7x57mm 1st effort - comments?

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Originally Posted by Jhon

........loading the RWS today, they had far more visible space in the case above the powder at the near max loads than any of the other headstamps. So maybe a calibre dependent issue. Will add to my interest in the range results.

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I try to stick to one brand of brass, and match lot numbers as well.

Made a mistake in my original posting - went into Shootingstuff and weighed the brass not Gunstuff. Looks like Shootingstuff are now trying to clear their remainng stock thru Gunstuff. Shootingstuff have had the RWS for some time and their prices of what's left are heavily discounted. Probably wasn't popular given the original v high prices.
As I said, it appeared very good quality.

Where I am using a powder that fills the case (still safe load) up into the neck I use a drop tube. I have a homemade one about 40mm long. Powder will settle maybe 2mm lower depending upon cartridge and powder type.

Yes I'm using a long drop tube that came in a cased set of funnels. The RL19 would be the largest sticks of powder I've come across. Probably a key contributor to its slow burn. But it will easily hang up in the drop tube. I'm just grateful I have the Lee Perfect powder measure, actually I also have the deluxe version. Having tried most of the others I can't believe how good the cheap Perfect is. The more expensive Deluxe is nicer to use but no more accurate. They both handle the large stick powder well. And they don't leak the fine WC296 I also run thru them regularly. But back to the point, the drop tube doesn't add any value to dropping the RL19, I have to tap tap tapppity tap the bloody tube to get it to flow into the case. I learned the hard way about lifting the funnel and tube off the case mouth before checking that ALL the powder had dropped. Ha, the vicissitudes of reloading...

And yes, if I was in the market for more new brass I would still be jumping on the. RWS at the current Gunstuff prices given its online rep. Be good to hear from those who have actually used it tho..

did you sort the shell holder problem I've come across the same problem with x57 brass when i owned one cant remember what i did tho it was a while ago i probably used a x55 or 308 one possibly

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Originally Posted by northdude

did you sort the shell holder problem I've come across the same problem with x57 brass when i owned one cant remember what i did tho it was a while ago i probably used a x55 or 308 one possibly

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Found that a Lee #9, which is otherwise listed only for .41 Mag, does the job. To be sure I lubed the brass carefully! Have a query in to Gunstuff in the meantime. Will see what they say.

Bloody fingers, my drop tube is 550 mm long not 40mm. The ones in the funnel set are too short. Made mine out of a length of copper tube.
W296 is a bastard, it jammed up the rotating tube on my Chargemaster.

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Originally Posted by Jhon

Found that a Lee #9, which is otherwise listed only for .41 Mag, does the job. To be sure I lubed the brass carefully! Have a query in to Gunstuff in the meantime. Will see what they say.

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Make that Shootingstuff, they were bought on Gunstuff...

A gent at the range today let me fire a few rounds through his fully wooded mauser in 7x57. What a fantastic shooting round!
Very mild recoil and was able to shoot 1.5 inch groups with open sights at 100m with a 140 year old rifle. Not to mention the action was as smooth as silk.

I have been contemplating spending my up coming Cindy bucks on a brno in .243 but after this morning I will now be looking for one in 7x57.

Yep its a very nice calibre ill get one again at some stage as well

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Originally Posted by Jhon

Found that a Lee #9, which is otherwise listed only for .41 Mag, does the job. To be sure I lubed the brass carefully! Have a query in to Gunstuff in the meantime. Will see what they say.

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An update on the RWS Brass. Never got an answer from RWS but did from Lee. Basically to the effect that European brass can differ and not fit Lee's designated shell holder, but just go to next available size. I.E. use whatever works. Lovely. They referenced RWS and S&B specifically.

Going to have to change my powder soon as you can no longer get H powders here……also have to change to non lead.
Going to be fun lol. @Jhon are you getting any donuts on your shell cases?

You should use 7mm08 data for your 7x 57 reloading. (Ignore the 7x57 loads in books, much too low pressures; to accomodate the ancient Remington Rolling blocks that might be floating aorund...)

I use 2209 in my 7x57 and with this powder you can safely load 120 bullets up to 3100 fps with a 24 inch barrel and 140 bullets up to 2900 fps. You wont get exactly the same result as the 7mm08 data because the 7x57 has around 8% more case capacity, so its a slightly less pressure for the same load data as a 7mm08, plus the 7x57 sometimes have much longer throats and you may not be able to touch the lands with your bullets. This means you have to add more powder to get the same velocities, (and therefor the same pressures.)

I would start with 50 grains of 2209 and a 140 grain bullet: stop putting powder in once you chronograph 2800-2850 with your 22 inch barrel.

As for the twist rate, dont worry about it, even a slow twist 1:8 will shoot 140 grain bullets well. Seat the bullet so its just touching the lands, or as far out as you reasonably can. You may or may not have a long
throat on that rifle, the old Ruger tang safeties did, the Brno's do, but my Remington doesn't.

As for brass rim sizes - Sellier and Bellot brass will not fit a Lee shell holder, and UUY Highland did not in the past.....but now the stuff sold as Prvi Partisan with the PPU headstamp fits fine. As you have found out, US brass fits okay if you can find some.

(Out of interest I have made 7x57 brass from .30/06...I have a lot of '06 around. And I have time. So you run your lubed '06 case into the 7x57 die, and then you have to cut some of the excess neck off with a little pipe cutter, (or a hacksaw) and then you trim can it to size.)

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

Going to have to change my powder soon as you can no longer get H powders here……also have to change to non lead.
Going to be fun lol. @Jhon are you getting any donuts on your shell cases?

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Sorry, doughnuts?

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Originally Posted by JohnDuxbury

You should use 7mm08 data for your 7x 57 reloading. (Ignore the 7x57 loads in books, much too low pressures; to accomodate the ancient Remington Rolling blocks that might be floating aorund...)

I use 2209 in my 7x57 and with this powder you can safely load 120 bullets up to 3100 fps with a 24 inch barrel and 140 bullets up to 2900 fps. You wont get exactly the same result as the 7mm08 data because the 7x57 has around 8% more case capacity, so its a slightly less pressure for the same load data as a 7mm08, plus the 7x57 sometimes have much longer throats and you may not be able to touch the lands with your bullets. This means you have to add more powder to get the same velocities, (and therefor the same pressures.)

I would start with 50 grains of 2209 and a 140 grain bullet: stop putting powder in once you chronograph 2800-2850 with your 22 inch barrel.

As for the twist rate, dont worry about it, even a slow twist 1:8 will shoot 140 grain bullets well. Seat the bullet so its just touching the lands, or as far out as you reasonably can. You may or may not have a long
throat on that rifle, the old Ruger tang safeties did, the Brno's do, but my Remington doesn't.

As for brass rim sizes - Sellier and Bellot brass will not fit a Lee shell holder, and UUY Highland did not in the past.....but now the stuff sold as Prvi Partisan with the PPU headstamp fits fine. As you have found out, US brass fits okay if you can find some.

(Out of interest I have made 7x57 brass from .30/06...I have a lot of '06 around. And I have time. So you run your lubed '06 case into the 7x57 die, and then you have to cut some of the excess neck off with a little pipe cutter, (or a hacksaw) and then you trim can it to size.)

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Good info as always thks. I did some reloads for a bloke with AR2206H..lower velocity in the 2450 fps range but very accurate..an old govt culler he was clover leafing 3 shots at 80m which he had never had with factory. He was not concerned with velocity so much, reckoned he couldn't see past 100m anyhow. I suggested his 40yr old beat-up scope might have something to do with that but anyway...

I have a bunch of RL19 on hand and some Remington 150g FB SPs. 46.5gn is giving me a tad under 2750fps average with a can on and 3 in an inch and a bit at 100m. Good enough to put a nice Fallow hind in my freezer towards the end of summer and a couple of good meat goats. I can go another grain but the group spread so not much point and only another 10-20fps gained.

I have not loaded any of the RWS yet..keeping it in reserve while I muck around with 50 mixed head stamp brass. The differences in internal volumes are visible when getting to compressed load territory and I doubt they will win any ribbons at the range but are good enough for Minute of Deer.

I'll take on what you say about using 7mm08 data. Makes a lot of sense. I have some 2209 now, also some 760 I want to try. Not rushing into lots of incremental testing right now tho given projectile situation. And I've got those other calibres I'm also playing with. So much fun to be had, so little time...sigh