I've been trying to find a load, suitable for hunting, that would give good accuracy in my 7x57. The rifle is a Ruger 77, Mark II. Nothing has been altered on it from the Ruger factory, except the factory trigger has been replaced with an adjustable Rifle Basix trigger. The barrel is 22 inches long.

I have not had what I consider to be good accuracy results with 139, 140, and 145 grain bullets in this rifle. But I have found two loads with heavier bullets that give excellent accuracy:

150 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip
41 gr. IMR 4064
Winchester brass
CCI 200 primer
Cartridge overall length: 3.10 inches
Crimped with Lee Factory Crimp Die
Velocity: 2505 f.p.s.

My best group with that load: 1.01 inches for 3 shots at 200 yards.

162 gr. Hornady BTSP Interlock bullet
46 gr. IMR 4350
Winchester brass
CCI 200 primer
Overall length: 3.08 inches
Crimped with Lee Factory Crimp Die
Velocity: 2484 f.p.s.

Best group: 0.98 inches for 3 shots at 200 yards.

Thanks Lloyd. I have had good luck with IMR4064 and 40 grains, using 150 gr. Sierra's. I will try yours next.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:

Thanks Lloyd. I have had good luck with IMR4064 and 40 grains, using 150 gr. Sierra's. I will try yours next.

My loads are quite mild. You could probably increase the velocity about 200 f.p.s. with full loads of H 414. But I was not able to get good accuracy with those high velocity loads.

I don't have any H414 and I am reluctant to get yet another powder. My main interest is accuracy not maximum velocity.
Peter.

Although this post is a little stale, I also have the same Ruger 77 mk 2 in 7 x 57...

They are long throated and also are finicky... I have an acquaintence who has one also...

I had tried everything with no luck.. I was about to have the thing rebarrelled even tho it had less than 500 rounds thru it, when I stumbled across a load out of a Hodgdon Manual... number 3 or 4 I believe...

It was 40 grains of IMR 3031 with a 175 grain SP... well I tried it, desparately trying ANYTHING!... and low and behold, I got some 3/4 inch groups at 100 yds, using Rem Corelokt 175 grain SPs...

I thought this was such a fluke, I went home and loaded some more with the same... and got the same results... from a rifle that 3 to 4 inch groups were doing good!

The bullet was seated to magazine length...

So then I tried the load with 160 grain Speers, and then 154 grain Hornadys, 150 grain Corelokts and Nosler Ballistic tips, 140 grain Ballistic tips and Corelokts and Sierras, 139 grain Hornadys...

With the 40 grains of IMR 3031, they all shot 3/4 inch groups or less at 100 yds, using a 4 power scope...

Same results on the other Ruger 77 Mk 2....

So it is MY load for the Ruger 7 x 57s... 40 grains of 3031!.. regardless of bullet weights...MV is about 2650 in my rifle, seated to magazine length with the 175s, and up to about 2700 fps with the 139 grainers...

I have a Winchester Featherweight in 7 x 57.. and that shoots about anything you feed it....

so the finickyness must be strictly a Ruger thing...

Seafire,

Do you recall the twist rate of your Rugers?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LE270:
I've been trying to find a load, suitable for hunting, that would give good accuracy in my 7x57. The rifle is a Ruger 77, Mark II. Nothing has been altered on it from the Ruger factory, except the factory trigger has been replaced with an adjustable Rifle Basix trigger. The barrel is 22 inches long.

Sorry but there are NO good loads for this sorry rifle - BUT nice guy that I am, I will take it off your hands. Just bundle it up and send it along to me. Besies, you probably need a magnum instead of this old antique caliber!
Now that I've said all that, tongue in cheek, of course, I'll tell you that my Ruger, same data as yours, works well with the old load that Jack O'Connor loaded up for his wife. O'Connor's lady used the 7x57 Mauser with the 154 gr. Hornady bullet and a load of H-4831 for about 2650 FPS. She had no trouble taking all sorts and manner of big game with the little 7X57 using this load.

I have not had what I consider to be good accuracy results with 139, 140, and 145 grain bullets in the Ruger M77. But I have found two loads with heavier bullets that give excellent accuracy for me:

150 gr. Nosler
41 gr. IMR 4064
Norma brass
CCI 200 primer
Cartridge overall length: 3.10 inches
Velocity: ~2500 f.p.s.

My best group with that load: 1.01 inches for 3 shots at 200 yards.

162 gr. Hornady BTSP Interlock bullet
46 gr. IMR 4350
Winchester brass
Best group: Just under 1" for 3 shots at 200 yards. Probably a lot of luck here?
Again, let me state that the Ruger does not seem to like the lighter bullets and does not seem to like really hot loads, loads that shoot extremely well in an old Mauser I built up, 22" Shilen barrel and I believe a 1:8 twist, etc.
So take the Ruger out, try various load and bullet combos in it and see what works. I have never seen a 7X57 tht would not shoot, albeit some do so better than others - just like people and other things!
Hope some of this helps and I think you have a fine rifle in the Ruger 7mm - enjoy it.

Sounds like I need to try 4064 and 3031. I have just always used IMR 4350 and H414 with good results. I am always looking for a good reason to shoot my Win. featherweight and Rem. classic. I bet they would also work for the 257 roberts. Looks like I'll be taking a trip to the gun store for some powder.

Lets see some more loads, hunting season is nearing and IM getting the itch.

bama7x57

I have had relly great luck with the 7X57 and H-414 in 2 rifles. One is a Ruger #1A and I get 2900 FPS As well as .5 to .75 MOA. can't beat that with a stick. thats with a 140 grain balistic tip.
Rak atkinson turned me on to that combo and he loves the 7X57.
Are you loading out near the lands ?
That sure helps for me...tj3006

I think the old Ruger No. 1 rifles had a twist of 1:9.5. The new ones have a twist of 1:8.75. I have an old one and the only thing that really shoots well in that rifle is the Haornady 154 grain SST. I bought it wanting to shoot 175 grainers, but that is the way things work sometimes.

quote:

I have had good luck with IMR4064 and 40 grains, using 150 gr. Sierra's. I will try yours next.

using the same load with a 139-grain hornady interlock, i got very good reuslts. that is the highest charge i ahve yet tried, but it looks like there is still a little room to tweak and possibly gain a little more accuracy.

I have a M98 in 7x57 and the 139 Hornady spire pts on top of a max load of W760 or H414 will group 3 shots into one ragged hole @ 100 yds. this combination gives up very little performance wise to the 270s or 280s. That is not faint praise.

My stepson beat me out of my Ruger M77 made in 1976. I tried old Remington 175gr factory loads with this rifle when I first bought it and it would shoot glover leafs with that load. I got some 175gr Remington bullets and could almost duplicate that performance. Velocity was about 2450 if my recollection serves.

That was when speed was king for me, and like so many of you have reported, I tried just about every make and every weight of bullet out there trying to get faster and duplicate that accuracy.

What I found was that the longer the bearing surface of the bullet, the better it shot. Of course, heavy bullets have more bearing surface, but I began to look for a 150gr bullet that had an exceptionally long bearing surface; no boattail and not long ogive. I found that Remington's 150gr PSP had the most bearing surface of any bullet I could obtain. I wished I could have gotten some of those Norma TUG's, but back then such items were impossible to come by.

With 47gr of 4350, I'd get just at 2600fps over my ancient Oheler chronograph and just over an inch groups. I suspect vel was more like 2700fps. I have provided reloading support to my stepson who hasn't taken up handloading yet; however, he took a 10 point last season and has taken an 8 point this year with that rifle and load. They run or walk about 30-50 yards and die. What a classic cartridge and rifle. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by snowman:

I have a M98 in 7x57 and the 139 Hornady spire pts on top of a max load of W760 or H414 will group 3 shots into one ragged hole @ 100 yds. this combination gives up very little performance wise to the 270s or 280s. That is not faint praise.

Yes. For example, the older Hornady loading manual (the 1973 one) says of the 7x57:

"In our Model 70 with a 24" barrel, we were able to obtain up to 2800 fps with the 154 grain Spire Point -- velocity very close to that of the more powerful 270-280-284 cartridges."

I still think the 7x57 is one of the half-dozen or so greatest calibers ever invented. (The others? Maybe the 22/250, 270 Win., 30/06, 375 H&H, 7mm Rem. mag., and the .308 Win. for accuracy)

After tinkering for what seemed like eternity on a finicky 7X57.
I have settled on the following with excellent results. I think the key for me was the OAL of the cartridge. I was told by many of the folks on this board to seat the bullets way out. I ended up with an OAL of 3.135, 160 Accubond, Rem Brass, Rem 9 1/2 mag, 47 gr IMR 4350; 2617 AVG Vel Oehler 35 chrono. Less than MOA @ 100 yards.

I had a custom 7 X 57 built for my son many years ago, when he was just a young boy. The custom 03-A3 liked 50 grains of IMR-4350 and a 145-grain Speer Grand Slam, seated to ~.010" off the lands and touched off with a standard LR primer. I had played with several loads trying to get something that would group well right after the rifle was delivered, and shots 46 through 50 shot to one ragged hole at 100.

Try this two loads that worked always:
Aproach from 3 grains below.

Winchester brass
CCI 200
48 grs any of the 4350
154 gr Hornady or 150 Nosler Partition or Accubond.
For 2650 to 2700 fps.

Regards,

PH

I just took delivery of my latest 7x57. It is custom 98 with 25in with 9 in twist. Have got some 160gn Woodleigh that I want to run for hunting.Has anyone got a good load with this bullet with Varget or H4350. Want to try the 168gn Berger as well. Anyone used this bullet on game.

Von Gruff.

From Von Gruff:

quote:

A 404 and a 7x57. All a man needs anywhere, anytime. ever.

Well, no.

A man also needs a 22/250 (or equivalent) for the little creatures.