What MV? 7x57mm Mauser

[roysclockgun]

The county range was too crowded today and the officer asked that I not set up my Chrony.
My load has proven to be very accurate and I would like to get an idea what performance I can get down range.
Cartridge : 7x57mm Mauser
Action : Steyr Model 1912 Mauser
Barrel : 20", 1 in 9" twist
Propellant : 38.5 gr. IMR4895
Bullet : 139gr Hornady Interbond
Primer : Win. Std. Large Rifle
Case : Remington
OAL : 3.10"
Groups prints 1" high at 100 yards
Questions : What is MV? At what range do I attain point blank? Where is the bullet printing at 200 yards? 300 yards?
This rifle will be a backup piece for my wife's 6.5x55mm for Florida deer and pigs. However, she may like this one better than the Swede!!
TIA,
Steven

 

[DrMike]

QuickLoad projects 2470 fps. It also predicts a maximum load of 44 grains for a velocity of 2791 fps.

You current velocity and scope setting gives you a 140 yard zero. At 200 yards you are almost 3 inches below line of sight. At 300 yards you are about 14.5 inches low.

Setting the scope to print 2.5 inches high at 100 yards will give you a 200 yard zero and print about ten inches low at 300 yards.

At 2791 fps (44 grains of IMR4895), given the same scope setting, you will be about 2 inches low at 200 yards and 11 inches low at 300 yards.

Were you to set the scope to print two inches high at 100 yards, it would give you a 200 yard zero and you would be 7.5 inches low at 300 yards.

 

[Guest]

I'll add that you need to shoot out the range card on any rifle, regardless of what chronograph readings and other knowledge you have. All rifles and bullets perform differently, and I've had few instances where my actual range card matched the computer simulations based on MV and 100yd shooting. Find a 300yd range, set it all up, and find out where the bullets hit. Or don't shoot past 100yds.

 

[DrMike]

Find a 300yd range, set it all up, and find out where the bullets hit. Or don't shoot past 100yds.

Good advice.

 

[JD338]

roysclockgun,

Give this a try, works pretty well for me.
http://www.biggameinfo.com/

You will have to go to Advanced Calculator after you click on Ballistic Calculator.

JD338

 

[roysclockgun]

I realize that any computer data will only put me in the ballpark, but that is what I wanted at this point, as right now longer range testing is not available to me. Thanks to those who offered data.
The outfitter does have a 300 yard range to test rifles the day before the hunt.
Since the barrel is only 20", I was concerned that raising the propellant load will only give me increased muzzle blast, with unburned propellant coming out the muzzle. With a hotter load, the propellant may not be able to burn, before the bullet leaves the muzzle. Is this correct?

 

[1Shot]

I do not know the strength rating of your action. Most of the loading manuals only list loads that are safe in the Model 95 Mauser that is limited to under 46,000 CUP pressure. The 48th Lyman manual list 38.0 grs IMR 4895 with the 139 gr Hornady bullet as being max with a MV of 2724 fps but the Sierra manual goes all the way up to 43.9 grs as max with 140 gr bullets. The Sierra manual says 38.5 grs IMR 4895 should get you around 2450 fps but both of these manuals list their load work up with a Mauser 95 with a 29" barrel.

Yes loads on the higher end of the powder amount with that 20" barrel will not give you much more velocity but will give a lot more muzzle flash.

My suggestion would be, and this comes from many years of experience in loading and big game hunting is. Find the most accurate load first. Sight your rifle in 3 inches high at 100 yards. This will give you a point blank hold out to 250 yards with the average caliber easily. Most calibers will not be above or below line of aim 4 inches from muzzle out to 250 yards. The only thing to watch is when shooting at 200 yards and this really depends on the size of the game. At 200 yards your point of impact will be at or close to 4 inches high so you might need to hold just below center mass of the front shoulder on a deer.

Once your wife shoots some game with that 6.5X55 Swede you will not be able to pry that thing away from her.
I have killed quite a few deer with one and it is a stone cold deer killer.
Use a 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip and 46 grs Accurate Arms or IMR 4350 and watch deer hit the ground like it was pulled from under them.

 

[roysclockgun]

1 Shot wrote : "Use a 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip "

I have only used the 140gr Nosler AccuBond in my 7mmRemMag and I really like the results on deer up to the size of 250lb. Mule Deer. White Tail are anchored by the bullet and the big mule deer dropped with one bullet through the heart/lung. The longest shot that I have had to make was on my best Muley, at 404 yards, by the range finder reading. The 140 AccuBond knocked him down. He did try to rise but could not. He was graveyard dead by time I got to him. I was using 70gr. of IMR7828, but had the same results using 70gr. of MagPro. The Chronied MV was right at 3200fps @ 10' from the muzzle. The zero was at 50 yards and 275 yards. I was 3 3/4" high at 150 yards, which was the most that the bullet went off line of sight, until reaching 350 yards, where I was 4" low. At the range that I killed the buck, I was 9" low, so I did not hold off the buck's body, but just a little high, over the heart lung area.
How would you think that the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip perform on bigger deer?
I may go to the 120 gr bullet and cool off the load a little, as I do not have any western hunts planned and Florida deer are small anyway.
Thank you!
Steve

 

[FOTIS]

It works very well on big game, even at 3000 fps impact on big game.