7x57 vs 7x64

[Dhindes]

I have a 7x64 which I like but does tend to slap a bit ( even more than my 9.3x62 which is more of a push) - never notice it when hunting but I do at the range. I am looking at a 7x57 ( 275 rigby) mauser and wonder if there is any real recoil differences. Anyone out there shot both and have opinion ?

 

[Dorset Shakari]

I've had both in Heym SR20. The 7x57 was certainly milder than the 7x64, as you'd expect, since is pushes the same projectile with less violence. Unless you are wanting the flatness of the 64, I'd go with the 57. Lovely, capable cartridge.

 

[tacklerat]

I have to admit being a 7x57 fan. That cartridge just seems to get better all the time, and with some of the best powders available, you can get 140gn bullet down the barrel at 2,800fps. My personal limit is 200m on game, I reckon that if a bow hunter can get as close as they do, a rifle hunter should at least be within that 200m distance. After all it's called stalking for a reason.

 

[scrumbag]

I'm a fairly keen 7x64 fan but there is certainly nothing wrong with the 7x57...

Scrummy

 

[Kalahari]

This ^^^^^

David

 

[HandB]

I and a big fan of the 7x57. I own a 7x57 BSA Hunter. It has a 24 inch barrel and recoils less than my .308s when running a large charge of slow, low energy powder (50 grains of RS62) that pushes a 139gr SST at approx. 2900 fps.

 

[Pine Marten]

OOooo! A topic I actually have informed views on! I have had both 7x57R and now 7x65R in a Sauer and Simson drilling respectively. They are almost identical configurations, stocks and dimensions, following the established Suhler drilling pattern, so comparable fits. The 7x57R had pretty negligible recoil, and it was certainly very accurate and made deer fall over very effectively. The 7x65R is noticeably "thumpier", which you'd expect, but the only time I've found it uncomfortable is when I did 10 shots prone in a row at the BSRC Chamois shoot, which I knew very well before starting was a silly way to use a drilling. I just thought it would be fun and put on a bit of a show for everyone else. (Incidentally, the first 3 shots were fine at 200m, then it was all over the place as the barrels heated up, but it's a single shot rifle, you're not supposed to do daft things like that with it). The 7x65R, like the 7x57R, does cloverleaf groups at 100m. In the field I don't notice the recoil much, but the 7x57R was certainy milder and I can't think it makes much difference in practice. Both easy to reload should you want to. The only thing is that on paper or pixels at least, the 7x65R gives you a bit more range without correcting.

Let me see if I can dig up the QuickLoad trajectory charts.

 

[Heym SR20]

I have the 7x65r and the 7x57. If you drop down to a 140gn bullet recoil in the 7x65r is no more / no less than the 7x57. Indeed my load of choice for my 7x65r was a 140gn softpoint over 51.5gn of IMR 4831 doing about 2600 fps.

I am now using the RWS HIT non toxic load, which is pushing a 140gn copper bullet a fair bit faster but minimal recoil. And I am shooting a 7lb all up combination gun with quite a bit of drop with a fair bit of slap in the face.

Also have a look at your shooting technique and use a firm control of the forend to control recoil. Makes a very big difference.

I would suggest swapping a 7x64 for a 7x57 will not result in very much noticeable difference other than to your bank account. However if you really don’t like your current rifle by all means change it.

 

[Pine Marten]

There's the 7x65R.

7x57R by pinemarten, on Flickr

And the 7x57R.

 

[angusb1]

If you reload you could just load the 7x64 to 7x57 levels

 

[big ears]

I have a 7x64 which I like but does tend to slap a bit ( even more than my 9.3x62 which is more of a push) - never notice it when hunting but I do at the range. I am looking at a 7x57 ( 275 rigby) mauser and wonder if there is any real recoil differences. Anyone out there shot both and have opinion ?

Check out chuck hawkes recoil chart. Although not specific to your rifle you can see the relative difference in calibres

 

[Leec6.5]

Check out chuck hawkes recoil chart. Although not specific to your rifle you can see the relative difference in calibres

I am certainly looking forward to my stalking retirement 7x57 rifle when you deliver come march

 

[big ears]

I am certainly looking forward to my stalking retirement 7x57 rifle when you deliver come march

You won’t regret it.
Any elephants in Norfolk

 

[Scipio]

Do you reload? As already mentioned that could change things. As Dorset Shakari said, the main difference is the powder capacity of the cartridges, as you're pushing the same size bullit in either case. A 7x64 loaded tends to be about circa 150 or so fps faster than a 7x57, with the same projectile.

Now what does that mean in real life then?

- Less recoil where less power is used.

- Your Bullet velocity in the x64 will about the same a hundred yards down range vs what the thw x57 is. So at 300 yards with the x64 your bullet is travelling at the same speed the x57 did at 200 yards.
If you're very much into hydrostatic and hydraulic shock, this might be important to you, i guess.

-, in terms of drop the 7x64 will have you dropping the same as the x57 just around 20-30 so meters later, depending on how far the shot is. Now most mid sized cartridges have a pretty straight trajectory until they hit the 200-250 meters mark, then, depending on the cartridge, they start to drop pretty quickly.
This point will be reached circa 20 or 25 meters later with the x64 than the x57, and at 300 meters your x64 will have dropped to circa where the x57 was at 275 meter and so on.

- the 7x64 will carrry the same energy the 7x57 did about a 75 or so yards further. So at 300 yards your x64 will carry the energy your x57 did at 220 or 230 yards.
But unless you plan to be shooting deer at beyond 400 yards, or use very energy demanding bullets for expansion, i am not sure that's hugely relevant. It depends on your needs i guess.

So basically the x64 , at the cost of increased recoil and powder expenditure, buys you about 25 meter of drop longer distances, it buys you circa 75 yards of energy down range vs the x57 and it buys you about 100 yards of bullet velocity down range.

 

[mathieson]

as an owner and user of both 7x57 and 7x64 I would say yes the 7x64 has a little more of a kick to it compared with the more gentle push from the 7x57 but not excessively so that I’ve noticed as compared with the likes of 308’s for example which I find unpleasant to shoot Both a very close in performance at normal stalking ranges and if you were to swap your 7x64 for a 7x57 I dont think you would be disappointed

 

[DOGDER]

I have a 7x64 which I like but does tend to slap a bit ( even more than my 9.3x62 which is more of a push) - never notice it when hunting but I do at the range. I am looking at a 7x57 ( 275 rigby) mauser and wonder if there is any real recoil differences. Anyone out there shot both and have opinion ?

I have a mauser 7x57 it was customised on a parker hale. Very soft to shoot, but mine had a 22" barrel and with no mod it made a hell of a noise. I put an over barrel mod on it and now even softer to shoot, no sight picture loss and has reduced the noise problem.
i don't think it loses to much drop with 140 gn bullets (home loads) zeroed at 100 yds your more than good to go at 200. I have shot a 7x64 in Ireland and thought it very much along the same lines as a .270, same sort of kick. the old 275 rRgby takes a lot of beating.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Do you reload? As already mentioned that could change things. As Dorset Shakari said, the main difference is the powder capacity of the cartridges, as you're pushing the same size bullit in either case. A 7x64 loaded tends to be about circa 150 or so fps faster than a 7x57, with the same projectile.

Now what does that mean in real life then?

- Less recoil where less power is used.

- Your Bullet velocity in the x64 will about the same a hundred yards down range vs what the thw x57 is. So at 300 yards with the x64 your bullet is travelling at the same speed the x57 did at 200 yards.
If you're very much into hydrostatic and hydraulic shock, this might be important to you, i guess.

-, in terms of drop the 7x64 will have you dropping the same as the x57 just around 20-30 so meters later, depending on how far the shot is. Now most mid sized cartridges have a pretty straight trajectory until they hit the 200-250 meters mark, then, depending on the cartridge, they start to drop pretty quickly.
This point will be reached circa 20 or 25 meters later with the x64 than the x57, and at 300 meters your x64 will have dropped to circa where the x57 was at 275 meter and so on.

- the 7x64 will carrry the same energy the 7x57 did about a 75 or so yards further. So at 300 yards your x64 will carry the energy your x57 did at 220 or 230 yards.
But unless you plan to be shooting deer at beyond 400 yards, or use very energy demanding bullets for expansion, i am not sure that's hugely relevant. It depends on your needs i guess.

So basically the x64 , at the cost of increased recoil and powder expenditure, buys you about 25 meter of drop longer distances, it buys you circa 75 yards of energy down range vs the x57 and it buys you about 100 yards of bullet velocity down range.

I have neither but I found this very interesting, thank you.
Oooh - all of a sudden I’ve got this itch……..

 

[Dhindes]

excellent inputs everyone - many thanks

 

[Scipio]

I have neither but I found this very interesting, thank you.
Oooh - all of a sudden I’ve got this itch……..

Hehe, be careful, Those itches tend to be fun but costly to get ;D

 

[Scipio]

I have the 7x65r and the 7x57. If you drop down to a 140gn bullet recoil in the 7x65r is no more / no less than the 7x57. Indeed my load of choice for my 7x65r was a 140gn softpoint over 51.5gn of IMR 4831 doing about 2600 fps.

Hey Heym, that does sound like a gently shooting 7x65r indeed, but if you're pushing at 140 grn bullet at 2600 fps you're actually pushing it less Quickly than a 140 grn in many 7x57 loads, hence Perhaps it isn't odd that you Find Your x65 pretty gentle to shoot