cal30_sniper
Member
Hey all, new guy here. I've lurked forever, but this is my first post.
I've found a M98 Mauser action with a replacement 7x57 AI barrel in the local area for sale. The barrel and action are both nicely blued with a medium/heavy sporter contour of 22", and the bolt appears to be beautifully worked (polished with a very nice handle). It has a well fitting but cosmetically used stock, a Redfield/Leupold style 1-piece scope mount and turn in rings, and a single stage trigger. The price is $375.
I'm thinking this is a great deal. The work was done by a reputable gunsmith out in Arizona that has since passed away. I've got two M95 Chileans already, as well as three M96 Mausers: two sporters and one in military original condition. I love all of them, but I am just not comfortable loading up close to max specs with the poor gas-relief of the small ring action. One of the M95s is a beautifully sporterized 7x57 that is my go-to deer rifle, but I've been looking for a M98 for a while in 7x57 or 6.5x55. I like the idea of the Ackley Improved, because I can still fire my mid-range 7x57 loads through it, but also create much hotter AI loads that can only be fired through the M98 (won't chamber in the standard 7x57).
Does anyone here have any experience with 7x57 AI? Would I notice a difference in performance between 45k CUP 7x57 small ring loads and full power 7x57 AI loads that is significant enough to justify loading for a second caliber? From the reloading data I've poured over, it looks like I can pick up 200-300 fps with the higher pressures and bigger case. I shouldn't need anything more to reload the AI than fireforming and a neck-sizing die, correct? Seems like a perfect match, especially since I really don't want to have 7x57 loads sneaking around in the gun cabinet which would be dangerous if accidentally fired in one of the 95s. Opinions?
Thanks guys.
I've found a M98 Mauser action with a replacement 7x57 AI barrel in the local area for sale. The barrel and action are both nicely blued with a medium/heavy sporter contour of 22", and the bolt appears to be beautifully worked (polished with a very nice handle). It has a well fitting but cosmetically used stock, a Redfield/Leupold style 1-piece scope mount and turn in rings, and a single stage trigger. The price is $375.
I'm thinking this is a great deal. The work was done by a reputable gunsmith out in Arizona that has since passed away. I've got two M95 Chileans already, as well as three M96 Mausers: two sporters and one in military original condition. I love all of them, but I am just not comfortable loading up close to max specs with the poor gas-relief of the small ring action. One of the M95s is a beautifully sporterized 7x57 that is my go-to deer rifle, but I've been looking for a M98 for a while in 7x57 or 6.5x55. I like the idea of the Ackley Improved, because I can still fire my mid-range 7x57 loads through it, but also create much hotter AI loads that can only be fired through the M98 (won't chamber in the standard 7x57).
Does anyone here have any experience with 7x57 AI? Would I notice a difference in performance between 45k CUP 7x57 small ring loads and full power 7x57 AI loads that is significant enough to justify loading for a second caliber? From the reloading data I've poured over, it looks like I can pick up 200-300 fps with the higher pressures and bigger case. I shouldn't need anything more to reload the AI than fireforming and a neck-sizing die, correct? Seems like a perfect match, especially since I really don't want to have 7x57 loads sneaking around in the gun cabinet which would be dangerous if accidentally fired in one of the 95s. Opinions?
Thanks guys.
