7 mm Mauser for Elk

[azcoyhunter]

I am "hopefully" going to go Elk hunting next fall.

I have a 7mm Mauser that I want to use.

I have only "J-WORD" bullets right now.

Any suggestions out there?

:castmine:

[Dan Cash]

Put a 175 grain soft point on top of a suitable dose of Reloader 15 or similar and shoot the elk. It will fall down if you do your part.

[MtGun44]

Two excellent loads.

1 - 175 Horn RN over max book load IMR4831. This load has killed a lot of
game, a friend took this in Ruger 7x57 to Africa, killed all 7 of the
plains game with one shot only, all DRT. She was talk of the camp each
night as the .338 WinMag crowd was having to shoot stuff twice and the
"little" 7x57 with my handload dropped them with one shot. Most exited, only
recovered two bullets, perfect mushrooms and deep penetration.

2 - 160 Partition over max load W760, excellent accy, excellent killing power. I killed a
lg cow elk, shoulder shot angling slightly fwd. Ran about 25 yds then fell down a steep hillside.
Bullet exited, huge amounts of blood from mouth at each whump as she fell down the hill.
Exact same results on frontal shot on large male kudu, exited a gemsbok on double shoulder
shot, dropped a blesbok (size of small whitetail) in his tracks with spine shot. Great load.

Unless you are shooting an old Rem RB, or old 1893-1895 Mauser, you can work up to 7mm-08
data. 7x57 case is larger volume than 7-08, so pressures will be lower. For the heavy bullets,
even more so as they impinge on the powder volume in the 7-08, MUCH less so in 7x57. Only
safe in the modern rifles and new modern brass and very slow powders.

I get 2400fps for the 175 RN and 2650 for the 160 NP, brass life is unlimited, but I load for a
Ruger 77 with spitzers seated way out due to HUGE long throat. Use the book loads for old
Mausers and low book values for the old Remington Rolling Blocks. Work up slowly, do not push
the older guns as they frequently do not handle gases from a ruptured case well. A ruptured
case with totally destroy a RB, don't push them.

Great cartridge, esp in a modern rifle with very slow powders.

SECTIONAL DENSITY, is the name of the game!!!

And of course, bullet placement. The lady can shoot!

Bill

[1950Target]

I agree with MtGun44.

I use the same Nosler 160 PART with 46.0 grs of 760 (load data from Speer Manual #13) in my Ruger 77.

The Speer 160 GRAND SLAM is also an excellent option, very accurate and reliable performer.

Lots of folks look down their noses at the 7 X 57. What do ya have? A 7mm. REM MAG? No Mauser. OH.

Recoil and blast are very mild, rifle is relatively light and handy, fast handling for me, all in all a pleasure to hunt with. I've never taken elk with mine but quite a few white tails a few Mulies, lots of hogs and 3 Black Bear. Place your bullet and all is well, there is nothing wrong with the 7 X 57!

The Sellier & Bellot 175 RN is a really good factory load too.

Best of luck!

[atr]

Elk Hunting,,,
I prefer 160gr (spitzer) or 175 gr (RN)charged with IMR4350....Im shooting ranges anywhere
from 50 yards to 200 yards,,,,sometimes open and sometimes in the brush...when Im in the brush I use the RN,,,,when Im hunting in the more open areas I use the 160 spitzer boat tail.
Deer Hunting,,,,
usually a 140 gr spitzer,,,,again with IMR4350

IMR 4350 really seems to work well in my 7x57's

[FN in MT]

My wife has killed several head with her 20" carbine in 7mm-08 VERY close to the 7x57 in ballistics. She has used 160 gr Speer Hot-cores with one shot kills and zero drama for several years now.

It all boils down to PLACEMENT far more than velocity, foot pounds or if the ctg has an Ultra, magnum or similar monicker.

FN in MT

[runfiverun]

i use rl-19 and hornady 139's in all my mausers, ackleyed or not.
in my wifes i use 257 roberts+p brass, necked up at 2750 10' from the bbl.
in my ackleys i have them at 2875,yes i can go faster especially with the i.c.l. chambered one.
but since it makes two holes in elk and deer i don't see the need to stress the bullet.

[booneh]

my wife shoots a 7x57 on a custom ruger with a 22" barrel 1 in 9 twist.
she shoots a 154 gr.hornady spire pt. interlock with 42 gr. 4064. she has taken (not sure of exact count about 17 or 18 mule deer and i belive 8 elk) all but one or two with one shot.
use reasonable care with shot placement and you should not have a problem.
enjoy your hunt with a great rifle.

booneh