S&L7x57
Well-Known Member
As mentioned in a recent thread 'Fox Bullets', I had bought 20 rounds of factory 270W, 308W and 7x57 all with 130 grain Fox bullets. This morning I tried a few over the Chrony on my 40 yd range. Results were mixed.
270W in Rem 700 20", DPT moderator. Box says MV just over 3k. The ammo was sweet to load and extract. Average MV of 3 shots was 2819 with a spread of 102. Group was C-C 6.25mm or about 16mm @ 100 yds.
308W in Rem 788 19", DPT moderator. Box said MV just over 3k. The ammo was tight to load and tighter to extract, last round needed a leather faced mallet on the bolt! However, these are loaded in PPU cases and I know from homeloading that my chamber really doesn't like them. No reason that anybody else should have the same problem. Average MV of 4 shots was 2894 with a spread of 58 (remember, this is a 19" barrel!). Group was C-C 13mm or about 30mm @ 100 yds.
My 308W Fox homeloads average at 2700 and gives a 20mm group at 100 yds, loaded in Hornady cases and are sweet to load and extract.
Lastly the 7x57 in S&L Victory 22" with Barton Gunworks moderator. These were marked on the box at a bit over 2800. They are loaded just below the max OAL but that is 0.1" longer than my homeloads and simply will not chamber as the ogive is much nearer the tip than a standard shaped bullet. One could see the witness of the lands on the bullet after trying to load. My homeload is 2.950", about 0.1" under published max, and gives me about 0.020" to the lands. I am getting 2800 from 42.5 grains of N140 and C-C group sizes of around 18mm at 100 yds (usual safety warning apply!).
My friend had fortunately bought his 20" Sako 7x57 which has the traditional long throat of a 7x57 and chambered them just fine. He achieved a 4 shot average MV of 2494, spread of 20. This compares with 2406 for the Gecco 165 rounds that he had with him. The group was unremarkable but he is the first to admit that his is not the most accurate rifle!
In conclusion, I will continue to homeload my 308W and 7x57 as the factory loads were pretty much useless (in my rifles) and I have been getting good groups and very acceptable speeds. The 270W is another story as the speed is what I want and the group (albeit only a small sample) appears very acceptable. These I will probably buy in bulk once I have checked the group at more realistic ranges.
I hope this helpful to others and I think Ed of ER needs to look again at his 7x57 loads or there will be tears!
270W in Rem 700 20", DPT moderator. Box says MV just over 3k. The ammo was sweet to load and extract. Average MV of 3 shots was 2819 with a spread of 102. Group was C-C 6.25mm or about 16mm @ 100 yds.
308W in Rem 788 19", DPT moderator. Box said MV just over 3k. The ammo was tight to load and tighter to extract, last round needed a leather faced mallet on the bolt! However, these are loaded in PPU cases and I know from homeloading that my chamber really doesn't like them. No reason that anybody else should have the same problem. Average MV of 4 shots was 2894 with a spread of 58 (remember, this is a 19" barrel!). Group was C-C 13mm or about 30mm @ 100 yds.
My 308W Fox homeloads average at 2700 and gives a 20mm group at 100 yds, loaded in Hornady cases and are sweet to load and extract.
Lastly the 7x57 in S&L Victory 22" with Barton Gunworks moderator. These were marked on the box at a bit over 2800. They are loaded just below the max OAL but that is 0.1" longer than my homeloads and simply will not chamber as the ogive is much nearer the tip than a standard shaped bullet. One could see the witness of the lands on the bullet after trying to load. My homeload is 2.950", about 0.1" under published max, and gives me about 0.020" to the lands. I am getting 2800 from 42.5 grains of N140 and C-C group sizes of around 18mm at 100 yds (usual safety warning apply!).
My friend had fortunately bought his 20" Sako 7x57 which has the traditional long throat of a 7x57 and chambered them just fine. He achieved a 4 shot average MV of 2494, spread of 20. This compares with 2406 for the Gecco 165 rounds that he had with him. The group was unremarkable but he is the first to admit that his is not the most accurate rifle!
In conclusion, I will continue to homeload my 308W and 7x57 as the factory loads were pretty much useless (in my rifles) and I have been getting good groups and very acceptable speeds. The 270W is another story as the speed is what I want and the group (albeit only a small sample) appears very acceptable. These I will probably buy in bulk once I have checked the group at more realistic ranges.
I hope this helpful to others and I think Ed of ER needs to look again at his 7x57 loads or there will be tears!
