Anyone using a 7x57 Mauser AI?
- Thread starter JLDavid
- Start date
The 7x 57 is a GREAT round. However, in order to take complete advantage of it's potential, you need a "standard" length action (one that fits a 30-06 / .270 length cartridges). This allows the bullets to be seated out where they actually belong.. However, as great around as it is, once you get the "proper action" you would better serve yourself with a .280A.I. It is, for all intents and purpose, a "long" 7 x 57!
I have and carry a 7x57 for most of my mountain hunting here... Only have had the chance to shoot it at one animal thus far. The result was a freezer full of elk steaks.. I have no complaints or see no short comings of a 7x57. I may not be the fastest seven or the most modern, But It is by far the oldest bolt action rifle caliber used regularly for sporting purposes, most be so reason its still in use after 126 yrs.
After many years, I took the plunge and bought a VZ24 action and built a sporter. 7X57 with an old German 7X57 large ring barrel cut down to 24". With the right load it shoots 1 MOA.
And, it will kill any north American game! Last year I took a black tail buck and a small pig. Fast, one shot kills. Of course, California black tails are usually 40-100 yds. But, If I sight in for 300 yds, I am within 5 inches out to nearly 400 yds and 162 gr A-MAX will do the job.
Why use an "improved" 7X57 or a 280 Rem or even a 284 Win? It doesn't recoil much and it is a proven game killer.
And, it will kill any north American game! Last year I took a black tail buck and a small pig. Fast, one shot kills. Of course, California black tails are usually 40-100 yds. But, If I sight in for 300 yds, I am within 5 inches out to nearly 400 yds and 162 gr A-MAX will do the job.
Why use an "improved" 7X57 or a 280 Rem or even a 284 Win? It doesn't recoil much and it is a proven game killer.
Hi David, hi all
David I don't really know about the 7x57 cartridge,it's still prohibited where I live(war caliber,go figure),but I use its little sister the 6.5x57 that I redesigned into 6.5x57 imp 30°(JGS have the reamer specs if you ask them,it's referenced 6.5x57 CB),and I'm very happy with it as of now;the gain in powder volume is 12%(57gns of H 4350,actually measured with powder,not water,and not to the brim of the neck but only to the shoulder neck junction);it doesn't kick too hard,it's pretty accurate,brass doesn't need trimming that often,just make sure you use it in a long action(700 rem,Weatherby Vanguard-what I use,and happy with it-,Mauser large ring),you won't need all the power the improvement will provide but your brass will last longer,you'll have no problem feeding it in field action,50 gns of 4831 or similar will take you where you need be without pressure issues I reckon(make sure you test it and stay safe),a minimum of 24" barrel should go with it. Good shooting.
David I don't really know about the 7x57 cartridge,it's still prohibited where I live(war caliber,go figure),but I use its little sister the 6.5x57 that I redesigned into 6.5x57 imp 30°(JGS have the reamer specs if you ask them,it's referenced 6.5x57 CB),and I'm very happy with it as of now;the gain in powder volume is 12%(57gns of H 4350,actually measured with powder,not water,and not to the brim of the neck but only to the shoulder neck junction);it doesn't kick too hard,it's pretty accurate,brass doesn't need trimming that often,just make sure you use it in a long action(700 rem,Weatherby Vanguard-what I use,and happy with it-,Mauser large ring),you won't need all the power the improvement will provide but your brass will last longer,you'll have no problem feeding it in field action,50 gns of 4831 or similar will take you where you need be without pressure issues I reckon(make sure you test it and stay safe),a minimum of 24" barrel should go with it. Good shooting.
I was going to AI my old Ruger 77 7x57 some years ago but never did. It works so good the way it is I just got out of the mood to do it. I was using Bob Hagle's load data and getting 2800 with 160 gr bullets, I have backed off on that but had no issues with them. I can honestly say I have killed everything I ever shot with this rifle, nothing so far has escaped it. If you need a project I think it would be a good one to do. Barlow
Thought about a 7x57 A.I. a few months ago when I decided to rebarrel a rifle suitable for it. But, am happy with just the plain old 7x57 cartridge and built another one of it.
My first AI was 7x57AI. Gunsmith set the barrel back 7x57 and cut new chamber and that was back in the early 80's. Reason I did that didn't want to spend the money on a new barrel just in case I didn't like the AI and since then I have them build with new barrel.
One of my AI is 243AI with 27" Hart barrel and my 243 has 24" Kreiger barrel so for me no downside for the Ackley's.
If you build both accuracy should be close only different would be velocity but your going to use little more powder for that.
Well good luck
One of my AI is 243AI with 27" Hart barrel and my 243 has 24" Kreiger barrel so for me no downside for the Ackley's.
If you build both accuracy should be close only different would be velocity but your going to use little more powder for that.
Well good luck
My AI was a rechambered factory barrel on my old tang safety Ruger. It was done in 1968 and I used it for over 40 years as my Caribou gun. We used to be allowed to shoot 3 Caribou per year and I took advantage of that. What a great little gun! Ackley, Volume 1 gives a loading of 55.0/4350 with a 160 gr. bullet for a velocity of 2965 f/s. That was the first load that I tested using the old 160 Nosler Partitions.. It shot an EDBD group. Done testing-go shoot animals! Over the years, I guess that I killed (OOPS!-harvested) about 50 animals. The 160 Nosler worked wonderful. I did try 140s and 175s. The 160s just drove tacks. The 140s killed like a lightning bolt but were not quite as accurate. The 175 Speer did not seem to have the shock that the lighter bullets had, I had to shoot that BOO twice. Years later, I got a chance to shoot the 160 load through a Chrony and sure enough, It was going 2950f/s. Take a look at the velocities for some of the other 7mm's and you will see that it is a great performer. I seated the bullet out so that the col. was the same as factory '06.
Did you ever notice that there is not a lot ever written about this cartridge?
Did you ever notice that there is not a lot ever written about this cartridge?
I'm fan of the 7 x 57 AI but like the 280 AI better (now have one) though there is not a lot of difference.
You could also neck up a 25-06 to 7MM for a 7mm-06 . Never owned one but I do have a couple buddies with them.
You could also neck up a 25-06 to 7MM for a 7mm-06 . Never owned one but I do have a couple buddies with them.
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