I was wondering how many have experience with the 7x57? I have just got back into hunting non-winged animals last year after about a dozen years and was able to harvest a whitetail with my .41 magnum handgun. I'm looking for a rifle that will be an "all-arounder", although I know that really doesn't exist outside the 375 H&H. I'm not after any really "big" game at this point though, whitetails (and maybe black bear) at home, various other deer species, pronghorn, and plains game in the near future. Not sure I even want to shoot Kudu or Gemsbok on my 1st trip, mostly smaller antelope, such as impala. I love the idea of this cartridge in a Ruger No 1 light sporter for most of my hunting.

IF I wanted to harvest the larger species, such as Eland, Gemsbok, and Elk, is the 7x57 with a heavy 160 to 175gr bullet up to the task? The sectional density of the 175 is very high, and in the No 1 it definately can be loaded a bit hotter than normal, I imagine.

I know I can buy the same gun in 30-06, but I like something you don't necessarily trip over every 10 feet in the woods

At one point I was considering a 300 mag of some type, but it just doesn't seem necessary for what I want to do.

Any help from you experienced hands will be much appreciated by this amateur.

Thanks!