7x57 Bullet Selection

[ktm450]

Hello All,
I am new to the 7x57 and an avid reloader. I have a Ruger #1 RSI (manufactured in 2012). I will be hunting Black Bear, Elk, Deer (Whitetail/Mule) around the west. I am looking for first hand advice on what weight bullet you would use for my intended purpose? In short, is a 140 going 2800ish better/worse/same as a 160 going 2600 out to 350 yards or so? Any experienc/brand recommendations welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I also have a number 1; just a deer rifle/ targets of opportunity in my stable but a great cartridge. I have had great luck with both 150 and 140 accubonds H4350 has been very good. 2850 +/-

 

[handwerk]

For my 7x57 I load Barnes 140 TTSX's, if not that I would go with barnes 139 LRX.

 

[Wapiti1]

I load the 150gr Swift Scirroco in both mine and my wife's. Have also used 160gr Nosler partitions and Sierra Game King. Any of these would do what you are asking. I think they are running about 2750fps with H4350. Very mild load. I want to try RL17 in them.

Jeremy

 

[wyo2track]

I've been shooting a Ruger M77 tang safety 7x57 for 32 years now. Was my only elk hunting rifle for 15 years until I started playing with a 300 win and 338 win. It killed a pile of elk for me with 140 Remington Core-loks and 140 nosler partitions inside 350 yards. Reloading will turn it up notch above factory offerings which is what I do. Reloder 19 IS THE powder for my rifle. I'm a hair over max book charges with 140 grain accubonds for top velocity and no pressure, right at 2900 fps. My 7x57 has a very long throat to allow loading the traditional big 175 grain bullets, but that allowed me to load the newer long boat tail bullets out just a little further which helps with case capacity. I see no reason why you'd need a 160. The 140 to 150 grain offerings will work fine and also flatten trajectory of the 7x57.

 

[EmperorMA]

Won't be much difference in killing between any 140-160gr 7mm bullet at those speeds.

If it were me, Id have two decisions to make;

One, lead or all-copper?

Two, which of my choice shoots best in my rifle?

Grain weight wouldn't really play into it too much once I got to 120gr, or so. If you want mono bullets, start at 120 and go up to 140 to see what shoots best. For lead, start at 120 and go to 160 to see what your rifle likes.

Happily shoot whatever wins the accuracy competition.

 

[phil1841]

My 7x57 Ruger #1 has been fed 140-gr Nosler Ballistic Tip's for a handful of whitetails, one mule deer and a couple of pronghorn but I would not use it on anything larger. Elk is on my horizon also and the information presented so far is great. I am planning to try the 140 and 150 Accubond and Partitions. There are so many good bullets now - lead core and all copper - almost too many.

Good stuff everyone!

 

[robtattoo]

My 7x57 Ruger #1 has been fed 140-gr Nosler Ballistic Tip's for a handful of whitetails, one mule deer and a couple of pronghorn but I would not use it on anything larger. Elk is on my horizon also and the information presented so far is great. I am planning to try the 140 and 150 Accubond and Partitions. There are so many good bullets now - lead core and all copper - almost too many.

Good stuff everyone!

Fyi: The Accubonds & Ballistic Tips are absolutely identical in external shape. I believe they use the same jacket. If you have a really good BT load you can literally just switch bullets out to the Accubond.

 

[ktm450]

Thank you all for the great feedback. I have thousands of traditional cup/core and partitions from 120-175 from a variety of manufacturers. I am planning to find something in that mix that will work for everything.

 

[Jim1187]

Hornady 154 interlock and Nosler 150 BT, I will put that $#it in every 7mm cartridge I load for. It may not be my first choice but performance is acceptable, accurate loads easy and they kill when I do my part from wood chucks to moose. They are always on my bench incase I can't find my preferred bullet up here. When they were easier to find locally Speer Hotcores 145 and 160 had this distinction Grandslams were preferred for moose.
If lead free was a concern the 120 TTSX has been impressive at 3000 fps + muzzle velocity, haven't played with others.
An accurate Partition or Accubond of any weight from a 7x57 (or any other 7mm) would give me the warm and fuzzies and I would go forth and kill stuff. Either are my favorite hunting bullet in most cartridges.
Of course the 7x57 isn't really hard on bullets and if you favorite hasn't been mentioned I'd worry more about finding your quarry and having a sharp knife.

 

[FLAK]

Yep, that 154 gr. Interlock should be money.

 

[Pabst]

I think the 139gr LRX has been discontinued, but the 145 is still being produced.

 

[WestNE]

Ive always had good luck with the Hornady 139spbt, for bigger game the 154. At non- magnum velocities the old fashioned cup and core work so well.

That said I've had good luck with Accubonds across a very wide velocity range so if your looking premium bonded works as long as the jacket thickness stays fairly thin. Heck BT's work well too... i suppose that's the beauty of reasonably muzzle velocity, bullets can do their job on game without being stressed.

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