Remington Rolling Block: 7x57 loadings?

[coop923]

I have a Remington Rolling Block in 7mm Mauser that my Grandpa bought in the 50s that I haven't shot for years. I loaded some light loads for it years ago, and never had a problem. The gun is in good shape but I don't know for sure the strength of the rolling block action. It seems to me it could handle loads in the range of 40,000-45,000CUP, which is where all but the hottest 7x57 loads fall in the manuals I checked. Please correct me on this if I'm wrong! If I start with the beginning loads in the manuals and work my way up checking for signs of excess pressure, would any of you have concerns with shooting this? Is there anything else I should consider while loading for this?

Thanks.

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[Kendal Black]

From the NRA Firearms Assembly book:

A particular caution is in order with respect to 7mm rolling-block rifles...It will be found that it is a rare 7mm military rolling-block that does not have grossly excessive headspace...

So that's something to look out for. If you can rustle up a field gauge somewhere that would be good.

 

[Kendal Black]

P.S. Just out of curiousity I googled 7mm rolling block headspace and found a bunch of people talking about it.

 

[Double Vision]

I have a RRB in .43 Spanish that I'm anxious to shoot but also have concerns, even though the rifle looks to be in great shape.
Buffalo Arms sells .43 Spanish, but it ain't cheap!

 

[Jim Watson]

I would stick with the manual starting load. A 175 at 2100 fps 31,000 psi will handle most jobs.
One "pressure sign" in a Rolling Block is a case head separation letting high pressure gas into the big box shaped receiver which then does a good imitation of a hand grenade. Most such cases are in black powder actions overloaded with nitro but I would still be careful with the No 5 7mm.
There are procedures that will accomodate the long chamber headspace of a 7mm Rolling Block for safety and case life. But I haven't tried them.

 

[Brian Williams]

A great way is to get a chamber cast of your gun and send it to RCBS or other reloading die maker and have a set of dies made specifically for your gun.
Then get how ever much brass you feel you need and fire form each case. I am not sure what load to use to fire form but I am sure some one will have it.

 

[coop923]

I thought I might have remembered a slight ring around the cases from the last time I fired the gun or some sort of lengthening or sizing issue. It's been a long time though and I couldn't put my hands on any of that brass. If I remember correctly, the last stuff I shot out of it was some sort of cheap import brass, and I wasn't sure if I could attribute it to the gun or the brass.

I guess this is another example of the value of a log book or good notes. Sometimes I put stuff down for years at a time; when I go back to it details have become a little fuzzy.

Maybe I'll try some starting loads and see what the brass looks like, then maybe go ahead with fire-forming. I wonder if neck-sized rounds would chamber and extract?