7x57 with little j words

[Plinkster]

I picked up some 100gr Sierra hp varminter j words at a gunshow this past weekend for a song and went to load some up. The only two powders I have on hand at the moment are unique and reloader 15. I checked Alliant's site and they listed 48grs of reloader 15 as a max load, suggesting that number be reduced by 10% and worked up. So I reduced it by 20% and started at 38.5grs and went up to 40grs in .5gr increments for starters. I seated the bullets to a col of 2.790 with no crimp and a lee collet sizing die with once fired brass from this rifle. I will be shooting these in a Mauser model 93 with a 20inch barrel. Does this sound like too big a charge to anyone? I am just getting started reloading and don't want to foul up what I consider to be a fine rifle not to mention wanting to keep all my body parts intact. Please point out any problems you may see here or any info I left out. I am using Winchester large rifle primers.

[mooman76]

I did not find a load for 100gr but did find one for 120gr. in my Lee 2nd edition. It calls for 41.3 to 45.0 gr of RL 15. When having trouble finding data you can safely use data from a heavier bullet for a lighter one because the lighter one will have less pressure because it takes less to push a lighter bullet and typically a lighter bullet will have a have an overall heavier charge because of this. So yes you are well withing the same limits and 48 gr max sounds about right. I just didn't go to the web site. If possible it's good to have several load manuals so you can double check with another manual. It not hard if you aren't paying attention to flip to page and use the wrong data.

[Plinkster]

Thank you for the double check! While I do not have a reloading manual yet that is my next slated purchase, any recommendations? I'm sure I will end up with several eventually, but is there any one manual more comprehensive than the others?

[Von Gruff]

I have a few loading books but the best is the one caliber manual with all the load data for the 7x57 from the various makers of powder and bullets as well as the Lyman cast data.
In the Hornady section for the 100gn HP it gives the following
IMR 4895 39.8 47.2 2900 - 3300fps
H335 39.7 46.9 2900 - 3200fps
IMR 3031 40.9 45.1 29oo - 3100fps
IMR 4064 43.6 48.8 2900 - 3200fps
Win 748 46.6 52.6 2900 - 3300fps
Win 760 51.3 56 2900 - 3200fps

Sierra shows for the 100gn HP
IMR 3031 39.5 43.3 2800 - 3100fps
IMR 4895 41.6 45.5 2800 - 3100fps
Vhit N135 39.5 43.2 2800 - 3000fps
AA2700 46.9 50.5 2800 - 3000fps
Varget 43.5 45.6 2800 - 3000fps
IMR 4064 41.5 44.8 2800 - 3100fps
IMR 4320 41.5 45.7 2800 - 3200fps
RE 12 43.4 47.8 2800 - 3200fps

Speer shows for the 110gn HP
Amongst others a REL 15 load of 44gn to 48 gn for 2784 - 3093 fps

Aiiant shows for the 120gn Hdy SP
Rel 15 45gn 2995 fps

There is data for the Hodgdon and Barnes as well but Rel 15 data is scarce

Von Gruff.

[atr]

You can download reloading information form Hogdon....I've compared it to several of my other manuals, old and well as new, and it seems to check out

[Plinkster]

I have tried the hogdon info and that seems like a nice little program it just doesn't list reloader 15. On the other side of things, besides a hang-fire can I go too low with this powder?

[spqrzilla]

Hodgdon does not sell Reloader 15. Their data covers Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powder lines - which they distribute.

[mooman76]

I use Lyman the most and Lee second. They both have data for cast which allot of manuals do not so if you are going to be shooting cast they are good picks. If you get a manual that is like by a bullet manufacturer that's what they will cover. You can pick up used manuals fairly cheap and you can never have too many.