CZ 550 7x57 at the range

[holmegaard]

Shot (3) 5-shot groups with each of the following:

- Nosler Trophy Grade, 140 grain Accubond
- Hornady Superformance, 139 grain SST
- Prvi Partizan, 139 grain soft point
- Federal Power-Shok, 175 grain round nose soft point

Was very pleased with the consistency; none of the dozen groups measured more than 1.5". The heavy Federal load was just under that mark with all three groups. Nosler had one just over an inch, the other two at or near 1.5". Hornady were all 1.2-1.4". Prvi were 1-1.3".
Rotated ammunition brand; one group Nosler, one Hornady, one Prvi, one Federal etc. 2-3 minutes between shots within each group. Gently cleaned between groups; couple mild solvent patches & dry patches (no brush, no heavy duty copper solvent).

Plan to handload for this rifle, & it looks like it won't be especially fussy about what type of bullet it's fed. Whitetail will be the primary quarry, maybe black bear & elk some day. Plenty of bullet options out there that would be good for whitetail, or good for elk, but... not experienced or educated enough on the topic of bullet construction to know if there's one that would work well for both. If anyone has suggestions, I'm all ears. Tailoring a load for each situation wouldn't be the end of the world, so by all means tell me if that's really the way to go. Ordered a bunch more of the Prvi ammunition since it shot a hair better than the others, is a little cheaper (a LOT cheaper than the Nosler), & seems to have a reputation for good brass.

Mild cartridge plus relatively stout rifle made for a very pleasant shooting experience. The scope is wonderful, as expected. The German #4 reticle probably isn't the best for shooting groups from the bench, but I'm convinced it will excel in the woods.

This rifle sure is easy to like!

 

[30Cal]

I get superb results with H414 near max (2850fps) with the Sierra 140gr GameKing bullets (either flavor). Well inside 1MoA out of a M70 Featherweight. The 140gr Hornady LightMagnum factory stuff shot the same as my handload.

 

[LoonWulf]

looks to be a good consistent shooter!

 

[browningguy]

Very nice. My 7x57 likes the 173 gr. SPCE load from Privy, very consistent around 1.1"groups. I have a fixed 6x Seeadler scope on mine.

 

[RPRNY]

What a superb rifle/cartridge/scope reticle combination!!! While German #1 is my favorite, #4 is just a little bit more versatile. That is such an ideal and genteel setup.

If you have an artful rifle pic, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would appreciate it.

 

[eastbank]

i found the 550 cz,s to be a fine series of of rifles. i used a cz 550 in .375 H&H mag in four hunting trips to africa in some rough conditions with no problems, most of the animals could have taken with a cz 550 in 7x57 with the right loads. a good choice in a rifle. eastbank.

 

[bannockburn]

holmegaard

What's not to like? A CZ rifle in 7x57, a Leupold scope, and consistent, accurate results with factory loads. Looks like a winning combination to me!

 

[holmegaard]

Not particularly artful; my photography skills & equipment are quite limited...

 

[holmegaard]

Will try this again when the woods have a bit more color.

 

[holmegaard]

Not it's natural habitat...

 

[holmegaard]

... but better lighting.

 

[Newtosavage]

From one 7x57 owner to another, that's one fine looking and great shooting rifle. You will really enjoy loading for that.

I've loaded for a very finicky but still enjoyable Ruger RSI Hawkeye with a tricky 18.5" pencil barrel, for about a year now.

Here are a few sub-MOA loads I've come up with...

1) Factory Green box Remingtons are still superb. MOA all day and excellent velocity with a great bullet (140 grain Core-lokt)... that is IF you can find them and want to pay $30/box.

2) 140 Sierra Game Kings over 45 grains of IMR 4350 make a very accurate loading that is pleasant to shoot and should handle any deer inside 300 yards.

3) 120 Nosler Ballistic Tips over 50 grains of IMR 4350 give me one ragged hole groups at 100, sub-MOA to 300 and still carry 1200 ft. lbs. at that range. This is to date my most accurate combination although that same bullet over RL-15 does very well too.

4) My best performing "heavy" loading has been a 160 Nosler Partition over H4831SC or RL-19. Both gave me great performance and MOA groups to 300 yards, but in my sub-7 lb. gun, they kicked like a mule.

Best of luck and enjoy that great caliber in a great rifle.

 

[holmegaard]

Appreciate the load information!

Didn't see the Remington factory ammunition when I ordered for initial testing, imagine they only run it every so often. Do remember seeing the Core-Lokt bullets available as a component, 140 & 175 grain I believe.

 

[Newtosavage]

Good luck finding 140 Core-Lokt as a loading component. If I could, I would have long ago. Can't find them anywhere. Midway has the 150's but not the 140's in 7mm, unfortunately.

I doubt Remington will have a reason to run 7x57 again. I'm sure they are busy with all the new calibers, and 7x57 has lost it's allure with the young guys who don't have any connection to the history of that groundbreaking caliber.

 

[Newtosavage]

BTW, I'm pretty sold (as of now) on that 120 NBT as a solution for deer in the 7x57. The ballistics are outstanding, and the terminal performance - by all accounts - is as well. Plus it's only one of two bullets I've loaded that can consistently beat the factory Remington 140 loads for accuracy.

A bonus is that it doesn't kick bad at all.

 

[holmegaard]

You're right, it was the 150 grain I saw.

Good info on the NBT, thanks again!

 

[holmegaard]

You're right, it was the 150 grain I saw.

Good info on the NBT, thanks again!

 

[LoonWulf]

I think those 120nbts are a great option for any of the smaller 7mms. i use them in my 7-30 contender at about 2400, and as a light load in my 7mag at just over 3k.

Excellent performance from both rounds.

Thats a really nice looking gun, very classy.

 

[eastbank]

i use the 120 nosler BT,s in my 7mm08 with a heavy dose of varget for 3000 fps and it sure is a good deer killer. eastbank.

 

[Newtosavage]

i use the 120 nosler BT,s in my 7mm08 with a heavy dose of varget for 3000 fps and it sure is a good deer killer. eastbank.

While searching for feedback on the 120 7mm NBT, these are exactly the types of comments I read over and over again. With so much real world success, and the tiny little groups I've printed with them, it's hard not to have confidence in that bullet from my 7x57 now. I can't wait to drop a few deer with it and see for myself. Bonus is how affordable those bullets are too...

 

[30Cal]

I have 120BTs and have a load that shoots them tight, but the 140 GameKing has worked well for me.

I'm not really sold on BTs in general; seen them do odd things at close range. To be exact, a 25yd broadside shot, 30-06, somehow resulted in a deer that was unzipped from sternum to bellybutton, but wasn't anywhere close to dead.

 

[cdb1]

I like German #4 reticles. My 550 in 6.5x55 has a Meopta MeoPro 3.5-10x44 with a German #4.

 

[Newtosavage]

I have 120BTs and have a load that shoots them tight, but the 140 GameKing has worked well for me.

I'm not really sold on BTs in general; seen them do odd things at close range. To be exact, a 25yd broadside shot, 30-06, somehow resulted in a deer that was unzipped from sternum to bellybutton, but wasn't anywhere close to dead.

I have had nothing but good groups from 140 Sierras.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I have a Win M70 in 7x57 and have some limited experience with Rugers in that caliber. I've found that my 7x57s seem to prefer heavier bullets, and did well with both 175gr bullets and Seller & Belliot 173gr factory ammo. Many 7x57s have a long leade so the heavier bullets may benefit from that.

As a handloader, my next step with my Winnie is to measure the leade and load 154s and 162s to a 0.010 and 0.020 jump to see how they do.

I love the caliber for high sectional density, good ballistic coefficient and good accuracy and am looking to pick up some .275 Rigby brass just to stoke my nostalgia.

Cheers,

Harry

 

[Newtosavage]

I have a Win M70 in 7x57 and have some limited experience with Rugers in that caliber. I've found that my 7x57s seem to prefer heavier bullets, and did well with both 175gr bullets and Seller & Belliot 173gr factory ammo. Many 7x57s have a long leade so the heavier bullets may benefit from that.

As a handloader, my next step with my Winnie is to measure the leade and load 154s and 162s to a 0.010 and 0.020 jump to see how they do.

I love the caliber for high sectional density, good ballistic coefficient and good accuracy and am looking to pick up some .275 Rigby brass just to stoke my nostalgia.

Cheers,

Harry

Harry, I may revisit that approach again, but after reading about the "long throats" in Ruger 7x57's, my first attempt at handloads were heavier bullets seated well out near the lands. None of those loads gave me the groups that my 140 Sierras and 120 Nosler BT's have given me at a 3.00" COAL. Not sure why, but the groups don't lie.