7mm Mauser
Does anyone know which country used, uses, this round? I purchased a used Ruger 7x57 several years ago, and every deer I shot with it has literally fallen dead in its tracks. I have wondered about the origins of this round.
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I beleive it was Germany, and Mauser himself, but I could be wrong. It is still a very popular round in custom guns, and when loaded to it's true potential, it is a great bullet. The handloading books charge it wayyyy down, because they don't know if the person loading for it, is using an old military action with excessive headspace or a weakened action. Loaded for a modern rifle, it is a performer.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
I believe the round was first used in the 1893 Spanish Mauser in terms of large production. Also used a lot in South American countries.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
When I think about the 7mm Mauser, Spain comes to mind straight away. The Spanish were amoung the first to place large orders for Mauser rifles (of the Turkish pattern) chambered in this caliber and their use of these rifle and 7mm cartridge so impressed American military authorities during the Spanish-American War that we replaced our .30-40 Krag with the 1903 Springfield (a licensed Mauser copy) and developed the .30-03 cartridge which lead to the famous .30-06. The 7mm has always been very popular in Europe, Mexico and South America, although under appreciated here in the United States. Spain eventually phased out the 7mm cartridge in 1943 when they chose to adopt the then current 7.92 mm German service cartridge (long after the German's had adopted it). As a hunting cartridge the 7mm has a small but very loyal following and most consider it capable of anything which a .270 can do.
Mark T. Christian0 -
When the Boers went off to shoot English soldiers, they had a motto, "God and the Mauser". In that war the Mauser was the newest, most accurate, and reliable weapon in the world. They were referring to the 7mm. 0 -
The 7mm Mauser cartridge was developed with the Mauser Model 1892 for the Spanish government. It was soon replaced by the now-more-common Model 1893. Spain was the primary end-user for these rifles, but also armed her colonies with versions of the rifle. And, as mentioned, a few South African countries adopted the 7mm Mauser rifles for the Boer unpleasantness.
The Germans were already using an 8mm cartridge as early as 1888.
We like the 7mm Mauser round in short, lightweight rifles and build quite a few for female customers. One of my favorite personal rifles is a 7x57 Improved we put together on a Mark X action some years ago.
FFL Dealer, Class 07/02 Mfg0 -
The good old 7X57 is IMO one of the best cartridges ever designed. It's about perfect bore to case ratio and very efficient. I too chambered a few in the Ackley improved version but didn't find it as efficient and it didn't chamber as smoothly. A number of std cartridges have been made from it, including a couple staples with no changes other than necking: notably the 257 Roberts and 6mm remington. WDM Bell shot hundreds of elephants with this caliber standing on the shoulders of his gun bearer in tall grass. (now that's trust 
) He used heavy solid nose (175 gr) bullets and knew the anatomy of his prey very well. The only advantage the 7X51 which Remington took credit for ) as the 7 08, is the 7X57 requires a std length action. I've found the 7X57 to be more accurate though. Amazing how we really don't need all these "new" calibers when you get down to it ). GS0
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