7mm mauser reloading kit, help me pick

[Bionerd]

[God Bless America]

Classic cast single stage or turret press. Lee dies. Lee case trimmer, the cheap one is all you need. A tumbler, and calipers.

A digital scale. I have an RCBS scale dispenser, cannot imagine not having one, they make weighing sooooo easy. Get the lite version, I heard it is better. If that is more than you want to spend, a $30 midway digital scale works just fine.

I use RCBS or Frankfort spray lube. Get 2 loading trays.

Looks like H4831 is an appropriate powder.

[pennstater]

Bionerd,
I've loaded for the 7x57 Mauser for a long time. What rifle is yours? This is important. Older ones[1893, 1895], need to be loaded down a bit.1898 and up can be loaded a bit hotter. Modern 7x57's are good for what the manual's call for. I'd stay with 139 or 154gr Hornady Interlock's. Fairly inexpensive and can as accurate as any bullet you'll likely find. More info and I'd be glad to help.

[Tom-ADC]

[Bionerd]

Thank You!!

[fguffey]

I would not get into reloading the 7MM57 or 8MM57 rifles without the 8MM57 and 7MM57 case forming dies.

F. Guffey

[God Bless America]

I would not get into reloading the 7MM57 or 8MM57 rifles without the 8MM57 and 7MM57 case forming dies.

F. Guffey

PPU probably uses one to make the 7mm Mauser brass they sell for reloading. Don't think the 7mm Mauser cases need to be reformed to 7mm Mauser.

[Tom-ADC]

I have a 7Mm form die but unforunately its for making .257 Roberts out of 7 x 57 brass.

[bummer7]

I would not get into reloading the 7MM57 or 8MM57 rifles without the 8MM57 and 7MM57 case forming dies.

F. Guffey

F.Guffy,
I'm curious why you are suggesting the OP get a 7mm57 case forming dies. Please elaborate.
-s

[tonyjr]

What you need depends on your time and how much you shoot .
Others don't like the Lee hand loader - works , but takes time and good
to learn basics .
Probably your cheapest way to go .
If you go that route , you can still use to check OAL , and case length .
I would not cast your own - too much to learn .
Lee hand loader , then add [ later ] pocket reamer , case trimer [ only
if you shoot a lot ]
I / we reload 15 calibers and have a Lee hand loader for all except the
25 ACP [ loaded out and never returned ]
P S - read able the hand loader in the Lee reloading manual .

[Bionerd]

I would not get into reloading the 7MM57 or 8MM57 rifles without the 8MM57 and 7MM57 case forming dies.



F. Guffey

Please explain so I can learn, why would this be?
Thank you

[fguffey]

I do not look at anything through little beady eyes. I checked the price of new cases for the 7MM, 8MM and 7.65mm Mauser cases, I also checked the price of the 7.7 Japanese cases and the 257 Roberts etc. And then as I traveled I searched for cases like 30/06 cases that were new and or fired once and I looked for cases that were turned down by other reloaders.

I found 30/06 military cases in 5 gallon buckets no one had interest in because in appearance they were the worst of cases meaning the cases required cleaning, a lot of cleaning. And I found 3 belts of 30/06 cases on metal links. The cases that required the most effort when cleaning cost me one cent each; that was 1,400 cases for $14.00 dollars. And then one day I stopped by to visit Pat's reloading in Ohio. He had new pulldown 30/06 LC National match cases for a more than reasonable price. I purchased a few thousand thinking I would never need another 30/06 case for the rest of my life.

A reloader in the neighborhood came over and decided he would take me up on the offer to become a volume buyer the low price. I had to explain to him the offer was a one day thing because when I left shipping had to be added. Anyhow I called Pat, he made us a deal we could not refuse so we purchased a few more thousand.

Forming cases: I do not have an excuse for not forming cases for the Mausers, by the time I form 100 cases the tools are paid for and the next 100 cases cost me 14 cents plus time.

And then there is that thing about head space; I can not miss. The 30/06 case is is longer by .171" than the longest Mauser case. All I have to do is determine the length of the Mauser chamber from the shoulder to the bolt face when forming cases. I form the cases to off set the length of the chamber fire forming is not necessary.

And then there is that other problem, case manufacturers do not make cases for reloaders that know what they are doing. For the most part the cases they offer for sale are too short from the shoulder to the case head.

I love long cases and short forming dies.

F. Guffey

[Tom-ADC]

I've got 80 30-06cases 40 I think are Lake City, 20 Remington & 20 Winchester free FTF Chula Vista/Otay Mesa area.

[Whiterabbit]

I load for 7x57, it's my only CPX2 hunting rifle.

I load 140's (barnes), but PPU 140's, Sierra Prohunters shoot excellent also.

Also 160's and 175's shoot well but I don;t have the extended experience as the 140's. My opinion though is GTG.

E-tips suck.

H4350 is the powder I use. I've shot the targets at SLOSA out to 700 yards and made hits.

I use PPU brass and RCBS dies.

Very simple. It's the first cartridge I started loading, actually. 47 gr of H4350 for a 140 grain bullet.

[17+1]

RCBS dies, PPU brass, Varget powder, Lee single stage classic cast press.

If you have a large ring rifle most of the data is going to be super light like 35-37 grains of Varget for a 140ish grain bullet. Fine for plinking, sucks for knocking rams over at 500 meters.