7mm Mauser

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
It appears the 7mm Mauser [AKA 7 x 57] chambering is gone from new factory rifles (not that I'm in the market for a new rifle).
The 7mm-08 seems to have killed it off. Truth be told, the 7mm-08 slightly exceeds the performance of the 7mm Mauser.

I can't blame manufacturers for dropping the 7mm Mauser from their line-up; it just can't compete with the 7mm-08. I don't think the cartridge itself is in danger of disappearing but nostalgia makes me wish the 7mm Mauser got a little more attention.

Excluding the high end custom shops, which manufacturers were the last companies to offer a rifle chambered in 7mm Mauser?
 

Missionary

Well-Known Member
I recon amongest the non reloaders a 7-08 will beat the performance of the 7x57
Put both of them into a modern bolt rifle of the same barrel length and that old 7x57 really steps up.
 

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
I'm a fan of Winchester Featherweight rifles made from the 80's and newer. The two I've wanted to add are the 6.5 Swede and the 7x57. The 7mm caliber is very popular, but the only one I'd consider is the 7x57. Just me. Great cartridge.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
i think tikka or sako still offers it.
maybe CZ?
I recall seeing it on one of their sites when looking at something else not too long ago.

Ruger put forth the 275 Rigby in their yearly African rifle series [they done the 280 AI this year and it was received with more yawns than a 2hr. speech] those were bought up before they even hit the distributors.
and Hornady done some brass for it.
I got 100 pieces of the Brass for the XCB rifle and should have grabbed another hundred while it was there.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
I recon amongest the non reloaders a 7-08 will beat the performance of the 7x57
Put both of them into a modern bolt rifle of the same barrel length and that old 7x57 really steps up.
I agree that the 7 x 57can approach the performance of the 7mm-08, particularly if European C.I.P. limits are observed a opposed to SAAMI limits. In reality, the differences probably aren't significant in actual use. I think with a prudent handloader and a strong rifle, the differences probably aren't worth much. I DO like the fact that the 7mm-08 will fit in a short action. The 7mm Mauser is a little too long for a short action.
More often than not, manufacturers put the 7mm Mauser in a long action. There were a few "medium" length actions that were a perfect fit for the 7 x 57 but those actions seem to have fallen out of favor. It's probably too expensive to produce 3 action length when 2 will get the job done.

I think both the 7 x 57 & 7mm-08 are great cartridges.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
well that sucks.
probably nuthin in the 8 version either, and I'd imagine the 6 and 6.5 versions are long, long gone too.

seems like everything is super short or ultra long anymore, and nobody really is interested in just using cartridges that work just fine out to 250 yds.
they all have to go a mile or 1300yds., or fizzle out at 100 but look good on the range.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
CZ makes good rifles, I'm sure there are some used 7mm Mauser's out there.

SAKO is owned by Beretta, and their stuff is also well made but they don't seem to have any love for the 7 x 57 either.
 

Missionary

Well-Known Member
I would not hesitate to buy a CZ with those super hammer forged barrels they produce.
Another benefit I see with 7x57 is that nice long old style neck.
 

Ole_270

Well-Known Member
The 7x57 has slightly larger case capacity than the 7-08 so in equal strength actions with equal pressures the 7x57 would give slightly more velocity. It's problem is it's length, too long for a short action, not long enough to make full use of a long action. In a good strong action it would serve well for most of the hunting done on this continent.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
I would not hesitate to buy a CZ with those super hammer forged barrels they produce.
Another benefit I see with 7x57 is that nice long old style neck.

I've been very impressed with CZ and I've held that opinion for many years.


The 7x57 has slightly larger case capacity than the 7-08 so in equal strength actions with equal pressures the 7x57 would give slightly more velocity. It's problem is it's length, too long for a short action, not long enough to make full use of a long action. In a good strong action it would serve well for most of the hunting done on this continent.
/\ I agree 100% /\

A person that loads their own and uses a strong action can take advantage of the slightly greater case capacity of the 7mm Mauser. Even with the lower SAAMI limits, the 7mm Mauser is still a fantastic cartridge.

As for the length of the 7mm Mauser - you hit the nail on the head. The 7 x 57 gets placed in long actions by manufacturers and it's really a medium length cartridge.
Not only does the 7mm-08 fit in a short action, it has the benefit of being a younger cartridge. After 7mm-08 made the transition from wildcat to factory loading, the factory rifles chambered for it were all modern rifles.
 
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RBHarter

West Central AR
If ya really want it all there's the 284 .......ya get most of the case of the 280 Rem and it fits a short action ....... I have no doubt there's a couple of WSMs out there .
Let's not forget that a 7×57 AI with a 40° shoulder would be pushing a 280 .
So it goes , we shorten the case , blow our the walls , lol off the neck , and add 5-7,000 psi and all of the sudden a 308 parent case is beating up the old Mauser clan and nipping at the heels of the 06' clan . Then we stick the heavies in that new wonder case and boom! that old war horse shines again . It's probably why the 06' , 38 Special , and 2/3-4" shot shells still exist .
 

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Yeah but the 06 is the one. Everything else does a little better on the light side or a little better on the heavy side. The 06 does both sides well.
 

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
I know it's blasphemy but I never saw the .30-06 as a great cartridge, just a prevalent one.

Well I've been more than happy with my 06's, kills stuff pretty dead and it's very versatile. But I don't drive Fords either. Dodge diesel and Toyota. Kinda thinking the Tundra is quality like the venerable 7x57.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
Had the 264 not come from where it did I don't believe I'd have a belted anything .
Truth is I have a weakness for 7mms just not the success in tracking them down I have a 7×57 waiting on me to get my butt moving on a 1916 DWM with a Jeager trigger . Someplace I have another 7×57 for a Savage and a 280 Rem chamber reamer , just in case I wear out the throats . On the tiny end I have 7×6.8 ......if only that cheap barrel blank had been 1-11 instead of 1-8.5 or a 175+gr mould would fall in my lap . But who complains about an AR 15 family cartridge that will run a 120 gr 7mm 2400 fps ? No it's not in an AR and some day when it's tired I'll dig into the stash of 30 Rem brass and ream it 7-30 Waters rimless :) .
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
RG - 284 Win! YES! I have an ugly Savage 99 in 284 Win. Love it! Deer slayer. and hot. Kid has it as his deer rifle as he shot his first with it. Great round!
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
the 284 does pretty good necked up to 30 caliber too. [AKA the 7,5 Swiss]
the 284 was kickin around the F-class shoots a few years back and was doin just fine for itself, until some dude got the bright idea to neck it down to 6.5 caliber.
then Norma got involved aaand Winchester [not to be outdone] has another version, only in a short action,
out doing themselves through that brilliant maneuver.


you know the 7x57 feeds no problem from the magazine of what was formerly a 270, even if it is ackleyed or ICL'd..... jus sayin.
it also gives you about 15-K more pressure to work with, that surpasses the 280 and starts working on the 7 magnum type speeds.
 
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