7.5 Swiss GP-11 and hunting with FMJ

[natedog]

I would like to (in the future) use my K-31 for deer hunting. However, the only ammo that is available at a reasonable price is GP-11 surplus, which is a FMJ round. The ballistics (IIRC) are something like a 170gr. bullet at 2800FPS. Would it be legal (or sportsman like) to use FMJ on deer? The only soft or hollow point ammo I've seen is the Norma and Igman ammo, which is about $40 for a 20rd. box . Perhaps I should get into reloading? Aren't single stage press starter kits around $80? BTW, is GP-11 brass reloadable?

 

[444]

You can either get into handloading, or realize that a 20 round box of ammo, should last you pretty much the rest of your life for deer hunting.

 

[Navy joe]

I would love to take my K-31 out this year, but in my state FMJ is illegal for deer hunting. I wouldn't were it legal, rather have a more effective bullet. Soon, I will reload for this caliber. Yes the brass is reloadable if Berdan primers ever get impored, the Swiss rifle forum guys were/are working a group buy. A little hard to deprime, but not that hard. I'm saving all my brass anyway for right now. Other sources tell me that the brass can be formed from boxer primed .284Win brass. The easiest reloading option would be to pull some GP11 down and add your choice of powder and bullet to the primed case and then recrimp. You would still need the correct reloading dies and I suppose you could use the powder over too if you kept to the same bullet weight which is 175gr.

Or, buy the Norma. I did for my Arisaka, I now have 200 rounds or pieces of brass, never again, that is the gun's lifetime supply.

 

[444]

Brass is occasionally available in this caliber. I have heard that Hornady was going to do some. I just got 500 pieces of new, unfired brass from Graff's. Once a year for the last two years Graffs has had a run of 7.5 Swiss brass manufactured with their headstamp. And yes, you can form 7.5 Swiss cases from .284 Winchester brass. It requires nothing more than running it through your 7.5 Swiss sizing die. Brass in this caliber is an issue, but not much of one. Everything else is readily available. The 7.5 Swiss is handloaded using .308" bullets, so any bullet design your little heart desires is available to you. Reloading Berdan primed cases is IMO, more trouble than it is worth. First of all, it requires a special depriming tool. This costs more than a box of Norma factory ammo (I got one just for this caliber). Then you have to find Berdan primers in the right size for the case. Currently, there is no place I know of that has Berdan primers in the US. I have heard that PMC imported some and is selling them, but I have never run across anyone that has actually gotten any: Not to say they don't have them: I have seen this information posted on-line numerous times but never seen a post where someone bought any.

Getting into handloading is a fantastic idea. You will never had a problem like this again. You will be letting yourself in on a lifetime of adventure. However, getting in to handloading isn't going to save you any money on this $40 worth of factory ammo.

Seriously, think about it. You buy a box of softpointed ammo strictly for hunting. You will only fire these rounds with venison in your sights. You are a fairly competent hunter and don't take wild shots. A box of 20 rounds should get you 20 deer, most of us have the occasional hunting mishap, so it might only get us 15 or a dozen deer. I think by that time, you will have forgotten the $40.
When I purchased my K31, I purchased about 10 boxes of that Norma ammo. I got a box every pay day until they ran out of it. I still have most of it.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

FMJ ammo is verboten in california for hunting.

 

[Navy joe]

As far as de-priming berdan brass it's cheap and easy. The tools would be a base to hold the casehead, a rod about .001-.003 under case mouth diameter, a hammer and some water. Fill cases, stick rod in, whack. Instant hydraulic deprime. Proved the concept with a 9mm case gage as the base and an undersized dowel scientifically brought to size with masking tape. Shouldn't cost anything to make, 10 minutes on the lathe.

Or, I could remember to buy some Graf's brass. I really want to reload the berdan at some point just to say I did.

 

[Cthulhu]

Would it be legal (or sportsman like) to use FMJ on deer?

To answer this part of the question directly: No (in most states) and No.

Even if it were legal, it would not be ethical. FMJ or full case bullets should not be used on thin skinned, non-dangerous game. .45 Cal, 500 grn solids are fine on elephant, but a less than perfect hit from the comparitively small 7.5mm will likely condemn the deer to a slow, painful death.

 

[Snowdog]

If $19.99/20 doesn't scare you off, Graf & Sons is offering 165gr BTSP for the 7.5x55 Swiss made with Hornady components.

http://www.grafs.com/bulkByBagQty.cfm/startItem/1

 

[natedog]

Sweet. Would this ammo have a different point of aim than Gp-11?

 

[Gewehr98]

Friend of mine shot a deer with FMJ ammo once...

Went clean through the deer, very light blood trail, which was eventually lost come nighttime and he was never able to track it down. I took the bolt out of his rifle, field stripped it to it's component parts, and wouldn't give it back to him for a year.