For "just shooting", as low as 1500 fps can do the job. Here is a Quickload run showing charges that get 1500 fps in a 18"
Code:
Cartridge : 7 x 57 mm Mauser
Bullet : .285, 130, LEE C285-130-R
Useable Case Capaci: 54.858 grain H2O = 3.562 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.875 inch = 73.03 mm
Barrel Length : 18.0 inch = 457.2 mm
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
6 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 25%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Hodgdon Clays 41.8 10.1 0.65 1500 100.0 25105 2949 1.404
IMR TrailBoss 79.7 13.6 0.88 1500 100.0 24285 2935 1.451
Hodgdon TiteGroup 25.9 10.7 0.69 1500 100.0 23032 3005 1.460
Alliant RED DOT 38.7 9.7 0.63 1500 100.0 22984 3038 1.462
Lovex S015 36.8 10.3 0.67 1500 100.0 22614 3023 1.473
Accurate Solo 1000 36.8 10.3 0.67 1500 100.0 22614 3023 1.473
Alliant GREEN DOT 36.0 10.2 0.66 1500 100.0 22120 3058 1.489
Lovex S011 30.3 10.4 0.67 1500 100.0 21613 3034 1.492
Hodgdon HP38 25.6 10.8 0.70 1500 100.0 21447 3060 1.501
Winchester 231 28.5 10.9 0.71 1500 100.0 21186 3074 1.508
Accurate Solo 1250 35.3 10.7 0.69 1500 100.0 20906 3067 1.517
Hodgdon Universal 31.6 10.3 0.67 1500 100.0 20545 3131 1.535
Lovex S020 30.3 10.7 0.69 1500 100.0 19737 3134 1.559
Lovex S030 30.3 10.7 0.69 1500 100.0 19544 3128 1.555
Lovex S035 35.3 11.1 0.72 1500 100.0 18749 3187 1.591
Accurate No.2 30.7 10.3 0.67 1500 100.0 18624 3189 1.587
Alliant UNIQUE 30.9 10.1 0.65 1500 100.0 18447 3246 1.600
Winchester WAP 25.5 11.2 0.73 1500 100.0 18042 3256 1.603
Alliant HERCO 33.5 10.6 0.69 1500 100.0 17543 3328 1.638
Alliant POWER PISTOL 25.6 10.3 0.67 1500 100.0 14441 3707 1.760
A little spicier would be to go for a load with an estimated 1800 fps
Code:
Cartridge : 7 x 57 mm Mauser
Bullet : .285, 130, LEE C285-130-R
Useable Case Capaci: 54.858 grain H2O = 3.562 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.875 inch = 73.03 mm
Barrel Length : 18.0 inch = 457.2 mm
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Hodgdon TiteGroup 36.7 15.1 0.98 1800 100.0 37009 4162 1.172
Alliant RED DOT 54.9 13.8 0.90 1800 100.0 36485 4225 1.176
Lovex S015 52.1 14.6 0.95 1800 100.0 36300 4191 1.180
Accurate Solo 1000 52.1 14.6 0.95 1800 100.0 36300 4191 1.180
Alliant GREEN DOT 51.0 14.4 0.93 1800 100.0 35549 4231 1.189
Lovex S011 42.7 14.7 0.95 1800 100.0 35321 4174 1.191
Accurate Nitro 100 50.6 13.3 0.86 1800 100.0 35138 4269 1.192
Lovex D013 50.6 13.3 0.86 1800 100.0 35138 4269 1.192
Hodgdon HP38 36.1 15.3 0.99 1800 100.0 35005 4213 1.197
Winchester 231 40.1 15.3 0.99 1800 100.0 34661 4227 1.202
Lovex D032 33.1 14.0 0.91 1800 100.0 34526 4191 1.202
Accurate Solo 1250 49.5 15.0 0.97 1800 100.0 34467 4199 1.207
Hodgdon Universal 44.5 14.5 0.94 1800 100.0 33546 4298 1.218
Lovex S020 42.3 14.9 0.96 1800 100.0 32947 4252 1.230
Lovex S030 42.3 14.9 0.97 1800 100.0 32611 4251 1.228
Lovex S035 49.0 15.4 1.00 1800 100.0 31559 4299 1.250
Accurate No.2 42.5 14.2 0.92 1800 100.0 31399 4296 1.245
Alliant UNIQUE 43.2 14.1 0.91 1800 100.0 30530 4416 1.260
Alliant BULLSEYE 38.7 13.0 0.84 1800 100.0 30507 4442 1.251
Winchester WAP 35.6 15.7 1.01 1800 100.0 30194 4408 1.264
Alliant HERCO 46.6 14.8 0.96 1800 100.0 29239 4490 1.282
Winchester 540 31.0 16.2 1.05 1800 100.0 28684 4461 1.289
Hodgdon Longshot 31.7 16.1 1.05 1800 100.0 28486 4477 1.293
Hodgdon HS-6 32.6 16.3 1.06 1800 100.0 27747 4516 1.305
Accurate No.5 28.8 15.0 0.97 1800 100.0 26207 4644 1.330
Lovex D036 28.8 15.0 0.97 1800 100.0 26195 4645 1.331
Alliant POWER PISTOL 34.9 14.0 0.91 1800 100.0 24090 4877 1.376