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Did Savage make them? Does anyone have one? If so, what kind of luck did you have with it?
Getting frustrated with my Ruger 77 Hawkeye in 7x57, but I do like the caliber a lot. If that rifle doesn't work out, I'm going to build a Savage in 7x57. Wondering if I can squeeze it into a short action if I have a barrel with a short throat?
Do you have some fore end pressure added on that Ruger? Every Ruger I own shoots a lot better with fore end pressure.
It had forend pressure originally. Shot like crap. So I relieved it (hence the thread) completely and now free-floated the barrel. Shoots a little better, but not a lot. As poorly as it shot with the up pressure from the stock, I'm not willing to go back that direction. I may try to fit an O-ring or two under the barrel to try and absorb some vibration and see what happens, but with a hunting rifle, I really don't like the idea of the stock touching the barrel. I can often be hunting in the 40 degrees and rain one day, and 75 and sun the next. Happens all the time down here.
If I do end up going with up pressure from the stock, it will be with a synthetic stock only.
What twist and bullet?
My older M77 was built with a faster twist and loooong throat to accommodate the traditional long heavy round nose bullets that gave the 7x57 its reputation as an outstanding hunting round. I use Hornady 175 gr RN, nice groups, penetrates, easy on the meat. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/106...ose-box-of-100
Presuming due diligence applied to scope and mounts ;-)
Savage made a limited run of 110WLE in 7x57 a while back. Good luck finding one. They show up on auction sites maybe once a year. I bet you could re-barrel a Savage .270 or 30-06 with little change. I read your other post and see you have the full stock RSI. Those can be very temperamental. Mannlicher stocks with their end caps can be trouble. The RSI has a very thin barrel that over heats quickly. With mine I shoot 3 rounds and then let it cool down before attempting another 3 shot group. Its a .308 that has never grouped as well as my Savages or even my standard Ruger 77's. I use mine as brush/timber carbine with 100-150 yard max range. I love the way it points and carries but I have never had a lot of confidence in its accuracy.
The 30-06 RSI I had shot so poorly I sold the thing in disgust. Hand loads, factory loads, it didn't matter, groups were over 3" at 100 yards.
I have a sporterized 92 Mauser in original 7x57 that I acquired in New Mexico back in 1972 for the princely sum of $60. I don't know who the gunsmith was that altered it but, he altered the bolt handle, shortened the barrel to 20", D&T'd it and reshaped the original military stock into a Mannlicher with nose cap and did an excellent job. The action is still bedded in the stock as it came from DWM's arsenal in 1899 and the rifle will group into .800" for me at 100 yards all day and 1.70" at 200 yards with a Hornady 162 grain A-Max.
If you want to stay with the 7mm Mauser cartridge, getting one made by one of the barrel companies is an option.
ER Shaw will make you a Savage barrel in 7x57 or 7x57 AI.
Savage offered the 7x57 in 1976 and 1977, then again in 1992 and 1993.
Thanks all. I still have a while before I decide what to do with my RSI, but if I do sell it, I am thinking I may build a Savage in 7x57. I really like that caliber. Yes, I know it's basically a longer 7mm08, but it's got that cool, classic factor. You just don't see many people shooting 7mm Mausers anymore.