7x57 or 270 or 243?

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WisBorn said:
I would go with the 7X57 then the 243. I would pick a 7 mm-08 over the 7X57, but there is great history with the 7X57.
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The history bit you eluded to is very important, in fact. I personally believe that from a collector’s point view a 7x57 is a must have.

As much as I love elephants (for their majestic and adorable character) I will have to mention Walter D.M. Bell and his adventure in Africa with x57 - kind of explains why its such a caliber that can hunt anything; and so effortlessly. Check out the whole astonishing story if you are interested at: https://www.chuckhawks.com/bell_elephants.htm

troy fairweather said:
I'd buy it if I got the stimulus check. I my have to sell my Enfield and some other guns, I need this one.
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I am assuming 303 British? That is an other amazing round more so are the smooth actions of Enfield bolts. Amazing. I had one handed to me by my father but my cousin conned it from me stating that it was promised to him. I asked my father and he simple said there was no such promise except he used it occasionally but leave it if he is so bent upon having it. Coincidentally, he shot an old round that got stuck half way down the barrel. I offered to get it out and fix it but thinking that I might not give it back he safe queened it making some silly excuse not worth mentioning - this was back in 1992 or 93. I am sure of it that its rotting.

Since then I always thought of buying a similar one but did not come across a clean piece. The shorter ones with rubber on stock. Mark 5 Jungle Carbine.

Sorry for detour.

Newtosavage said:
If you are a hand loader, the difference between the 7x57 and the .270 are negligible. If you like heavier bullets, pick the 7x57. If you like lighter bullets, pick the .270.
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yep- x57 can be one rifle go around. You might find this interesting: https://www.rifleshootermag.com/edi...an-elevate-the-7x57-mausers-performance/83658

I wish I knew how to hand load and had all the apparatus available.

Sorry but I have to tell another story. One of my uncles was dying of terminal cancer. I went to see him and he took me on a tour of his house (he was an avid hunter and authority on guns in my neck of woods). He showed me his reloading machines etc among many of fine quality rifle collection mostly by Weatherby. Anyways I had tea, chatted a little and left.

Later when he died I asked my aunt about his collection. She told me some jerk off dealer made a really good offer and took everything but has not paid in full. I asked why did she not tell me. She said your uncle took you around to see all the stuff but you did not show any interest. Whereas out of politeness and etiquettes I had not asked a dying man to sell his stuff. I did appreciate everything in detail though. Lesson learned but oh well.
 
dieselchief said:
actual ownership and extended reloading tests have shown me that 7mauser, 6.5 swedes have typical long throats that like heavy for caliber ROUND nose bullets. doesn't help our anticipated velocity goals with lighter, more aerodynamic pointy bullets in the accuracy department.
….7-08. 6.5 cm, 243, 270 do not suffer in that department......just saying, dc
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That’s my experience too.
 
These questions and answers are purely subjective but this is my take. If I were looking for a PRACTICAL big game rifle to use on everything from deer to moose, and I were choosing from those three cartridges, the 270 would be the easy choice. It's ubiquitous. You won't walk in just any store and find 7mm Mauser ammo and the 243 is probably a bit light for the big critters.

From a collector's point of view the 7mm Mauser makes sense; however, for it to be put in the same class as a 270 requires you to get one in a modern rifle and handload. The old small ring Mausers can't shoot high pressure loads so factory ammo is kept low for that purpose. There's also the aforementioned issue with with the barrels on those old Mausers being taylored around the old heavy round nosed bullets.

If I knew I wasn't going to hunt anything bigger than deer, the 243 would be just fine.

All in all these are three very different options to choose from regarding the cartridge. All three will work just fine for deer and smaller.
 
Of the three mentioned, the 7x57mm is the most versatile. The .243 is a good cartridge, but seems to lack the weight and power for critters of any size. The .270 has a loyal following, but seems to focus on high velocity, which is a poor choice for anything significantly larger than elk. The 7x57mm has been taking all sorts of game since about 1892.

My thought would be a three gun battery, .243 Win, 7x57mm and .35 Whelen. Pick and choose for about anything in North America. That may violate your scenario, so...
 
troy fairweather said:
I need one in my life lol. Seriously I need to sell some stuff. That's about the perfect rifle for me.
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@troy fairweather I have always been a gun trader. If it's collecting dust and there is something else you want/need it's time to sell/trade to get that new rifle. That 280 AI is nice. I'm with you I like the 280 over a 270. And if the deer or elk is at 400+ yards I want my 7mm mag not a 270...
 
The 243 is the least versatile of the 3. While conceived as a dual purpose varmint/deer cartridge a lot has changed since 1955. Today it is really bigger than necessary for varmints, with more recoil than needed and it wears out barrels pretty fast when used in that role. The 22 caliber centerfires are a much better option for this anymore.

It used to be the basis for some good long range target shooting, but only with non standard loads and custom rifles designed for them. The 6mm Creedmoor has taken over that role.

In todays world it may be darn near perfect as a deer, or deer sized game cartridge. And while bigger game has been taken with a 243, it is really not a great choice.

I've never cared much for 270, but it performs exactly like it was designed to do. It will take any game animal in North America and take most of them at ranges farther than most have the skills to shoot. I can't really say anything bad about 270, I just like the 7mm's better

If looking for performance I'd choose 280, 7-08 or even 7mm Rem mag. But if nostalgia is important, and if you handload 7X57 can hang right with 270. 7X57 factory loads tend to be pretty anemic. The 270 will shoot same weight bullets 50-100 fps faster if you look at best handloads. But the more aerodynamic 7X57 will catch up at some point downrange. You also have the option of 175 gr bullets in 7X57 making it a better choice if the chance for truly big stuff ever comes up.
 
mustanger98 said:
On the other hand, barrels can be funny. Like Jack O'Conner said about taking five identical barrels, shooting indentical loads, and getting five different velocities. I'm also guessing those five barrels have different accuracy nodes. I've observed another guy's .270 that patterned like a shotgun at 50yds with factory-loaded 130's. Handloaded 150's over something like 50grs of IMR 4831 was a huge improvement out at 100yds, but AFAIK there hasn't been further development to see where the next node down is.
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Yes, I've seen similar things. Some chambers are tighter than others too, and will result in earlier pressure signs.

My reference to the light and heavy bullet preference was merely because of the options available to people when choosing between .277 and .284 projectiles. That's all.
 
Of the three I’d choose .243 every time. While newer cartridges have eclipsed it performance wise, they have yet to reach .243’s ubiquity. Because I’m longer in the tooth than I used to be, my choices allow my children an easy path to continue shooting if they so choose rather than hunting down ammo for obsolete chamberings.

That’s not to say I don’t have faith in the others, only that I’m willing to make small concessions (and I like .243). I’d recommend you have someone competent look at your BRNO as they’re known for smooth actions.
 
Newtosavage said:
If you are a hand loader, the difference between the 7x57 and the .270 are negligible. If you like heavier bullets, pick the 7x57. If you like lighter bullets, pick the .270.
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True!

Ackley did tests on the 270, and found that the large case capacity doesn't accomplish much. There is only 50 FPS difference between the .277 bullet on an 06 case and the same bullet on a 308 case.

There is only .007" difference in diameter between 7mm and .277".

The 270 and 7x57 (loaded to modern pressures) are very similar cartridges, though the 7x57 does seem to have an advantage with heavier bullets. I load mine with 162 grain bullets at 2750 FPS.
 
el Godfather said:
Hi
As a hunting rifle (bolt action 5 shot) which caliber would you prefer that you can also use on the farm (HD/Target/Plinking).

I personally lean towards the much under appreciated 7x57 Mauser. I find its recoil very smooth. I use an old Zastava made in Yugoslavia that has been kept by my father in a very good shape- good as new.

I also have a 243 by BRNO which is good caliber but the action on BRNO is stiff and not smooth. The caliber however is excellent flat shooting that takes care of all hunting needs if distance is adjusted for the game, BUT 7x57, in my opinion, does a better job. I believe even historically 7x57 has taken big game more than any other rifle.

That said, 270 always seemed to me as a weak 308 or 30-06. For it does the job not significantly better than 243 and may be about the same as 7x57 or perhaps slightly weaker. Thus, if I wanted something more powerful I would consider 308/30-06/7mag etc.

Your thoughts?
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.270 Win using 130 grain spitzer has flatter trajectory than a .308 or 30-06 and maintains higher velocity. I use it out to 400 +/- yards on deer and it drops them very well, aiming for the shoulder/lung/heart area.
 
There was another caliber that is lost to history of time, the .280 Ross (7mm). It was designed for the Canadian Ross Rifle, but rejected in favour of the 303 British. First practical cartridge to best 3000FPS using a 140g bullet. Performs similar to 270 Win and 280 Rem. In its day, it was superior to 7x57. I think it was first cartridge to be classified as "magnum". It's a semi-rimmed design. As a game round, it propelled the bullets of its day too fast causing fragmentation and failure on heavy game. Fine for CXP2 game, but unreliable for CXP3. 270 Win came around in 1925 and the rest is history.

400px-303vs280RossSB2007.jpg
303B(L), 280 Ross (R)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.280_Rosshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.280_Ross
 
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I really like all three calibers and have taken many deer with them. But the .270 (I've owned two) isn't weak or wanting in terminal results. I like the .30/06 as well and have owned and used two in the field.
 
Picher said:
270 Win using 130 grain spitzer has flatter trajectory than a .308 or 30-06 and maintains higher velocity.
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Gonna fact check this one and say no, but in fairness to both chamberings it’s nearly a photo finish.

Apples to apples winner.
18E56957-2812-4C6A-8A1B-6F5B22F846BC.jpeg


Apples to apples loser.
B522D4DB-640C-40E3-AFA0-F0C62A2642BE.jpeg

30-06 drops (winner).
56A7E12A-E357-4625-9371-39FC8CFA47B4.png


.270 Win drops (loser).
EAF96805-5DED-4FEF-9150-017F50FC1ED7.jpeg


And .308 (just for fun) comes in second.
4F5C97BE-3CC3-4788-B993-E8C6E444F7CA.png
 
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