New rifle in 7mm Mauser

G

gmarr

New member
Looking at a very good condition Ruger M77 in 7mm Mauser and it got me thinking (not always a good idea) about who makes a new rifle in this caliber. So, who offers a bolt-action in 7mm Mauser?
 
Most all of the major manufacturers make 7X57 guns in limited runs from time to time. There isn't enough demand to make them all the time. Not sure if any USA made rifles are currently made in that chambering. When enough people start asking for them they'll make a few. When those are sold there may not be enough demand for another 5-10 years.

You see the same with many other good, but less popular rounds such as 280, 35 Whelen, 350 RM etc.

Most manufacturers feel, and rightly so, that most people who really want one of those chamberings are more likely to build a custom anyway.
 
Agree with jmr40 about folks building a custom 7x57 rifle. I did this using a Ruger tang safety 77 about 4 years ago. Had enjoyed shooting my 7x57 military rifles, thought having a so called custom rifle in 7x57 would be neat. Put a cheapo Midway A&B F54 heavy contour barrel on the Ruger. This rifle turned out to be one of my more accurate rifles. Definitely more accurate than my 7mm-08 Stevens 200 and Marlin X rifles.

Matter of fact, few days ago I noticed Midway had on clearance, the 7mm Green Mountain F54 contour barrels (Green Mountain replaced the A&B brand at Midway). Ordered one of them for another 7x57 build. May have the barrel put on a M1936 Mexican actioned rifle that is presently chambered in 300 Savage. This military Mexican M1936 was originally chambered in 7x57.
 
"Except for nostalgia, with the 7-08 Winchester there is no demand for it's ballistic twin, the 7X57 Mauser."

Actually, the 7x57 sadly is not the ballistic twin of the 7-08 as loaded by the factory. :( Nor is most reloading data coming close. However, a careful handloader can duplicate and sometimes even get a bit more velocity than the 7-08. Quite a few people use the 7x57 for nostalgic reasons and there ain't a darn thing wrong with that. Factory 139/140/145 gr. bullets in 7x57 factory ammo are avertised in the 2600-2650 FPS range. Most actually put our less. My handloads with the 140 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip do 2800 FPS running right along with the 7-08. I have reached 2880 FPS but it was about 110 degrees that bay and bolt lift was starting to get sticky. At 2800 FPS, that's more than good enough. That same load does 2750 FPS from my Ruger #1A which has a longer throat. I have also a custom build 7x57 that has a match grade chamber and barrel. This rifle shows pressure much more quickly than the other two. I recently did a test using the 175 gr. Hornady round nose and worked up to the 2300 FPS of the original Mauser load; the load that the cartridge made it's reputation. The M70 was the base rifle for the project. I got 2310 FPS as I recall. The Ruger was 2260 FPS and the custom rifle 2410 FPS. I'm currently working with the 140 gr. Barnes TSX in that rifle and just may use it on my next elk hunt. Just have to see how if it likes those bullets. Contrary topopular opinion, the 7x57 may be old but it sure ain't dead. :cool:
Paul B.
 
The 7X57 is one of the best military and sporting cartridges of all time. It combines very good ballistics with light to moderate recoil. I agree that to obtain good performance, you almost have to handload for it, although I believe Hornady and maybe Federal offer some pretty good factory loads that give +P performance levels if you can find them (Midway?) In the past it has been used by the greatest ivory hunter of all time to take over 1,000 elephants. Karamojo Bell placed his shots with surgical precision and rarely needed more than one shot, thus proving that bullet placement is of primary importance, moreso than raw power. The 7-08 is almost as good (even better with the readily available factory loads) and I believe you can find several factory rifles that are chambered for it. Unfortunately, if you really want a 7X57, you may have to look for one of the discontinued models. I would suggest a Model 70 Winchester from about 1980 through about 2000. I have one from about 1982, a push feed model, that has been quite satisfactory in every regard. I've taken well over 100 whitetails with it, and it gets the job done very efficiently.
 
Lack of demand for the grand old dame IMO is closely related to gun writers and the still rather large inventory of old weak military actions. Build a 7X57 on a '98, '08, '09 Mauser or any current modern action and it will outshoot the 7-08 any day of the week. Get it throated for the 175 and then load the lighter bullets, I.e., the 139, 140 a bit longer and 2850 plus is easily obtainable. I have shot 140 Sierra Pro Hunters over 50 gr of IMR 4350 @ 2850 for over 20 years in my 1908 Argentine with a 22" Douglas Premium Barrel. Cases last well past 7-8 loadings with absolutely no problems and no signs of pressure. Then start up the ladder, 160, 175, and the -08 just can't keep up. Just because she's old don't mean she still isn't beautiful!!!!::). BTW, I have and use a Rem 700 Ti in 7-08 regularly. Sweet but not a 7X57!!!
 
Like the .243 and 6MM, the 7x57 feeds better in some rifles than others, and vice versa. Pretty much anything that started out with a .308 case is less than reliable in a military action. I will stick with my 7x57 unless I rebarrel a 99 Savage.
 
Get the Ruger. Limited run, very good round even better if you hand load. Factories keep the pressure down due to model 1894, 1895, and 1896 Mausers still around. The modern Ruger allows it to shine with proper hand loads.
I have a sporter built on a 1896 Mauser action, have to keep the pressure to factory standards but it's still my favorite rifle.
A modern Ruger in 7X57 would be a great rifle. And they look good to.
Gary
 
I was in cabelas today and I saw a new Winchester M70 and Ruger M77 both in. 7 x57.

I have a 280 Rem so I have no real need for the 7x57, but doesn't mean I don't want one.
 
I recently picked up a '95 Mauser barreled action. The rifling is sharp and bright, and it's in 7x57... the part where someone shortened it with a hacksaw can be dealt with, but the randomly drilled holes for some kind of sight or scope mount are troubling.

After considering various calibers, I did some reading on the 7x57 and was fairly impressed with its performance. No, it's not a Magnum cartridge, but the ballistics and bullet availability are just fine for anything I might use the rifle for. So if I wind up rebarreling it, it'll probably go back to 7x57, though I'll probably stamp the barrel ".275 Rigby" just to confuse people.
 
I think most of the mainstream manufacturers offer rifles in 7x57. This is one of my all time favorite calibers. I currently own one contemporary rifle in this caliber and two oldies.


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This is a picture of my Interarms Mk X in 7x57 it is bedded into older Brown Precision Stock.
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