160gr North Fork Bonded Core in 7x57

[PHOENIX PHIL]

So last summer I bought a M70 Lightweight Super Grade from @Deep Six here on AH. As it was in the heat of the summer time, I didn't get out until a few months later to the range with it. Initial results for accuracy were okay, not great, but okay. But as I've done so many times before I handed of the rifle to my gunsmith for his accuracy package (float the barrel, bed it and set the trigger weight at about 3#).

So today after a couple of light loads to take me from starting load to about where I'd expect to start homing in on a load for the rifle. I have found with North Forks that using the Nosler online load information is a very good start. Typically when Nosler specifies a powder to be the most accurate in a particular caliber and bullet weight, it holds true in my experience. And this feeds over to the North Forks typically.

As it turns out, yet again, IMR 4350 looks to be the go to powder. And it looks like it will be very forgiving. I have just started earnestly on load development, but already this looks very promising. And the loading seems also very forgiving. The load with results in pic below was the smallest charge. The next two loads were increased by 0.5gr and 1.0gr from the starter. Those two loads resulted in groups that were only slightly bigger, like 1/8th of an inch.

The bullets were seated to SAAMI length of 3.065" COAL. I haven't yet started to try and play with seating depths to either improve accuracy or increase velocity. I will give that a go next, but I'd be happy if this is as good as it gets. The squares are 1" btw.

@rookhawk, hopefully this will give you a place to start with the NFs.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi PP,

Great!! Why would you want groups smaller than this for a hunting 7 mm Mauser...? Get out from the bench and start to practice from hunting or "field" positions. Sight in the rifle 2 or 3 inches high at 100 yards (or meters), put 4 inches bullseyes at 100, 200 and 300 yards (or meters) and go practice!

Good luck!

CF

 

[spike.t]

So last summer I bought a M70 Lightweight Super Grade from @Deep Six here on AH. As it was in the heat of the summer time, I didn't get out until a few months later to the range with it. Initial results for accuracy were okay, not great, but okay. But as I've done so many times before I handed of the rifle to my gunsmith for his accuracy package (float the barrel, bed it and set the trigger weight at about 3#).

So today after a couple of light loads to take me from starting load to about where I'd expect to start homing in on a load for the rifle. I have found with North Forks that using the Nosler online load information is a very good start. Typically when Nosler specifies a powder to be the most accurate in a particular caliber and bullet weight, it holds true in my experience. And this feeds over to the North Forks typically.

As it turns out, yet again, IMR 4350 looks to be the go to powder. And it looks like it will be very forgiving. I have just started earnestly on load development, but already this looks very promising. And the loading seems also very forgiving. The load with results in pic below was the smallest charge. The next two loads were increased by 0.5gr and 1.0gr from the starter. Those two loads resulted in groups that were only slightly bigger, like 1/8th of an inch.

The bullets were seated to SAAMI length of 3.065" COAL. I haven't yet started to try and play with seating depths to either improve accuracy or increase velocity. I will give that a go next, but I'd be happy if this is as good as it gets. The squares are 1" btw.

@rookhawk, hopefully this will give you a place to start with the NFs.

View attachment 673398

Phil...why aren't they all in the little red square?.....asking for a friend....

 

[meigsbucks]

Looks like you’re ready to go hunting.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Hi PP,

Great!! Why would you want groups smaller than this for a hunting 7 mm Mauser...? Get out from the bench and start to practice from hunting or "field" positions. Sight in the rifle 2 or 3 inches high at 100 yards (or meters), put 4 inches bullseyes at 100, 200 and 300 yards (or meters) and go practice!

Good luck!

CF

As stated I'd be happy if that's as good as it gets. But to answer your question, I'm an engineer and hand loading is something of an engineering challenge, so if I think I can do better, I'll try. It could be argued its evidence of obsessive compulsive disorder....

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Phil...why aren't they all in the little red square?.....asking for a friend....

I haven't figured out the damn scope yet.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi PP,

I am also an engineer! I understand your concern! I don't know if you have checked the distance to the lands in your rifle. In my Mauser with its European barrel long freebore, plus the magazine lenght, I can load the 160 grs bullets very long, 3.25" OAL, even more, and still leaving 1 mm, aprox. .4" freebore. Agree with you about "play with seating depths to either improve accuracy or increase velocity." Loaded that way and with modern pressures, in my rifle I get velocities very close to the 7x64 I had. And excelent accuracy.

Good luck!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Hi PP,

I am also an engineer! I understand your concern! I don't know if you have checked the distance to the lands in your rifle. In my Mauser with its European barrel long freebore, plus the magazine lenght, I can load the 160 grs bullets very long, 3.25" OAL, even more, and still leaving 1 mm, aprox. .4" freebore. Agree with you about "play with seating depths to either improve accuracy or increase velocity." Loaded that way and with modern pressures, in my rifle I get velocities very close to the 7x64 I had. And excelent accuracy.

Good luck!

That's next. The results above were the first trip to the range after having he barrel floated and the action bedded. I'll be working seating depth this weekend.