Swiss K-31 bullets. Burger VLD's dried up.

[DustyRusty]

I have been studying THR and other forums for weeks looking for info on this.
I'm looking for suggestions from you Swiss K-31 shooters.

I'm setting up to reload for the Swiss K-31 rifle.
Looking at what components are out there, options are getting scarce.
I see that Burger 174gn VLD's are no longer available so I can't try them.
Buying Prvi Partizan ammo to simulate is difficult as it's outta stock too.
Some bullets I plan to try are Hornady A-max in 168 grain and G.I. M72 173gn pull down bullets.
The swiss GP-11 ammo looks more like a VLD bullet I think.

Has anyone found a really close match? Or am I spinning my wheels for naught?



The A-max 168gn left & Swiss
GP-11 174gn bullet right.



Swiss GP-11 steel penetrator 174gn
bullet left, a G.I. M72 174gn bullet right.

 

[1911JAS]

What do you plan on using it for? I have had good success with Sierra 168 match king, using 284 brass.

 

[DustyRusty]

JAS1911,


Swiss vs. SMK 168gn Match #2200

Right now, I'm shooting different loads of N140 over the chronograph indoors to get the speeds close to the reloading manual. When it warms up, the plan is to shoot the some groups with the chosen loads at distance and do more tuning.

I have some 152gn Hornadys I shoot in an M1 that I may try to see if they group well.

All in all, just want to target shoot light loads in the old girl for fun.

 

[Laphroaig]

You're never going to find a .308 bullet that clones GP11. I think 168 match bullets are a pretty good substitute. IMR4350 worked about as well or better than anything else that I tried.
I don't think the M72's have the precision that you want even though they weigh about the same as GP11.

I have some 152gn Hornadys I shoot in an M1 that I may try to see if they group well.

That's the direction I looking in, trying to find a 150 gr. low recoil load that is accurate. I've tried a reduced charge of IMR4198 but it wasn't up to par in my K31's. I have to experiment more, maybe shoot a ladder.

 

[DustyRusty]

I agree that GP-11 is a odd shape. I wondered if it was intended to be VLD or something.
I will shoot the bullets I have and see what happens.
I'll also be looking for a sweet bullet speed and distance off the lands for the ogive.

When I operate that bolt, it reminds me of the winter Olympics and the biathlon rifles.
Or even the AR's with the handle installed on the bolt carrier.

 

[tmd16556]

Those steel cores also make for longer bullets at a given weight. The Russians did the same with mild steel cores to get better BC numbers in 7.62x54. Short of pulled surplus bullets, you won’t find that. Solid copper bullets may get the length but cost more and behave differently.

 

[Laphroaig]

@DustyRusty , do me a favor and get the diameter of those GP11's. I'm thinking that they are true 7.5 mm (something like .306) and not .308.

I only have one unopened brick of GP11 left and don't want to defile it just to satisfy my curiosity.

Thanks.

 

[DustyRusty]

I sent you a message with some measurements.
There is a story about the internal measurements of the barrel being 7.5mm friendly, but the bullet is .308.