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

Sika98k · May 9, 2026

harrygrey382 said:
What’s going on here - that looks like the back end of the bullet poking through the hide? But no blood/exit hole?

Correct ! It was just hanging out on the far side.

harrygrey382 · May 9, 2026

HandB said:
Yes it's a decent velocity. Pressure for this powder load is moderate. The next powder increment up (46.2gr N150) started to show some primer cratering on hotter days, therefore I settled on 46.1gr N150 as the sensible moderate pressure load as I want something that will work in cool and warm weather without pressure signs.

Have you ran that load through a program (quick load or GRL) to see what pressure it estimates? I see N150 is a bit quicker than the ADI 2209 (AKA H4350) I’m using, where 46gr gets 2744 with 162gr ELDMs from my 25.5” barrel, I don’t recall exactly what pressure it was listed at (can look these up later) but around 57k ish I think so a fair bit more on the table. My chamber is reasonably tight and headspace is go gauge + 0.004” so capacity is on the smaller side. How do the TMK go on deer?

Sika98k said:
Correct ! It was just hanging out on the far side.

Interesting, how did it tumble and not create any appreciable exit wound? I guess it expanded enough for the barbs to hang in the hole and not fall out. What was the internal damage like on the exit side?

harrygrey382 · May 9, 2026

This is a recent young fallow - 162gr ELD-M, 307m shot ~1840fps impact velocity (“youth load” developed for my son, very low recoil). Seeing as these still exit on adults I’m pretty pleased with performance, manage to save most of the shoulder

Sika98k · May 9, 2026

harrygrey382 said:
Have you ran that load through a program (quick load or GRL) to see what pressure it estimates? I see N150 is a bit quicker than the ADI 2209 (AKA H4350) I’m using, where 46gr gets 2744 with 162gr ELDMs from my 25.5” barrel, I don’t recall exactly what pressure it was listed at (can look these up later) but around 57k ish I think so a fair bit more on the table. My chamber is reasonably tight and headspace is go gauge + 0.004” so capacity is on the smaller side. How do the TMK go on deer?

Interesting, how did it tumble and not create any appreciable exit wound? I guess it expanded enough for the barbs to hang in the hole and not fall out. What was the internal damage like on the exit side?

No idea on the internal damage. We load them up on the bakkie and take them back to the farm for the skinners to get stuck in.

west_scotland · May 9, 2026

Sika98k said:
Nosler 175gr Partitions get 2484 fps over N165,49.5 grs. 3,050coal. Perfect on oryx anyway. Kudu are imho a relatively soft animal.

Thank you for sharing! This is exactly the kind of results I am looking for. A look at the nosler reloading page for this bulletin in 7x57 (7mm Mauser (7×57) Load Data) shows that 49.5grs of N165 will be right around ~113-114% case capacity. Have you had any compression related issues? Is that extent of compression noticeable?

west_scotland · May 9, 2026

harrygrey382 said:
Nice pickup, you’ve made a great start! Do you know the barrel twist? Assuming it’s fast (and not some modern slow twist attempt) so you’re fine for 175s, I would say you have a lot of leeway. I’m currently using a box of old Hornady 175gr RN (after finishing my box of 154gr RN) at about 2450 fps in my open sighted rifle - this is a mid pressure load, and the bullets are quite tough, IMO a bit too tough for the goats and fallow I mostly shoot. They’re also NLA, in fact all traditional RN 7mm bullets are NLA - unless someone can correct this (which I’d be very happy about). There are plenty of premium options for heavy for calibre 7mm bullets - Noslar partition to name one for sure. Hornady ELD-X and ELD-M are excellent as noted, with X being a tougher bullet - the Ms expand more readily on smaller species but do still seem to carry enough mass through to be very effective on elk and moose by all (substantial) reports in the US.

As usual follow the recommended impact velocities, consider your range and work back from there. Remember in a 98 action you’re well safe up to 65k psi

Thanks! I will measure twist when I get my hands on it, but depending on production date it will either be the traditional 1:8.66 or 1:10 - either of which I expect to cope with a 175gr projectile.

I definitely need to get my head in the books and consider bullet selection careful - bullet BC @ 175 gr is likely to be, along with powder selection, the difference between deer legal in Scotland and not. Expecting the ELD family to have the edge over the partition here, but the 160gr option per @HandB ’s experience looks fantastic.

Thank you for the note on pressure limitations in the action, great point of reference for me!

HandB · May 9, 2026

harrygrey382 said:
Have you ran that load through a program (quick load or GRL) to see what pressure it estimates? I see N150 is a bit quicker than the ADI 2209 (AKA H4350) I’m using, where 46gr gets 2744 with 162gr ELDMs from my 25.5” barrel, I don’t recall exactly what pressure it was listed at (can look these up later) but around 57k ish I think so a fair bit more on the table. My chamber is reasonably tight and headspace is go gauge + 0.004” so capacity is on the smaller side. How do the TMK go on deer?

Interesting, how did it tumble and not create any appreciable exit wound? I guess it expanded enough for the barbs to hang in the hole and not fall out. What was the internal damage like on the exit side?

I don't use any programs to estimate pressure. I just look out for pressure signs such as sticky bolt lift and cratered primers, then reduce the powder load by 0.1gr to get a moderate pressure load. My 7x57 rifle likes N150 but your rifle may differ. I just do target shooting these days as I don't have any land to shoot over since the family farm was sold.

Shootinshyster · 2026-05-18T01:22:15+0100

I have a custom 7x57 that was made by Musgrave Wapenfabriek in Ermelo, South Africa

With 49 grains of H-4350 it will send a 145 grain Speer at 2840 fps with PPU brass. This is not a maximum load by the way.

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

Sika98k

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harrygrey382

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Sika98k

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west_scotland

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HandB

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