SPANISH MAUSER 7X57 SKIN

The superiority of the 7mm was probably due its being loaded with the then new smokeless powder which was at that stage of its development making great improvements in propellants. The 7mm bullet had a flatter trajectory than its contemporaries because of greater muzzle velocity, which was a definite advantage in the eyes of the military. Apparently this was the round that later became known as the 7mm Mauser. Then, in 1892, Paul Mauser visited Spain, taking with him a new rifle and cartridge of his own design. This earlier gun is the вЂњSpanish Mauser, Model of 1891вЂќ. The 7.65mm Mauser rifles adopted by Belgium in 1889 and by Turkey a year later, had so proven their worth that Spain placed an order with Mauser in 1891 for 7.65mm Mausers of a slightly modified Turkish type. History is uncertain of the date of origin of the 7x57 cartridge. Me, I still prefer the old 7x57, although IвЂ™ll admit my preference may be strongly influenced by nostalgia. In my book, the 7mm-08 falls far short of what I would consider to be an adequate calibre for wapiti, and IвЂ™d draw the line at red stag and then, only within the 200 yard mark. Early summations that the 7mm-08 could be loaded with bullets heavier than 140 grains making it suitable for heavier game such as wapiti may have fired up the hoi polloi, but Ideally chambered in lightweight, short action rifles, the 7mm-08 combined mild recoil and superb accuracy with adequate killing power for medium-size game. It fits modern concepts of what a hunting cartridge should be better than does the 7x57. In factory ammo at least, then, the 7mm-08 is faster and flatter shooting.

SPANISH MAUSER 7X57 SKIN

So, the 7mm-08 drove the last nail in the coffin of the 7x57 which had been barely hanging on by the skin of its teeth. The 7mm-08 was developed for metallic silhouette shooting and according to tests carried out by Remington, at 500 yards it showed an edge of 238 fps and 750 lbs of energy over the. 308 case necked down, it fitted neatly into a short action, whereas the 7x57 needed a standard length action. Then suddenly in 1980 the 7mm-08 appeared on the scene, lofting out a 140gn bullet at 2860fps. Factory loads for the 7x57 were being loaded to moderate chamber pressures to drive a 140gn bullet at 2660fps in deference to all the old rifles still in use. A good example of this is what happened to the 7x57mm Mauser when the 7mm-08 appeared in 1980.

History shows that once a new factory cartridge of the same calibre with improved ballistics has been introduced, the skids are greased under the old one which will begin a steady slide in the oldsters popularity and eventually, into obscurity.

Spanish mauser 7x57