7x57 - the grand cartridge dedicated reloading thread, - let's help each other! :)

ATTENTION ALL! I think there is one rrrore
A recent article from the US Shooting Times. Doesn’t say anything that we don’t already know. Some useful load data, albeit mostly US Powders.

Attention all please! I think there is one error in the article linked over. In the text the author reports the 145gr Speer in front of 55gr of N150 to be his best load whilst the table at the end of the article shoes a charge of 42.9 grain's of the same powder. 55 gr mae be disruptive!
 

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ATTENTION ALL! I think there is one rrrore
A recent article from the US Shooting Times. Doesn’t say anything that we don’t already know. Some useful load data, albeit mostly US Powders.

Attention all! I think there is one error in the article linked over. In the text the author reports the 145gr Speer in front of 55 gr of N150 to be his best load whilst the table at the end of the article shoes a charge of 42.9 grain's of the same powder. 55 gr mae be disruptive!
 

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ATTENTION ALL! I think there is one rrrore

Attention all! I think there is one error in the article linked over. In the text the author reports the 145gr Speer in front of 55 gr of N150 to be his best load whilst the table at the end of the article shoes a charge of 42.9 grain's of the same powder. 55 gr mae be disruptive!
Well spotted
 
Under CIP Homolgation’s there are various different versions of the 7x57

First the original 7x57


And then a 275 Rigby


Note that these are dimensionally similar, but actual pressure levels are quite different.

If you actually search the CIP Homologations there are multiple different cartridge manufacturers that have submitted loads to the various different proof houses for homologation.

One thing with the 6.5x55 is that it has a version - the 6.5x55 SKAN or SE that is loaded to modern pressures for use in modern rifles and this meets and exceeds that of the 6.5CM. The 6.5x55 is still widely used in Scandinavia, indeed it is the match rifle cartridge of choice and was until quite recently still in widespread military use.

By contrast the 7x57 was widely adopted by Spain and much of Latin America but largely became obsolete as a military cartridge when bolt actions were phased out in the 1950’s in favour of FN FAL etc firing the 308 NATO. Its not been widely used as a target rifle cartridge.
 
Took my longest shot on game yet today, a roo (under permit) at 448m. Not bad for a load travelling at 2250fps, had to dial 4.2 Mils. These ELD-Ms still do a lot of damage at at the impact velocity of 1700fps (this is just below the commonly quoted 1800 fps threshold). This buck was about the weight of an average adult fallow doe. Hit at exact POA, just behind the front leg - was having a scratch so rib cage was angled. There was no exit wound, but I dug what was left out of the spine in between the shoulder blades. Death was instant as far as I could tell. The ELD-M fragmented significantly - the separate shards of jacket and core caused a lot of internal damage.

Ideally I would've used a full house load for this shot, but I'm trying to keep animals off this new pasture and the rifle was zeroed and ballastics trued for this load - i've verified it out to 500m. No wind and a good rest (shot from just outside my garage so had all the gear I needed) made this a comfortable shot.

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One thing I'm really curious about is how the internal anatomy of a roo compares to that of a deer? I imagine the main elements are similar, but does the gralloch require any particular technique? Or could anyone reasonably-competent with deer deal with it?
 
One thing I'm really curious about is how the internal anatomy of a roo compares to that of a deer? I imagine the main elements are similar, but does the gralloch require any particular technique? Or could anyone reasonably-competent with deer deal with it?
They’re very similar - If you can gut a deer you can gut a roo. The only meaningful differences are the tail (there is a huge amount of meat on it) and the rear-front leg size ratio. The females have a pouch of course but this doesn’t affect processing. Compared to body weight they have a smaller thoracic cavity than a deer
 
They’re very similar - If you can gut a deer you can gut a roo. The only meaningful differences are the tail (there is a huge amount of meat on it) and the rear-front leg size ratio. The females have a pouch of course but this doesn’t affect processing. Compared to body weight they have a smaller thoracic cavity than a deer
That's interesting, thanks. Do the carcasses need hanging, or any other special treatment? Sorry to hijack, but I really am intrigued
 
That's interesting, thanks. Do the carcasses need hanging, or any other special treatment? Sorry to hijack, but I really am intrigued
No worries - no, again similar to deer. So yes they benefit from hanging in a cool room. There's actually a very big industry based around roo meat - it's widely available in supermarkets, gets exported a lot and is a big ingredient in pet food. There are many people that make a living out of shooting them for the chillers. Also in the leather industry - its highly regarded as it has the highest strength to weight ratio. And the animal numbers are bonkers, I wouldn't ever go a day without seeing 100+, mostly more. No one in their right mind would drive a car without a bull bar in rural areas, roo strikes are the norm and will write off a car frequently
 
No worries - no, again similar to deer. So yes they benefit from hanging in a cool room. There's actually a very big industry based around roo meat - it's widely available in supermarkets, gets exported a lot and is a big ingredient in pet food. There are many people that make a living out of shooting them for the chillers. Also in the leather industry - its highly regarded as it has the highest strength to weight ratio. And the animal numbers are bonkers, I wouldn't ever go a day without seeing 100+, mostly more. No one in their right mind would drive a car without a bull bar in rural areas, roo strikes are the norm and will write off a car frequently
Thanks for this. I remember seeing them when I lived in Australia in the 70's. They were a problem even back then. We sometimes see kangaroo meat in the supermarkets here. Tried it a couple of times and was quite impressed! Interesting about the leather!
 
Thanks for this. I remember seeing them when I lived in Australia in the 70's. They were a problem even back then. We sometimes see kangaroo meat in the supermarkets here. Tried it a couple of times and was quite impressed! Interesting about the leather!
right - yes well numbers have certainly increased. My boss says he bought his next door property in the 1960s because he saw a roo on it! The problem is they’re open grazing country animals, and we've exponentially increased the amount of grazing country so...
 
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Well my 7x57 needed a tweak having an 18” barrel, so change of powder to H4350 48gn same 3” OAL with the 150gn sierra GK only took 9 rounds to get an average speed and change of zero so happy days.

My H4831 load was fine but the entry on bigger deer was fine, excellent internal damage but exit was on the small side and easily plugged with a lump of lung so tad more welly required
 

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My go-to powder for my .270. Damn shame it's no longer available to buy. Think I have around enough left for around fifty rounds, and then it's an unwanted change
Amen 🙏 brother 100% with you there!

It was working but with the new to me 7x57 only having that 18” barrel just wasn’t getting a good exit making follow up a pain in the arse if it got plugged with a lump of lung or fat.

I’ve still got 2lb of the holy grail in stock for emergencies 🙈😬
 
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