NorthIdahoDude
Lil-Rokslider
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2022
- Messages
- 288
Up front, this is my project and I'll likely decide whatever I decide regardless of what anyone says. I just thought we might have some fun as a group if I made a poll and discussion out of this, so... with that out of the way, here comes the rambling...
I am finally getting around to rebarreling my old Interarms Mark X Mauser (Zastava manufactured commercial M98). I was dead set on 7x57 when I started this. Besides the fact that I just plain really like the 7x57, it has some advantages in the Mauser action also - it feeds like hot butter (markedly better than anything else I've tried), and because of the significant taper on the case body (part of why it feeds so well), it will fit 5 rounds in the flush floorplate, where all the 308/30-06 based cases only fit 4). This is also gonna be about 9 lbs or so all-in, so a 7x57 would be almost unnoticable for recoil in that package (down around that of a 243 loaded hot in a Tikka Lite, maybe approaching a 6.5 Creedmoor with heavier bullets).
But, as the project progressed, I lucked into a 1:8 twist cut-rifled Benchmark blank (mostly because Brownells was sold out of #2 Shilen's the day I went to order, and the Benchmark was the closest I could find to a contour I liked in-stock), which in theory should be able to get down into 1/2 MOA or better territory if the smith does good work (and Kampfeld Custom does really, really good work), which would give it some accuracy reach beyond what a 7x57 can produce the velocity for.
So from there I started entertaining the idea of something with a bit more jam than 7x57 - but after test feeding 280, 280AI, even 284 Win - none of them fit more than 4 rounds, and and the 284 and 280AI both feed a little rough (rounds from the left side will sometimes pop out ahead of the extractor and push-feed - not the biggest deal, I don't suppose, but why a mauser if we aren't actually CRF'ing?). Straight 280 feeds fairly well (though not as nice as 7x57), but only fits 4 in the mag. So I was like "meh, back to 7x57"...
But then I remembered the 7x64 Brenneke - looked up the case dimensions, and lo and behold, it's a .470 case head and .425 at the shoulder (vs .473 and .430 at the shoulder for 7x57)... so it should both a) fit 5 in the mag, and b) feed approximately as well as the 7x57, and would add at least 100 FPS to any given bullet, while producing about the same recoil as my 7 3/4 lb 7x57 Tikka does... 175 or 162 ELD-X's would get +100 or more yards and stay within the expansion window, and I could get my preferred Accubond's out past 500 yards north of 2k FPS, which I can't do with a 7x57... Well now, that's more tempting....
I'd be getting fresh brass for whatever I go with, I have seating and neck sizing dies that'll work fine, and I have many pounds of powder in the right burn rates on-hand, etc, so the only 'extra' cost for 7x64 would be for the FL sizing die (not super expensive), and... I can get Lapua brass for 7x64, but not for 7x57... (though Norma and PPU brass both work great in my 7x57)...
And before anyone says "factory ammo" and "resale value" - a) I'm never selling this gun (sentimental), and b) My only use for factory ammo ever is to fire-form the brass for neck sizing and reloading.
Also, if anyone else has some idea for cartridge, as long as it's a) 7mm, and b) skinny enough to fit 5 rounds in the mag (or otherwise known to feed great in a Mauser CRF), I'd be open to hear it.
Anyway - that's the rambling backstory and the poll, vote and discuss.
I am finally getting around to rebarreling my old Interarms Mark X Mauser (Zastava manufactured commercial M98). I was dead set on 7x57 when I started this. Besides the fact that I just plain really like the 7x57, it has some advantages in the Mauser action also - it feeds like hot butter (markedly better than anything else I've tried), and because of the significant taper on the case body (part of why it feeds so well), it will fit 5 rounds in the flush floorplate, where all the 308/30-06 based cases only fit 4). This is also gonna be about 9 lbs or so all-in, so a 7x57 would be almost unnoticable for recoil in that package (down around that of a 243 loaded hot in a Tikka Lite, maybe approaching a 6.5 Creedmoor with heavier bullets).
But, as the project progressed, I lucked into a 1:8 twist cut-rifled Benchmark blank (mostly because Brownells was sold out of #2 Shilen's the day I went to order, and the Benchmark was the closest I could find to a contour I liked in-stock), which in theory should be able to get down into 1/2 MOA or better territory if the smith does good work (and Kampfeld Custom does really, really good work), which would give it some accuracy reach beyond what a 7x57 can produce the velocity for.
So from there I started entertaining the idea of something with a bit more jam than 7x57 - but after test feeding 280, 280AI, even 284 Win - none of them fit more than 4 rounds, and and the 284 and 280AI both feed a little rough (rounds from the left side will sometimes pop out ahead of the extractor and push-feed - not the biggest deal, I don't suppose, but why a mauser if we aren't actually CRF'ing?). Straight 280 feeds fairly well (though not as nice as 7x57), but only fits 4 in the mag. So I was like "meh, back to 7x57"...
But then I remembered the 7x64 Brenneke - looked up the case dimensions, and lo and behold, it's a .470 case head and .425 at the shoulder (vs .473 and .430 at the shoulder for 7x57)... so it should both a) fit 5 in the mag, and b) feed approximately as well as the 7x57, and would add at least 100 FPS to any given bullet, while producing about the same recoil as my 7 3/4 lb 7x57 Tikka does... 175 or 162 ELD-X's would get +100 or more yards and stay within the expansion window, and I could get my preferred Accubond's out past 500 yards north of 2k FPS, which I can't do with a 7x57... Well now, that's more tempting....
I'd be getting fresh brass for whatever I go with, I have seating and neck sizing dies that'll work fine, and I have many pounds of powder in the right burn rates on-hand, etc, so the only 'extra' cost for 7x64 would be for the FL sizing die (not super expensive), and... I can get Lapua brass for 7x64, but not for 7x57... (though Norma and PPU brass both work great in my 7x57)...
And before anyone says "factory ammo" and "resale value" - a) I'm never selling this gun (sentimental), and b) My only use for factory ammo ever is to fire-form the brass for neck sizing and reloading.
Also, if anyone else has some idea for cartridge, as long as it's a) 7mm, and b) skinny enough to fit 5 rounds in the mag (or otherwise known to feed great in a Mauser CRF), I'd be open to hear it.
Anyway - that's the rambling backstory and the poll, vote and discuss.
7x66 SE looks kinda interesting too
