Hello, everyone. For years I had always wanted a nice 7X57 sporter. Finally a few years back, I found one. The dealer said it was pre-war..So I am thinking maybe 1930's..perhaps even in the 20's? I asked if I could check bore before I decided to purchase? He said sure..So here I am, threading my way thru a very busy gun show, with cleaning rod & wood case I keep all my gear in. Get some strange looks while am working on gun..To tell the truth I never have seen anyone else do this at a show..but dammed if I will buy without inspecting! Well, as near as I could tell, that bore looked mint! bright and shiney even in grooves right in front of chamber. The action was Mauser...and it was engraved and case-colored. Heavly engraved floor-plate in animal scene. Double-set triggers, German claw-mounts mounted on a full length matted rib, 26" brl. Zeis 4X. Three leaf folding rear on rib. gold bear on ramp front. Fancy horn trigger guard & buttplate with engraved screw heads. Nicely checkered European walnut stock. When I got home, I called a German arms expert & gave him all the information on gun..he wanted me to take action/brl. out to see markings on
underside of brl. That is when I noticed the very professional done glass-bedding. The rifle came from Alsaka so I am pretty sure it had been hunted. The German expert said it was made by Henrich Scherping, 1832 to 1915. I said he lived a good long life...He said..No those were the years he was in business! I said he would have been in his very late 90's..you have to remember, he told me..there was no social security or pensions then..you usually worked right up to the end! Well, as I said before it was pre-war..well it was pre war alright..pre WW1..he probably started on it in late 13' or 1914..and they usually waited until they had several to get them proofed..proof mark was March 1915.
Slugging the bore gave a groove dia. of .288"! Those germans liked to cut those grooves deep to relieve pressure..but not a good thing with cast!..every bullet I had cast, you could see light..lots of light around it, when jammed in throat. I ordered custom moulds from Fred Leeth at Pioneer Products. One a copy of the Lyman 31108 came out at 150gr. The other..a copy of the heavy .30 1905 bullet, came out a bit heavy at 180grs. These are nose-pour, with nice flat nose..which should be good for hunting. I haven,t had a chance to try the 180's, but the 150's are grouping in 1 1/4" at 100yds. with H4895...This little rifle likes HEAVY loads..I am right at start loads for jacketed..and getting absolutly no leading...but a sore shoulder!
I would love to bag a wild boar with this!
