What Have You Killed with the 7x57

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Nice trophy and cool picture.
Witold

 

[cpr0312]

Lots of fine trophies in this thread! Congrats to all

 

[Southern Cross]

As someone who lives and hunts in Africa, I would recommend you use a suitable bullet (Barnes Nosler Partition, Norma) between 150 - 160 gr. I have used these bullets on game up to Eland since 1982.
Bring your Rigby and enjoy the hunt!
Kind regards

 

[Milan]

I've only a very limited experience, but I'm working on it! I have killed game with my Brno 22F carbine, a Ruger #1a and A Merkel O/U combo ( BBF) in the rimmed version.. Moose. Wolf, Coyote, Whitetail, and Mule deer. Deer were taken with Remington 140's and moose and coyote with Norma 175's, and Wolf with a S&B 175, all standard cup & core factory loads. Ranges from 14 yards to over 250. I think I should at least add a Warthog and Kudu to my list!

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I love that 22f! Nice trophies too.

 

[vette447]

Lots of great info added here in the last several days. Thanks to all! Looks like I need to place an order for some additional Nosler Partition loads and keep practicing.

 

[benchracer]

Lots of great info added here in the last several days. Thanks to all! Looks like I need to place an order for some additional Nosler Partition loads and keep practicing.

The good old 7x57 is a cartridge that benefits more than most from handloading. Especially if there is an intent to practice a lot in order to master your rifle, loading your own makes sense.

I purchased my Ruger #1 specifically with Africa in mind. I, too, opted for Nosler Partitions after researching the subject. My 7x57 launches 160 grain Nosler Partitions @ 2700 fps from a 22" barrel, with very good accuracy and mild pressures.

Life has gotten in the way of my plans to hunt Africa and interfered with my even getting into the deer woods Stateside, so I cannot yet speak of terminal performance, though I consider terminal performance of the 160 Partition @ 2700 to be pretty much a foregone conclusion on any game remotely appropriate to the cartridge.

When I am not trying to use the Partition to punch above the 7's weight class, or expecting close range shots, I have found I can substitute a 168 Berger Classic Hunter over the same powder charge, loaded to the same OAL, with the same results in terms of velocity and accuracy. I plan to use that bullet for thin-skinned game and/or more open territory.

 

[JES Adventures]

I've shot a few critters with my Winchester Jaeger O/U rifle in 7x57 using 170 gr RN, all one shot kills. Pere David deer taken in Texas

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Nice trophy JES Adventures. Congrats.
Witold.

 

[Michael Dean]

I've got three 7-57 Mausers. A Ruger Number 1, an original German 98 with the Mannlicher stock and double set triggers and a converted 98 that I inherited. I've probably shot a truckload of whitetails with the 7-57. For most of my shooting I've used 140 grain bullets.

 

[rookhawk]

Anyone try the 195gr Berger in 7x57 yet? Any load data? Very interested as a 195gr with such a remarkable BC would open the gun up to more opportunities. I think the BC was around .750-.800!

 

[benchracer]

Anyone try the 195gr Berger in 7x57 yet? Any load data? Very interested as a 195gr with such a remarkable BC would open the gun up to more opportunities. I think the BC was around .750-.800!

You really need more case capacity and, at least, a 24" barrel for a bullet like that to offer any advantage.

If you load that bullet in a 7x57, at modern pressures, in the right action, you will max out around 2550 or so. Unless you have a custom barrel with an 8 twist, the bc will be somewhat degraded. Any potential gains over a 168 Berger with a .600 bc won't be realized until well beyond your effective hunting range.

 

[JES Adventures]

Nice trophy JES Adventures. Congrats.
Witold.

Thanks Witold.

 

[lofty]

My 7x57 is still new but it's going out after Fallow deer in a week. My load for that is a Hornady 139gn SST with CCI primer and Norma brass. Powder is 51gn RL19. Nice accurate load. I've also tried 160 grain Woodleigh bullets. Great accuracy but have nothing to shoot at the moment that they would be needed for.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi lofty,

Very nice rifle! Is it a Zastava? If it is, did you work with the factory wood, refining it?
Thank you and enjoy your 7x57!

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Beautiful rifle lofty. Congrats.
Witold

 

[KCSafari]

As everyone has said a 7x57 is the bread and butter of African Safaris. Good penetration, heavy bullets and a history behind the rifle and caliber is what makes it so grand. I have been shooting mostly PMP or Federal bullets with it 170g+ but have never had any problems with the 200+ animals I've hunted with it in Africa. I have a Bruno zkk 602

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

As everyone has said a 7x57 is the bread and butter of African Safaris. Good penetration, heavy bullets and a history behind the rifle and caliber is what makes it so grand. I have been shooting mostly PMP or Federal bullets with it 170g+ but have never had any problems with the 200+ animals I've hunted with it in Africa. I have a Bruno zkk 602

I use ZKK600 in 7 x 57 .
Witold

 

[lofty]

Hi Clodo, yes the barrel and action are from Zastava, but I hated the original stock so bought one in the rough from a stockmaker here in Australia. I finished it with about 7 coats of Tru Oil, and finished the inletting. Then I checkered it myself. I put the Pachmayr recoil pad on more for length of pull than for the rocoil.

 

[Milan]

I've only a very limited experience, but I'm working on it! I have killed game with my Brno 22F carbine, a Ruger #1a and A Merkel O/U combo ( BBF) in the rimmed version.. Moose. Wolf, Coyote, Whitetail, and Mule deer. Deer were taken with Remington 140's and moose and coyote with Norma 175's, and Wolf with a S&B 175, all standard cup & core factory loads. Ranges from 14 yards to over 250. I think I should at least add a Warthog and Kudu to my list!

I love the 22f. still looking for a mint one with Optikotechna claw mounts. I have a 21H that I just finally put a scope on so plan on taking it hunting this fall.

 

[IvW]

I have shot most plains game with my 1948 Brno spoon handle using 170gr Rhino bullets.

These include Sable, Eland, Blue and Black Wildebeest, Gemsbuck, Waterbuck, Kudu, Zebra, Crocodile, Leopard, Bushpig, Bushbuck, Crocodile and all the small ones.

It will once again accompany me to the bush on our next meat hunt in 2 weeks time(my daughter is after a kudu cow).

Great caliber with the right bullets, it kills more effectively than what it's paper ballistics could ever show.