7x57 7mm mauser.

[Paul B.]

The quickest way to tell if it's an 1893 or 1895 Maauser is to remove the bolt and look at the bolt face. The 1893 has a flat base on the bolt face while the 1895s have a round bolt face.
Paul B.

[tangolima]

Mine has a flat. It is a M1893. Everything is fine, except the bore has quite a bit to be desired. Also took days to clean when I got it.

-TL

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[tangolima]

A small side track. One of my Krags can use a new firing pin. Would a Norwegian Krag pin be modified to fit a US Krag? Thanks in advance.

-TL

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[emcon5]

Originally Posted by Paul B.

The biggest problem with the M93, 95 and 96 Mausers is they don't control escaping gas very well, thus the consideration of keeping pressures down.

True, and while it will never be as good as a M98, this bit...

Originally Posted by Gulfcowboy

I own a cut down Spanish mauser in 7mm

...might be good news in that regard. Later Spanish Mausers had an additional gas handling hole in the side of the action.

7X57 is an excellent cartridge. Google ".275 Rigby", it is what the British called it. Start here:

https://www.johnrigbyandco.com/boddington-blog/

[jimbob86]

7mm Mauser rifles tend to cock on close. Some shooters have issues with that, because they may need to grab the forearm when chambering a round.

What? They missing a hand?

[jimbob86]

The biggest problem with the M93, 95 and 96 Mausers is they don't control escaping gas very well, thus the consideration of keeping pressures down.

Roger that. It gets vented straight back through the bolt. The cocking piece will rebound and smack your thumb if it's around the wrist of the stock.

[jimbob86]

I've got a 95 Mauser that Bubba sporterized during the 1960's .... was going to have it built into a deer rifle for my kids .... but after it bit me, none of them wanted anything to do with it. Tried to sell it, nobody wanted it.

[tangolima]

Originally Posted by jimbob86

What? They missing a hand?

When shooting on rest or tripod, left hand is usually put under the butt stock. It doesn't hold on to the rifle as securely as grabbing the forearm to stop the rifle from moving forward. Certainly it is mostly a non-issue during combat.

-TL

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[jimbob86]

[QUOTE]When shooting on rest or tripod, left hand is usually put under the butt stock. It doesn't hold on to the rifle as securely as grabbing the forearm to stop the rifle from moving forward. Certainly it is mostly a non-issue during combat.[QUOTE]

I've seen people do that .... I don't. I try to keep as much of my hold the same, regardless of position or shooting aids as is possible ..... If I'm on a bench with sandbags, I still have my support hand under the forearm, on the bags .... still use the shooting sling in tension, too .....I'm told it does no good, but i use it, in an effort to keep all variables as same as possible .....

[Scorch]

7mm Mauser rifles tend to cock on close.

No, the cartridge a rifle is chambered for has nothing to do with whether or not it is "cock on open" or "cock on close". While I have owned several 93s and 95s that were "cock on close", my Mauser 98s, my Ruger M77, and my Winchester M70 in 7X57 did not suddenly become "cock on close" just because they were chambered for 7X57.

[tangolima]

Originally Posted by Scorch

No, the cartridge a rifle is chambered for has nothing to do with whether or not it is "cock on open" or "cock on close". While I have owned several 93s and 95s that were "cock on close", my Mauser 98s, my Ruger M77, and my Winchester M70 in 7X57 did not suddenly become "cock on close" just because they were chambered for 7X57.

My poor wordings. I meant to say most 7mm Mausers are of the type of cock on close. That wasn't because of the cartridge per se. It was a feature demanded by the clients who ordered those rifles.

Both close-on-close and cock-on-open have their own merits. It is so happened that most shooters are familiar with cock-on-open.

-TL

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[Scorch]

I meant to say most 7mm Mausers are of the type of cock on close.

Not trying to nit-pick here, but the 7X57 was an extremely popular chambering for many years by Winchester in their Model 54 and Model 70 rifles and Savage in their 1920 and 1930 Sporter models. Several other manufacturers chambered rifles for the cartridge due to its popularity. The 30-06 and 270, along with 300 Savage and 7X57, were standards during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. After WW2, the magnum craze hit US arms market and the manufacturers responded by pushing rifles in magnum chamberings. And then in the 1960s, Spanish Mausers started showing up en masse and buyers started associating 7X57 rifles with cheap milsurps, but the 7X57 was extremely popular for decades before all the cheap 1893 and 1895 rifles (the ones that cock on closing) started showing up.

[tangolima]

Ahh, my bad wordings again. I was referring to milsurps rifles and the related sporters. All the 7mm Mausers I have encountered are from the lot. Some sold their rifles because of the cock-on-close feature, including the gentleman I bought mine from.

-TL

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[Paul B.]

JMHO but the 7x57 made its reputation with the 175 gr. round nose bullets at moderate velocity. That bullet would just flat out penetrate. Bell used the German 173 gr. full metal jacket bullets in his .275 Rigby.

Factory loads made in the US are deliberately kept close to the original loads because of the M93 and M95 Mausers.

First 7x57 was a sporter based on an M93 action and apparently was built in England by some small gun shop. The gun had British proof marks. I bought it way back in 1973 and in the small Nevada town I lived in, the only ammo I could find was the Federal 175 gr. load. I shot a nice Mule Deer with it on opening day right around 8 AM. What blood trail disappeared quickly so my wife and I started the search. We stopped looked when it got too dark to see anymore. I went out the next day and found what the birds and coyotes left by the birds that were still picking on the scraps. That deer had traveled more than 400 yards from where I shot it.

Many years later I ran some of that ammo in another rifle chambered to 7x57 over the chronograph. Velocity was about 200 to 225 FPS slower than advertised. I've since run some of that ammo through two other rifles and the results were the same.

I also sectioned a couple of bullets and the jackets were way too thick for the velocity shown. I think the bullets acted more like full metal jacketed ammo than the the soft nose bullets they claimed to be.
Paul B.

[Scorch]

I agree that most 175 gr RNSP penetrated well but were awful at downing game, it made the rifle akin to a 30-30 both in trajectory and useful range. But I was lucky to find the 139 gr Federal load early on and I used it for the first few years I owned a 7X57 (an 1893 Mauser 1916 Spanish short rifle). After a few years, I bought my Ruger 77 in 7X57, and everything changed. First off, it was scoped so my hunting range grew to 300-ish yds. It also gave me higher velocity than the older, sloppier bore of the Spanish rifle. And I started handloading, so I was able to really push the cartridge to its full potential. I acquired a Mark X mauser in 7X57, then another, then a pre-war Model 70 in 7X57. I am a big fan of the cartridge when it's loaded with the proper bullets.

[reynolds357]

I have 2 7x57. One is a Mauser custom. The other a Ruger 77. The Cartridge in a modern action can better the 7-08. Its right there with the 284 Winchester. My Ruger is a typical Ruger of the 1980, minute of broad side of Barn. The Mauser is accurate, 1/2 minute.

[Paul B.]

"My Ruger is a typical Ruger of the 1980, minute of broad side of Barn. The Mauser is accurate, 1/2 minute."

Dunno what weight bullet you're using but I did own at one time a Ruger M77 tang safety rifle in 7x57. It usually shot best with the heavier weight bullets, usually the 160 gr. Speer Hot core. I forget what powder I was using back then but it was probably IMR 4350. Never got that far with it as a friend wanted it a lot more than I did at the time. Still kicking myself on that one.
Paul B.

[reynolds357]

I have tried a little bit of everything in it. Its one of Rugers craptastic barrels from the days when they were buying them from everyone and their brother.

[Paul B.]

"I have tried a little bit of everything in it. It's one of Rugers craptastic barrels from the days when they were buying them from everyone and their brother."

I understand the pain. I had one right around 180/81. The only things it would shoot was the 175 gr. Federal factory load 1.25" tolerable) and the 140 gr. Sierra SPFB. I don't remember the load but I think it might have been H4895 and the bullet was seated to have a long jump.

I know a fellow on another site, goes by the handle Seafire, who uses only IMR3031 for all his M77 Ruger loads. He used the same charge for all bullet weights and say it's the only way he gets any accuracy. As I have one very stubborn 7x57 I'm tempted. Only problem with mine is it's not accuracy but pressure showing up way too soon.
Five more days before I see the doctor and find out if he'll clear me to go shooting. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Paul B.

[Scorch]

7X57 likes a little slower powder than IMR3031. I tried 3031 early on, then went to IMR4320 because I got a bunch of it really cheap, then switched to IMR4350 because I had it available, then I switched to H450 (very similar to Reloader 19), and now I use W760. So, long way to say it, but a mid-range powder that loads easily (that's the main reason why I switched from stick powder to ball powder). 7X57 is not a finicky cartridge to load for. Sure, you can load stick powders, but I know fewer and fewer people who do.

[Dufus]

.....but I know fewer and fewer people who do.

I have been stuck on H4831 with the 7x57 for prolly 45 years or so.

[reynolds357]

I will have to try 760. Its about the only thing I have not tried in it.

[Mike Irwin]

"Savage in their 1920 and 1930 Sporter models."

Savage never offered either the Models 1920 or 40 in 7mm Mauser.

The Model 1920 was only offered in .250-3000 and .300 Savage, while the Model 40 was offered in those two rounds plus .30-30 Winchester and .30-06.

As far as I can tell, Savage never chambered any of their rifles for 7mm Mauser before World War II, and after WW II only offered the 110 in 7mm Mauser for a short period of time.

[michaelcj]

Mine is built on a 03A3 action with O3 bolt and lower metal. Douglas barrel.
4350 is my powder of choice. Accurate and repeatable with 140gr to 160gr bullets
Comfortable to shoot.
One of my Favorites

[Paul B.]

You might want to try Re17. It's not only been accurate but has given some very good velocity figures. With the 150 gr. Nosler Partition, 2800+ FPS is a snap.
Paul B.