What is a 7x57 AK?

[rocket man]

I acquired a gun passed down to me from my grandfather and I think it's 7x57 mauser but the AK makes me think that it could be an ackley improved cartridge. Any feedback helps.

[DoughNut]

Put a 7X57 round in it and shoot it, measure the case. if it's Improved you'll know it, send the case to RCBS if you have to and they will make a set of dies for it. If it's "Improved" you can shoot standard loads all day long

[rocket man]

Ok thanks. That should take care of my problem.

[AGL4now]

Does the "AK" look as if it was stamped at the same time as the "7X57" or does it appear different, like it was stamped years later.....??

[1Cor15:19]

I acquired a gun passed down to me from my grandfather and I think it's 7x57 mauser but the AK makes me think that it could be an ackley improved cartridge. Any feedback helps.

Put a 7X57 round in it and shoot it, measure the case. if it's Improved you'll know it, send the case to RCBS if you have to and they will make a set of dies for it. If it's "Improved" you can shoot standard loads all day long

Ok thanks. That should take care of my problem.

Firing ammo in an unknown chamber is not a good idea. It would be much safer to have a gunsmith (or you can do it yourself) cast the chamber of your rifle to determine its dimensions. It may be safe to fire 7x57 ammo in it, but it may not and it has the potential for disastrous consequences.

[BrownBear]

Glad you spoke up.

I was going to, but decided it wasn't my gun. Or my fingers.

[Scorpion8]

Firing ammo in an unknown chamber is not a good idea. It would be much safer to have a gunsmith (or you can do it yourself) cast the chamber of your rifle to determine its dimensions. It may be safe to fire 7x57 ammo in it, but it may not and it has the potential for disastrous consequences.

True, but depends on how the process is done. Apply some smarts to the problem. Put a fired-cartridge in and see how it fits. For example, if it's a 7mmRem Mag, .280Rem/7mmExpress or 7mm STW chamber, then a 7x57 cartridge case is going to rattle around in there and be completely obvious that it's a different chambering. If it's a mis-marked 7mm-08 chamber, then a 7x57 shell won't fit all the way due to case length differences. If it is just a 7x57 AI, then the shell will fit pretty snug and the bolt will even close. At that point you can take a primed 7x57 case without a bullet or powder and wad up some cleaning patches in the case mouth to give some resistance, and close the bolt and fire the shell. A primer alone won't hurt anything that the rifle receiver-barrel-bolt combination won't protect you from. And if the shell expands any, guess what, it's not a 7x57 chamber.

Not everything requires running to the gunsmith (hey, we don't even have one in this town) until you apply some common-sense and engineering to the problem, first. Then a trip to the 'smith may be warranted but at least you can tell them what you already know that it isn't.

And make sure you clean the patches out of the barrel.

[limon32]

Glad you spoke up.

I was going to, but decided it wasn't my gun. Or my fingers.

That's what I was thinking too.

[1Cor15:19]

True, but depends on how the process is done. Apply some smarts to the problem. Put a fired-cartridge in and see how it fits. For example, if it's a 7mmRem Mag, .280Rem/7mmExpress or 7mm STW chamber, then a 7x57 cartridge case is going to rattle around in there and be completely obvious that it's a different chambering. If it's a mis-marked 7mm-08 chamber, then a 7x57 shell won't fit all the way due to case length differences. If it is just a 7x57 AI, then the shell will fit pretty snug and the bolt will even close. At that point you can take a primed 7x57 case without a bullet or powder and wad up some cleaning patches in the case mouth to give some resistance, and close the bolt and fire the shell. A primer alone won't hurt anything that the rifle receiver-barrel-bolt combination won't protect you from. And if the shell expands any, guess what, it's not a 7x57 chamber.

Not everything requires running to the gunsmith (hey, we don't even have one in this town) until you apply some common-sense and engineering to the problem, first. Then a trip to the 'smith may be warranted but at least you can tell them what you already know that it isn't.

And make sure you clean the patches out of the barrel.

There is no way to determine the specifications of an unknown chamber that are superior to producing a chamber cast. I mentioned that the OP could do this himself, or that he could have a gunsmith do it for him. I understand what it means to live in the bush and have limited access to a host of things and yet that doesn't change anything in my post. Are there other ways to determine the likely cartridge dimensions? Yes there are, but the benefits of knowing certain things rather than guessing about them are sometimes enormous and experience has determined this to be such a scenario. Suum cuique.........

[BrownBear]

Yup.

Cerrosafe is available from a wide variety of sources. Here is just one. It's also dirt cheap, especially since you can reuse it for the rest of your life. Even in the bush. Only reason not to use it is laziness.

[4merguide]

Suum cuique.........

Really....???

Oh, ok.....for the rest of us mere mortals, this mean "to each his own"

sheesh......:boring:

[Scorpion8]

There is no way to determine the specifications of an unknown chamber that are superior to producing a chamber cast.

I never stated my method was superior. I stated that there's a whole lot of work anybody with some common sense can do at home and get 99% of the result if you can't or don't have access to a gunsmith. This stuff isn't rocket science. Besides, since the chamber is already marked 7x57 then the OP is already most of the way there. You want a chamber cast to prove that it is that chambering that is marked? Go ahead. Field methods will give you a 99.99% certainly without the effort, and do it safely. Then the first fired shell casing will confirm that. Nothing in my method ever approached the area of being unsafe.

[1Cor15:19]

Yup.

Cerrosafe is available from a wide variety of sources. Here is just one. It's also dirt cheap, especially since you can reuse it for the rest of your life. Even in the bush. Only reason not to use it is laziness.

:ditto:
That the wisest action is among the easiest simply gets overlooked.......

[1Cor15:19]

Really....???

Oh, ok.....for the rest of us mere mortals, this mean "to each his own"

sheesh......:boring:

I've long considered myself mortal, but I suppose time will prove the truth. Can't see how you'd care what I post or say, much less have the arrogance to consider someone else haughty. It can be translated "to each his own," but the connotation includes that "each receives what their opinion deserves." It may be best to simply read past (ignore) what I post if you're so easily offended.

[1Cor15:19]

I never stated my method was superior. I stated that there's a whole lot of work anybody with some common sense can do at home and get 99% of the result if you can't or don't have access to a gunsmith. This stuff isn't rocket science. Besides, since the chamber is already marked 7x57 then the OP is already most of the way there. You want a chamber cast to prove that it is that chambering that is marked? Go ahead. Field methods will give you a 99.99% certainly without the effort, and do it safely. Then the first fired shell casing will confirm that. Nothing in my method ever approached the area of being unsafe.

Actually, ballistics is rocket science.

Ingenuity can accomplish many things and I've fairly substantial fabricating skills, but there are some things that shouldn't be recommended for others, even if you are confident that you can perform them safely.

If I read the OP correctly the rifle is marked 7x57AK, which means that it is likely not a 7x57 and may be any of a host of variations on the same case or could be a rechambered 7x57 barrel to some as yet unknown wildcat. I've been wildcatting and customizing rifles for a long time and know that you cannot reach anything like 99% certainty using your methods. In contrast to that a chamber cast will provide 100% certainty for very little cost and time. If you work at this stuff long enough you'll find that it is worth every penny.