7x57 for big game

[JPbowhunter]

G'day all,

I'm interested to know of some suggestions people have for 7x57 projectiles that can handle bigger thick skinned game. Not suggesting it as a great DG gun but I am interested in what it's capable of.

I was thinking rhino shank 170gn but the feedback I've received suggests they're reliable expanding only down to 2000fps. Maybe the woodleigh 140gn hydro? Any other heavy for calibre suggestions though?

Cheers,

 

[EZRider]

170 won’t stabilize in mine so I use a 150 gr tsx @ 2450 fps.
Would shoot Wildebeest with it if I was sure of the shot.
Kudu is no problem.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

My son took a zebra on a frontal quartering shot at about 125 yards. I loaded 140gr North Fork Bonded Cores. Zebra was hit just to the inside part of his left shoulder with bullet coming to rest under skin behind right shoulder. Blood vessels at top of heart completely severed and the heart would later just roll out of the animal. Needless to say the stallion did not go far. He also took a nice Nyala on that trip with the same rifle and great results again.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi JP,

I use the 7x57 since 1972. I have hunted with it for big Red Deer and Wild boar.
To me, there are no better big game bullets for the 7 mm Mauser than the 160 and 175 Nosler Partition ones. Period. And not only for this cartridge...
You can load them, easily, in a good 7x57 rifle, for a muzzle velocity of 2700 and 2600 f/s respectively.
The Nosler Partition is, in my experience, one of the few (the best to me) bullet that combines unique expansion and penetration properties: They expand at VERY low velocities and, also, penetrate at VERY high velocities breaking bones and, most often than not, exit, leaving a good exit hole for, eventually, track the animal.

Good luck!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Swift A-Frame.........160 grain

 

[nztimb]

One of my 7x57's really like the 160gr Woodleigh weldcore at 2700fps and that is a bullet that I would be confortable using against anything the 7x57 is capable of taking ethically.

 

[Russ-F]

Swift A-Frame.........160 grain

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From your experience with the 7mm Swifts have you any advice regarding minimum impact velocity for effective expansion? I’ve seen the photos of the test bullets on the Swift website but it’s good to hear what actual users have found.

Regards
Russ

 

[BenKK]

Using just the starting load we used 175 grain Woodleigh PPSNs to excellent effect on big buffalo, scrub bulls, boars, etc. Absolutely devastating - and I’m talking chest shots on all of those.

 

[BenKK]

Our secret, I believe, was moderate velocity.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Using just the starting load we used 175 grain Woodleigh PPSNs to excellent effect on big buffalo, scrub bulls, boars, etc. Absolutely devastating - and I’m talking chest shots on all of those.

Out of a 7x57?

 

[BenKK]

Yep, an old Rigby .275 from 1898.

 

[stug]

The oldtimers had it worked out, heavy for calibre projectiles travelling at moderate velocity = penetration.
Bell used the 173gr 7mm for a reason, 318 WR used a 250gr projectile, 333 Jeffery used a 300gr all at a similar velocity of 230o ish fps.
Of the projectiles listed for the 7x57 I would use the 160 or 175gr a-frame, or the 160 or 175gr Woodleigh PP.

 

[mdwest]

Jumping on the bandwagon here... but I wouldnt hesitate to use a 7x57/7mm Mauser/.275 Rigby on big game up to elk/stag/kudu sized.. If the shot were right and it were loaded with the right bullets, I'd use it on tougher animals like wildebeest or zebra as well...

Im taking my 7x57 on a hog hunt here in a couple of weeks where there have been some 300+ pounders roaming around.. I dont anticipate the 7x57 having any problem dropping porky at any distance I can see him at (longest shot where I am going likely wont be more than 150 yards)..

Mine is loaded up with barnes 160gr tsx.. at about 2450 fps..

 

[JPbowhunter]

Yep, an old Rigby .275 from 1898.

That's good to know, I was referring to buff more so than anything else.

 

[JPbowhunter]

The oldtimers had it worked out, heavy for calibre projectiles travelling at moderate velocity = penetration.
Bell used the 173gr 7mm for a reason, 318 WR used a 250gr projectile, 333 Jeffery used a 300gr all at a similar velocity of 230o ish fps.
Of the projectiles listed for the 7x57 I would use the 160 or 175gr a-frame, or the 160 or 175gr Woodleigh PP.

It's interesting how things change, I've noticed a trend to go as light and as fast as you can which means you can shoot out as far as possible.

As you say I reckon the old timers had it right.

 

[sgt_zim]

Anyone use the Oryx 156 gr in their 7x57?

 

[JPbowhunter]

Anyone use the Oryx 156 gr in their 7x57?

That's what i currently have ordered to use for deer, figure they might not be best for buffalo sized game though.

 

[Red Leg]

Anyone use the Oryx 156 gr in their 7x57?

Yes. My .275 Rigby shoots both the 156 gr and 170 gr oryx sub-MOA (Loaded by Lance Hendershot in their Extreme line). The two groups are separated by about 1.5-2 inches vertically. Thus far, I have only used the 170 on game (whitetail). Very dead deer and the bullet may still be going.

 

[EZRider]

That's what i currently have ordered to use for deer, figure they might not be best for buffalo sized game though.

Some may use a .308 on African buffalo so I suppose the 7x57 would work...
At the cost to life, limb and bank account I wouldn’t.

 

[Sand Rat]

Anyone use the Oryx 156 gr in their 7x57?

I shoot them out of my CZ 550 with H4350. Sub MOA and kicks the crap out of whitetails and hogs. Recovered one last year with a perfect mushroom that weighed 146 gr, not too shabby. It's all I use for the 7x57.