[vikram]

Gentlemen,

Could you please tell me about the field performance of the 7X57 Mauser.The max size of the game it can take, the max range etc.Also, how does it compare against the .270 or 30/06?Any advantages or disadvantages?All info is greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance.

Best-
Vikram

 

[huntswithdogs]

If I remember correctly, ther was one of the "elephant hunters" that used this caliber almost exclusively. Not that I'd attempt such a feat, but it's been done.

I know only a few folks that shoot anything chambered for this round. These rifles are either sporterized Mausers or Ruger#1s. They use them for all of their hunting needs,which is usually whitetail deer. I think the 8mm Mauser closely matches a 30/06, but the 7x57 is a little slower than a 270.

This is one of the old, underappreciated, cartridges like the 6.5x55, at least here in the US. For some strange reason, with a few exceptions like the 7mm Mag, metric cartridges just never did much over here.


HWD

 

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

Hunts pretty well covered it. the 7x57 is not popular in America. I have never owned one. Have shot a a couple. Various companies have chambered for the round here. It can be loaded I think to about 2850 fps. with a 140 grain bullet. I am sure for deer, etc. it would be a fine round to 300 yards. It is usually loaded from the factory with a 175 grain round nose bullet at low speed. I think this may accout for its low popularity here. Plus the ,270 hit the market in the 1920's with a much fast bullet so it over shadowed the little 7mm. Bell did kill over 1,000 elephants with this round, BUT one must also remember Bell was a poacher!!!! He killed elephants for $. 7 mm ammo was inexpensive, and I have heard and read where Bell hated big bore rifles because at one time he had a job regulating them in England. It was also said, if he would have used big bore rifles on elephant he would have lived longer because he had to run sooooo hard after the elephants to get that perfect shot. I have often wondered how many he shot an lost????????? That is something the poachers I have know never seem to want to talk much about

 

[shooter93]

It's a superalitive round. It has minimal recoil, makes a fine light weight rifle and will shoot with the best of them. Range????....how far do you want to shoot? Distance is a matter of elevation adjustment and is computable. The trick in hunting is know the true distance which precious few people can do with good enough accuracy. I shoot the bigger bullets in both it and the 6.5/55 and can zero them somewhere around 3 inches high at 100 yds. and stay in the kill zone out to 255 yds or so and that is a very long practical hunting shot. What made both those cartridges great was the big bullets. They have high sectional density which in real life terms is penetration which translates to excellent game taking rounds

 

[uglydog]

As loaded in the U.S., the 7x57 is comparable to the 7mm/08 and one most frequently sees them both loaded with 140 gr bullets. Here, liability and the large number of older and weaker actions like some of the early Mausers limit the pressures the manufacturers will load to. It is mainly a deer sized game cartridge but with many of the bullets out there, it will take game the size of elk, moose, and black bear if one picks their shots carefully. I wouldn't carry one for a trophy bull hunt but to fill the freezer with a cow or spike, I might give it a try.
Norma produces some hotter loads which will push the 7x57 past the 7mm/08 and bring it closer to the factory 280 Remington with 160 gr or lighter bullets. Many handloads will do the same thing with the same weight bullets. I have a 7mm/08 and a 7x57R both of which I think fairly highly of. I wouldn't have a problem using them for all my hunting in the lower 48 U.S. states if I had to but given the choice, I would want something a little bigger for animals larger than 400-500 pounds.

D.W.M. Bell did shoot several hundred elephants with the 7x57 using 175 gr FMJ bullets (he also used the 303 Enfield, 256 Mannlicher, and 8x57 as well as some larger bores) but he was by far the exception rather than the rule. He had the phenomenal ability and/or luck to place bullets in exactly the right place nearly every time. Bell was not shy about keeping track of his successes and failures which showed he had few wounded animals of any kind escape considering how many he shot. Those who tried to emulate him with the small calibers almost invariably switched back to more appropriate weapons if the elephants gave them the opportunity. Many were killed due to Bell's success, something that is reported even less than Bell's lost cripples. Bell was not a poacher in the sense of today, even though he regularly crossed from English territories into those claimed by other nations which some would concider tresspass. This was mostly done with the knowledge of the British authorities who mostly turned a blind eye to the practice as they did not mind the income from the sale of the ivory; in essence he was very much a privateer like Francis Drake of an earlier time. It also helped him that the other surrounding nations/territories were doing the same thing so turn about is fair play. I would say that Bell's "exercise" chasing elephants kept him alive as long as he did, I think he was 87 when he finally passed away in Scotland.

 

[vikram]

Thanks very much for your replies gentlemen.They are very helpful.Coming from the colonies (LOL) I was familiar with the name .275 Rigby but not 7x57.

Walter "Karamazo" Bell, I read used to shoot the biggest elephant in the herd, then jump on the fallen beast and start shooting.Takes some you know what or lack of them.I also read that he used to place the bellets at a place behind the ear where the entry into the brain was the easiest.Correct me if I am wrong.Take care.

Best-
Vikram

 

[uglydog]

That jumping up onto the body of a fallen elephant was a "stunt" he did but more often he just continued to follow the elephants as they fed and traveled. One story I read was he shot a 9 bull herd over a distance of a guessed 15 miles which ended with the last bull falling within sight of the first. In the open areas of where many elephants were found, the use of small caliber guns was more possible. In the very tight quarters of thick cover where, upon discovery, it was quite possible to face a charge, the use of small caliber guns was found greatly wanting.
Bell was also the only one who has been able to consistently place the rear brain shot on an elephant with any type of gun. It may have been the easiest path but it appears to be the hardest to place shot.
Over here the 7x57 or 7mm Mauser are the normal designations for this cartridge. If it weren't for the writings of Jim Corbett I would not have recognized the English designation myself. We had the same problem over here too, there were a number of chamberings brought out by one company and were renamed when competitors chambered the same cartridges.

 

[luv2safari]

The 7X57 will do all a 270 will, and maybe just a tad more, as one can shoot 173-175gr bullets in the 7X57. I have had many combo guns in 7X57R, a somewhat milder loading, and have two in 7X57 presently. One of my favorite rifles is a TACK-DRIVIN SOB!! It is a Husqvarna HVA , re-chambered fron 7X57 to 7X57 Ackley. It is a "Wonder Rifle" and shoots through the same hole, shot after shot.

I never would have bought this rifle, had it not been for a friend who owns a pawn shop offering it to me at a steal price. I got it for 2 "C" notes, out the door, Brady, tax, and all. :shock: But it got better. The gun was scoped with a 3X9 Leupold in Redfield Jr mounts. I couldn't turn it down, needless to say. :wink: I had a Win Mdl 70 XTR FW that had been re-chambered by Vern Juenke from 7X57 to 7X57 ICL Tortilla...same as the Ackley, but with a 45 degree shoulder, instead of the 40 in the Ackley. I used this set to neck size some factory 7X57 ammo I fire-formed and made up a load similar to that in the ICL. I shot a 100 yard 5 shot group that measured right at 3/4", and that was over the hood of the truck on pillows.

There isn't one variety of 7X57 or "cat" that I don't like, and I have killed some pretty big critters with the 7X57 Akl, including a 2,100 pound eland.

 

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

:wink: Uglydog, That was some interesting information on Bell. I did know he retired to Scotland, but my information had him dying much earlier, but it is from memory as I am in Az. and do not have my books in front of me. Your comments on the view of poaching by the British was also interesting. I have another question for you or anyone out there about these cartridges. The 7-08 and 7x57. I do not have any loading stuff with me, and would like to know if it would be possible to recamber a 7-08 barrel to 7x57. My guts tell me yes, but before i look for an action at the gunshow in Tuscon, I sort of want an idea if this is possible. thanks.wch :wink:

 

[bzerance]

Recap bering a barrel from 7mm08 to 7x57 you'll hafta cut off a bit as 708 shoulder is larger diameter, remington and others barrel 7mm08 in short actions for 308 length. 2.85 or thereabouts. The 7x57 is n allways was a 3inches long cartridge. If you chamber for the Ackley improved ya could do it, but the mag box length will need addressed. Personally the 6.5x55 , 6.5x54, 7x57, 9x57 all are great reliable cartridges. I've used all on various game. Only ever wanting for more time using them. Some on original mausers, some in origional mannlichers.. all still ready to do their job efficiently, effectively, and with mannerly. Recoil. Best reguards.