Having a 7x57 built on a Mex Mauser action. I want a relatively light, fast handling rifle primarily for eastern whitetails and maybe elk in timber. I think I want a shorter barrel, thinking 20", but I don't want to compromise on accuracy or too much velocity. What barrel length would you recommend?

Thank you,

JDG

22", unless you're planning a Mannlicher style stock. 20" looks wrong with a regular stock, and you gain nothing in handling qualities, but lose some in velocity. My 7X57 is on a G33/40 action with a 22" barrel and it is my go-to rifle for practically anything in North America.

Stay with 22". One of my 7x57's is a Ruger #1 with the standard 22" barrel and don't have any trouble getting good bullet velocity.

Also agree the 20" would look a bit short on a standard stock.

The classic Brno 21H's have 20.5" bbls! They look just fine with the slender forend proportioned to the barrel length.

The forend is less than half of the bbl. length.

I like mine @ 21 7/16".

quote:

Originally posted by Savage_99:
The classic Brno 21H's have 20.5" bbls! They look just fine with the slender forend proportioned to the barrel length.

The forend is less than half of the bbl. length.

The majority of BRNO 21H's have 24" barrels, including, I believe, the one pictured above. These photos are of a 22F and 22H, both with the 21.5" barrel

JDG. Seems like 20" or better should be fine on deer for under 100 yards. I never shot an elk but might want to get as close as possible with a shorter barrel. Wikipedia has some good info on various bullets and barrel lengths that might help as well. Googul 7X57 specs.

Hm, I had better head out to the shop and weld that chunk I just lopped off back on!

While I use a 22 on a normal stock 19-20 on a mannlicher. A 20 will work on a normal stock. If the forearm is too long you might want to shorten. It would simply be a personal preference.

My wife uses her 22" on everything from the US to Africa. Never an issue of non performance.

I would not even consider a barrel under 24". Longer barrels on English-style bolt action rifles just plain look better.

Why would a 20" barrel render a 7x57 a 100-yard deer rifle?

quote:

Originally posted by Doublegun:
Why would a 20" barrel render a 7x57 a 100-yard deer rifle?

It wouldn't.

Doublegun, glad you asked that question. Almost lost a full nights sleep pondering and giggling when I read it yesterday.

20" barrel only good for a 100yd rifle? Because Custombolt says so, and don't you know he is an expert on everything. He has stocked three rifles from semi-inlets but ask him about stock design or cheekpiece shape and he will tell you what he "prefers", and oh yes, although he hadn't personaly tried it he suggested using "olive oil" to one AR member to clean a stock. You may also remember the $9,999 fishing lure he trolled around looking for a high grade .338-06 Mauser. Nothing seemed to fit his "style". That whole charade went away when a beautiful Al Beisen stocked Mauser .338-06 appeared on Gunbroker for under $6,000 and of course he passed. Changed his mind about the caliber....Finally, although he has NEVER done any kind of metal-work he is now trying to convince people of his "brilliance" with his design for integral bases and rings for bolt guns....So there you have it---You should follow Custombolt's advice because he is an expert on everything, yah right

I've killed more than a few things with this rifle out past 200 yds with 16.5" worth of barrel:

I meant no disrespect to Custombolt by asking the question. I like this board because there is a wealth of info and a relatively small amount of bs and background noise.

Thanks for all the responses and guidance. I sincerely appreciate the knowledge.

Now Dave stopping beating around the bush and say what you feel.

As I said my wife uses a 7x57 22" for everything. Her PH in Namiba was plenty impressed how well it performed out to 275yds. If she wanted a Mannicher I'd cut it to 20" and never look back.

Just came across some unused 7x57 Carbine barrels; never been on a receiver.

That is what I am using to make a rifle for one of my grandsons; his first big game rifle.

The barrel will be 19 1/2" in a full length stock.

It will be bullet selection, practice and shot placement that decide the range for this rifle, not barrel length.

I prefer 24" but my 7x57 has a 21" barrel and it is quite handy. 21"-23" if you want a handy sporter without losing too much velocity.

No substitute for time behind the trigger. Hell, making noise is most of the fun. I'd like to get down to two rifles; one for the east and one for everywhere else. On second thought.....

I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression JDG. Whitetails and elk in timber made me think under 100 yards. I didn't intend to suggest any limitations on the round, just that you should be fine at the 20" length you were thinking.

quote:

Originally posted by Doublegun:
Having a 7x57 built on a Mex Mauser action. I want a relatively light, fast handling rifle primarily for eastern whitetails and maybe elk in timber. I think I want a shorter barrel, thinking 20", but I don't want to compromise on accuracy or too much velocity. What barrel length would you recommend?

Thank you,

JDG

Ottmar did 19".........


Adam

I guess I need to put the tape to mine tomorrow. I haven't a clue to its length. It will kill a deer, hog, turkey, and coyote.

Not to derail my own thread but I am not worried about reaching out long distances. Here in MI I've never had a shot longer than 75-yards and I have other rifles in the event I am hunting somewhere that I need to shoot 300+ yards.

One last thought you mentioned accuracy. Except for open sights often being better with a longer sight radius a shorter barrel is often more accurate. Most BR barrels are in the 20" range I think.

My wife has set her on range limit at 275- 300yds. Not because the rifle won't handle longer she just wants to be able to keep the cross hairs on target and not worry about elevation. Cutting her 22 down to 20 won't effect that.

What is a "BR" barrel?

Bench Rest

Shortrange BR is about 22". Longer range use longer barrels.

I was told that the 20" 7X57 in a Mannlicher would not shoot with accuracy. I still wanted a light, short, and quick rifle to carry around.

This was my first Mannlicher stock made in 1962 at TSJC. It was a 20" barrel made by students on Bill Prator's barrel machines. I made the rifle anyway and then made the forming dies to use 3006 cases to make my reloads. I went to the range before I had put finish on the stock to test fire this poor rifle. I couldn't believe that it would group under 1" @100 yds with 140 grs Sierra bullets. I finished the stock and started practicing on PD's to get used to the rifle. I used a 6X Weaver scope and when deer season came that fall I shot a mule deer at @90 yds. Worked perfect and then I shot a 6X elk @125 yds while running thru an opening in the trees. The rifle was like a good quail shotgun in handling for speed to the shoulder. It was light and fast!!! Best choice for what I wanted at the time.

I have a Mex.98 in the 7X57 with a 22" barrel in a standard classic stock at the time.

Make what you want and practice,

Les

I have used several 308 rifles with barrels from 18" to 20" for a lot of hunting and a lot of shooting.

My longest shot on game with one of these short barreled 308's was a javelina at 419 yards with a 19 3/4" Blaser Tracker.

I have killed several animals in the 250 to 350 yard range with them.
I have shot them a lot out to 800 yards on paper and 850 yards on steel without any problems.
I fine these short barreled 308's most excellent hunting rifles.

I really like these 18 to 20" barreled 308's and in a few days I will be giving a 16.5" 308 a try.

I do not think results would be any different with an 18" to 20" 7x57.

Is that an 1891 Argy? That looks much like my first rifle. That 7.65 Argentine round packed a wallop. Thanks for posting the picture.

quote:

Originally posted by craigster:
I've killed more than a few things with this rifle out past 200 yds with 16.5" worth of barrel:

With the leaner action I would go 22". My 22" Wisner Swede based 7x57.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LesBrooks:
I was told that the 20" 7X57 in a Mannlicher would not shoot with accuracy.

What has length of barrel got to do with accuracy ?

Great question. Looking forward to a little insight, myself.

BOXHEAD; Nice rifle especially the wood grain. Any idea who supplied the blank? Just curious.

I measured my Mexican that David Christman built. It is 22"

Brno mod. 21s and 22a come in both 20 and 24 inch length or the Checq equivelent of that to be exact..most are 24 inches in the mod 21 (rifle) and the manlicher type full stock Brno mod. 22s carbines I've owned/seen tended to be mostly 24s as I recall, but I have owned both in both models...

They also came in round top and double square bridge models.

Very early in Brno's history they used milsurp small ring actions known as the M-35 which was a G33-40 but made especially for German Customs. Some if not all of these are the round receivers btw. There are some very rare variations out there that one person in a million knows about..I had one and sold it for some real big bucks, but can't recall what made it so valueable..Apparantly there were only 3 such guns and all owned by some guy in Chicago..

Anyway I'd suggest a 22 inch on a fwt weight or a 20 inch on a manlicher..A 20 inch barrel does lose some velocity but if you use 175 gr. bullets then that velocity loss won't make much difference..It may not suit you with 130 to 145 gr. bullets?

24"


Best,

GWB

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
BOXHEAD; Nice rifle especially the wood grain. Any idea who supplied the blank? Just curious.

No idea. I bought the rifle used and it was sold as Jim Wisner metalwork and Fred Speiser wood work. I contacted Jim and he advised that he built the rifle a number of years ago in Mannlicher style of black walnut. So someone had Fred restock it. When I received it I was not impressed with the stock work, though of high quality it was just plain "fat" for the lean M33/40 tweaked M96 action and barrel. I sent it John Zollinger requesting a diet to the wood. He took what he received and leaned it down very well dropping 7 oz in the works and getting the barrel to hang as I wished. It weighs 6 1/4 pounds without Wisner's QD rings and a bit under 7 1/4 pounds scoped with a 2-7X Leupold. To date I have only loaded the 140 gr AB and it throws them inside an inch over and over. It is a damn slick little piece and Jim's metal work is dead on. It's first critter before remodel.