Reloading for 7.5x55 Swiss

[psteinmayer]

I may be coming into the possession of a K-31 soon, and I would like to prep and do my homework in advance. Here's what I'm looking for:

1. What are good dies to use for reloading? I normally use (and prefer) Lee dies, but I'm not opposed to RCBS or Hornady, etc. Please keep in mind that I'm NOT rich... so I'm not gonna buy a bunch of Dillon stuff. I've been told that some brands are not well suited for the K-31, so this is my reasoning for this question.
2. I plan on using .308 diameter 168 gr HPBT Match bullets... but if there a better bullet for the K-31 than the 168 gr HPBT Match, then I'd like to know what works.
3. What is a good load to use? I plan on using 4895 (either IMR or H), but I also always have 4064 on hand. I'm not opposed to a different powder, so any load data associated is good advice.

Thanks very much to all...

[Parashooter]

1. Lee dies work fine for K31 and earlier Swiss 7.5's, as do RCBS and some others. K31-specific dies are unnecessary, often cost more, and won't FL size for the early models. The difference is body taper. Base, neck, and shoulder-slope are the same.

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/b7d25fcb2a2101d763484ff0443878e0e81d1e8.jpg

2. HPBT 168's are fine. For 200-yard matches, consider lighter bullets to reduce recoil and cost.

3. 4895 and 4064 are both good choices. For detailed loading information visit http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/forums/10/Reloading-Tips

To help avoid a couple of common loading errors for K31 newcomers, see http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/topic/4737/K31-Misfires

[psteinmayer]

Thanks so very much Para... Much appreciated! Chuck (Butlersrangers) said you would know what the best dies and data were anyway, so I'm glad to have you weigh in!

[barretcreek]

As you can see from Para's photos, there's a lot of variation in Swiss chambers. A friend and I each have K31s and he doesn't get good results with my Hornady dies. Says the brass is overworked. So I'll suggest beg, borrow or steal a mic and figure out the minimum sizing you can get away with.

Thanks for those links, Para.

[Bob S]

Here's a light recoil load that has worked well for me:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v76/BobS1/K31/831979_150FMJ_37_5_3031B.jpg

Respectfully,
Bob S.

[madsenshooter]

I use the CH4D K31 dies. I tried their regular 7.5x55 die first, and it took a lot of effort to size down a once fired K31 case, despite the fact that I have a big Redding press. Seriously, one was enough and I was quickly asking Dave if I could trade for a K31 set, which he did for me. What I like the most about the K31 is you have a rifle consistent enough that you can see the difference a little change in charge makes. Rather than hunt around for a different height front blade or modify mine, I was able to reduce the charge by a few tenths at a time until it was on target at 100yds with 168s using the blade that came on it. 45.1gr of DP85 (surplus Accurate 2700, the old fully spherical powder) got me shooting 10s and Xs on the SR-1 with a 6 o'clock hold. That should be close for a center of mass hold for 200 without changing the sight setting. I'll try a match or two before Camp Perry to verify that theory.

[Parashooter]

If "it took a lot of effort to size down a once fired K31 case, despite . . . a big Redding press" you're probably using the wrong lube. Try plain, cheap castor oil. Nothing is slicker!

[madsenshooter]

I've always used Imperial sizing die wax, but I'll try the castor sometime. Your Redding die sizes the shoulder about the same as my K31 CH4D die. Oh, and come to think of it, I might not have been using the Redding press at the time, more likely the littlest RCBS.

[Parashooter]

Not my Redding die. Don't own, want, or need one. Picture on right came from someone who did.

[DRAGONFLYDF]

I load for 4 swiss rifles, a 96/11, 1911, K11 and K31 using Lee dies and a Hornady LnL progressive press. The biggest problem I had was getting the overall length right. I could chamber a round in the K31 and if I ejected it, sometimes it would leave the bullet in the chamber. Take a sized and capped case and cut a slit in the neck to the shoulder, seat a bullet and then load it in your rifle, slowly eject it and then measure the length, set your dies for a overall length a touch shorter.

[NuJudge]

All good advise above. The biggest thing to remember about the K31 chamber is that on a new barrel the rifling comes all the way back to the case mouth, and if the bullet does not have a strong taper forward of the cannelure, you will jam the bullet into the rifling. Some really new barrels have not shot well for me with 168gr bullets. I have not had a Swiss barrel that did not like the Remington 165gr soft point core lokt.

Some more good data:
http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/pierre/loaddata.html
http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/pierre/data.html

[antietamgw]

I may be coming into the possession of a K-31 soon, and I would like to prep and do my homework in advance. Here's what I'm looking for:

I'm no longer able to see iron sights well and have sold a number of rifles that I did not want to scope - my K31 was one of them. I have an as new set of Lee dies, and some once fired brass as well as some brass formed from new Win .284 that I am selling. I'm not well known here, mostly lurking and searching for info. I've listed it on a non milsurp forum. If you have an interest, PM me and I'll get you the link and info.

[Darreld Walton]

All of my loading experience with the 7.5 Swiss included forming the brass from .284 Winchester, loading with Varget and 168 gr. Speer's. Loaded this up with RCBS dies, case forming wax lube, and neck size only after firing, and trimming only as necessary.
My K31's shoot this cobbled up load very well. Since then, the 7.5 ammo and brass costs have come WAY down, especially in my region, and finding .284 brass is almost as hard to find as most of the other "oddball'' rounds I like to use.
Good luck! Just use "standard" components with published data, shoot it, adjust the load, and then go have fun!!!

[psteinmayer]

Ok, new question on the subject: I now have my K31, and 100 rounds of GP-11, and another 80 or so rounds of GP-11 brass. I've work out how to pull the Berdan primers efficiently (using the hydraulic method - messy, but cheaper than spending $70 or so for that RCBS decapper), and I'll be cleaning the cases up and prepping.

The question is where is a good source of Berdan standard rifle primers? I've check Grag and Sons, Cheaper than Dirt, and a few other suppliers, but no one seems to carry them. I plan on this only as a stop-gap until I can build up a good supply of Boxer primed brass.

[barretcreek]

Ok, new question on the subject: I now have my K31, and 100 rounds of GP-11, and another 80 or so rounds of GP-11 brass. I've work out how to pull the Berdan primers efficiently (using the hydraulic method - messy, but cheaper than spending $70 or so for that RCBS decapper), and I'll be cleaning the cases up and prepping.

The question is where is a good source of Berdan standard rifle primers? I've check Grag and Sons, Cheaper than Dirt, and a few other suppliers, but no one seems to carry them. I plan on this only as a stop-gap until I can build up a good supply of Boxer primed brass.

Try Old Western Scrounger, or may Wm Larkin Moore and Son in Scottsdale. WLM sells a lot of expensive double rifles so they may know where to get primers.
If I can't find Prvi brass I'll wait until .284 Winchester is available. It's one of those cases that probably gets made into other stuff more than is shot in its designated chambering so hopefully WW will crank out some soon.

[psteinmayer]

I purchase 500 Berdan primers on Gunbroker, so I'll load enough for a couple matches. Elsewhere, Parashooter has provided me (on another forum) some really great instructions for converting that GP-11 to Boxer... so that is what I'll likely do in the end!

Now to get busy loading...

[NuJudge]

Once it gets warm, if that ever happens, send me your brass and I will hydraulically deprime them with a nifty tool I have.

I will PM you as I am in the neighborhood.

[psteinmayer]

Thanks so very much NuJudge. PM read and responded.

[psteinmayer]

Just to let all know, I secured a small supply of Berdan primers about a month ago... so I reloaded 50 of the GP-11 cases with the Berdan primers. My load consisted of 168 gr Nosler HPBT match bullets over 40.0 grains of H4895. I shot these in a CMP match yesterday (only the second time I've shot this rifle), and wound up just short of a medal - 97-3X Slow, 92-1X Rapid, and 70-1X Offhand, for a total 259-5X. I attribute the low Offhand to my being terribly unsteady. The bottom line is - even though it is a little more trouble to decap, it's really not a big deal to re-prime, and the rest of the loading process is the same... so for now, I'm going to continue loading these as is. I am thrilled with the results!!!

Now to find another good supply of the Berdan Primers...