Does anyone have a recommended varmint load for a 7x57 Mauser? I have a very accurate load for the 120 grain bullet in my rifle. Would this be ok for pdogs and up, or should I try to work up a load for the 100 grain bullet?
joe

My 7x57 shoots the 120gn G S Cusom at 3235fps over 51gn BL-C2 and is varmint accurate but the cost of the bullets precludes using it for this so if you have a good 120gn load by all means use it on the little guys.

I am using a 115 Speer hollow point with a upper end charge of IMR4350. Results are devistating on varmints of all sizes.

not to throw gas on a fire, but a 7x57 is quite a bit to much for PD's. not so much for the pd, but for the shooter. the recoil and concussion from bigger rounds take their tool on you body after a couple or 400 rounds a day. and if you get into them 1st class you may go through 800-1000 rounds a day. hence the popularity of things like a 223

butchloc,
I completely agree with you. I have several other rifles that will be more than adequate, such as my .222 Rem., .225 Win., .243 Win., 6mm Rem. Just wondering about a load for the 7x57, and would only use it for 100 or so shots.
joe

The 120 gr load will work just fine.

We have had fun results with the 120 V-max and the 110 TNT with the 7mm/08 shooting prairie dogs.

not dumb at all joe - if more hunters would take their hunting rifles out and shoot a few pd's they'd learn to be a hellovalot better shots

Years ago I shot quite a few ground hogs with the 115 Speer, excellant accuracy in my 7x57. Don't remember the powder though.

The 120 gr. or GS Customs or a 130 Speer is one heck of a deer bullet and most any bullet works on varmints, so they would be dual purpose..

I would think a 110 gr. or 120 varmint bullet specfic would be what your looking for.

I shoot many time more varmints with my big game rifles than they will ever come close to on big game. I usually use a target grade bullet of the same weight and BC as I use hunting BG. It's pretty confidence inspiring to pull down on an elk at a couple hundred yard with the same .270 WSM I have used to take numerous marmots as far as 600 yards.
I would suggest the 140 or 150 gr bullets.

Have a Ruger 77 tang safety in 7x57 with an inexpensive Midway heavy contour A&B barrel on it.

Presently my favorite load for accuracy in it is with the Sierra 100 gr varmiter HP bullet and 48.6 grs of Accurate 2700.

I'll be in the reloading room this weekend putting varmint loads together for my Ruger RSI in 7x57. I'll start with Hornady 120 gr SP bullets and then substitute the Horn 120 gr HP in the most promising loads (I don't have too many of the HP bullets). I'm trying H4895 and XMR4350 powders.

I shoot a lot of deer rifles with varmint bullet loads off season... for both off hand shooting, plinking etc...

my usual charge is either 30 grains of 4198 ( either ) or RL 7....

easily good for 200 yds...a distance 90 % of anything is shot at in the field anyway....

and actually varmint bullets in those calibers, with charges of 30 grains of either powder, will actually perform a lot like a regular game bullet.....

an example: 210 lb Oregon Blacktail taken with a 115 grain Speer HP, out of a 7 x 57....MV right at 2500 fps..



and here is what the bullet did, passing right thru the heart, which was an easy shot to make, due to the lack of any real recoil...



as you can imagine, he didn't go far even tho he was moving fast when taken...