9 X 57 anyone?

[mike ford]

Note Axel's statement about using the .357-.358" factory bullets unresized. If one of these bullets will enter the neck, using them unsized will save another step in the process and save buying or making a sizing die, unnecessarily.This same test works in barrels even smaller than the .356"mentioned above.
Mike

[Axel E]

The DEVA tested these loads, with .357" - .358" bullets, in a CIP minimum test barrel, .345" land, .356" groove diameter, of course.

[Mt Al]

I really wish I would have used .358 bullets as Axel and Mike have noted, would have saved a TON of money and given way more options. I was just overly concerned about causing problems in very thin barreled drillings. The Hawk bullets killed like a massive hammer, but the other bullets would have done fine as well.

Have fun with your drlling, Sharps. Way fun to hunt with these.

[mike ford]

Mt Al,
By the time a .358"bullet travels the length of its shank in a .356" barrel, it has been sized to .356". This takes place where the barrel is it's largest diameter and the pressure is still building. That said, I would never advocate doing something you don't feel comfortable with.
Mike

[OrenT]

What bullets do you use to load for your 9x57? I was thinking of using 35 Whelen bullets as they are only .002" over spec for the 9x57

[mike ford]

OrenT,
I use .358" Hornady bullets in mine, either 200 grain round nose or 250 gr spitzer. For the short(200gr)bullets, I have to take care to load the cartridges at the rear of the magazine, or they don't feed well. A German friend loaded .358" Norma bullets in his Mod 88 9x57, using .358Win data. Have you "slugged" your barrel? Mine, and others I have checked over the years measure at .357-.358 anyway.Sometimes a .352" is found, but even some of them only seem small, because if the barrel has 5 grooves it is hard to get a true measurement without special tools. If a .358" bullet will fit into the neck of a case fired in your rifle, it should be ok to use it with properly "worked up"powder loads.
Mike

[excess650]

I'm a little late to this thread, but picked up a J P Sauer DST Mauser about 20 years ago. I tried some Hawk .356" bullets, but they didn't group as well as .358" Speer 220gr flat nosed bullets. I used 4895, will have to look up the charge, but was lethal on whitetails. The .358" did copper the bore quite a bit. I briefly tried 280gr RN cast, but soon abandonned them. I'll try 220gr and see how they work as soon as the weather warms a bit.

[sharps4590]

Always good to have an abundance of data. Glad you posted excess. With the 9 X 57 and the R version for the drilling I worked up good jacketed and cast loads. Now if I had the time and wherewithal to hunt about 6 months out of the year so I could put them all to use.

[mike ford]

Has anyone else noticed that the one comment every one makes is that this cartridge really kills well("kills like a very large sledge hammer"hit the animal)?
Mike

[sharps4590]

I did Mike. I have a couple friends who use the 35 Whelen and they say the same thing. I had never worked with any cartridge in 35 cal./9mm until the 9 X 71 Peterlongo a year or so ago. Since then the two 9 X 57's, R and R less, and that last drilling we have no idea what the cartridge is. I've become somewhat enamored of the 35 cals.

[excess650]

I'm thinking of trying cast bullets in mine. I tried the heavy 280gr Lyman initially with poor results, but that may have been a function of twist and bore condition. My bore isn't pitted, but definitely shows wear at the throat. I made up a dummy round with RCBS 35-200-FN (215gr)sized .360", and can be seated with the front band 3/16" out of the case. I also have some 255gr Lyman RN 358318(?) sized .360", so have some bullets to start with.

[sharps4590]

Mine is really worn in the throat for....maybe 3 inches up the bore(?) and it shows wear after that. Obviously the old rifle saw a lot of use. I was still able to get really decent groups with a 250 gr. gas check bullet at around 1650 fps and jacketed worked fine. I think my cast bullet is the same bullet Mike uses but made by Accurate Molds rather than.....ummm...Lyman I think, is that right Mike? The bullet has worked well in all 9mm's I've tried it in. I'm using Unique with an open cell foam filler.

[excess650]

Vic,
Your bore sounds to be worn worse than mine. I shoot cast almost exclusively, and have for a number of years, so will try to sort this one out.

[mike ford]

Vic,
The 250 gr bullet I mentioned is the Lyman 358318 that excess650 already has the mold blocks for.
Mike

[Hubertino]

I also am a real fan of the 9 mm Mauser . I try to post thr results of several loadings , tested by thr Bavarian proof house in Munich. First is 9x57 with Nosler Partition 225 gr. I am not familiar with the photo shop, let's try: