doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com 7x57mm

While most of my hunting partners prefer rifles made out of silver steel and black plastic I've got a new toy to hunt with this deer season. The first Mauser I sporterized was a 25-06 that came out pretty crudely. I ended up camoing it and it only gets used for varminting. I took my time and spent some more money on this one and it came out way better.



It's a VZ24 action with aluminum Paws bottom metal to shed a few ounces, barrel is a 22 inch Douglas chambered in 7x57mm and turned to the Winchester featherweight contour to shave a few more ounces, the stock started as a partially inletted XX grade Boyds JRS, grip and nose caps are rosewood with a thin maple spacer, Timney featherweight deluxe trigger, Conetrol rings and bases, and a 3-9x40 Leupold.

you have nicely balanced package there. it's hard to beat classic mauser rifle in 7x57. the vz24 is quality military action used by zbrojovka brno to make their wonderful sporting rifles.

Thanks. I went with the vz24 because I had read that was the action used for Jack O Connor's pet 7mm mauser. Someday I want to learn to checker so I can pretty this gun up a bit more. It just doesn't look like it's quite finished to me yet.

This rifle hates the 140gr Remington factory load. The only hand loads I've tried so far contained the 110 gr Speer tnt and they shot beautifully with 44.0 grains of Varget. My next load to try is the 120 gr Barnes ttsx over IMR-4320.

What is thw rate of twist in your barrel? Years ago i read that the 10 twist 7mm bore was the only one capable of putting all bullet weights into the end of a juice can at 100yds. My 10 twist 7mms an ackley imp. and a IHSMA bear that out. All my loads retain the same point of impact. My 7/08 9 1/2 twist Remington varmint wont. 168 horniday match probably best bullet. 160 gr.Rcbs sil. probably best cast. I dont have a favorite powder. A 7/57 military mauser was my first centerfire and remains a favorite. I remember when $10 would buy a 93 short rifle and a box of Remington UMC amo. Still have some of the boxes.
Tom

Tom, I think that was about the time that Ye Old Hunter was offering Lugers for $25.00 and rolling block lamps for a lot less.....I remember thinking, "Why would I pay that much ($25) for a Luger when I can get a nice early Colt SA Army for the same price or less?"

OR, as I subsequently did, spend my hard-earned $25 on hotrod cars and pretty women!(rueful grin)

Like the old Pennsylvania Dutchman said, "Too soon old, too late schmardt!"
Regards, Joe

Joe you and I done the same with the Hotrods and pretty women. But you know what today I get a lot meore smiles thinking about those times. Then all the guns I could have owned.Smile and I bet you do also. Whitey

1964 I was just out of the US Airforce starting a new family. My family to me now is of more value than any guns I could have had.I do still have my 1960 BMW R69 motorcycle. Also Have an Arisaka sporter I built from a $5.00 gun.Lots of memories of Austin Healy 100-4s and an MGA twincam. I have never wanted or owned a Harley or Corvette. I am now married to the girl I dated in highschool. I have nothing to regret.
Have a good 4th
Tom

I went with the original 1:9 twist mainly because the tech guy at Douglas told me that the ten inch twist wouldn't stabilize a 175 grain spitzer bullet. I had no plan on using bullets that heavy but I didn't want to rule them out for future use either.

Who says you need a heavy barreled rifle sporting a modern action with a super quick lock time to produce decent accuracy?!

I tested it today and it did very well with 120 grain tipped tsx bullets over 46 grains of IMR-4320. I forgot my calipers so I didn't get an actual measurement but five shots that fit under a quarter is good enough for pretty much any kind hunting in my book. I just wish I wouldn't have pulled that single flier!!! Then I could have used a dime to measure my group.

Good Job!
I'll bet it will do even better with the 175 grainer.