7x57 / .275 rigby thoughts and experiences.

[Southern]

170-gr was a solid used in Africa long ago. 173/175-gr ammo by Remington, Winchester Federal and Sellier and Bellot will mimic the old standard loads at 2,340 FPS. Likewise, the Remington 140 gr, S&B 139-gr, and Federal 140-gr will be about 2,650 FPS.

Federal makes hotter loads in the Premium line. So does RWS, and Norma, but you should go with the more standard loads for your vintage Mauser.

If you want a higher velocity load, the 123-gr RWS may or may not work in your rifle. You could also hand load 120-gr Sierra or Nosler Ballistic Tips to 2,800 with mild recoil, or 2,900 and still be in a low pressure range.

 

[venator cervus]

With regards the scope, you might like to try Ron Wharton in West Sussex. He has in the past re scoped David Lloyd rifles with modern scopes - notoriously difficult because of the sheath mounts, and designed his own instead. If you pm me I have the denials as he has worked on my DL, and he is ex Rigby. He makes some beautiful guns and has a great wealth of knowledge, so I'm sure he can advise/help/sort.

 

[Heym SR20]

The scope for that rifle would be a zeiss 3-9x36 - they used to make and it's a beautiful little scope that you can mount nice and low. Next best would be a Swarovski z3 in the same format, but the old zeiss would be more in keeping. As to mounts, and given its already drilled, I would use some recknagel weaver style. Solid and well made and with leavers quickly deracheable - speak with Alan Rhone.

 

[V.I]

With regards the scope, you might like to try Ron Wharton in West Sussex. He has in the past re scoped David Lloyd rifles with modern scopes - notoriously difficult because of the sheath mounts, and designed his own instead. If you pm me I have the denials as he has worked on my DL, and he is ex Rigby. He makes some beautiful guns and has a great wealth of knowledge, so I'm sure he can advise/help/sort.

I think Ron Wharton passed away.

 

[Suffolk stalker]

Unfortunately Ron died a while ago.
I now shoot Glyn 1s Westley Richards, with my friends reloads, but it easily shot 1" groups with S and B 140g.
A lovely rifle and calibre to shoot, with a Swarovski 6x42 scope,but I did have the safety and bolt handle modified by Ron together,with his H and H style mounts, very expensive but worth every penny.
Shame he is no longer with us.

 

[scrumbag]

Lovely rifle.

Scope suggestion: 3-9x36 Swaro?

Looks very classic but a bit more flexible that a fixed?

Scrummy

 

[JockStalk]

I've an unmarked swaro 6x42 habicht with an inch tube that is just about to come off of my 7x57? Lovely scopes.

 

[Heym SR20]

I've an unmarked swaro 6x42 habicht with an inch tube that is just about to come off of my 7x57? Lovely scopes.

Thats exactly what I have fitted to mine.

But of course the OP's rifle is useless for modern stalking. How do you fit a bipod? How do you fit a moderator? Is it glass bedded? and don't you need a minimum of 12 power with 56 mm objective lense? and as for the cartridge, well 7x57 is far too tapered, no square shoulders to be accurate, but at least its a 7mm - not as good as the 6.5mm though? And as for that 98 action - you have to lift the bolt handle a full 90 degrees, and its not CNC machined to such close tolerances that a grain of sand can jam it solid.

 

[Conure]

Thats exactly what I have fitted to mine.

But of course the OP's rifle is useless for modern stalking. How do you fit a bipod? How do you fit a moderator? Is it glass bedded? and don't you need a minimum of 12 power with 56 mm objective lense? and as for the cartridge, well 7x57 is far too tapered, no square shoulders to be accurate, but at least its a 7mm - not as good as the 6.5mm though? And as for that 98 action - you have to lift the bolt handle a full 90 degrees, and its not CNC machined to such close tolerances that a grain of sand can jam it solid.

Oh dear ........................ time to go I am thinking .

 

[Acm]

thanks everyone, just thought id update you all with progress, I've got the dies coming for it, and I've got recipes for 130grn speer hot cor, 140grn interlock and 160 grn accubond so ill give those a try. oh and I've just sat a lovely 6x42 west german schimdt on it.
i knew ron whartons and i know a few of his rifles. but he did indeed sadly recently die. a hell of a gunsmith was ron

 

[Acm]

Thats exactly what I have fitted to mine.

But of course the OP's rifle is useless for modern stalking. How do you fit a bipod? How do you fit a moderator? Is it glass bedded? and don't you need a minimum of 12 power with 56 mm objective lense? and as for the cartridge, well 7x57 is far too tapered, no square shoulders to be accurate, but at least its a 7mm - not as good as the 6.5mm though? And as for that 98 action - you have to lift the bolt handle a full 90 degrees, and its not CNC machined to such close tolerances that a grain of sand can jam it solid.

ha ha ha very good, lets see if all of the new blasers chambered in weird and wonderful calibers are still around in 101 years time like this old mauser!

 

[greville1689]

Unfortunately Ron died a while ago.
I now shoot Glyn 1s Westley Richards, with my friends reloads, but it easily shot 1" groups with S and B 140g.
A lovely rifle and calibre to shoot, with a Swarovski 6x42 scope,but I did have the safety and bolt handle modified by Ron together,with his H and H style mounts, very expensive but worth every penny.
Shame he is no longer with us.

I had not heard about Ron Wharton, sad news indeed. I have a 1906 Rigby that was made for Manton's of Calcutta by Rigby's. It was built for a telescopic sight (1.5x with high mounts that you could use the open sights). I bought it from Bob Whiteman in Edinburgh in the mid-80s but it had seen a fair amount of use and needed a new barrel. Ron Wharton did the work and fitted a Swarovski 4x32 on low mounts (I did not bother putting open sights on the new barrel). Needless to say his work was of the very highest standards and about 10 years ago he fitted a Zeiss 7x50 to it. I have used the rifle almost exclusively for 30 years on all species of deer, but mostly Reds.
I use Federal 140gn and it shoots very well with them. However, it hated Norma and RWS.
Some would argue that the 7x57/.275" is the finest all-round calibre for the UK. I don't think I would disagree.

 

[venator cervus]

I was clearly unaware that Ron had passed away. Does anyone know what has happened / is happening to the business?

 

[Tikka 260]

Both of mine are modern actions, with standard SAMMI chambers, I get excellent results with both 140 Gn Accubonds, and 160 Gn Accubonds , Norma brass and H414. If reloading , have a look on 24hourcampfire.com there are many 7x57 and 275 Rigby users on there who post a whole host of differing loads. H414 seems to predominate.

 

[Southern]

H-414 / W760 ( same powder ) does work well for my 7x57R with 42.0 to 44.0 gr (MAX) and 139-gr Hornady. In a bolt action or Ruger No.1A, you can get 200 more fps ( near 2,800 ) with 46.0 to 48.0 gr ( depending on cases). It does seem to be the easiest powder to work up for bullets 139 to 175 grains. My next powder to try is Hybrid 100V for the 175-gr bullets, because of the low peak pressure.