175 NPT/ABLR in 7x57 for deer?

[TC260]

I just picked up a Ruger 1A in 7x57 and while waiting for dies to get here I'm looking at heavy bullets to load for it. Why? Because it's a 7x57 and if you're going to hunt with a classic in a single shot might as well go all the way and use the bullet weights it was designed for . I have a few Hornady 175 RN's which is the bullet I'd most prefer to use but being hard to come by these days it would be nice to have a 2nd option.

So my question, would either one or both of these bullets work well for deer sized game at the modest starting velocity of probably around 2500 fps?

 

[DrMike]

The 175 grain Hornady will work well in your 7X57. I worked up a load for a gentleman shooting that cartridge and using 175 grain PT for moose. It had worked for him for quite a few years. Here are a few possibilities for loads:

Cartridge          : 7 x 57 mm Mauser
Bullet             : .284, 175, Nosler PART SP 35645
Useable Case Capaci: 50.893 grain H2O = 3.304 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.071 inch = 78.00 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 55500 psi, or 382 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

9 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-26                 104.4     52.6     3.41    2750   100.0    55500   10548   1.254  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP                          104.8     51.3     3.32    2715    99.1    55500   10544   1.258  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560                    106.3     50.9     3.30    2694    96.3    55500   10608   1.258  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO                    106.8     53.3     3.45    2687    94.7    55500   10644   1.262  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22                 106.6     50.6     3.28    2681    98.1    55500   10288   1.263  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR                     109.4     50.8     3.29    2680    97.9    55500   10296   1.264  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-23                 109.5     50.3     3.26    2672   100.0    55500    9415   1.265  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                       104.5     50.4     3.26    2670    96.6    55500   10231   1.254  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17                  93.6     46.1     2.98    2666   100.0    55500    9259   1.264  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828                           110.0     50.1     3.25    2657    96.4    54665   10191   1.263  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                     106.3     54.3     3.52    2655    98.4    55500    9880   1.256  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25                 110.0     51.3     3.33    2640    99.7    50816   10112   1.302  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      98.2     47.6     3.08    2634    99.6    55500    9501   1.274  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19                 102.6     48.2     3.12    2632    97.9    55500    9722   1.268  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      92.6     45.9     2.98    2625    99.1    55500    9467   1.279  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        92.6     45.9     2.98    2625    99.1    55500    9467   1.279  ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP                           97.6     45.3     2.93    2615   100.0    55500    9095   1.283  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550                     94.7     45.4     2.94    2614   100.0    55500    9209   1.289  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       97.1     45.6     2.95    2613   100.0    55500    9086   1.301  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204                           97.2     47.1     3.05    2606    97.6    55500    9434   1.272  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC                   103.8     49.2     3.19    2601    95.7    55500    9500   1.268  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831                      108.0     49.2     3.19    2601    95.7    55500    9500   1.268  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                           102.5     46.0     2.98    2600   100.0    55500    8905   1.293  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100                      106.7     50.0     3.24    2599    99.5    55500    9161   1.300  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780             101.4     50.2     3.25    2590    97.7    55500    9248   1.273  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165                    108.5     50.3     3.26    2588    98.3    55500    9105   1.278  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                100.3     45.5     2.95    2581   100.0    55500    8363   1.282  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old                       90.2     42.8     2.77    2564   100.0    55500    8393   1.310  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160                    107.9     48.5     3.14    2559    96.5    55500    8981   1.280  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC                        91.4     43.5     2.82    2546    98.6    55500    8755   1.296  ! Near Maximum !

Cartridge          : 7 x 57 mm Mauser
Bullet             : .284, 175, Nosler Accubond LR 58517 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 49.139 grain H2O = 3.191 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.071 inch = 78.00 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 55565 psi, or 383 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

7 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-26                 105.7     51.5     3.34    2738   100.0    55565   10252   1.255  ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP                          106.1     50.2     3.25    2701    99.0    55565   10225   1.259  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560                    107.5     49.8     3.23    2678    96.0    55565   10262   1.261  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO                    108.1     52.1     3.37    2671    94.3    55565   10288   1.264  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22                 107.9     49.4     3.20    2667    97.8    55565    9966   1.265  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17                  94.8     45.0     2.92    2655   100.0    55565    8994   1.265  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC                       105.7     49.2     3.19    2652    96.2    55565    9886   1.258  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR                     110.0     49.3     3.19    2644    97.5    54155    9913   1.280  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-23                 110.0     48.7     3.16    2638   100.0    53881    9118   1.283  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum                     107.5     53.0     3.44    2637    98.2    55565    9557   1.259  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                      99.4     46.5     3.01    2622    99.5    55565    9219   1.276  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19                 103.9     47.1     3.05    2618    97.7    55565    9414   1.271  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                      93.8     44.9     2.91    2613    99.0    55565    9178   1.281  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                        93.8     44.9     2.91    2613    99.0    55565    9178   1.281  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828                           110.0     48.4     3.14    2606    95.5    52567    9743   1.290  ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP                           98.8     44.3     2.87    2603   100.0    55565    8831   1.286  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                       98.4     44.6     2.89    2602   100.0    55565    8824   1.302  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550                     95.9     44.4     2.88    2602    99.9    55565    8943   1.291  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204                           98.4     46.0     2.98    2591    97.4    55565    9131   1.275  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25                 110.0     49.6     3.21    2590    99.3    48770    9742   1.330  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831                           103.8     45.0     2.92    2588   100.0    55565    8648   1.295  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100                      108.0     48.9     3.17    2587    99.4    55565    8884   1.302  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831                      109.2     48.1     3.12    2584    95.4    55565    9178   1.271  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC                   105.0     48.1     3.12    2584    95.4    55565    9178   1.271  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780             102.6     49.0     3.17    2575    97.4    55565    8946   1.276  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165                    109.8     49.2     3.19    2574    98.1    55565    8813   1.280  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                101.6     44.5     2.89    2570   100.0    55565    8118   1.284  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                        90.8     42.0     2.72    2555    99.9    55565    8466   1.302  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old                       91.3     41.8     2.71    2553   100.0    55565    8149   1.312  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160                    109.2     47.4     3.07    2544    96.2    55565    8681   1.284  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC                        92.5     42.5     2.75    2531    98.4    55565    8475   1.300  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064                       90.7     40.2     2.61    2514   100.0    55565    7594   1.338  ! Near Maximum !

 

[SJB358]

I'd have no qualms shooting deer out to decent ranges with the 175 PT. Itll expand fine and will truck right on through. I wouldn't expect DRT kills on pure lung shots but I also wouldn't worry about them making it too far either.

 

[JD338]

Another heavy weight to consider is the 160 gr PT. It will shoot a bit faster/flatter than the 175 gr loads and still kill everything from mice to moose.

JD338

 

[Alderman]

I've had good results with 150 grain BTs on deer and I have got to believe the 175s would be good on just about anything at moderate ranges.

 

[Oldtrader3]

My dad was using a 7x57 Mauser with 175 gr factory loads to kill moose with 50 years ago. It worked then, it will work now.

 

[TC260]

I hear ya. The question was mostly about making sure they aren't too hard for deer at the modest velocities. I'm mostly a handgun hunter so it's probably just ingrained to worry about bullet construction being a good match for the velocity .

Thinking about it more today, I already have a pile of 160 PT's for a 280 AI. It would make more sense to just stock up on a few more of those 160's and pick up the Hornady's here and there as I can find them. I'm generally a big Partition fan. The only reason really for the 175 RN's is for nostalgia's sake. I shoot 140 PT's in a 260 Remington but 160 RN's in a 6.5 Japanese for the same reason. In some cartridges, the long round nose torpedoes just look right .

 

[Oldtrader3]

Personally, I use the 160 Partitions for all hunting with the .280 Rem and 7mm Rem Mag. They kill cleanly every time.

 

[SJB358]

I hear ya. The question was mostly about making sure they aren't too hard for deer at the modest velocities. I'm mostly a handgun hunter so it's probably just ingrained to worry about bullet construction being a good match for the velocity .

Thinking about it more today, I already have a pile of 160 PT's for a 280 AI. It would make more sense to just stock up on a few more of those 160's and pick up the Hornady's here and there as I can find them. I'm generally a big Partition fan. The only reason really for the 175 RN's is for nostalgia's sake. I shoot 140 PT's in a 260 Remington but 160 RN's in a 6.5 Japanese for the same reason. In some cartridges, the long round nose torpedoes just look right .

I agree with you, sometimes those old RN's just look cool. I imagine if you look around you might be able to come up with some of the Hornady's. The old 154 RN was supposed to be a good one as well.

 

[muleman]

I'd love to try the heavies in my 7x57 Ruger RSI. I'm a little hesitant because the recoil is pretty stout even with 150s. The gun is very light. Some day........

Scott

 

[PJGunner]

I would scrounge around the gun shows to see if you can find some of the long discontinued Sierra 170 gr. round nose bullets. They've proven to be very accurate in a Winchester M70 FWT, custom Mauser and a Ruger #1A, all in 7x57. The 175 gr. Hornady has also been very accurate in all three rifles. I've found the heavy weights to be more accurate in my Ruger #1A, one of the earlier rifles with a long throat. The #1A is one of my favorite fun guns.
Paul B.

 

[Horsethief]

Are the 175s more accurate than the 160 or 162gn bullets? Either way, a good shot with any 120+ grain bullet from a 7x57 is going to do the job.

 

[preacher]

I've shot the 150/168 ABLR in a .280. I have some 175 ABLR to try in my 7mm Mag later on. Just looking at them and from what I have read, they are pretty soft up front. I'd think they would work just fine. I too like heavy for caliber bullets, but I've used more lighter weights than anything. My last heavy bullet hunt was a Eurasian sow with a 310gr Woodleigh going 2400 fps, ha. It sounds rough, but it worked "to perfection", awesome hole all the way through, blew chunks of lung/tissue 30 steps away,yet no bloodshot meat. I have shot hogs with 150BT from a .280 and had to throw a big portion away, ha. Yet, the 139 Hornady worked fine. A 7x57 just calls for at least one good load with a 175RN though! I have played with a couple and a 7mm08 later on...I like to think of Jim Corbett shooting tigers or Bell popping elephants with it. If I ever find a Mod 700 Classic in 7x57 that I think is affordable, I'm getting it! Have a ball Pard.

 

[Anonymous]

175 ABLRs are a long, long bullet. At the meager speeds the 7x57 generates, it just doesn't seem to serve much purpose. The ABLRs are pretty spendy too and you won't really leverage the primary design feature (that sky high BC). It would work fine, but seems a little out of place.

The 175 Partition however, would make a great bullet in the 7x57 for about anything you'd shoot one at although I'd likely just shoot 140 or 160gr bullets. I doubt any reasonable critter would know the difference.

 

[preacher]

Nosler told me that my 1 in 9 1/4 twist in my 26" bbl 7mm Rem mag would work, but only because I could get the speed up. I got the 168 ABLR up to 2750 with accuracy in my .280 and it was flat shooting. To know for sure your 7x57 would be a hoss, get some 175gr .025" jacketed Hawk Precision bullets. I can guarantee you they will just wad up and blow on through, similar to the Woodleighs. You would have to check the 175 Woodleighs stats and get the one jacketed for the 7x57,etc instead of the Magnums. Of course, that ol 175 Hornady RN is a classic.

 

[Son of the Gael]

TC260,

I have that exact same rifle and it is MAGIC. 175 NPT will work fine out to about 400 yds. The only problem with the LRAB could be with your twist, I've read that some Rugers are 9.5" which probably won't work, if you have a 1 in 8 you are golden.

I haven't tried the Hornady 175 RNs, but their 154 RN is a killer.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I load the 139 grain Hornady SP in my mothers Interarms 7x57 with a standard load of (41 grains I believe) IMR 4064 powder. Jack O'Connor told of using a similar load from the Western Cartridge Company back in the day. If its deer alone that you're after I highly recommend this as every deer I have seen her shoot with this was down right there.

The 175's are better suited to larger game at a closer distance in my humble opinion although I can understand your love of the 175 Hornady RN bullets. They are awesome, especially in a 7x57 case.

 

[TC260]

TC260,

I have that exact same rifle and it is MAGIC. 175 NPT will work fine out to about 400 yds. The only problem with the LRAB could be with your twist, I've read that some Rugers are 9.5" which probably won't work, if you have a 1 in 8 you are golden.

I haven't tried the Hornady 175 RNs, but their 154 RN is a killer.

FWIW it's a 1-8.75 twist and at least according to the calculators even with LRAB it's well into the stability range. Even the big Berger 180 VLD's will stabilize with a 9t.

Edit...it is a great rifle. I had my heart set on an RSI but a deal popped up on this one. The dies aren't here yet but a couple of boxes of ammo came along with it so I've shot it a couple times at the range and it's growing on me quick. Accuracy wise it isn't setting the world on fire yet but it's plenty accurate for deer and the short length will be perfect from a deer stand. I'm planning to go on an Elk hunt in the somewhat near future and even though the goal is for it to be a handgun hunt this one may come along as a back-up