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The 7x57 Mauser cartridge, also known as the 7 mm Mauser, 7 mm Spanish Mauser, and .275 Rigby, was developed by Mauser as a military cartridge in 1893 for use by the military forces of Spain. It was subsequently adopted by several countries as the standard military cartridge. It was a milestone in cartridge design, and although obsolete as a military cartridge, remains in use as a sporting cartridge.

[edit] History

The Spanish military adopted a new Mauser rifle design in 1893. This took a smokeless powder centerfire cartridge with a bullet with a nominal diameter of 7 mm (0.284 in), and a case length of 57 mm, hence "7 x 57 Mauser". It featured a 11 g (175 grain ) bullet with a muzzle velocity of about 700 m/s (2,300+ feet per second ). For the late 19th century, these ballistic factors were impressive. The change in bullet style, from a rounded tip to a pointed tip, was partially responsible for the performance as it virtually eliminated wind resistance at normal combat ranges.

The qualities of the 7 x 57 Mauser as a military round were shown in the Spanish-American War and the Second Boer War in South Africa. Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders took very heavy casualties attacking an inferior force armed with 7 mm Model 93 Mauser rifles. Likewise, the British soldiers fighting in South Africa were obliged to re-evaluate rifle design and tactics after facing the Boers firing the 7 x 57 rounds over open ground, easily outranging the .303 British cartridge, which, at the time was still using fine-grain black powder propellant versus the Mauser's higher performance smokeless powder. The British kept the .303, switched to smokeless propellant, and updated their rifle to the Lee Enfield No. 1 Mk III.

[edit] Sporting round

The ballistics of the 7 x 57 Mauser quickly became popular with hunters. The flat trajectory, along with the penetrating effects of the 7 mm sectional density, ensured its place as a big game cartridge. It was extremely popular in Africa, where it was used on everything up to, and including, elephants. Though not so popular today, the 7 x 57 is still produced by most major ammunition manufacturers and modern rifles are available chambered for the cartridge.

Due to the age and metallurgy of the rifles for which it was originally designed, many of which are still functioning, most American commercial rounds do not exploit the full potential of the cartridge. European produced rounds are loaded to give higher velocities and pressures, and can only be safely used in modern rifles chambered for the 7 x 57 Mauser cartridge. This is not to say that older rifles, especially the stronger built military rifles cannot fire full power loads, but that commercial ammo companies are not willing to take the risks of a lawsuit due to catastrophic failure. All firearms should be checked by a competent gunsmith and deemed safe before attempting to fire them.

The 7.92x57 ("8 mm Mauser") and 7x57 ("7mm Mauser") cartridges are not the same cartridge, and cannot safely be exchanged. Attempts to interchange the two cartridges could result in damage to property, injury and possibly death.