Thread: 7x57 Ackley

Was wondering about this calibre, does anyone shoot it? Is it at all popular?

I've got the reamer and was wondering.....what to build? A classic mausern with the classic old world lines but with great ballistics or rather a more modern build? Maybe a Howa or Remington action, a little heavier and longer barrel for a compitition shooter?

Whats your opinion? I have to take into account that it might be sold at some stage.

I have been wanting to build a 7x57AI for a while. I even have a lovely Bartlein 5R barrel waiting. I was thinking about using a Parker Hale action I have. The current 7x57 barrel looks good but does not perform. Really interested in what you decide to do and how it comes out.

I think this would be in a sweet spot with 150grainers

Classic cartridge - classic rifle. If it was me I'd be rebarreling a Brno or Husky with a barrel that matches the original profile and 24" long. Then have the action and bottom metal ceracoated in matt black that matches the original blue. Fit a classic style scope such as an older Kahles or one of the earlier Loopy's, and have at it. And never never sell it!

I think that you should do it. The 7mil is a great cartridge and just at the right spot for capacity relative to bore. If Ackleyising a 257 Roberts works so well then AI'ing the 7x57 will be a winner for sure. 270 performance with less powder, noise, recoil. A full case whereas loaded 270 cases always sound like salt and pepper shakers, so should be very accurate.
I would go for a medium length Mauser action. As Huskey 1600 writes above, a Brno or Huskey would be great but a donor Parkerhale Safari with a buggered barrel would make a very handy hunting rifle and would keep the costs sensible. PH $300ish, Shilen barrel from Gunworks $690

First thing you should try, if possible, obtain an improved 7x57 case and make up a dummy round to try feeding out of mag. I made up a 257 Ackley on a BSA Hunter (ex 7x57) and it was a great rifle...but it was a bastard to feed if working the action slowly. This was due to the squared off case & shoulder and the Mauser style controlled feed on the bolt face, it changed the angle (increased) in which the case entered the bolt face and restricted it from sliding under the extractor claw. This may not be as big of a problem with the 7x57 as I had due to having a longer projectile, which would be inclined to tip the angle of the case back down when entering the chamber. This problem I had was confirmed by a couple of other Ackley owners running Mauser type actions.
Push feed bolt designs are much better for improved cases as this problem of controlled bolt / extractor engagement does not occur.

Jaco, before you start spending think about what you want to achieve, my experience with the 7x57 is that it will not deliver more velocity with 140 - 160 gn weight projectiles when loaded hot than a 708. I had a mauser and now have a merkel K4 in 7mm.
Going to the improved version give you lots of cool factor but not much increase in case capacity. W760/H414 is the go to powder for velocity and accuracy in the 7x57 mauser.
My .257AI Roberts experience is the improved case will hold about 54-55 gns of 2209. The increased velocities (3300+ fps with a 100gn, 3000 fps with a 120gn) folks get with the improved version of the .257 Roberts are due to loading to higher pressures vs low pressure factory loads for factory .257R. If you load up a std Roberts to similar pressures the gains are 100 - 150 fps, not 300 plus.

I reckon you may need to go to .280 or 7mm RM to get a good improvement over the 708/std 7mm mauser.

If you do go this way have a look for a nice BSA pre CF2 in .243 or .308. These rifles have intermediate length actions, longer that a R700 or sako in the similar calibre and you can fit a x57 AI case with a shallow seated projectile into the magazine. They originally came out in 7mm in this action. I have a Monarch and really like them, they are push feeds. A good one should only set you back $5-600.
Remington build .257 Roberts on their medium 700 actions but they are in reality to short. Mausers obviously work well for the x57 case.

I find that after case forming and running 4-5 high pressure loads my .257AI brass is done. Neck splits and shoulder cracks. Annealing should help this. Fireforming brass is simple and you can just use std calibre loads but it is another task.
Mathias, my old mauser feeds the .257ai ai case well, I may have done some work on the rails though.

it would be handy to pep up a factory rifle but its a lot of money just to use a reamer
like buying a car to match a pair of wheels

Sound thoughts guys. The 7 x 57 is still waaay cooler than the 7mm08

I really appreciate the feedback. Keep it coming. I really enjoy this a lot.

Bloody sure @garyp has or had a 7x57AI.
As Dicko said a standard 7x57 with W760 can be a great round as is. I've had three and used to load for a mates Mk1 Ruger 77 with this powder and 140gr

Re the questionable feeding of AI rounds, I have fixed three so I cant claim expertise only luck, but what I did find has helped in each instance has been to use a rotary file, grinder, Dremel etc like would be used for porting an engine and to deepen and shape the lead on the action. If that is not a total cure then shaping a wedge to attach to the follower will change the angle of the shell as it leaves the magazine. The 'Wedge' being two separate strips of plastic or metal, one glued to each of the steps in the follower and being higher at the case head end tapering forwards by the same amount that the case radius has increased by AI.
(Hera Cook will think that we have guns with Artificial Intelligence if she reads this thread)