7x57 Mauser

I've been going around and around with a Turkish Mauser.
It will shoot 5 shot Titewad loads into just over half an inch. Bluedot is about an inch. 8208xbr, W760,and aa4350 are all about 3 to 5 inches.
It does this with 140 flat base, 140 ballistic tip and 175 boattail.
Before bedding, floating the barrel,and re-crowning it was about 12" groups. The locking lugs are even with about 35%mating. It has a Timney trigger adjusted to 2lb8oz. Scope mounts were lapped and bases are tight. Scope is good.
Anyone think of something I'm missing?
Should I put a pressure point in now that it isn't pushing on the side of the barrel channel?

jonnyc said:

"Anyone think of something I'm missing?"

Only my belief that there's no such thing as a 7x57 Turkish Mauser! Check your caliber or the origin of the rifle; I don't think that combination exists.

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It's stamped 1939 Ankara K. Kale rebarreled to 7x57. Strange part is it's a cock on close bolt and has safety lug.

View attachment 780046
It is not a factory barrel. Action measures larger than a Swede or Argentine Mauser. It also isn't notched out like my 8x57 Turk is.

Center is the cock on close bolt. The straight bolt is from my other K Kale. One without safety lug is small ring.

Vern Humphrey said:

If you're getting half inch groups from a Turkish Mauser, that's like winning drag races with a Stanley Steamer! Leave that rifle ALONE! Don't do anything more!

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The accurate loads are between 1200 and 1800 fps. If it wasn't supposed to be a backup hunting rifle, I would use it as a glorified 22 and be happy.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Well, its cock on closing because those were 93 or 95 Mauser actions, unlike the cock-on-opening 98.
These were originally chambered in 7.65 Belgian (Argentine), then rechambered after WW1 for 7.92x57......

The Turks never used 7x57, so something fishy here.....can we see some pics of the markings?

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I looked at the bolt closer and it is the same as the other Turkish Mauser. I don't know what I was thinking.

George P said:

Fast shotgun powders are working well in your rifle?

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It is a plinking load I used in my 30-30 and 30-40 Krag. http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm
I was getting frustrated after burning up a lot of Powder and decided to try it. I then tried using Seafire's Bluedot loads and they were decent also.

George P said:

I learn something new everyday - thanks for sharing

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That's what this forum is about. I will say extreme caution is necessary with that approach to plinking.

LoonWulf said:

Heres what i would do. Check the muzzle for any damage or irregularity. If thats good slug the barrel and do a chamber cast. Groups like that suggest something is out of spec.

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I will need to order supplies to do that.

I also have need to order a round nose bullet like diesel chief suggested.

The muzzle looked like a drunken beaver was chewing on it before I squared it up and recrowned.

LoonWulf said:

That suggest cleaning from the muzzle end before you got to it. Its possible the ware is deeper into the bore than just right at the muzzle as well. How far back did you cut the barrel when you recrowned?

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It was hacksawed off with no crown. I used a chalked bastard file to square it off and used a screw and lapping compound. I know it's not a lathe, but it has worked acceptably well in the past.

I don't get how it will do repeatable 3 shot groups like this with Bluedot and not shoot with any of my rifle powders.
Could it be the quicker jump to the rifling, or less residual pressure when the bullet exits the muzzle?

LoonWulf said:

I would guess there is something wrong with the front of the barrel and the higher pressure expanding gasses are causing unevenness on the bullets alignment, in the bore or at release.
Also what dia are your cast bullets? If they are large your rifle may just have an oversized bore.

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They are jacketed, not cast. I just made sure velocity was high enough to not stick one when I used shotgun powder. It was more of a I tried everything else I wonder if this will work.