• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

7x57 Ackley Improved

STOMP442

Gold $$ Contributor
Just finished building a 7x57 Ackley on a squared up Mauser 98 with a 26" Benchmark #4 9 twist barrel. Looking for some pet loads for the 160-168 class of bullets.
 
Take a look at the Nosler and Sierra reloading books. You can't hardly go wrong working with their data. The cartridge has been around forever.
 
Watching with interest. Curious how many hereabouts have owned one, and how you settled on it. Not that its potential is lost on me, it might well outshine Roberts AI in performance uptick.
-
 
Take a look at the Nosler and Sierra reloading books. You can't hardly go wrong working with their data. The cartridge has been around forever.
Sierra don't have data for 7x57 Ackley, nor does any other mainline publisher I know of. You thinking of Roberts or 280?
-
 
As with all AI's, start with parent cartridge (7X57mm) and work up. 7x57AI is one of the most efficient Ackley cartridges. Often the best accuracy will be with the high end of parent. By taking the taper out of the case and going to the 40 degree shoulder you negate trimming. With more case capacity you can go to a slower powder.

Bill
 
Just finished building a 7x57 Ackley on a squared up Mauser 98 with a 26" Benchmark #4 9 twist barrel. Looking for some pet loads for the 160-168 class of bullets.
Look for a Speer Wildcat Manual. It is loaded with AI data, to include the 7x57 AI.
 
I got some loaded up with H1000 and 160 TMKs last night. Hopefully the wind isn't an issue this weekend and I can get out and see how it does.
 
Look for a Speer Wildcat Manual. It is loaded with AI data, to include the 7x57 AI.
I have a Speer Wildcat Rifle Loads #4 manual from 1964 (?) and when I get home I will transcribe the 7x57 Ackley data here.

Incidentally, there's a mint condition #2 edition from 1956 on Ebay right now (Item # 132172188659) for $25 starting bid. There are photos of the table of contents, so you can see which cartridges are included. Oddly, the #2 included both the (then) new 243 Win and 244 Rem, plus 243 Rockchucker (the RCBS wildcat which became 244 Rem).
-
 
Last edited:
I have an old Ruger ts 7x57 that I have thought about Ackleyizing ( gun term) for years. Trouble is, it has killed everything I ever pointed it at the way it is. It should be a great cartridge for you, let us know what performance you're getting. Barlow
 
Sorry Brian I got busy last night and never got back on. I made it to the range this morning with powder charges from 52gr -54gr of H1000 in half grain increments. Accuracy was nothing to write home about but it did seem to tighten up as charges increased. 54gr printed about a 7/8" five shot group and showed no pressure signs at all. So I am hoping I can go up at least another grain and get it to tighten up.
 
Well 60-year-old Speer data seems moot now, H1000 didn't exist in 1956, and you're off and running without blowing up your rifle and already below 1-MOA. Still, I will post the Speer data, which will consist of 4350 and 4831 data for the most part.
-
 
Last edited:
Ackley Handbook show 55 grs of 4350 and 160 gr bullet at 2965mv. And 56gr of 4831 at 2783 with 160's. Both max loads. Barlow
 
H1000 seems slow to me for your needs. Have you tried Reloader 22 or H4831? I had excellent velocities and accuracy with Re22 and Re19. You will have to work up from standard loads. Watch your primers. Stop when they go flat or bolt lift tells you it is too stout.
 
The Speer Reloading Manual for Wildcat Cartridges Number 4 (1960) lists these max loads and velocities for 160-gr bullet (24-in barrel):

4350 51 grs 2791 fps
H570 58 grs 2774 fps
4320 45 grs 2680 fps
4895 44 grs 2678 fps
4831 54 grs 2668 fps
4064 43 grs 2633 fps
3031 41 grs 2601 fps
H380 43 grs 2549 fps
-
 
Last edited:
Yeah I tried a max load of 4831 of the parent case for fire forming and it was all over the place so I wanted to try something different.
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,800
Messages
2,203,709
Members
79,130
Latest member
Jsawyer09
Back
Top