HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Assume you’ll be putting the metal into carbon rich used engine oil for a day after bluing
7x57 Build
- Thread starter harrygrey382
- Start date
harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
Nope, after the second boil I’ll be slathering it in linseed oil. Gives a beautiful rich blue/black colour.
Haven’t heard the carbon rich thing before - what’s that about? Do the pours absorb some of the carbon thereby adding blackness?
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Yes, I’ve done hundreds of barrels in the past. The black oil gives it that deep best London gun black. The steel absorbs it. It’s how it ‘should’ be done
harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
Hmm, I can see that absolutely working. I could just hang it in my used diesel engine oil tank… nice one
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
As long as there’s no fuel mixed into that tank
WildBoarHunter
Well-Known Member
How do you find the side swing safety? I have one of these (recknagel) on my Mauser but it does not give me a lot of confidence. I feel I could easily accidentaly switch it off unknowingly when carrying the rifle.
harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
I like them, it has a slight recess for the cocking piece so is quite hard to accidentally put to fire. I find the position comfortable and easy to use, and I much prefer a proper safety that blocks the FP. I also prefer to keep the military shroud with the gas shield. However I very very rarely use a safety, I pretty much always run an empty chamber until just before the shot. But it is also handy to aid in bolt disassembly.
Shouldn’t be any fuel in there. Probably about 600L of diesel engine oil and 200L of Cat transmission and hydraulic oilAs long as there’s no fuel mixed into that tank
Just need to watch any contaminants in the old engine oil, we use de watering oil after both hot and Cold blacking. Ive not tried the linseed oil before, may have to give that a go on some test pieces! I love the cold blacking tank, awesome idea! perfect for doing one off jobs. Are you using an off the shelf cold black solution or one you've made your self?
harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
Yeah to be honest I’m very tempted to keep using the linseed, it worked so beautifully, and it smelt of linseed for quite a while afterwards- which I like. TBH I really hate used diesel engine oil, it’s messy stuff and stinks.
I’m using ammonium chloride mixed to 2% w/w as the rust agent. Worked beautifully on my previous build, although the CM barrels take a lot of cycles.
The only thing I really dislike about this thread is that there is not more of it to read yet.Yeah to be honest I’m very tempted to keep using the linseed, it worked so beautifully, and it smelt of linseed for quite a while afterwards- which I like. TBH I really hate used diesel engine oil, it’s messy stuff and stinks.
I’m using ammonium chloride mixed to 2% w/w as the rust agent. Worked beautifully on my previous build, although the CM barrels take a lot of cycles.
Absolutely beautiful work, thanks so much for posting. I shall keep a lookout for further instalments.
Great to see that you chose to make a 7x57 out of it. I should think that you were really really tempted to turn the rifle into a 6.5 CM ………
What is it that you like about the 7x57 and what do you think it’s best at and why ?
At the beginning of this year I took ownership of a used but new to me 7x57 barrel for my Schultz & Larsen M97 DL. That for over a Decade I’ve solely used with a fantastic.30-06 barrel. Anyway, Ive spent the last couple of weekends getting to know a little of how my un moderated 7x57 shoots at paper , and it’s very accurate. Maybe tonight or over the weekend I will try it out on some wild boar and possibly a Roe deer if the right one appears.
Kindest regards, Olaf
harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
I agree on all accounts Olaf - especially that there isn’t more! Bluing isn’t going as smoothly as the last one, I’m stripping back and restarting due to an over rust cycle.The only thing I really dislike about this thread is that there is not more of it to read yet.
Absolutely beautiful work, thanks so much for posting. I shall keep a lookout for further instalments.
Great to see that you chose to make a 7x57 out of it. I should think that you were really really tempted to turn the rifle into a 6.5 CM ………
What is it that you like about the 7x57 and what do you think it’s best at and why ?
At the beginning of this year I took ownership of a used but new to me 7x57 barrel for my Schultz & Larsen M97 DL. That for over a Decade I’ve solely used with a fantastic.30-06 barrel. Anyway, Ive spent the last couple of weekends getting to know a little of how my un moderated 7x57 shoots at paper , and it’s very accurate. Maybe tonight or over the weekend I will try it out on some wild boar and possibly a Roe deer if the right one appears.
Kindest regards, Olaf
I’m a huge fan of 7x57- love its history, its ballistic potential and the smooth feeding. I’m not a creedmore basher, it has a lot going for it. But I do believe the cartridge debate is an opinionised ****ing contest - it would be much healthier if people left off the name and just talked about x projectile at x velocity then picked their method of getting there behind closed doors. Loading to 65k psi with a 1:8 barrel and a long throat it is an extremely versatile vessel. I’ll hopefully be mostly using 162gr ELD-Ms - 2700- 2800 fps for me and a 2300 load for my son (giving under 8ft-lb recoil, with the decelerator very low recoil), these still retain 1800fps at 300y which is within recommended expansion range.
I’ve stopped using my 30-06 since getting in to 7x57, and feel no need for anything else in fact. I’ve never bought factory ammo for anything (apart from 222 to get the brass), so availability of ammo is irrelevant. You’ll find it a lovely performer I’m sure - as always with the right bullet at the right velocity. And being 7mm there is heaps of choice for a bullet.
My local PO managed to sort the F.U. out with my mount postage, and they turned up. I can confidently say these S&Ks are the nicest mounts I’ve both seen and handled - superb machining and finish and a fantastic design, both very strong and look very nice and sleek. I hate the look of 98% of the mounts out there, these tick all the boxes. I don’t think I’ll ever buy a different brand so long as they keep making them. No pics on the rifle till I finish bluing, but I did check it (just) clears the bolt handle.
Scipio
Well-Known Member
Plz let us know how that goes, Olaf.The only thing I really dislike about this thread is that there is not more of it to read yet.
Absolutely beautiful work, thanks so much for posting. I shall keep a lookout for further instalments.
Great to see that you chose to make a 7x57 out of it. I should think that you were really really tempted to turn the rifle into a 6.5 CM ………
What is it that you like about the 7x57 and what do you think it’s best at and why ?
At the beginning of this year I took ownership of a used but new to me 7x57 barrel for my Schultz & Larsen M97 DL. That for over a Decade I’ve solely used with a fantastic.30-06 barrel. Anyway, Ive spent the last couple of weekends getting to know a little of how my un moderated 7x57 shoots at paper , and it’s very accurate. Maybe tonight or over the weekend I will try it out on some wild boar and possibly a Roe deer if the right one appears.
Kindest regards, Olaf
as for @harrygrey382 plz keep the updates coming, and best of luck with completing this very cool project.
When I took ownership of the 7x57 barrel the previous owner kindly gave me 39 156 gr Norma oryx cartridges, he said , and I believe it, that they shot very well in his rifle using that barrel. However, I couldn’t get them to stay on a sheet of A4 paper with the barrel fitted to my action. I tried checks and adjustable options to everything practical with my rifle but they just did not work. So, I blasted the last of them away at the range and started afresh using the Norma brass. I didn’t really mind because I’ve always, like you, only shot hand loaded cartridges in my rifles and I wanted/ needed a lead free load for the 7x57 anyway.I agree on all accounts Olaf - especially that there isn’t more! Bluing isn’t going as smoothly as the last one, I’m stripping back and restarting due to an over rust cycle.
I’m a huge fan of 7x57- love its history, its ballistic potential and the smooth feeding. I’m not a creedmore basher, it has a lot going for it. But I do believe the cartridge debate is an opinionised ****ing contest - it would be much healthier if people left off the name and just talked about x projectile at x velocity then picked their method of getting there behind closed doors. Loading to 65k psi with a 1:8 barrel and a long throat it is an extremely versatile vessel. I’ll hopefully be mostly using 162gr ELD-Ms - 2700- 2800 fps for me and a 2300 load for my son (giving under 8ft-lb recoil, with the decelerator very low recoil), these still retain 1800fps at 300y which is within recommended expansion range.
I’ve stopped using my 30-06 since getting in to 7x57, and feel no need for anything else in fact. I’ve never bought factory ammo for anything (apart from 222 to get the brass), so availability of ammo is irrelevant. You’ll find it a lovely performer I’m sure - as always with the right bullet at the right velocity. And being 7mm there is heaps of choice for a bullet.
My local PO managed to sort the F.U. out with my mount postage, and they turned up. I can confidently say these S&Ks are the nicest mounts I’ve both seen and handled - superb machining and finish and a fantastic design, both very strong and look very nice and sleek. I hate the look of 98% of the mounts out there, these tick all the boxes. I don’t think I’ll ever buy a different brand so long as they keep making them. No pics on the rifle till I finish bluing, but I did check it (just) clears the bolt handle.
I dropped down to 140 gr Barnes TTSX at close to 2700fps ( maximum load recomended that I could find) they shoot very well, all within 1moa. I could have experimented further but it’s a hunting rifle so don’t need more accurate cartridges for now so just stuck with that. Ive also got some 120 Gr TTSX to test out at the range later, it will be interesting to see if they shoot tye same or better etc. The barrel is a 1/10 21” so maybe 156 gr was just a bit too heavy for it
shouldn’t be but maybe that’s what it was. I will try some around closer to 180gr depending on what’s a good price next week to see if that’s it. Still 140gr at 2600 and something fps is plenty for everything I hunt . The 140 gr barns ttsx cartridges are long at 80.80 mm to the melplat of the bullet. The 120 gr are obviously shorter at about 79.5 mm from memory. I should think it’s more a question of bullet weight and build rather than seating depth.I will let you know how I get on .
Kindest regards, Olaf
Scipio
Well-Known Member
Thanks Olaf, it sounds odd with those 156s, given the report from the previous owner, but yeah, even now, at their barrel production, i think S and L still makes their 7x57 barrels with a 1-10 twist, which i always found odd, given the cartridges history of shooting quite long and heavy bullets.
The 120s ttsx should be interesting though, as that might be a very good non lead weight for a lot of different game, with the 7x57 It will also be interesting to see what loads and bullets @harrygrey382 7x57 build ends up liking, with the planned huge spread in type of loads for it 
The 120s ttsx should be interesting though, as that might be a very good non lead weight for a lot of different game, with the 7x57
It will also be interesting to see what loads and bullets @harrygrey382 7x57 build ends up liking, with the planned huge spread in type of loads for it
harrygrey382
Well-Known Member
That’s an odd outcome with your 156s Olaf - you would’ve thought the barrel would at least shoot them reasonably if they shot so well with a different action. Maybe it was a case of pressure bedded vs free floated? As you say 1:10 should be ok with 156gr
With my rough initial (no load development) test the 162 eldm definitely showed promise - which I hope bares out as they will do everything I want I suspect. However, Sierra’s new Matchking X line looks very interesting, 7mm is still to come thoughThanks Olaf, it sounds odd with those 156s, given the report from the previous owner, but yeah, even now, at their barrel production, i think S and L still makes their 7x57 barrels with a 1-10 twist, which i always found odd, given the cartridges history of shooting quite long and heavy bullets.
The 120s ttsx should be interesting though, as that might be a very good non lead weight for a lot of different game, with the 7x57
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
7x57’s should be 1:9 (or rather 1:8.66) to handle up to 175g bullets. This also makes them, alongside the 30-06, the perfect rifles for handling copper bullets without having to drop into very low weights.
Norma loves their 156g uni-offering, but it’s actually a poor mid-way point and it performs poorly in terminal velocity in 6.5x55 for example.
Even a 1:10 twist 7x57 should stabilise a 156g though - but not all barrels like the somewhat odd 156g bullet
Norma loves their 156g uni-offering, but it’s actually a poor mid-way point and it performs poorly in terminal velocity in 6.5x55 for example.
Even a 1:10 twist 7x57 should stabilise a 156g though - but not all barrels like the somewhat odd 156g bullet
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
156 Grains was the minimum bullet weight for moose and bear hunting in Sweden, or so I was told. It was based on the max loading in 6.5x55 which was the minimum cartridge permitted.
I had to buy some Sako ammunition in that weight for my .270, I still have a few boxes.
156 gr roundnose are a standard shape for 6,5*55 the chamber are cut for them. 7mm mauser are also chambered for 10-11g roundnose as the military standard bullet were. I have had acceptable performance of 156gr bullets c&c about 60% retained weight the moose walks about 30-50y after a lungshot about half of your bullets go through if you hit the bow. similar performance as a 308w.
Last edited:
Scipio
Well-Known Member
Hello again Harry
- it likely will i would think, given the huge amounts of 7mm users out there. 
And if the day comes where you, like us here in Denmark, have to all lead free with your hunting ammo, your twist rate should support that quite well too.
All of Harrys awesome build pictures of his work progression on his 7x57, and our talk about its potential, makes me think of this article that Jack O'Connor wrote on the "old little 7": Forty Years with the Little 7mm
Now he wrote that a good while back, obviously, before the development of the modern mono projectiles, but with its (cip) chamber dimensions and typical barrel twist rates the 7x57 might actually, even being 130 or so years old, be looking quite well suited for the immediate to mid term future too.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Been saying that for a while - the perfect vintage, and, future chamberingHello again Harry
And if the day comes where you, like us here in Denmark, have to all lead free with your hunting ammo, your twist rate should support that quite well too.
All of Harrys awesome build pictures of his work progression on his 7x57, and our talk about its potential, makes me think of this article that Jack O'Connor wrote on the "old little 7": Forty Years with the Little 7mm
Now he wrote that a good while back, obviously, before the development of the modern mono projectiles, but with its (cip) chamber dimensions and typical barrel twist rates the 7x57 might actually, even being 130 or so years old, be looking quite well suited for the immediate to mid term future too.
Similar threads
