7x57 Mauser -Rem 700 with RL17 & 150 grain bullets

[284allways]

Hello all,
Looking for firsthand experiance please
Loading for a Rem 700 7x57 Mauser
Loads will be with 150 gr ABs or partitions
Powder would be with RL17 ..
---Im about to try RL 19 in the next week so any comments on experiance on that powder and bullet weight would be welcome

In a perfrect world this will be a 2,800-2,900 fps load and will be used for elk and muledeer.

No experiance with RL17, read good things about it but NO ONE has published data with this cartridge!

 

[Dougfir]

Do they make a 150 AccuBond, now (other than the LR)? Your question about data sounds like a good one for Quick Loads... I've never owned a 7x57, but I do reload for a 7mm-08 and I'd guess that the velocities you're hoping for are very optimistic.

 

[PJGunner]

"No experience with RL17, read good things about it but NO ONE has published data with this cartridge!"

I can only relate what has worked for me. I used a Winchester M70 Featherweight with 22" barrel. I think you can easily reach 2700+ FPS with RL17 and frankly possibly a lot higher. Start maybe two grain lower than load #1 and work up.

Here is what I got.

47.0 gr. RL17. 150 gr. Nosler Partition, Winchester brass and standard primer. Velocity 2710 FPS. Three shots groups slightly under one inch. ES 26 FPS (I settled on that load for now but will work on the higher speed loads when it gets a bit warmer.)

47.5 gr. Same Components velocity 2751 FPS Group 1"x3/8" dispersion in the horizontal. ES19 FPS

48.0 gr. Same components 2743 FPS two shots .375" one flyer making group 1 1/4". IIRC I called that one out.
ES 30 FPS

48.5 gr. Same components 2847 FPS two holes touching and one .50" high with maybe 1/16" horizontal dispersion. ES39 FPS

I did do a bit of work with the 150 gr. Nosler AccuBond but so far none of my three rifles like that bullet. I did reach 2900+ FPS with it as it has a lot less bearing surface but accuracy was worse than dismal. I'm hoping I find something that works with that bullet as I think it would be very good with the velocities attainable in the 7x57.

Hope this gives you some help finding a place to start.
Paul B.

I have no idea if your Remington will like those loads for pressure or accuracy and only post the results I got.

 

[284allways]

Results promising
150gr LRAB with 51.0 RL19 - as per the manual, produced 2,906 fps ave of 5 rounds and a 5/8" group at 100. I will test more rounds over the chrono and on paper before I change to another powder, but at this point I am pleased with the initial results.
The bearing surface on the LRABis .454 a good bit less than the Partition of the same weight and I think that is contributing to the velocity and no pressure signs.
Many concerns on the web about the optimum velocity range for the LRAB? For the intended use of Deer and Elk in the 0-300 yard range I dont see an issue? Any thoughts from the (highly educated) peanut gallery?

 

[PJGunner]

"Any thoughts from the (highly educated) peanut gallery?"

Dunno about the highly educated part unless it's from the school of hard knocks from which I graduated summa cum loudly black and blue.

Seriously I'm only quoting what the guide I did at least four hunts with told me. He said that the elk he saw shot with ABLRs didn't hold up too well until out at 100 to 200 yards depending on the cartridge. He felt they were a bit too destructive on shots less than 100 yards.Just his opinion based on elk he saw shot with the bullets.

My thought was when first trying the 150 gr. ABLR in my 7x57s was it could possibly give me a good 50 yards more range should I need it. I do all my elk hunting on a private ranch these days and I've take six elk from the ranch. Closest was last year's at 50 to 75 yards and the longest shot I've had to take was 350 yards. I thought the ABLR might be a good choice for my Mauser or M70 FWT.

I do wonder just how well that bullet will hold up if the shot is out to 150 yards or less. Probably on deer it shouldn't matter too much but I only hunt elk these days so I worry about penetration.

Congratulations of finding an accurate load with that bullet. Maybe there's hope for me in finding one for my rifles. :roll:
Paul B.

 

[SJB358]

I’ve been using 17 in the 7x57 with 150 Partitions and Accubonds out of a M70 Featherweight for a few years. Not sitting near my book right now but both loads run at the 2900 mark and accuracy is always less than an inch or better. Shot the combos out to 600 enough to know it’s a solid combo.

Waiting for the plain old 150 AccuBond to hit the streets and will likely give that one a go. Kind of the best blend between the Partition and Ballistic Tip.

 

[PJGunner]

"Waiting for the plain old 150 AccuBond to hit the streets and will likely give that one a go. Kind of the best blend between the Partition and Ballistic Tip."

Dunno how the AccuBond will perform but so far my luck with the ABLR has been all bad.I've tried various seating depths to no avail yet others have gotten good groups right off the bat, Guess it's the luck of the draw.
Paul B.

 

[Dwh7271]

Please note that SAAMI set pressure at 51k so I left that alone.

Cartridge          : 7 x 57 mm Mauser (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .284, 150, Nosler Accubond LR 58734 G7
Useable Case Capaci: 51.325 grain H2O = 3.332 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.071 inch = 78.00 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-17 *T

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   86    42.88   2516    2109   39073   9928     98.1    1.321
-09.0   87    43.35   2544    2156   40341  10027     98.4    1.302
-08.0   88    43.83   2572    2204   41651  10121     98.7    1.282
-07.0   89    44.31   2600    2252   43006  10211     99.0    1.263
-06.0   90    44.78   2628    2300   44408  10295     99.2    1.244  ! Near Maximum !
-05.0   91    45.26   2656    2349   45858  10375     99.4    1.226  ! Near Maximum !
-04.0   92    45.73   2683    2398   47358  10449     99.6    1.207  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   93    46.21   2711    2448   48909  10518     99.7    1.190  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   94    46.69   2738    2498   50516  10581     99.9    1.172  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-01.0   95    47.16   2766    2548   52181  10639     99.9    1.155  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0   96    47.64   2793    2598   53903  10692    100.0    1.138  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.0   97    48.12   2820    2649   55688  10738    100.0    1.121  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   98    48.59   2847    2700   57535  10781    100.0    1.105  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0   99    49.07   2874    2751   59452  10823    100.0    1.089  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  100    49.55   2901    2803   61439  10864    100.0    1.073  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  101    50.02   2927    2854   63499  10905    100.0    1.058  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 3% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 3% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     96    47.64   2834    2675   57280  10538    100.0    1.110  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 3% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     96    47.64   2746    2512   50672  10799     99.6    1.168  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

 

[SJB358]

"Waiting for the plain old 150 AccuBond to hit the streets and will likely give that one a go. Kind of the best blend between the Partition and Ballistic Tip."

Dunno how the AccuBond will perform but so far my luck with the ABLR has been all bad.I've tried various eating depths to no avail yet others have gotten good groups right off the bat, Guess it's the luck of the draw.
Paul B.

Never had many issues with the plain old AccuBond but same as you with the ABLRs. Just haven’t won with them yet.

Dewey, that looks exactly like my data I use. I sorta figure I’m in the 60-62K range.

 

[Dwh7271]

Yeah Scotty
No reason not to run it up there with modern rifles and good brass.

 

[PJGunner]

This is what I posted on 24 Hour campfire just a little while ago in response to something asked by another Rev Mike. Guess there are two of you.

I freely admit that I was pushing the envelope and advise that it is for information only and not to be used without very careful work up. I take no responsibility if someone disregards my warning.
Paul B

"Rev. Mike. I hope this gives you what you want.

Well the weather forecast was for calm winds becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Yeah, sure. Got to the range and it was blowing 8 to 10 MHP easy. Temp was about 65* and the wind felt cold. I'm wearing a tee shirt and jeans.

I had ten sets of three rounds starting with 42.0 gr. with a half grain increase on up to 48.0 gr. Speer's max for the 160 gr. Hot Core is 44.0 gr. Before I go any further, this was in my rifle and nothing gave way. Results were if nothing else a bit on the weird side as will be explained. Sad to say these loads were tested in my FN Mauser and this M70 without my normal use of the chronograph as the last time I used it it gave very erratic readings. Just haven'y gotten down to sending it in for repair.

Load #1 Triangular group about 1.25x"3 5/8". Primer nice and round.

Load #2 Group is 1 1/16"x 1/16". No change in primers.

Load #3 Group 1 1/2' x 1/2" Primers round with slight cratering. (I should note that even the mild Winchester 145 gr. ammo shows mild cratering in this rifle.)

Load #4 Group 1 1/2"x 1 1/2" perfect triangle. Very slight flattening, no change in cratering and edges still nicely rounded.

Load #5 Group 1/4"x 1". Primer no different from load #4.

Load #6 Group 1"x 1 1/4" No change in primer flattening and no cratering. shocked confused confused confused

Load #7 Group 13/16"x 3/8" Primers still with rounded edges and slight cratering.

Load #8 Group 3/8"x 1 3/8" Primers still have nicely rounded edges. slight cratering on one case only. confused

Load #9 group 3/8"x1/2" Primers slightly flatter than previous cases. Cratering definitely more noticeable but not much different than what I've seem in factory .270 Win. and .300 Mag loads.

Load #10 Group 2 5/8" x 2/3/8". Primers flattest so far with still slight rounding at the edges. Cratering quite noticable.

Rifle Winchester M70 FWT, brass brand new Remington, flash holes reamed, trimmed and primer pockets uniformed.
Wind out of the east 8 to 12 MPH estimated, temperature about 62 when starting and 66 when done.

Target was a black 2.5"x2.5" square with a 1.0" white square in the center. Odd number shots were on the lower left hand corner and even numbered shots on the upper right hand corner. No effort was made to bring the scope into line with point of aim as the rifle is sighted in for a good load with the 150 gr. Nosler PT.

Interesting thing is shots on the lower left corner always seemed to me much better than when the upper right corner was used as the aiming point. I've used those target for more than twenty years and this is the first time I can recall that happening. It's also interesting that the FN Mauser showed pressure at load # 5 vs load #7 or 8 depending on how you look at it in the M70.

All in all an enlightening day at the range."
Paul B.

Our forefathers did not politely protest the British.They did not vote them out of office, nor did they impeach the king,march on the capitol or ask permission for their rights. ----------------They just shot them.
MOLON LABE

 

[lefty315]

I’m a little late to the game on this one but I’ll throw this out there. I think the 150 is going to be a great bullet weight for your 7x57. I loaded 160 AB out of my Ruger No 1 with a 22 inch barrel to 2750 fps with IMR 4350 and zero sign of pressure. That’s right at .280 Rem velocities. I’m sure I could push it faster but didn’t see the need. Since you’re talking about Elk, if you don’t find what you’re looking for with the 150’s then maybe give the 160’s a try.

 

[Cleveland48]

I think RL17 would be great for the old 7x57. I'd prolly try RL16 also. RL17 gives great speeds. The 7x57 loaded in a modern rifle to modern pressures should easily be very similar to 7mm08, if not a little better since I believe it has more case capacity. Alot of these newer powders have really let the old war horses shine. I load my 9.3x62 to 30/06 pressures with great results. I would work up to book max the slowly work my way up .2 or .3 grains at a time until I started seeing pressure signs.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[PJGunner]

FWIW, the June-July issue of Handloader Magazine, #320 has an article called "The Modern 7x57" by John Barsness. It give a very good idea of just what can be done with the 7x57 in a modern action. I highly recommend it.
Paul B.