Does anyone here shoot a Remington rolling block in 7x57? I am trying to find out the best bullet weight to load for my rifle. I was looking for lead cast bullets, but now am thinking 7mm bullets I use for my Mauser 7x57. Any ideas?
Rolling Block
- Thread starter Igiveup
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STORMINORMAN
Member
To my knowledge your 7x57(SM?) Rolling Block is a 7x57 Mauser and Mauser 7x57 ammo and 7mm and/or .284" bullets should suffice.
Mine has shot both the factory S&B 173gr SPCE and the 139g SP from PPU with no problems: that's where I get my brass to reload. I don't load them much higher than modern mid-range to begin with. Very accurate and soft shooting!
If you have concerns just have a gunsmith inspect your Rolling Block: excessive headspace and/or a worn out chamber or barrel can present an issue, but these rifles are pretty rugged in both construction and materials.
Cheers!
Mine has shot both the factory S&B 173gr SPCE and the 139g SP from PPU with no problems: that's where I get my brass to reload. I don't load them much higher than modern mid-range to begin with. Very accurate and soft shooting!
If you have concerns just have a gunsmith inspect your Rolling Block: excessive headspace and/or a worn out chamber or barrel can present an issue, but these rifles are pretty rugged in both construction and materials.
Cheers!
Ivan the Butcher
Member
175 gr RN, FMJ OR SOFT POINT. Hornady makes them.
Ivan
Ivan
Photog
Member
Not for many years. That was my favorite bullet to use and it is very hard to come by today.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
In my Rugar No 1 I like the 275 RIGBY load. The true load is too hot for Rolling Block rifles, but it uses a Jacked 154 Semi-Spitzer soft point.
I doubt they will shoot to the sights.
Ivan
I doubt they will shoot to the sights.
Ivan
OP
STORMINORMAN, does the heavier bullet work best for your rifle? I was told the 175 gr. was a good choice because it is close to the original military bullet.
STORMINORMAN
Member
Kevin: I have only shot a few rounds with the heavier bullets, mostly to confirm POA vs. POI. I do believe it is a good choice. Brass in both cases (PPU & S&B) resized easily.
Cheers!
Cheers!
deadin
US Veteran
I have not reloaded for rifle in years, but I seem to remember that flat base vs. boattail can make quite a difference in some calibers as to accuracy.
Keep breech pressures 40K and under for the Rem RB in 7x57.
Figure loads rated for the pre-98 Mauser rifles in 7x57 are OK.
I used to use Starting Loads published and left it at that.
Seems to me that Remington made the bbls to a slightly larger bore&groove spec than what is used today for a 7mm as well.
Remembering that at the same approx time, the 280Ross (1906) and the 28-30-120 Stevens (1900) ,,both 7mm cartridges used bullet dia's in the .287" size.
The Rem RB 7x57 chamber is cut with a longer HeadSpace spec than later commercial and Military rifle chambers.
It was just something done at the time. There was no SAAMI.
The Rem RB 7x57mm chamber has a HS spec that is anywhere from .006 to .013" larger/longer than the standard spec of todays 7x57 ammo/chamber.
That Rem RB HS spec is that much longer than the Mauser and commercial rifles of the same time as well. (NOT the OAL of the cartridge case)
That they vary within themselves that much plus the chambers can be oversize in diameter can cause reloading problems when resizing.
Another HS problem arises with a loose BreechBlock.
With the BreechBlock closed and the Hammer down all the way,,the BreechBlock on many rifles can be rotated back quite a distance.
Too far to be considered safe.
Again more excess HS and the creation of an out of square breech face.
The latter can sometimes leave you with cases that won't rechamber unless indexed back to the same loc as orig fired.
Loose/poor fitting hammer and BrBlock axel pins can add to the HS as the parts move back when a cartridge is fired.
These have to be replaced or refitted when tightening up one of these.
A RB in 7mm Mauser should have about .003/.004 max HS when measured with a feeler gauge betw a cartridge in the chamber and the face of the closed breech.
The Hammer is down so the Breech Block is locked and can only rotate back against the feeler gauge intrusion the total amt of it's thickness.
They are a strong action but do have their limits and some short comings.
Fun to work with and work on.
Good shooters generally.
Figure loads rated for the pre-98 Mauser rifles in 7x57 are OK.
I used to use Starting Loads published and left it at that.
Seems to me that Remington made the bbls to a slightly larger bore&groove spec than what is used today for a 7mm as well.
Remembering that at the same approx time, the 280Ross (1906) and the 28-30-120 Stevens (1900) ,,both 7mm cartridges used bullet dia's in the .287" size.
The Rem RB 7x57 chamber is cut with a longer HeadSpace spec than later commercial and Military rifle chambers.
It was just something done at the time. There was no SAAMI.
The Rem RB 7x57mm chamber has a HS spec that is anywhere from .006 to .013" larger/longer than the standard spec of todays 7x57 ammo/chamber.
That Rem RB HS spec is that much longer than the Mauser and commercial rifles of the same time as well. (NOT the OAL of the cartridge case)
That they vary within themselves that much plus the chambers can be oversize in diameter can cause reloading problems when resizing.
Another HS problem arises with a loose BreechBlock.
With the BreechBlock closed and the Hammer down all the way,,the BreechBlock on many rifles can be rotated back quite a distance.
Too far to be considered safe.
Again more excess HS and the creation of an out of square breech face.
The latter can sometimes leave you with cases that won't rechamber unless indexed back to the same loc as orig fired.
Loose/poor fitting hammer and BrBlock axel pins can add to the HS as the parts move back when a cartridge is fired.
These have to be replaced or refitted when tightening up one of these.
A RB in 7mm Mauser should have about .003/.004 max HS when measured with a feeler gauge betw a cartridge in the chamber and the face of the closed breech.
The Hammer is down so the Breech Block is locked and can only rotate back against the feeler gauge intrusion the total amt of it's thickness.
They are a strong action but do have their limits and some short comings.
Fun to work with and work on.
Good shooters generally.
OP
Great information! I'm in Reno, NV, right now, when I get home i will ty to build a light load for some fun shooting. Years ago I built a hunting rifle and have a good hunting round, but I want to down load for the 7x57.
Those old #5 rolling blocks chambered for the 7mm Mauser often have over sized chambers. I recommend using new brass and to anneal them before use to prevent case failure. Neck size only, and yes, keep pressures well below 40000 psi when reloading. 170 gr bullets should do fine.
I have a #5 with the rotary extractor that I had rebarreled to 38-55. Before doing so I took one shot with a mild 7x57 reload. The case split at the shoulder. FWIW the early #5s, made before 1902, had the bar type extractor.
John
I have a #5 with the rotary extractor that I had rebarreled to 38-55. Before doing so I took one shot with a mild 7x57 reload. The case split at the shoulder. FWIW the early #5s, made before 1902, had the bar type extractor.
John
It was mentioned about the strength of the action. The design makes it one of the strongest of its era. Dont know about its metalury though. I visited a mechanic one time and he was welding back together the hammer of one of these. He was not a gun guy but had one and was complaining about having to keep rewelding the hammer. Apparently, it wasnt his first failure. I asked him what ammo he was using. He said he shot cast bullets. I asked what lube he was using and what diameter he sized them to. He looked at me like I was an idiot. He repeated he shot cast bullet and what did I mean by lube and size. He was doing neither just straight out of the mold to the reloading bench. I asked what powder and charge. His reply was 12 gauge. I askeed again thinking I didnt hear him well. He was getting anoid at my question and he repeated 12 gauge powder. I told him there was no such thing. He assured me there was and he had been using it for years. I asked where he aquired such powder. He said any 12 gauge shell. He said if you cut a loaded 12 gauge apart, there is enough powder in 2 shotshells to fill the case of a 7x57! Then he started complaining again how poorly the Remington rolling block was and how the hammer keeps breaking after a few shots.
