7X57mm Rifle for my grandson Trevor

[Ben]

When my grandson Trevor was about 4 yrs. old, I bought this rifle new for him. I put a synthetic stock on it, glass bedded the rifle and free floated the barrel.The rifle is a stainless steel, Ruger Hawkeye , 7X57mm , sporting a 3X-9X-50mm Leupold Vari X II scope in Ruger Rings. The rifle has a 2 lb. super clean crisp trigger. I thought about .243, .308 Win. , and another 3 or 4 other calibers but settled on the 7X57mm. The rifle " package " is about the size of a .243 but with about 2X better kill performance ( in my opinion ). With jacketed bullets , it will shoot 100 gr. Hp - 175 gr. RN bullets. Very versatile. I have about 10 - 12 nice bullet moulds in 7mm. I have a 50 cal. GI ammo can with about 15 boxes of premium 7mm jacketed bullets for him & 3 pairs of 7X57 dies. I can't think of anything else he'll need in the future.

This is the Thor , Ballisti-Cast , 7mm, 136 gr. with a nice hunting meplat on the nose. The meplat on the nose looks like it could cause feeding problems from the mag. box..........NOT SO ! !

 

[Glaciers]

Very nice Ben.
The 7x57 is an outstanding cartridge and in my opinion the only 7mm worth considering. It might be obvious that I’m a 30 caliber guy.
The 7x57 is in a Winchester Featherweight is on my short list.
Trevor I’m sure enjoy that rifle.

 

[Ben]

He gets to shoot it now.
From the targets above, you can see, he is really liking the rifle.
Thanks,
Ben

 

[oscarflytyer]

Glacier - I'd have to argue a tad on the only 7. I really like the 284 Winchester! And hoping I like the 7-30 Waters (have two of those!)

Ben - That is just AWESOME! I am jealous of Trevor! I am sure he will cherish that rifle for decades to come!

 

[Ben]

I hope so too........
Thanks,
Ben

 

[Glaciers]

I was given by my BIL a 1917 Enfield 30-06 that was totally sporterized. I was 11. Yes I shot it and loved the punishment.
I still have that rifle but now it sports a 338-06 barrel.
So I can’t think that Trevor would not cherish this rifle forever.

 

[Uncle Grinch]

Now that’s what I call starting the young man out right!
You've got good taste Ben.

 

[Ben]

Thanks,

Ben

 

[CZ93X62]

That is an excellent hunting rig, Ben. The 7 x 57 Mauser is PLENTY of caliber for most of North America's game animals, especially in a modern action that can manage the full spectrum of European load intensities.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I have much respect for the 7 x 57mm Mauser, it is an outstanding cartridge. It terms of new rifles chambered for that cartridge, the 7mm-08 has just about killed it off. The 7 x 57 cartridge isn’t going away but it seems to have fallen out of favor as a chambering option for new rifles.

In addition to being an extremely versatile cartridge, it is also one of the oldest smokeless powder cartridges for a good reason – IT WORKS!

I think that is an EXCELLENT choice of cartridges. And for someone that loads their own, even better.

 

[Bret4207]

I can't think of a single thing wrong with your choice Ben. Despite my love for all things Elmer Keith, it doesn't take a 333 OKH to drop a whitetail. I think if more people used the 7x57 we'd have a lot less fat coyotes!!!

Well done Grandpa!!!!!

 

[Ben]

the 7mm-08 has just about killed it off. The 7 x 57 cartridge isn’t going away but it seems to have fallen out of favor as a chambering option for new rifles.

Isn't it interesting that in America, if a cartridge has an X in the middle of the name, hunters , reloaders and potential gun buyers have a tendency to avoid it. i.e. - - 6.5X55 mm, 7X57mm, 8X57mm .

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I'm not sure the x in the name or metric designation is the killer but there is something to what you wrote.

Perhaps it's not the name but the age of the cartridge or the origin on the name having a foreign connection.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Excellent caliber for sure. When I was looking for a rifle for my wife the Ruger LWT in 7x57 kept showing up. I wanted a 257 and would have loved the RSI. Ended up with a Contender Carbine in 7x30 cause she choose it!!!

Bed that THOR bullet. Is that a NOE? I have the 288-132. It appears identical.
I have only just started load search with Cast in the 7x30 but so far the soup can and that NOE do not care for 3031. 2400 is loaded and ready for next trip. Unique is in line and appears to be working well for you!!

CW

 

[Ben]

a foreign connection.

That may carry more weight than anything else.

 

[Ben]

Bed that THOR bullet. Is that a NOE?

Here it is . It is a Ballisticast mould.

https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/7-mm-thor-mould.8660/

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

This is the NOE Mold. Its very close to your THOR.

 

[Bret4207]

Isn't it interesting that in America, if a cartridge has an X in the middle of the name, hunters , reloaders and potential gun buyers have a tendency to avoid it. i.e. - - 6.5X55 mm, 7X57mm, 8X57mm .

Nah, the 7.62x39, the 9x19, etc do very well. It's just that the 7x57 isn't NEW!!!!!!!! And Improved!!!!!!!

 

[Glaciers]

If it was 7x57 Ultra something or other, that would raise sales.
Ran into a friends son at the last gun show got talking and he mentioned that he was looking for a 300 Ultra Mag. I asked why. He said he’s interested in long range shooting. I didn’t ask whether it’s long range shooting or hunting. Didn’t want to know.
Well wiz-bang sells.

 

[oscarflytyer]

imho - it's not the X in the name. It's everyone thinking/wanting the latest gee-whiz high speed whirlygig. Newer is somehow supposed to be better. I LOVE my 45-70s, 30-30s, 32 WS, 32L AND 6.5x55s (3)! I want a 7x57. I love all the gee whiz around the 6.5 Creedmor. I will keep my 6.5x55 TYVM. Oh yeah, and forgot the 257 Bob!

I also see the same thing in bullets and bullet design. A lot of people think they need the latest copper expensive bullet designs for whitetails. I still shoot and prefer a simple older Speer HotCor design. Never failed me in any caliber used so far. Same for the older design Nosler Partition. My fav story: Kid I used to coach was in the LGS, looking for 270 ammo. He was looking at all the Barnes/Fusion, et al. I asked him if he was going elk hunting. "No. I am tired of loosing all my whitetails. They run off/never recovered." He was using some fancy bullet. I recommended the Remington Corelokt. Saw him 5 yrs later. Hadn't lost a whitetail since!