Author Topic: 7x57R and 7x65R...hand loading? (Read 4112 times)

kombi1976 · « **on:** December 09, 2005, 10:30:26 PM »

Does anyone load either of these rimmed cartridges for their drillings or combo guns?
I've asked on the reloading forum but no one seems to have have any idea aside of paper capabilities and published maximum loads.
The other problem of course is that all of the factory loads are for heavy bullets.
I'm seriously considering them as possibilities for a Martini Enfield custom as Martini really work best with rimmed cartridges.
You can make 'em extract rimless but it's fiddly and pointless.
Besides, with a Martini I should be able to load it a bit hotter than those recommended for break open guns, if not up to the performance of the 7x57 or 7x64.
Anyhow, I'm wondering what these babies can do.
Any hints?

Drilling Man · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2005, 11:15:25 AM »

I have a 7x65R double rifle, and i have a load that i use in it, that is "amazingly" accurate, but that doesn't mean it will be in your rifle...

It's not a max load in my rifle, but i have no idea about yours, so i'm not suggesting you use this load! I hate to suggest loads to anyone for this reason, but this round doesn't have a lot of published data, so here goes.....

New RWS cases
CCI200 primer
150 grain Nosler solid base bullet
46.0 of WW760
AOL 3.330"

This load in my rifle will keep 5 shots in 1/2" to 3/4" groups at 100 yards.

Drilling Man

kombi1976 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2005, 12:32:51 PM »

I totally understand your feeling about suggesting loads, D.Man.
But I haven't been able to find info on it anywhere.
What sort of MV does this load have and what's the barrel length to obtain these?
Did you find it worth trying 140gn bullets to get a flatter trajectory?
If I build this Martini Custom it will have a 21" barrel and be a stalking rifle, more like a carbine, and quite light in the hands.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2005, 05:16:31 AM »

The bbls on my double are 23.5" long. The above load is about 2,475 fps out of my bbl.

As for going to 140 grain bullets, it all depends on what they will be used for? For smaller animials, then yes they will work and give you move velocity.

"If" you just want a flatter shooting bullet, then one of the 145 boat tails will fill that, and still be pretty good on deer sized animials. I use 145 Speer BT's in my 7 express Rem. (280 Rem.) and i've taken caribou, blk and white tailed deer ect.. with them. I think they are a bit soft, but work quite well with rib shots....

150 grain bullets in a 7mm are a good all around weight for most hunting of blk bears and deer sized game...

Drilling Man

sharps4590 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2005, 12:41:23 AM »

kombi....I have an Inman Meffert Drilling that the rifle is 7 X 57R and I finally got a load to shoot to the sights. I had to use a 160 gr. bullet to achieve the desired results and my powder was IMR 4064 but I don't recall the charge. I'll look it up after work if you're interested. It was accurate enough in my driling. I never could get a 140 gr. bullet close to the sights. Of course if your Martini has adjustable sights my point is moot. I only worked with one Martini-Henry and that was several years ago.

Vic

kombi1976 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2005, 02:50:15 AM »

As it happens, Vic, I will be fitting adjustable sights to the Martini, probably in the form of a scope or perhaps some sort of aperture sight, if it makes it off the drawing board.
Sounds like doubles and drillings are fiddly to load for.
BTW, have you guys ever used Privi Partrizan cases or come across them?
I understand the stuff is made in the Czech Republic.
The ammo and components are sold here in Australia under the brand Highland Ammo and are quite economical.
They're also no less accurate than Remington, Winchester or PMC standard ammo or at least have been in my mate's 6.5x55 and in other friends rifles.

Sir Charles deMoutonBlack · « **Reply #6 on:** April 06, 2006, 03:53:53 PM »

I, my son & a brother all have Brno 304 Combinations. Good, practical field guns. For my own, I use 4831 starting loads for 7 x 57 from a reliable manual. I don't crank it, and use Norma 175 gr bullets to get some mass, and for the .283 diameter, hopefully keeping the pressures reasonable. If you have Norma components, their manuals list loads for both 7 x 57R and 7 x 65R

My small game load is a lee 145 gr cast bullet ,wrapped in Teflon Gasfitters tape, over about 7 to 11 grains of Unique, Herco, or Universal. I top the powder with a pinch of teddy bear guts (dacron). Other powders in the same relative quickness range can also be tried. To save my 7 x 57R cases, I use .303 Brit cases, fireformed on the first loading. They get a bit pregnant looking, and you have to avoid case separations if `the brass was used in a loosy goosey Lee- Enfield. 30-40 Krag might be a better choice of case.

Don't use .303's or Krag cases in full power loads. I have heard of using .444 Marlin cases, but the ones I tried sized OK to 8 x 57R, but wrinkled on the next step. Maybe some annealing?

Waidmanns Heil

BillK · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2006, 04:17:31 AM »

Hi. I've got a drilling in 7x57R. Factory S&B 139 Gr. loads shoot to the sights and group well. Velocity is 2660. I've tried 2 loads using Hornady 140 Gr. They were upper level loads usin 2 different powders H4831 and Varget. I used data for the 7x57. The velocities for both loads were much lower than published, about 2300. I will work more with the Varget when I get time.