot, maybe 25 yards in well over head high sage brush. The blood trail petered out, and although my hunting buddies and I looked until it was too dark to see anymore, we never found the deer until the next day after the coyotes got through.
I don't have any of that ammo left, but I do have two more boxes from the same purchase. I ran a couple oveer the Chrony and velocity was, IIRC right about 2250, not the 2400 something they advertise.
If I were going to use a 175 gr. bullet for elk in my 7x57, I believe I'de use the Hornady round nose loads as close to maximum that accuracy would allow. I'd pass on Hornady's spire point because none of my three 7x57s will shoot it worth a damn. Yet, my .280 Rem. is a tackdriver with that bullet. I get good velocities from W-760. I won't give the load because it's well above any book value.
Paul B.

I have shot a lot of big stuff with the 7x57 and the 175 gr. Corelokt, Nosler and some others...they do fine about like one would expect from a .270 or 06....

I prefer the .338 and 399 gr. Woodleighs in Idaho as the big bulls haunt the deep holes and thick stuff and most shots are going away from you...

I've used the S&B 173 gr. SPCE load on Sika and Axis deer to good effect. They aren't quite Elk size of course but they perform admirably. The Sika was a very large bodied deer at 165 yards. The bullet went directly through both shoulders at the thickest point and put him down immediately. I used to think these bullets were too lightly constructed because of the almost explosive expansion I have had on Axis and Whitetail, but after this one I decided they were tough enough. For Elk I might (emphasize might) switch to a Partition or similar bullet, but the SPCE bullet really impressed me on this particular animal.

Most folks are impressed with about any caliber when they stick a bullet in somethings heart. but when one has to take a less than desireable shot then one simply needs all the gun he can handle, or have the ability to pass up what may be the best trophy he has ever seen...

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Most folks are impressed with about any caliber when they stick a bullet in somethings heart. but when one has to take a less than desireable shot then one simply needs all the gun he can handle, or have the ability to pass up what may be the best trophy he has ever seen...

Thought all PHs found world class animals always at 150 yards without intervening brush and always standing broadside for a heart/lung/or shoulder shot from a natural rest found where we stopped tracking. They always find the animal at the right time so there is optimum light for photography and time to return to camp for cocktails before dinner.

At least that's what the folks at SCI tell me.

Your experience may vary.

Hammer

Thank you everybody for your responses and experiences. Four and a half weeks before the rifle season starts for elk here in Utah! Good luck hunting everybody.

Idaho starts Oct 10, archery is open now. Suck part is I won't be home till it closes, its deer only for me this year.

I tend to be one of the resident 7mm nuts on the board, that and the 30 cal used to be the the only calibers that existed in my book ( I have mellowed over the years and expanded my horizons ) but I still think on elk, when I am using a 175 gr bullet I want a bigger case, 280 Rem min, or 7mm Mag. I don't like long shots anymore and prefer to improve my stalking skills, and where I hunt they are fairly rare, but if you only get a racking shot as if a elk is moving out of a clearcut, and your on the other side using the 175 bullet ( which is a great bullet ) I want the horsepower behind it. I don't take those shots with my 7x57 if I have 175 grainers, a clean miss is the best worst case, but hours of tough tracking is more probable.

There is a reason Ray A and Allen use 338 Wn Mags for elk hunting, elk are tough and long racking shots need energy.

I am not suggesting not to try it, I have killed elk with my 7x57 using 175 gr bullets, just be aware of the limitations you are setting before you get in the field, there are some shots you should simply pass on and work on your stalking skills.

The reason I use the 150 gr Nosler is if you look them up the SD is real close to a 180 gr 30 cal ( not quite but real close ). Any anyone that tells you that a good 180 gr. won't kill an elk is full of pukky. These at 7x57 velocities work, and work well.

And I forgot:

Great Hunting to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!