7x57 bullet weight?

[Echo-Gecko]

What in your opinion is the best allround bullet weight for hunting everything in Alberta for a 7x57?

[Dick284]

Anything you’d run in a 7-08, will run in the 7x57.

Not knowing how or where you hunt, makes this a tough call.

I run 139’s and 154’s (Hornady Interlock’s) in my 7x57, conveniently 3” high at 100 with the 139’s nets a dead on zero at 100 with the 154’s. That’s out of a 20” barrel Ruger #1……..



I also have extensive experience with 139 Interlocks in my daughters 7-08, where she’s taken many deer and a cow moose, all with one shot kills.

My personal 7-08 runs 139 LRX’s and I wouldn’t hesitate taking elk or moose with that combo as every deer I’ve taken with the combo were complete pass throughs and devastating.

[Echo-Gecko]

Originally Posted by Dick284

Anything you’d run in a 7-08, will run in the 7x57.

Not knowing how or where you hunt, makes this a tough call.

I run 139’s and 154’s (Hornady Interlock’s) in my 7x57, conveniently 3” high at 100 with the 139’s nets a dead on zero at 100 with the 154’s. That’s out of a 20” barrel Ruger #1……..



I also have extensive experience with 139 Interlocks in my daughters 7-08, where she’s taken many deer and a cow moose, all with one shot kills.

My personal 7-08 runs 139 LRX’s and I wouldn’t hesitate taking elk or moose with that combo as every deer I’ve taken with the combo were complete pass throughs and devastating.

I’m only getting 2650fps with 139’s
But I’m getting 2550fps with 162gr interlock.
I’ve never really used anything other than 139gr/140gr but I was thinking that the 162 may be a better option. Seems like at 2650 vs 2550 the 162gr bullet performs a bit better than the 139?

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Echo-Gecko

I’m only getting 2650fps with 139’s
But I’m getting 2550fps with 162gr interlock.
I’ve never really used anything other than 139gr/140gr but I was thinking that the 162 may be a better option. Seems like at 2650 vs 2550 the 162gr bullet performs a bit better than the 139?

The daughters 7-08 runs 2660fps with 139’s and she’s not left wanting for on game performance.

I’m not sure what “performance” you are seeking or seeing, when you say the 162’s perform better, can you explain?

If it makes you happy, then go with it….. plain and simple.

[catnthehat]

When I shot silhouette, my hunter class gun was a 1A Ruger in 7x57 that I also hunted with.
Back then I was a Game King guy, 160's for everything. and it was an incredibly accurate rifle out to 500 metres with them.
My Ruger RSI is also a great little rifle, however I no longer own it.. I shot lots of different bullets in it but still liked the 160 Game Kings.
Cat

[Pathfinder76]

2850 with 140’s should be a cake walk. This 7x57 and 140 Accubonds accounted for plenty of game at that velocity. This one at 330 yards.

[Echo-Gecko]

Originally Posted by Dick284

The daughters 7-08 runs 2660fps with 139’s and she’s not left wanting for on game performance.

I’m not sure what “performance” you are seeking or seeing, when you say the 162’s perform better, can you explain?

If it makes you happy, then go with it….. plain and simple.

I ran a 139gr interlock at 2660 into a ballistics calculator and did the same for a 162gr.
Out to 300 yards they are about the same, although the 162gr has a little more energy 1300ft/lbs vs 1500ft/lbs.
I’m not ever going to be shooting game past +- 300 yards.
And can’t help wondering if I won’t be better off shooting a heavy bullet.

[Echo-Gecko]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

When I shot silhouette, my hunter class gun was a 1A Ruger in 7x57 that I also hunted with.
Back then I was a Game King guy, 160's for everything. and it was an incredibly accurate rifle out to 500 metres with them.
My Ruger RSI is also a great little rifle, however I no longer own it.. I shot lots of different bullets in it but still liked the 160 Game Kings.
Cat

Thanks Cat,
I’ve been shooting a 7x57 of some sort for many years, always used 140-154gr bullets but never really tried the heavier bullets.
Do you feel that there is a real world benefit to shooting a 160gr over a 140gr or vice versa?
For hunting out to around 300yards?

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Echo-Gecko

I ran a 139gr interlock at 2660 into a ballistics calculator and did the same for a 162gr.
Out to 300 yards they are about the same, although the 162gr has a little more energy 1300ft/lbs vs 1500ft/lbs.
I’m not ever going to be shooting game past +- 300 yards.
And can’t help wondering if I won’t be better off shooting a heavy bullet.

6 one way, half a dozen the other, type of situation.

I’d wager that any critter wouldn’t know the difference.

Sounds like a Keith vs O’Conner debate, which in the end is just debating for the sake of having a debate.

[Echo-Gecko]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

2850 with 140’s should be a cake walk. This 7x57 and 140 Accubonds accounted for plenty of game at that velocity. This one at 330 yards.

Nice buck that!
I can get 2850fps with various 140’s out of my rifle with no pressure signs.
But the accuracy definitely goes to hell.

I’ve tried a number of bullet and powder combos now.
It seems like my rifle will shoot various 140’s accurately between 2650-2540fps
Depending on the powder I use.

150’s around 2550fps
And 160’s around 2550.

That’s just the loads I’ve found to be accurate so far.
Given that velocity difference between 140’s and 160’s in my rifle is only 100fps,
I wonder if there is a benefit to shooting heavy bullets.

[Echo-Gecko]

Originally Posted by Dick284

6 one way, half a dozen the other, type of situation.

I’d wager that any critter wouldn’t know the difference.

Sounds like a Keith vs O’Conner debate, which in the end is just debating for the sake of having a debate.

Haha well put, I think you’re right, maybe I should stop overthinking this, pick one and just be happy with it.

[fordtruckin]

Pick the bullet you can find. Accubonds are difficult even though I love them. I have a stock for my 308 but this last rush on components almost had me switch over to hornady since that seemed to be the only thing you could find. For my hunting needs I do think a regular interlock or even Corelokt would be more than adequate.

[Pioneer2]

I used 49gr -Win 760/Fed mag primer /win brass one ragged hole
50gr -RE#22/same brass + primer 160gr Speer Grand Slam one ragged hole.
All out of a small ring mauser BRNO21H velocities unknown.Use at own risk.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Echo-Gecko

Thanks Cat,
I’ve been shooting a 7x57 of some sort for many years, always used 140-154gr bullets but never really tried the heavier bullets.
Do you feel that there is a real world benefit to shooting a 160gr over a 140gr or vice versa?
For hunting out to around 300yards?

I really can't say, I used tge 160 because it tipped over the 500 meter rams reliably, I hunted with them .
I never did kill a deer at that distance using the 7x57 though.
The 140 range is probably a better all around hunting weight as far as accuracy, recoil, and killing goes .
Cat

[Dean2]

Horn 139 Grain BT and FB SP point. Good speed, kill deer and bear well. Only shot two moose and one elk with the 7x57 but the bullet worked fine. In the 7 Rem Mag I used 175s for moose and elk, 162 grain BTHP match for deer, but I prefer the lighter bullets in the 7x57, 7x57R and the 7-08, for more speed and they were always very accurate at max velocity. All three of those have very close ballistic performance.

[oldgutpile]

Been a few years since I've had mine out hunting, but as I recall, I used 175 gr. bullets. Mine is an older Brno 21 and the twist liked the heavier bullets.
I've always been an advocate for heavy for caliber anyways, so it suited me well. The last year out, I shot a couple of deer and a cow moose with it, all at slightly over the two hundred yard mark.

[WinFwt]

139 gr. Hornady Interlock. Been shooting them out of my Winchester Model 70 XTR Featherweight for the last 42 years.
Always performed excellent on any of the deer I've shot with it. Would not hesitate to use on moose or elk.
Getting 2663 fps with the load I'm using. 49grs of IMR 4350. Thought I might play around with some other powders and load combos this year just for s&g's.

[southernman]

I run 160-162 gr in both my M70, but am pushing them fairly hard to 2650,
I have a 7x57R rifle and shoot 150-154 gr to 2600,
I have had a good run for a few decades with the 7mm mauser, taken plenty deer, thar etc to out to 500m, A nicely balanced cartridge.

[fps plus]

At one time the 7x57 was thraoted for round nose 175 bullets

[saskbooknut]

Another fan of 139 grain Hornady Interloc for my wife's 7x57 Ruger. She was never going to take overly long or uncertain shots, so 1 shot was always enough.

[huntingfamily]

My wife shot one moose, and I shot another with her Win 70 7x57. Both happened to be reloads with the 160gr Speer Grand Slam bullet.
For an all round bullet in 7x57, I'd choose a 150-160 gr bullet. 175's would likely work well also, depending on distance to target.
We've always kept shots under 200 yards.

[Echo-Gecko]

139 interlock, seems like that’s the one to stick with

[Steelhorse Cowboy]

Used to able to buy Federal 140 partitions and they punched through all things.

I hand load the 150 Partitions now. 140 Accubonds are deadly too.
About the same price.