Rifle Cartridge Review: 7mm Mauser 

I've been a 7X57 fan since 1977. Today, I have a custom mauser and Ruger No.1 in 7mm. My favorite load for deer and antelope is the Speer 130 gr with 52gr 4350. For larger game I like 140gr Nosler with 50 gr 4350. None other than Jack O'connor, Jim Carmichael, and Craig Boddington used and spoke highly of the cartridge. I was raised to hunt, in other words to get close (300yds max.). Do that and the great 7X57 will never fail you.

🤔 I think the most important lesson that we should take away from the 7x57's rise to Fame is: While the cartridge doesn't have high velocities and though shot placement is important, the real reason for it becoming famous had to do with the importance of Bell choosing the right bullet for African game! 🐘🦏🦁 Proper Bullet Selection Goes Along Way in Hunting Success! 🎓 Bell demonstrated that you don't need to be using a "Magnum Cartridge" to kill the World's Biggest Game! 😏 Now That is Something to REALLY THINK ABOUT, especially for the younger generation that is getting constantly "proselytized" and being "brainwashed" into thinking that they "Need a Magnum" to be a successful hunter! ☹ Nothing could be further from the Truth! 🙄

Some dozen or so years ago, Winchester produced a limited run of the 7x57 Model 70 Featherweights. These were made in the SC/FN facility for that year’s Shot Show. Having read a number of articles by Craig Boddington about the 7x57, I bought one of these rifles for my daughter. After she killed a deer with it, the rifle became hers and a “keeper!” The 7x57 is really a great round for hunting at ethical distances. Factory 7x57 ammo, while loaded by attorneys, is plentiful. And there’s always hand loading to get the best from the round. From antelope to elephants, the 7x57 over performs the numbers on paper, simply metal versatility! Great post, thanks for sharing!

I have a 7x57 that my grandfather built off a Belgian-made Serb contract Mauser that he bought out of the bargain barrel at the Tulsa gun show in the 60's. Has a fiddleback walnut stock that he and a buddy cut the tree for, milled at said buddy's lumber mill, and then he handmade the stock from one of the blanks. Has a hand-jeweled bolt, an "internally adjusted"" timney trigger that a stiff fart will set off, Williams aperture sights, the works. The quality, craftsmanship and fit and finish is of a level that you'd only find in rifles made by companies like H&H, Westley Richards, etc.. I love climbing a tree stand with it during deer season. Shame brass is so hard to find from companies of higher quality than S&B or PPU. Hopefully someday we'll see a resurgence from brands like Nosler and Norma.

My response to an online You Tube video on Winchester's Model 70 bolt action sporting rifle, modern manufacture without sights and intended for mounting a scope. ---Jim Farmer The 7mm Mauser (7x57) was developed originally in 1892 as a military caliber, primarily for Spain, Mexico, Central America, and half of South American governments. Their Armies (soldiers) utilized it extensively. In addition to being chambered in Mauser bolt action rifles, the 7mm Mauser was even chambered in machine guns. In fact, in 1913 during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) a version of the Japanese Arisaka bolt action rifle was produced for the Government of Mexico. This caliber also saw extensive use during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) by both Fascist and Republican factions. No doubt the 7mm Mauser even saw some, but limited use, during both World War 1 (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945). Not to mention the Spanish American War (1898), and South Africa's Boer War (1899-1902). So much for the military history on the 7mm Mauser. Sporting use: The 7mm Mauser (7x57),along with the .30-06 Springfield and .375 Holland and Holland Magnum historically, is a world caliber. Africa, India, Europe, North America, and elsewhere it's seen over a century of use hunting big game of the world. Even today (2023) the 7mm Mauser would be an ideal classic dual purpose "deer/elk" caliber for the average North American hunter who wishes to fill the family freezer with fresh venison and elk meat. A quality bolt action sporting rifle such as this gorgeous Winchester Model 70 chambered in 7mm Mauser (7x57), topped with a good 4x scope, and carry sling would give an entire lifetime of service to it's owner. This is one caliber that deserves to be far more popular than it is. It's also highly useful to both sexes, including youth and women who desire a rifle with lethal killing power on big game, yet has noticeably less recoil than a .30-06 and .270. James A. "Jim" Farmer Merrill, Oregon (Klamath County) Long Live The State of Jefferson! Reply Continuing on. The 7mm Mauser (7x57) would not only be an ideal "deer/elk" hunting caliber, but likewise for caribou and moose in Canada and Alaska. Remember proper bullet placement is the key. There remains no substitute for proper shot placement and accuracy. The average North American hunter remains over-gunned and over-scoped anyway. Sometimes less is more. Even a .300 Savage will kill the vast majority of North American big game. With modern bullets, smokeless powders, primers, etc. all rifle calibers can be vastly improved over what they formerly were decades and generations back. This would likewise include the .30-40 Krag (1892), 7.62mm Russian or 7x54R (1891) as chambered in the Model 1891 and1891/30 bolt action Mosin-Nagant rifle, and .303 British (designed in 1887-1888 and first loaded with Cordite in 1892). Putting fresh meat, including venison in the freezer, remains the goal, even into the 21st century. The Apostle Paul in the New Testament (Holy Bible) writes: "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving." --- 1 Timothy 4:1 James A. "Jim" Farmer Klamath County, Oregon

Is the 7x57 still relevant? Well I no longer own a 7mm mag. and since I own two custom 7x57 rifles I don't believe I'll ever want a 7mm08 so in my world it is very relevant. It is one cartridge I would never get rid of.

Two and a half decades ago I took a Stone sheep and a mountain caribou in the Yukon with a 7X57 using 160gr Partitions. I ended up rebarreling that rifle to 257 Roberts. My current 7X57 is a recent M70 Lightweight Supergrade. It is my second-favorite cartridge all-time, right behind my beloved 25-06. Thanks for the vid!

Thanks for your post. I've had a 7x57 Mauser rifle for a good while. It is a great shooter. Looking back on history, Teddy Roosevelt's troops were plummeted at San Juan Hill, in Cuba during the Spanish American war. The Cubans were firing the 7mm Mauser.

The 7x57 is definitely a hand loader special. In a medium length action such as my custom sporterized 1914 Kar. 98 you can seat the bullet far enough out take full advantage of the 7x57's case capacity. In that mode it will do anything the 7mm-08 will do and more. The original pressure of the 7x57 in the Mauser model 93 action was 50,370 CUP. Although some say there is no really accurate formula to convert Copper Units of Pressure (CUP) to Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI), one of the formulas said to be the most accurate converts the 50,370 CUP to 58,458 PSI. New hand loaders should be aware that these numbers are not interchangeable. Confusing them can lead to disaster. The old CUP method of measurement can not detect the pressure spikes that the modern piezo transducer PSI measuring methods can detect. Steel in old guns does not degrade with age but any gun with heavy rust or corrosion should be be avoided. With all that said you should probably stick with the 98 actions or newer if you're going to push the 7x57 and always watch for pressure signs. Most 7x57 shooters in the US are probably most familiar with the 139 or 140 grain loadings at 2700-2800 fps but not much attention is paid to the heavier bullets. The gentleman I got my Husqvarna 9.3x62 Mauser from, grew up hunting in Africa and now arranges African safaris. He pointed out what the 7x57 can do with quality, well constructed 175 grain bullets. Anything up to the size up to the size of Kudu or Eland up to 300 yards. The 7x57 is best with a 24" barrel. The Nosler 175 grain Acccubond Long Range bullet has ballistic coefficient of 0.648 and sectional density of 0.310. At a muzzle velocity of 2574 fps it show 2575 ft lbs of kinetic energy. When sighted just slightly more than 3.5" high at 100 yards or dead on at 250 that load reached its apex at 3.95" above the line of sight at 150 yards before falling to 4.5" low at 300 yard while still traveling at 2184 fps with 1854 ft lbs remaining energy. Even at 350 yards when it down a little over 10" is still clocking 2122 fps with 1750 ft lbs remaining energy. The good old Nosler Partition in the same weight with BC 0.519 does not shoot quite as flat but holds its own. At 300 yards its down to just a little under 2100 fps and slightly over 1700 ft pounds remaining energy and still only about 4.75 below line of sight. Even at 350 yards when it's down 11.5" it's still over 2000 fps with 1580 ft lbs remaining energy. The above numbers are maximum loads from the current Nosler manual and are for strong actions such as the 98 Mauser and should be approached with caution they show the real potential of the 7x57 Mauser cartridge. Your mileage may vary. The maximum powder charge show is 20 grains less than shown for the maximum velocity with the same weight bullet in the 7 Rem Mag. In an equal weight rifle that means considerably less recoil and muzzle blast. With bullets in the 140-160 grain weights the hand loaded 7x57 gets pretty close to 270 Winchester factory loads. A good rifle for Whitetails to Elk at any ethical shooting distance. Happy hunting boys and girls!😊

My first encounter with a bolt action center fire rifle as a child belonged to a neighbor. It was a Spanish Mauser 7x57.. I remember the teenage son of the neighbor taking the old Mauser out in his back yard and shooting through about a 6in pine tree . I remember the neighbor saying to his son that it was too much gun for him . That was amazing to me to see a bullet pass though a tree. I was at that time shooting 22s and shot guns. Never owned a 7x57. Read may of the books of hunters that used the 7x57. It does have one hell of a reputation in the field of hunting that is hard to surpass. That is what made me start deer hunting with the 7mm Rem mag in my older years. Thinking it was just more of the same as the 7x57. An old Rigby Mauser in 7x57 would be a fantastic rifle to own

Remington rolling block 7x57 is the biggest reason for low pressure loadings

Low recoil leads to accurate shooting Also makes a good stalking rifle with a 160 bullet have shot every thing form Springbuck to Kudu

I have an old M1893 "Spanish" Mauser in this chambering, and I really liked it, overall, as a platform. The previous owners weren't the most kind to it, and it loved to give me keyholes, but I loved he cartridge and there were a lot of things to learn from whole experience of it. I liked the cartridge enough that I now have a Shaw Semi-Custom Savage 110 in the chambering. It's a great deer cartridge.

Just got one at a gun show , 1909 mauser action , 26” barrel , marked .275 Rigby

Mauser’s first smokeless cartridge was the 7.65x53. Development started in 1889 and was completed in the 1891 Mauser. It was used by Belgium, Turkey, and Argentina. The 7.92x57 was developed by the German military.

Years ago I planned a trip to Africa for plains game so I built for myself a 7x57 for the historic feel. It is based on a military Mauser action with custom bolt ,Winchester safety and custom double set triggers. beautiful Walnut stock with cheek piece copied from an Abercrombie and Fitch stock. Barrel sling swivel of course. No sights and a 3x9 scope. It awes people still when I display it and it shot very well and did the job on medium size game.

any modern 7x57 rifle can shoot to higher pressures. it does not have to be a custom rifle as stated in the video. Great video! Thanks for speaking on the 7x57. Hopefully people will take interest again and appreciate a great cartridge! 7x57=grand daddy of alot of our modern cartridges!

Very important to watch you're loading pressures

7x57 is my favorite cartridge. I killed my first deer in the west Texas Permian basin using a borrowed Mexican Mauser. 16 years later, I found a sporterized Mexican small ring short action model 98 mauser made by FN for Mexico. I paid to much for it but I didn't care. I customized that rifle for me and put better optics on it and started hand loading at above saami pressures. It has accounted for deer pigs, turkeys from 400 yards, and in. Quick kills no lost animals. That rifle is now retired as I purchased a ruger M77 with a tang safety in 7x57. I got a nice 10 point last season with it. 1 shot small recoil. 4350 powder and 140gr bullets seated 1 to 2 thousandths out past 3 inches gives good accuracy and runs around 2800 fps. The cartridge is a genius design. To bad America is addicted to excessive recoiling .30 calibers.

Thanks for your post. From three generations I am having 7×57 WJ Jeffery in my family and one of my favorite.

Used to be able to order them out of the back of Boys Life magazine for five to ten bucks. Had two in the seventies. Also have a 7mm rem mag. The 7mm uses a lot less powder to reload, and a lot less recoil. Unless I am making a shot over 300 yds. I'll take the 7mm.

I have a Mauser 98 , 7 x 57 , sporterized , new barrel and wooden stock best deer rifle I have great Cartridge. bought it used back in late 1970's glad I did never disappointed.

I have a 1st edition Speer dated 1979 and it looks like most bullet manufacturers did pretty much lawyered up except Nosler. It would be a great round in a modern rifle

I have a PRE WWII Mauser 98 action COMMERCIAL with a KRUPP BARREL, SPOON BOLT HANDLE AND TWIN SET TRIGGERS (MATCHING NUMBERS) in 7mm Mauser. Unfortunately it doesn't have the original stock but does have a NICE BOYD STOCK. It's in pretty good condition considering how old it could be all the way back to the early 1900's. It would be QUITE EXPENSIVE to make NOW with the Krupp barrel (hexagon shape at the receiver with a full length raised rib and express iron sights). What do you think? 🤔😁👍

Love the 57mm rounds, I own a plethora of them, both standard and improved. The 8x57 is already improved. My next custom Mauser will be a 6.5x57 improved, also known as the 260 aar. The 7x57 has been my favorite mule deer rifle for years. 145 grain Speer @ 2800 fs

I have not shot a lot of different calibers. But enough to know that 7mm -08 is simply the new perfect cartridge l. 7mm mauser is the original perfect cartridge. They say everything goes full circle. And it has. 130 years ago they figured out that the perfect middle of the road that can do it all was 7mm mauser. Then people went magnum power, overbore, different things all the way around it. But now in 2024, the wheels have stopped spinning and the one thing that’s relevant to everyone is a 7mm bullet at a little less than 3000 fps. Because you get it all. What i mean by all, is efficiency. Lower recoil, less material such as the powder, brass and bullet material. So for a good price and a good recoil and enough power to take whatever you can hit. It’s really hard to beat 7mm-08. And i would imagine barrel life is also pretty long as well. Pretty bard to beat that track record.

For clarity, the original cartridge - 8x57mm - was designed by the same panel (commission) who designed the German 1888 Commission rifle. This round is now known as the 8mm Mauser. In 1898 Paul Mauser designed the Model 98 rifle using the same cartridge (likely for simplicity) and I suspect this began the title of "8mm Mauser". I could be wrong. Of note, all the Mauser titled rounds are essentially the same case, save for the diameter of the bullet and forming the case to fit. Reloaders probably already know this, but that .473 inch diameter (real close to 12mm in metric) is the same size for all the Mauser cases (not sure about any 'African calibers'), the U. S. .45 ACP, the .30-06 and all the derivatives therefrom. Same shell holder. I must agree, that round was a watershed. The 7x57mm Mauser is just about perfect. 7mm-08; probably the best of the 'modern' versions. Essentially duplicates the performance of the 7x57mm while allowing a shorter - more or less - action. Also, the round is no longer limited by the lesser chamber pressure of the 1892 action. .280 Remington is a 7mm-06. Not a bad round, but a bit more velocity and likely a 'standard' length action. None of that needed for us mortals who typically shoot game under 250 yards. Same applies to all the higher powered rounds. More velocity, range, noise and expense. Probably to no practical use. Unless one's preference is to shoot game at 600 yards and over. As noted in the video, the round was originally chambered in the 1892 (version) Mauser rifle. SAAMI rules that action - and one finds many about - is not suitable for the higher pressure rounds, so 7x57mm factory loads are 'weaker' in that regard. However, W. D. M. (Karamojo) Bell killed about 800 elephants with that original 'weak' load. Old man's note: Lack of competence cannot be made up by greater horsepower. After all that jabber (of mine) I have to agree with the speaker in the video. It IS a useful cartridge right now.

I have a 7x57 R in a drilling. Same cartridge, but rimmed. The drilling has two 12 gauge shotgun barrels. I have an adjustable mortise barrel in 7x57R that I can put in the left shotgun barrel. It is a great gun for stalking. A short gun with 24 inch barrels.

Excellent content 😎

Love my 7x57 mauser very accurat out of my brno butter knife bolt handel. head shots at 300 yards on any animal

Thus the .257 Roberts and 6mm Remington were born.

The sheer volume of Mauser 98 rifle variants produced is staggering. I recently watched an unboxing of a crate of M98 rifles from either Brazil or Argentina. The crate had never been opened. All the guns were still in working condition after degreasing. I believe the production date of the rifles was 1937. This video is on RU-vid.

Bought a new rifle 9/73’ it was a Ruger 77 7x57. Did a lot of bench work with different powders and bullets in 74’. For me the optimum load back in the day and my go to load is I4350 with Speer 145 spbt bullets. Can’t remember the velocity. My friend had an Ohler chronograph that took forever to set up. Think I was shooting around 2800-2900 fps out of the 22” barrel. Can’t remember the guys name maybe Ken Waters, had an article on his loads for the 7x57 which were on the hot side. I still have some Norma 205 from those days. I liked the mild kick of the 7x57 and much more tame than a 30-06. With 175 grain bullets it would thump me and velocity suffered. I was swapping barrels from the 7x57 to a Shilen 24” heavy 6mm barrel with 1-12” twist (.244 Rem) for over ten years then early 90’s Remington came out with the Remington 700 mountain Rifle in 7x57 and I picked one up. The 244 barrel has been on the Ruger action ever since. That rifle in the late 70’s was morphing into a Varmint rifle with Lee Six Beavertail stock, CanJar set trigger and 4-12 Redfield scope. The rifle when I bought was bare and I put a Leupold M8 4x on it. Could hold an inch group with it at 100 before mods just glass Bedding. In the glass stock with set trigger and 4x12 scope shot 1.75” at 300 yards in a stiff wind. Same loads. I still have the original barrel and red butt Ruger stock. The mountain rifle is pretty much factory except it’s in a Lee Six glass Sporter style stock. I never worked with loads on that rifle. Just seated the bullets back to factory oal. Shot around an inch at 100 off the hood of my car. Close enough I knew the ballistics. My first center fire rifle was a Rem 788 in 222 Rem. That rifle spoiled me for accuracy. I’ve had to work for that in all subsequent rifles but 7x57 held its own when I found which bullets it liked best then powder. I4350,,, I think if you look at the 222 Rem it seems to be a miniature 7x57.

I don’t have 7mm Mauser. But my introduction to the 257 Roberts was when I reloaded some rounds for a friend. These cases were resized 7x57 M, with the 7x57 head-stamp. Fell in love with the 257 Roberts and have owned on now for 38 years. Considering it’s parent how can the offspring not be good?

It's the parent case of the 6mm rem or 244rem

Power wise cartrige

All the reloading books I have show reduced loads for the 7x57. They do this because there are so many old Mausers that the strength of is unknown. I have loaded for the 7x57 for many years and I do load my handloads somewhat higher than almost all my books show. The 7mm08 will not match my loads as far as velocity unless you are willing to load higher than the book which I do not recommend.

The use of this cartridge by the Spain in Cuba in the Spanish American war really showed the US that they were behind on cartridge design, which led to the progression to the 30-06.

A perfectly good cartridge, but with the baggage of something designed over 130 years ago. A lot has been learned in the last century about making a cartridge consistently accurate, and actions have become stronger, in that time. In particular, the 7mm-08 has what was once called a "match-style" chamber vs a 15° forcing cone. Still, the 7x57 is very capable and can be pushed well beyond its original performance even while holding to SAAMI pressure limits. If you like heavy bullets, 175 grain factory ammo is even available for it. The 7x57 case can hold roughly 5 grains more powder, so in a strong action, it can even slightly out-perform the 7mm-08, but it would need to be pushed beyond its original pressure specs to do so.

I own a 1914 Spanish 7x57, received it as a Christmas present when I was 13. I’m no 51. I love the rifle, but I’m afraid the barrel is shot out now. The original stock was sporterized when I got it. I’m thinking of using the action to build another hunting rifle.

I have a Ruger 77 in 7x57 that I bought in the late 1980's. About 5 years ago I had a custom trigger put in it. Just this year I updated it by putting a new barrel and custom stock and had it bedded properly. I love this rifle, have taken approx 50 deer and 50 hogs with it. I might start experimenting with custom ammo to see what it likes best. Any suggestions?

Was wondering what reloading manual are you using

Is there a difference in 7 mm Mauser to a 7x57mm Mauser round would the 7x57mm round work in the 7mm Mauser rifle

👍🏻

Hello, what is the name of the book you have?

7mm-08 with Barnes 120gr bullets will do any white tail walking. Why go back to old school ?

Ackley the 7x57, you will enjoy!!!

First introduced in 1892 for the Spanish military rifle by Mauser. A great cartridge IF hand loaded for strong, modern rifles. Be careful of ancient rifles of dubious manufacture.

I have one those spanish civil war 7mm mauser

You have to really watch loading pressure. In the old Mauser

The 7x57 would be much more popular except for the young shooters, who feel they have to have some new wonderful round or they would never be able to hit a target. The new cartridges offer nothing except that ammo and gun manufacturers have no problem catering to this obsession.

When I learned about Mauser rounds I was baffled by America's failure in firearm tech.

With old-style rifles

Always use hand loads

I thought the 7×57 came first as it was being used in spanish rifles against the americans. Then they had to make a different one to be used in German rifles.

7mm mauser 😎

have a 1935 brazilian, for 35 yrs, was 29" long. due to some careless storage by prev owner, , pitting, i opted to sporterize 24" recess crown. turned bolt down. free float bbl. timney trigger 3x9x40 nikon monarch. puts sierra 140' into a 3/8 group, (3 shots) to this day. have proof. maybe the most accurate rifle i have had. 1-8 r..o.t. helps. using my own recipe. black bear, mule+ white tail, deer, moose, (griz 35 yrs back), and, this year 7x7 bull elk.9150 gr rem corloc) i have no doubt this will belong to my son one day. the steel butt plate = original. sling swivels=also, original (cut to sport length fore-end BEACH WOOD stock.. flat-ish out to 300 yds

I have an 1893 sporterized military Spanish Mauser "Loewe Berlin" that belonged to my great grandfather. I think it was made in 1895 according to s/n). It is in beautiful and almost "like-new" condition with the most fantastic blued finish. Beautiful stock as well. I think he must have bought it in maybe the 1930's-1950's for deer hunting. Anyway, I'd like to shoot it and I see that factory 7x57 ammo is both kind of scarce and expensive. My question is, can I shoot factory-made PPU, S&B, or Remington ammo in it, assuming that the rifle is perfectly sound? Like 139 or 140 grain soft points? Thanks!

The 7x57mm is an interesting cartridge. I thought about a project using the 7x57mm, but I am going with the 280AI instead.