Mikee Loxxer
Member
I am just about done prepping a bunch of 7.5 Swiss cases and need to determine what propellant and bullet to use. I am leaning towards BLC-2 and a 168 grain Hornady A-Max bullet. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Propellant and Bullet choice for 7.5 Swiss
- Thread starter Mikee Loxxer
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RexDart
Member
Go to swissrifles.com, choose Ammunition from the side menu, and you'll find a couple of pages of reloading recipies and notes.
Cosmoline
Member
A lot of folks have had good luck with the 168 A-Max. I just picked up some of the new Barnes T-Shock 168's and I'm crossing my fingers they'll perform well.
bigcim
Member
where do you find dies for this caliber.
I have a hungry rubin
I have a hungry rubin
Linear Thinker
Member
My best Swiss loads turned out to be with IMR4895 and Sierra 168 MKs.
Canuck - I disagree re. overworking the brass. The Swiss straight-pull actions do not have the camming action of bolt guns, you need to full-length size the brass or even go to small-base dimensions to ensure reliability.
I use Lee dies, and my Norma brass has been loaded ~7 times so far. I got a couple of split necks during the last reload cycle, so I am about to retire that lot. Still, 7 cycles is acceptable brass life to me. I never annealed that lot, I will the next one.
LT
Canuck - I disagree re. overworking the brass. The Swiss straight-pull actions do not have the camming action of bolt guns, you need to full-length size the brass or even go to small-base dimensions to ensure reliability.
I use Lee dies, and my Norma brass has been loaded ~7 times so far. I got a couple of split necks during the last reload cycle, so I am about to retire that lot. Still, 7 cycles is acceptable brass life to me. I never annealed that lot, I will the next one.
LT
I use Lee Collet dies and have loaded the same 20 cases enough that I've fired 400 rounds from them, which is obviously 20 times. I've annealed them once, but admit that I only shoot a smaller amount of 5744 and 160 grain cast bullet.
donttellthewife
Member
Exellent info on this link, lists the correct dies to use.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/swissreloading1/index.asp
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/swissreloading1/index.asp
...and the link notes that the Redding dies are cut for the K-31 chamber. If you call Hornady and ask, they'll tell you that their dies are specifically for the 1911 chamber. Lee will say don't worry about it, they're all good enough.
I did check before buying.
/B
I did check before buying.
/B
Cosmoline
Member
I should add a note in case you haven't heard. The long, long awaited reloadable brass from Graf & Sons is back in stock. I got 200 a few days ago though I haven't had a chance to load it yet. It's not as shiny as Norma, but the quality is said to be very good and the price is much more reasonable.
LotI
Member
cosmoline said:
Is it gone already? Not listed on their site in either retail or dealer section.
Cosmoline
Member
http://www.grafs.com/metallic/775
It's the Privi brass, $37 per 100 as opposed to $102 per 100. It's good stuff. Not as good as Norma, but still.
It's the Privi brass, $37 per 100 as opposed to $102 per 100. It's good stuff. Not as good as Norma, but still.
LotI
Member
cosmoline said:
Interesting because my last batch has a Graf's headstamp. I recall it was made for them by Hornady.
Linear Thinker
Member
Canuck - I take back my "disagree", you have done your homework much better than I have. Thanks to everyone in this thread, I learned a lot, and got an explanation for the reason where an occasional bullet sticks in the throat.
Given the cost of brass, I will shell out for a set of Redding dies, it will pay for itself quickly. Will check my 2 K31s for throat dimensions, and will set the bullet seating depth accordingly.
LT
Given the cost of brass, I will shell out for a set of Redding dies, it will pay for itself quickly. Will check my 2 K31s for throat dimensions, and will set the bullet seating depth accordingly.
LT
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Cosmoline
Member
I believe that was the brass run they had a few years ago. Since then the Serbs have come on line and have been making good 7.5. It must be considerably cheaper for them to get the imported brass instead of doing a custom run through Hornady. I haven't seen too many complaints about the Privi brass on line.
Linear Thinker
Member
I have a batch of commercial boxer-primed 7.5x55 brass marked I.A.C.
Had it for many years, not sure how long. So, there are other makers out there.
Does anyone know who made I.A.C. brass ? My reference books don't have that headstamp.
LT
Had it for many years, not sure how long. So, there are other makers out there.
Does anyone know who made I.A.C. brass ? My reference books don't have that headstamp.
LT
NuJudge
Member
I.A.C. was made by FN for International Armament Corp
I bought a bunch of it there in the late 1960's. I.A.C. was also known as Interarms and Interarmco.
Interarms brought in a lot of surplus arms before the 1968 Gun Control Act cut off importability for awhile. For some such as the 1911 rifles and carbines, surplus ammo was not available, which made them less salable. To cure this, they had runs of odd calibers made with their headstamp.
The stuff shoots great.
CDD
I bought a bunch of it there in the late 1960's. I.A.C. was also known as Interarms and Interarmco.
Interarms brought in a lot of surplus arms before the 1968 Gun Control Act cut off importability for awhile. For some such as the 1911 rifles and carbines, surplus ammo was not available, which made them less salable. To cure this, they had runs of odd calibers made with their headstamp.
The stuff shoots great.
CDD
Exposure
Member
My favorite K31 load is 43 gr. IMR 4064 beneath a 168 gr. Sierra Match King with CCI large rifle primers. The brass used is many times fired Wolf. Some of it has been loaded 14 times! I just had my first neck split the other day. I full length size and trim to length every reload so I am amazed it lasted this long. For dies I am using the Hornady 7.5 Swiss.
Using this recipe I have shot a best group of 1/2" at 100 yds. Generally I can shoot 5/8" to 3/4" groups on a regular basis with this load. For my particular rifle it is a very accurate, relatively easily repeatable load. Your mileage may vary though.
Good luck!
Using this recipe I have shot a best group of 1/2" at 100 yds. Generally I can shoot 5/8" to 3/4" groups on a regular basis with this load. For my particular rifle it is a very accurate, relatively easily repeatable load. Your mileage may vary though.
Good luck!
Dies
I wish I had known about the Redding dies when I first started loading 7.5 Swiss several years ago. I bought the Lee dies and used .284 brass I found cheap at a show. I did notice that the LEE dies sized the brass far more than needed, so I bought an RCBS neck-size die.
I found that the neck-size die actually just barely full-length sized my brass, perfect!
I wish I had known about the Redding dies when I first started loading 7.5 Swiss several years ago. I bought the Lee dies and used .284 brass I found cheap at a show. I did notice that the LEE dies sized the brass far more than needed, so I bought an RCBS neck-size die.
I found that the neck-size die actually just barely full-length sized my brass, perfect!
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