7mm Mauser recommendations...

[Sooter76]

So I have a 1912 Steyr Mauser in its original 7x57mm chambering coming in a few days. This will be the first 7mm Mauser rifle I've owned or shot. Can anyone recommend bullet weight these rifles like?

Thanks.

 

[RTH1800]

Most of those older 7MM Mausers were chambered and throated for the 175 Grain RN bullet. Most will shoot the 140 grain and up bullets with fair accuracy but need to load them all out to max length to reduce the long jump to throat.
I have a few hundred rounds of the older ammo if you need any let me know.
Thanks,
RTH

 

[sandwarrior]

Sooter, with the tighter twist in these old barrels, they will stabilize any of the newer VLD type bullets. They normally have a 1-8.66" (1-220mm) twist. Some had a 1-8.44" twist, but I forget which ones. That is enough twist to stabilize heavy VLD bullets.

Added: I also recommend not pushing the 7mm as hard as you can with pressure. We have slower powders today and long barrels to get good velocity. H4831, H1000, RE-19, RE-22 speeds.

 

[RTH1800]

This is correct but those VLD’s will be making quite a jump.

 

[sandwarrior]

This is correct but those VLD’s will be making quite a jump.

They do make a big jump. Depending on throat condition though, they can be shot quite well...or not

Sooter,
rth 1800 has a good point. I would say try a box and see. If one high BC type bullet won't work, don't waste too much money trying others. The tangent or hybrid are probably going to work better to make the jump than a secant ogive type, i.e. Sierra and Berger Hybrid vs. older Hornady 162's and Berger VLD's. Newer Hornady ELD's have more of a hybrid ogive and might work. Not to say VLD's and older Hornady 162's won't work, just the tangent might work better for you.

All that said, if you never plan on shooting long range with it, high BC bullets aren't an issue (again to rth 1800's point). Don't waste any money on them unless you plan on stretching it out. Otherwise, all the older Sierra, Nosler, Speer, etc. with a tangent type shorter ogive, or round nose will work.

 

[scatterbrains]

Ive had good results with 162bthp Hornady and 4064, next I want to try 100v.


139btsp hammer in my fn49 argie

 

[fdkay]

One of the greatest cartridges ever designed.

 

[Sooter76]

I finally found some local... Remington 140gr. I'll see how that shoots and go from there. At most I might push this rifle out to 300 yards so I'm not super concerned about extreme accuracy with it. That of course may change after I see what it does at the range. But for now I think it'll be like my Garand, where I select a bullet weight and find a decently accurate load for it. I don't plan on doing competitions with this rifle but it might see some deer hunting.

 

[ZG47A]

I would expect a 1912 Steyr Mauser to be set up for the 1908? Spanish load, i.e. the high-speed spitzer load. That is one of the reasons why these rifles have traditionally been prized, here in New Zealand, as the basis for a hunting rifle.

 

[fdkay]

I finally found some local... Remington 140gr. I'll see how that shoots and go from there. At most I might push this rifle out to 300 yards so I'm not super concerned about extreme accuracy with it. That of course may change after I see what it does at the range. But for now I think it'll be like my Garand, where I select a bullet weight and find a decently accurate load for it. I don't plan on doing competitions with this rifle but it might see some deer hunting.

US ammo is loaded very low pressure and low velocity.
My Chilean mauser shot the 140-145 class very well.
Years ago, you could get 139 grain ammo loaded by FN that was quite hot and VERY accurate.