New Member seeks recommended loads for FN24 Venezuelan to be used in 100yd scoped bench rest. Looking for accuracy of course---don't know where to start with so many bullet wts., etc. Am not long time experienced reloader.
Mauser 7x57 loads
- Thread starter Pete Brunel
- Start date
Re: Mauser 7x57 loads
Congrats on the rifle, the 7x57 is one of my favorite chamberings.
Your rifle should have a 1:8.7 twist rate, so it will stabilize the heavy 175 gr bullets with no problem. I have found that in my 7x57 milsurps, 139/140 and 162 are very flat and do very will in the carbine length barrels. 175 FMJ and hunting rounds do as well, but the BC on the 162 Amax is just awesome.
Now before you go out and buy a bunch of components, you should slug your bore. Unfortunately many of the South American 7x57 have horrible bores. I have some from El Salvador that are true sewer pipes, and slug out to .289. I only shoot cast through those guys if anything. Just that .284 bullets do not do well in a .286 bore, accuracy can be found but it will take forever. you will be lucky with 2 moa.
Anyway, you will find the loading data to be very anemic, as SAAMI has set the limits considering all of the small ring Spanish actions out there.
Nosler has modern loading data for their 175 loads, but usually go by Hodgdons for my loads.
I have used Remmy, Win, and PPU for brass. None better than the other, although you can now buy Norma brass in lots of 20 and 25 from Grafs.
Powder, H4350 and IMR4895(Nosler 175 loads) faired the best.
In my rifle with a 19.5 FN bbl, I found nodes at 45.5 H4350 (139 gr), 44.4 H4350 (162 gr), and 37 IMR4895(175gr)seated to 3.025.
Now of course you should work up from starting loads, as no one knows the condition of your rifle. As a matter of fact,I would buy a set of headspacing guages and check your HS before anything. I picked up a set and found that one of my Brazilians was a no-go. It now hangs on the wall.
This Guy has guages at reasonable prices, you can get the HS guages for the 257 bob as they are made for the 257 Bob and the 7x57, same parent case.
http://www.gunstop.com/Store/Maintenance%20Products/Forster-Products-Inc
Here is a nice article from handloader magazine on the 7x57
http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl252partial.pdf
disclaimer: The loads in this thread are what work in "my" rifle, and are within published guidelines from reputable manufacturers. Always consult published load data before working up loads in "your" rifle. Anyone shooting a milsurp should have the rife inspected by a compliant gunsmith before shooting.
Congrats on the rifle, the 7x57 is one of my favorite chamberings.
Your rifle should have a 1:8.7 twist rate, so it will stabilize the heavy 175 gr bullets with no problem. I have found that in my 7x57 milsurps, 139/140 and 162 are very flat and do very will in the carbine length barrels. 175 FMJ and hunting rounds do as well, but the BC on the 162 Amax is just awesome.
Now before you go out and buy a bunch of components, you should slug your bore. Unfortunately many of the South American 7x57 have horrible bores. I have some from El Salvador that are true sewer pipes, and slug out to .289. I only shoot cast through those guys if anything. Just that .284 bullets do not do well in a .286 bore, accuracy can be found but it will take forever. you will be lucky with 2 moa.
Anyway, you will find the loading data to be very anemic, as SAAMI has set the limits considering all of the small ring Spanish actions out there.
Nosler has modern loading data for their 175 loads, but usually go by Hodgdons for my loads.
I have used Remmy, Win, and PPU for brass. None better than the other, although you can now buy Norma brass in lots of 20 and 25 from Grafs.
Powder, H4350 and IMR4895(Nosler 175 loads) faired the best.
In my rifle with a 19.5 FN bbl, I found nodes at 45.5 H4350 (139 gr), 44.4 H4350 (162 gr), and 37 IMR4895(175gr)seated to 3.025.
Now of course you should work up from starting loads, as no one knows the condition of your rifle. As a matter of fact,I would buy a set of headspacing guages and check your HS before anything. I picked up a set and found that one of my Brazilians was a no-go. It now hangs on the wall.
This Guy has guages at reasonable prices, you can get the HS guages for the 257 bob as they are made for the 257 Bob and the 7x57, same parent case.
http://www.gunstop.com/Store/Maintenance%20Products/Forster-Products-Inc
Here is a nice article from handloader magazine on the 7x57
http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl252partial.pdf
disclaimer: The loads in this thread are what work in "my" rifle, and are within published guidelines from reputable manufacturers. Always consult published load data before working up loads in "your" rifle. Anyone shooting a milsurp should have the rife inspected by a compliant gunsmith before shooting.
