Modern Action 7x57 Load

[roverandbrew]

I am loading for my CZ 550 in 7x57 and want a sanity check on a load I am working up for elk. I loaded a ladder up to the following as my highest load. This load is a couple grains above the Swift manual but in line with a Speer published load. After finalizing my 139 Grain load I have seen no signs of pressure being a bit over published loads.

Powder: 45 Grains H4350
Bullet: 160 Grain Swift A-Frame
Primer: CCI BR-2
Brass: PPU
COL: 3.00

 

[WAB]

Excellent bullet choice. I use IMR 4064 under this bullet for exactly that application. Sorry, but I haven’t used 4350 under this bullet.

 

[John Telford]

I am loading for my CZ 550 in 7x57 and want a sanity check on a load I am working up for elk. I loaded a ladder up to the following as my highest load. This load is a couple grains above the Swift manual but in line with a Speer published load. After finalizing my 139 Grain load I have seen no signs of pressure being a bit over published loads.

Powder: 45 Grains H4350
Bullet: 160 Grain Swift A-Frame
Primer: CCI BR-2
Brass: PPU
COL: 3.00

What speed are you looking for?

 

[roverandbrew]

vicinity 2600

 

[flatwater bill]

I am loading 45 grains IMR 4350 under a 162 grain HSPBT in my 7mm.....seems fine.....good case life. My powder a little faster, your bullet a little harder. 6's. Should be good if you worked up, and no pressure signs. If you can reload the fired cases a few times you solid......2500-2600 depending upon.....etc.................FWB

 

[Sand Rat]

I run 46 gr of H4350 under a 156 gr Norma Oryx. It’s a published John Barsness load and he’s not one to hot rod. I use it in a CZ 550 American, a Ruger No 1 and a Ruger Hawkeye African 275 Rigby. Extremely accurate in all three rifles. Bullet expansion and retention is top notch and it hits whitetail and hogs like a sledgehammer.

 

[Sand Rat]

Pulled out my Big Book of Gun Gack and JB has the following 7X57 160 gr loads. 156 gr Norma Oryx, 160 Barnes TSX, 160 Northfork SP, 160 Nosler Partition and 160 Sierra Gameking all using 46 gr of H4350. The only issue would be if the Swift bullet is grippier than those listed above and would cause higher pressures. All of theses loads ran in the 2717-2773 FPS range. The Oryx being the fastest and the Partition the slowest.

 

[roverandbrew]

I really appreciate that information and definitely need to pick that book up

 

[Sand Rat]

I really appreciate that information and definitely need to pick that book up

Great book full of very valuable information. Gun Gack II and III should arrive this week. III is hot off the press.

 

[flatwater bill]

The loads listed above are interesting and timely to me, as I am about to take a 7X57 on a deer hunt. Accordingly, I fired my load of 45 grains of IMR 4350 under a 162 grainer, 22" bbl, today thru chronograph. The manual lists this load at 2553fps in a 24" bbl. I got 2505 and 2517 for two shots from my 22 incher. I am nowhere near the 2700 foot mark, showing not only that each gun is a law unto itself, but that manuals vary tremendously. Undaunted, I am going to load straight 160 grainers under 46 of H 4350 to see where I end up. If I can't get the velocity up a little, I am going to 140 grainers I think....Thanks for data Sandmn............FWB

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hello,

In a rifle with a standard 30-06 length magazine and normal CIP standard chamber, like a CZ, you can load your 7x57 cartridges at a 3.3", roughly 83.8 or 84 mm OAL. Depending of the bullet shape, of course. I do that from many years ago with my Mauser 7x57 1935 action. This way you can maximize the case capacity to a point that the difference with the 270 Win-280 Rem-7x64 cases (also in a standard length action by the way...), is around 7 grains of powder, even less...So the velocity potencial difference is 50 to 75 feet-second between the 7mm Mauser and those three. I verified this to my satisfaction when I had, and reloaded for, a 7x64 (Mannlicher-Schoenauer GK 60 cm barrel length). I couldn´t get more than 50 to 75 fs with 160 to 177 grs bullets. And I preffer the 7x57 case design!

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Of course, loaded all of them at maximum safe modern pressures.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi,

About the maximum SAFE loads for that possible velocities in the settings described, in my experience loading the 7x57 since 1973, I fully agree with John Barsness proposal: more than give specific loads, is better to aim at velocities goals, using the correct powders for each bullet weight, varying the load itself for the specific rifle.
2850 to 2900 fs with 139 - 145 grs
2800 to 2850 fs with 150 - 154 grs
2700 to 2750 fs with 160 - 162 grs
2600 to 2650 fs with 173 - 177 grs
It is ENTIRELY possible and SAFE to reach these velocities with powders from 4350 for the ligthers and medium weights, to R19-R22 or similar for the heavier ones.

Good luck!

CF

 

[bruce moulds]

as long as your throat is lengthened to suit the longer coal.
bruce.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi Bruce,

In my post I wrote: " In a rifle with a standard 30-06 length magazine and normal CIP standard chamber, like a CZ,...". What means the throat or, better said, lead chamber is long enough and does not need to be lengthened. Anyway, always when handload for a cartridge, a safe bullet groove diameter distance to the lands must be used.

This is the standard CIP for the 7x57, where all cartridge and chamber dimensions can be seen:

https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/tabical-en-page33.pdf

Here, can be seen a distance of 19,2 mm from the end of the neck of the chamber to the begining of the lands.

Best!

CF