7x57 info

[Earle]

Yes, taking the rifle in to local gunshop and trying to find a scope that doesn't interfere

Indeed so. Congratulations on a wonderful find. They are some of the few fullstock rifles which does not struggle with accuracy, along with the old Mannlichers. The rifle makers of yesteryear certainly knew how to get the basics right.

Given that you have the post 1948 model after serial number 23000 with the integral dovetails, I would keep a neat little Schmitt und Bender 4x32 or a Zeiss Diatal 6x36 in some Talley QD mounts handy and experience the best of both worlds with your rifle

with the bolt handle.

 

[Dewald]

Both the scopes Ive mentioned work. As do the Swarovski 3-9x36, either the new Z3 or the old Habicht. E-bay is your friend when it comes to these old gems.

Of course a nice Zeiss Jenna would be the perfect period scope, but clarity is often not to great with them.

 

[MS 9x56]

I use 7x57Mauser from Sellier&Bellot with bullet Sierra Game King 175gr and SPCE 173gr.

My custom Mauser 98 loves the SPCE bullet.

 

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[Earle]

No joy at the local gun shop. Not a scope in the place would work. Guess e-bay is my only alternative and i'll have to find one in Canada, as we can't import one. oh well, the looking is half the fun/

 

[C.W. Richter]

If typ. <300 lb bear, 140s. If larger, the 160-175s (I like Nos PTs) will certainly do the trick even better. Those big 7 bullets have an SD of .310 (and BC 0.519) therefore it'll lose very little V and has maximum penetrating power at any angle presented! Have fun! Think "non-premium" style bullet here-jacketed lead tip RN, PSP, SP. Any of the above recomendations (Swift, Norma, Woodleigh and my available fav the Nos PT all very fine! Even the std Rem/Win et. al. bullets will do the job best in the heavier weights!

 

[C.W. Richter]

If typ. <300 lb bear, 140s. If larger, the 160-175s (I like Nos PTs) will certainly do the trick even better. Those big 7 bullets have an SD of .310 (and BC 0.519) therefore it'll lose very little V and has maximum penetrating power at any angle presented! Have fun!

If you think of the 757 like a 3006 you're on the right track...In the 06 we use 200 gr NPs for bear (and same as what was said above in 7). 0.481 BC/0.301 SD (220s same as the 175 in 7 as it's trimmer.) But, the 757 case is just a tad smaller and the ballistics of the 7 a bit higher, so pretty much Even-Steven! IOW, the 06 is John Browning's 1900s barely legal, non-patent infringement "update" of the Paul Mauser original 757 1890s design. ***Also, try the gun out w/ the diff weight bullets. Some unfortunately don't shoot the lighter or heavier bullets very well due to rifling twist rate differences!!! My 757AI shoots 140-175s very well whereas a neighbor's 757 would NOT shoot the 173-175 slugs well at all, the 160s ok (perfect for <250 yds) and the 140s perfectly (obv his gun had a slower twist rate.)

 

[MS 9x56]

If you think of the 757 like a 3006 you're on the right track...In the 06 we use 200 gr NPs for bear (and same as what was said above in 7). 0.481 BC/0.301 SD (220s same as the 175 in 7 as it's trimmer.) But, the 757 case is just a tad smaller and the ballistics of the 7 a bit higher, so pretty much Even-Steven! IOW, the 06 is John Browning's 1900s barely legal, non-patent infringement "update" of the Paul Mauser original 757 1890s design. ***Also, try the gun out w/ the diff weight bullets. Some unfortunately don't shoot the lighter or heavier bullets very well due to rifling twist rate differences!!! My 757AI shoots 140-175s very well whereas a neighbor's 757 would NOT shoot the 173-175 slugs well at all, the 160s ok (perfect for <250 yds) and the 140s perfectly (obv his gun had a slower twist rate.)

My 1940 vintage Mauser 7x57 is the opposite with 140 grain bullets it is a 2” group gun but with 175 it is MOA to 1 1/4” with iron sights.

 

[C.W. Richter]

My 1940 vintage Mauser 7x57 is the opposite with 140 grain bullets it is a 2” group gun but with 175 it is MOA to 1 1/4” with iron sights.

and probably even better groups w/ a scope. faster twist. just like mine.

 

[Graham Hunter]

Try the Hornady CX. I have used them in my 7x64, 270, and 25-06. Deer and plains game. Never a failure! Less fouling and equal or better accuracy than TSX. Shots from 50yds to 400yds.

 

[Sika98k]

I use 7x57Mauser from Sellier&Bellot with bullet Sierra Game King 175gr and SPCE 173gr.

I used 173 S&B SPCE this year on oryx, blue wildebeest, warthog and impala. The recovered bits were pretty poor, No through and through.
my vote is for 175 Nosler Partition. I used these previously on hunts and found them great.

 

[benchracer]

The 160 class bullets are a better match to 7x57 case capacity than the 175's. I am inclined to regard the 175's as a special purpose bullet, when loaded in the 7x57, for use in situations where it is felt there is a need for the 7mm Mauser to punch above its weight. Even a big black bear doesn't fall into the "punching above its weight" category.

Paired with RL-22, the 7x57 can easily drive 160 Nosler Partitions to 2700 fps from a 22" barrel at safe pressure levels. RL-23 would offer the same performance with greater temp stability, so if you are starting with a clean sheet of paper, it would be an even better choice than RL-22.

At 7x57 muzzle velocities, the 160 Nosler Partition provides the ideal balance between expansion and penetration. I consider it to be the perfect all around bullet for the 7mm Mauser.

 

[ARHinAK]

Having killed black bear stone cold dead with .223 Rem. to .375 H&H and traditional archery equipment, just about anything will work. For the scenario you’re looking at with your 7x57 I’d go with a rapid expansion bullet that has a partition in it to keep the back half in tact. There, I said it, 140-175 grain Nosler Partition.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

My two 7x57, an original Sporting DWM M93, a kind of Plezier Mauser, and my M98 (1935 Mauser Werke Modelo-Mauser-1935 Argentine action) with its S.I.G. new military replacement barrel, both 60 cm (23,6") barrel lenght and with the original 1:220 mm rifling twist (1:8,66") can shoot ANYTHING, bullet weight/type, with great accuracy, including factory ammo ( Win PP 145 gr, NORMA 150 gr, Win and RP 175 gr, RWS H-Mantel 173 gr and 177 TIG) and my reloads. Some with almost match accuracy. I am not bragging, it is a fact, at least in this two rifles.
I use almost exclusively my own reloads in my big game rifles. In this two Mausers, I use mostly 154 gr Hornady at almos 2800 f/s; various 160 gr bullets at 2750 f/s (Sierra Game King HP, Hornady 162 gr ILBT, 160 gr Nosler Partition, 160 gr Barnes CLX, the blue coated ones, and two RWS: 162 TIG and 162 KS) and 173-175-177 gr bullets at 2650 f/s (H-Mantel 173, Hornady 175 gr ILSP and Nosler Partition 175 gr, plus 177 RWS TIG).
My favorites are the 173-175-177 grs ones! And a close second, the 160 gr NP.
If I was forced to chose one, would be two: 160 or 175 gr NP. Both perfect!!

Good Luck!

CF

 

[Earle]

Lot's of good info here to sift thru. There seems to be a concensus for 160-175gr bullets, so that will be my starting point. Now, if i can just find a scope that fit's, life will be good. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Earl

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi,

As Dewald said, for the hunt you describe, I will use a 2,5x, 3x or 4x fixed scopes or a light 1,5-6x or 2-7x scope. In any of the rings made for the BRNO dovetails (19 mm). Ideally Alaska Arms ones. Talley or Warne will work very well too.
By the way, I would no doubt to modified the bolt handle to put the scope as low as possible.

Good luck!

CF

 

[Earle]

According to my research, Alaska arms can offer no help, nor Talley or Warne. The trick is to find the right scope. As far as modifying the bolt handle, the rifle is in pristine condition and i can't bring myself to change a thing

Hi,

As Dewald said, for the hunt you describe, I will use a 2,5x, 3x or 4x fixed scopes or a light 1,5-6x or 2-7x scope. In any of the rings made for the BRNO dovetails (19 mm). Ideally Alaska Arms ones. Talley or Warne will work very well too.
By the way, I would no doubt to modified the bolt handle to put the scope as low as possible.

Good luck!

CF

on it. It has lasted, unaltered, this long, i will not be the one to change it.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Ho Earle,

Why do you say "Alaska arms can offer no help, nor Talley or Warne"? AFAIK, this three brands do offer low, medium and high scope rings. Coupled with the right scope, one with a small ocular bell, I think will work without altering the bolt handle.

Good luck!

 

[Earle]

Yes. I meant they were not a remedy on their own, rather they needed the right scope.

Ho Earle,

Why do you say "Alaska arms can offer no help, nor Talley or Warne"? AFAIK, this three brands do offer low, medium and high scope rings. Coupled with the right scope, one with a small ocular bell, I think will work without altering the bolt handle.

Good luck!

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Thank you, I understand.