Sellier & Bellot TXRG 150 gr. 7x57 use?

Ptero

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I just bought a Whitworth 7x57mm and am looking for a good factory round for PG. I will eventually reload for it, but for now, I am going to stick to factory loaded. I already have too many projects to take on load development for yet another caliber!

Just like the title asks, has anyone used this ammo on game? How did it perform? Is it accurate?

While I prefer heavy for caliber for the 7mm Mauser, the only factory loaded ammo I found readily available was Federal 175 gr. PowerShoks and S&B 173 gr. SPCE, which are old school cup and core. Nothing wrong with that but I have heard the S&B 173s, in particular, are a little on the soft side.

I am a fan of mono's after using TSX/TTSX in S. Africa with great results so I am thinking that the S&B TXRG monolithic coppers might be a good option?

Thanks in advance!
 
Myself I would think they’re going a bit slow for an all copper bullet. I don’t know of anyone with firsthand reports. But I would guess it’s similar to the Barnes TSX which needs to be around 2000 FPS to open adequately.

Your whitworth the one that sold on GB with a 1-4x leupold scope yesterday?
 
If you come across Hornady GMX 140 try them , they shot right in my 7x57
 
Yes, I’ve used them to hunt red stag in Denmark. Very accurate and potent ammunition. But the propellant burns a little dirty, so be sure to give your rifle barrel a thorough cleaning afterwards.
 
I just bought a Whitworth 7x57mm and am looking for a good factory round for PG. I will eventually reload for it, but for now, I am going to stick to factory loaded. I already have too many projects to take on load development for yet another caliber!

Just like the title asks, has anyone used this ammo on game? How did it perform? Is it accurate?

While I prefer heavy for caliber for the 7mm Mauser, the only factory loaded ammo I found readily available was Federal 175 gr. PowerShoks and S&B 173 gr. SPCE, which are old school cup and core. Nothing wrong with that but I have heard the S&B 173s, in particular, are a little on the soft side.

I am a fan of mono's after using TSX/TTSX in S. Africa with great results so I am thinking that the S&B TXRG monolithic coppers might be a good option?

Thanks in advance!
I use S&B 7x57 brass for my Ruger 275 Rigby. The factory rounds in 140 gr shoot quite well. The brass however is a bit out of spec. The head, for example won’t fit in RCBS shell holder. Plus the brass case head is a bit thinner than REM. Or Win. Brass. When I re-prime using my Lee priming tool, the primers don’t quite fit just a bit below the case head as they should. Instead, they seat a bit proud and require a run through my old RCBS primer to seat fully just a bit below the case head.
 
Myself I would think they’re going a bit slow for an all copper bullet. I don’t know of anyone with firsthand reports. But I would guess it’s similar to the Barnes TSX which needs to be around 2000 FPS to open adequately.

Your whitworth the one that sold on GB with a 1-4x leupold scope yesterday?
Yes, that's the one I just bought. I love the Whitworth rifles and really wanted a classic 7mm Mauser to hunt PG in Africa.
 
Yes, I’ve used them to hunt red stag in Denmark. Very accurate and potent ammunition. But the propellant burns a little dirty, so be sure to give your rifle barrel a thorough cleaning afterwards.
Good to hear! Great to hear of some first hand experience with this round, especially from someone as esteemed as yourself, Sir.
 
Thank you all for the feedback thus far, please keep it coming!
 
I use them in my 7x57 and they have been very effective. Fallow bucks being the largest deer it has shot
 
We load the similar Barnes 150 TSX in my daughter's 7x57 and it has worked well in Africa and here. I only have one pic here at hand of a recovered bullet from a black bear she shot, but the bullet expanded well and put the bear down with one shot cleanly...

Sav Bear Bullet.jpg

Sav & Bear.jpg
 
Excellent! I'll have to try a box when my rifle arrives. Hopefully it shoots them well.
 
Get on Ammoseek, there is Norma Whitetail 150 gr SP available from several vendors for reasonable prices.

I load 160 gr Nosler Partitions and Swift A Frames and think the 160s are a great all round weight for the 7x57
 
Get on Ammoseek, there is Norma Whitetail 150 gr SP available from several vendors for reasonable prices.

I load 160 gr Nosler Partitions and Swift A Frames and think the 160s are a great all round weight for the 7x57
I saw those as well, that was going to be my alternative.
 
Any feedback on the S&B 173 gr. SPCEs or the Federal 175 gr. Powershoks?
 
Any feedback on the S&B 173 gr. SPCEs or the Federal 175 gr. Powershoks?
I have used them both quite a few times over the years (Sellier & Bellot 173Gr SPCE and Federal 175Gr Power Shok). The bullets encounter jacket-core separation upon striking the heavy shoulder bones of big deer/antelope (such as sambar/red stag/wildebeest). Nevertheless, as long as you avoid heavy bone, you are good to go.

What I dislike about the Federal cartridge, is that chronographed velocity (2317 FPS) is far slower than advertised velocity (2390 FPS).
FB_IMG_1687375155829.jpg
FB_IMG_1687375158512.jpg


If you can, please try getting your hands on some Prvi Partizan 173Gr soft point factory loads. I have had excellent results with them so far. The chronographed velocity (2453 FPS) is almost identical to the advertised velocity (2460 FPS). Bullet construction (despite being unbonded just like the Sellier & Bellot SPCE and the Federal Power Shok) also appears to be somewhat stronger since the projectiles encounter less jacket-core separation and hold together better when being used on big framed game.

This is one of my recovered bullets from an adult Axis stag.
Screenshot_20240410-191705.jpg
Screenshot_20240410-191907.jpg
Screenshot_20240410-191914_01_01.jpg
 
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Again Sir, I appreciate your perspective. I heard that the S&B round had a tendency to separate and that American versions of the 7×57 tended to be underpowered. So far I have had no luck finding the PPU heavy rounds, but I will certainly keep an eye out for them.
 
Any feedback on the S&B 173 gr. SPCEs or the Federal 175 gr. Powershoks?
Imo they really dumb down the velocity on those two to meet low military pressure rifles
Those Norma Whitetail 150 and 156 oryx have a good reputation
The S&B 150 blue tip is still running 2000fps @ 250 meters and be my #1 choice behind the Norma oryx
And I am a huge fan of federal blue box as a general game cartridge in NA
IMG_1008.png
 
Thank you! I'll have to give the Norma Whitetails a try as well.
 
My wife uses exactly these on a 7x57r. No issue so far in red deer, roe, impala, wildebeest or warthog.

I have been using them in a 30-06 on red and roe deer and have absolutely no complaints.

They group well in both rifles
 

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