Reloading for 7.5 Swiss

[no_problem]

Browsing through my Speer Reloading Manual turns up no listing for the 7.5mm Swiss for the K31 rifle. Can the K31 in 7.5 mm be reloaded?

I an in fairly new territory here so I would appreciate any feedback (brass sources, dies, powder, bullets, Etc) to help me decide on reloading for my K31.

Thanks in advance

 

[Slamfire]

Reload away

Absolutely the K31 can be reloaded. I have several, been load testing, found for my rifles an excellent load with surplus WC852. Since my powder came from Jeff Bartlett at Gibrass.com and is different from the other lots of WC852 floating around, I am not going to quote a charge weight. However, 2700 was originally a different 98,000 pound lot of WC852, I think that 2700 would also make an excellent ball powder for use in the 7.5 X 55 Swiss.

You can use standard .308 bullets, you will have to seat the bullets deeper than the OAL of the Swiss ammo or the bullet will get jammed in the throat of the barrel.

I have some data. You can see that my AA4350 load is just under the service rifle velocity. I think any of the 4350’s would be an excellent choice for the 7.5 Swiss.

I purchased cheap Lee dies and they work fine.

I was unable to find any go/no-go case gages for the 7.5 Swiss. I used my Stoney point gages to set up my sizing die. My recolletion using the C375 stoney point gage, I set the headspace on my cases to 1.830”, this was based on measurements of fired cases.

Using "C 375" Stoney point gage

Headspace, Indep, Fired Measurement Average: 1.834



K31 Rifle

AP11 Swiss Ball headstamp DA 78

Ave Vel = 2565
Std Dev = 9
ES = 23
Low = 2551
High = 2574
N= 4

168 gr Nosler Match 51.0 gr AA4350 INDEP brass and primer OAL 2.850
22 Dec 01 T = 58 ° F

Ave Vel = 2536
Std Dev = 16
ES = 45
Low = 2510
High = 2555
N= 9

 

[Titus]

The GP-11 brass is berdan primed, but I got boxer brass from Grafs.

 

[jwr_747]

my best 7.5 load is a 150gr.Remington PSP bullet over 38.5gr.of IMR 4064 with 37.5gr of 3031 being real close. lots of folks have good luck with the 168gr. or heavier bullet,I've had good luck with just about any 150gr. bullet jwr

 

[xd9fan]

What dies are you guys using?

I see a Redding Full Length Die Set C 7.5x55 Swiss (K-31) Model #80235
and a

Redding Deluxe Die Set C 7.5x55 Swiss (K-31) Model #84235

which would be correct??

 

[Canuck-IL]

Read up on the K31 at this site
http://www.surplusrifle.com/swissk31/index.asp

most dies are cut for the 1911 chamber which is not the same as the K31...the rounds will function but will overwork the brass. OAL is crucial as mentioned above. There's a lot of good reading in the links down the right hand side of the reference above.
/Bryan

 

[xd9fan]

....

 

[xd9fan]

Both say they are for the K-31
does it matter which set I buy?

 

[Canuck-IL]

80235 is the regular 2 die set; 84235 is the same two dies PLUS a neck sizer. Both sets are specifically for the K-31 chambers. It's up to you whether or not you want the neck sizing die.

BTW, read the reference I gave above - specifically the sidebar on reloading for the Swiss. OALs are crucial and most reloading manuals provide a size that's too long because they're based on the very long, thin bullets of the original Swiss rounds. With typical 308 bullets, you need to be shorter.

/B

 

[NH_N-Frame]

Anyone have any GP-11 empty brass?

Do any of you have any GP-11 brass you would like to sell off?
Yes, I know it is Berdan primed. Yes, I know reloading Berdan cases is very difficult. I think the quality of the casing justifies the effort. And since I work on a ship, and have 12 hours off a day to do my own thing in a decent machine shop, I'm looking to try.
PM me and let me know what you've got, and what kinda arrangement we'd have to make to get it.
Thanks for your time.

 

[rcmodel]

To reload Berdan cases, you first have to have Berdan primers of the correct size.
There are at least 11 different sizes, maybe more.

Finding any size for sale is almost akin to seeing Bigfoot in the U.S. anymore.

rc

 

[Hikingman]

Swiss reloads

Yep, my shooter "Michelle" (one of the '54 Walnut versions) likes 150 gr. (Sierra .308 #2125). with a COAL of 2.892-2.893 and crimped with Lee FCD. I'm going to reload a larger weight bullet next.

Loading here with both new Grafs 7.5 x 55 brass and new .284 Win. that's been full length sized. After once fired in this rifle, brass is neck sized for longer life.

Equipment: Hornady 7.5 FL Swiss dies (set), Lee Collet FL dies (set), and Lee 7.5 Swiss Factory Crimp die (FCD).

 

[longhorngunman]

XD9fan, the regular set will work fine and the Redding dies are specifically cut for the K31 chamber, I had to get a Redding sizing die because I had trouble with the Lee dies. If you have only one K31 it may be worth it to get the neck sizing die, will help save brass and should potientially be more accurare. You may have some trouble chambering the rounds though. The straight bolt guns don't have much camming power. Also heed the advice about finding your own OAL, .308 bullets are a different ogive from the GP11 bullet. I've found IMR4064 powder to work well. Happy loading!