7 X 57mm

[Ben]

Several years ago I built a 7X57 mm on an Argentine 98 Mauser action.
The rifle has always been a real nail driver.

It was built for my friend Nick.
We shot groups like this all day long with the rifle.
One day he mentioned he might sell the rifle.
I grabbed it before he could change his mind.

Looking at this group, you can see why I wanted the rifle.

 

[Brad]

Yep, that rifle shoots well.
You were wise to get it before someone else could.

 

[Ben]

Exactly Brad !!!!!!!!

 

[gman]

That stock is very nice! Ever check the speed of that load? Just curious.

 

[Ben]

No, I have not.
Maybe someone would run it through quick load for us.
The rifle has a 22" barrel.

Ben

 

[Brad]

That is one beautiful stock.

Ben, get me bullet length, OAL of loaded round, case capacity filled to top of neck in gr H2O. I can the. Get some QL data for you.

 

[uncle jimbo]

Very nice looking rifle. And from the pictures a very fine shooting rifle.

 

[fiver]

this will be interesting...
I have a pretty good idea how fast it's going and I think it might surprise a few people.

 

[Ian]

1400 fps.

Ben, that's a beautiful stock, and a beautiful rifle. I'm not much into the glassy finishes, but you know how to put one on, and how to get the wood right before you do. In North America, that's the only rifle a good hunter would ever need.

Did you do all the whittling yourself?

 

[Ben]

Did you do all the whittling yourself?

ALL shaping , fitting, bedding and finishing .
Getting this kind of wood to metal fit is not so easy as you're well aware.

All the metal work was done by Harold Tyus ( my gunsmith ) in Golden, CO.

As you can imagine, it was a slow project.
However, well worth all my efforts.

Ben

 

[Ben]

Isn't it interesting, ( we have talked about it before ) that 10 gr. of Unique in many full size cartridges makes a very accurate cast bullet load ? ? ?

 

[Uncle Grinch]

Ben,

Your threads are always very interesting. Your photos are spot on and your rifles are interesting and beautiful and accurate. Keep them coming.

 

[KeithB]

That is a classically attractive rifle chambered for a classic cartridge. Nice job on doing the wood work, and the metal work is also very good.

 

[Ben]

Ben,

Your threads are always very interesting. Your photos are spot on and your rifles are interesting and beautiful and accurate. Keep them coming.

Thanks to both of you for those kind words.
Ben

 

[fiver]

it is amazing how you can take one powder, at one weight, and dump it in everything from a 44 mag up through the 45-70 and it just works.
it doesn't just work it works pretty well.
I keep one of my powder measures set to 9.3grs for this same reason, I just swap it around as needed when I just want something to shoot real quick without a lot of hassle.

 

[Ian]

Looks like the tree grew around the action, Ben, very nice. Hours and hours and hours, don't I know it.

BTW, you shaped the schnabel exactly the way I think looks right, I'm going to attempt something very similar on the 1899 when I get around to hacking out the forearm.

 

[Ben]

Thanks Ian,

I'm keeping up with your progress on your 99'.
I think you're coming along just fine.

Ben

 

[fiver]

I never could figure out the reason for a Schnabel type fore end other than the looks.
then I shot Littlegirls [ummm my Remington] STS shotgun and my front hand naturally slides right up into the little cut-out there.
I didn't even think about it until afterward it felt so natural.

 

[waco]

We have some real craftsmen on this site. Color me jealous. Well done.

 

[gman]

I know who I’m calling if I ever want a wood stock fitted from scratch!