I am always looking to purchase odd-ball calibers. I am interested in buying a Swiss k31. It looks like I can use 308 caliber projectiles. I'm not really into buying bulk ammo. I would like to find brass and reload for it. Anyone reload for this caliber? What are the challenges with this firearm?
School me on reloading 7.5x55 Swiss
- Thread starter Ccctennis
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IMO its a toughie. I have RCBS dies and have had problems sizing enough to easily chamber. The straight pull action does not have much camming force to squeeze oversize (I'm talking case length here) rounds into battery. Slow fire loading isn't a problem because you can sharply close the bolt. My problem is with rapid fire strings from prone. I've taken to grinding off about 0.005" from my shell holder, but still need to do some more to get them to fit better.
FYI K31's have a very generous chamber width. I don't want to quote the dimensions from memory, but it is something like 0.015" wider than the standard 7.5 x 55 chamber. Redding makes a K31 specific die which many people swear by but the standard dies make very shootable ammo as well. They are essentially a small base die for K31's.
The other thing to consider are the highly variable throat dimensions of K31 rifles. Its probably a good idea to measure the length to the lands so you know what you have to work with.
I've used IMR4350 with good results, and have tried Re17 with about the same degree of accuracy. Varget is also supposed to be very accurate but I've never tried it.
As for brass, I bought a bunch of Prvi ammo (which I found to be quite accurate) and saved the brass. You can also buy Prvi brass if you're too cheap to get Lapua (like me).
You need to go on the Swiss Rifles message board and peruse the handloading threads. http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/directory There is a wealth of information there that you should look into. Good luck.
Laphroaig
FYI K31's have a very generous chamber width. I don't want to quote the dimensions from memory, but it is something like 0.015" wider than the standard 7.5 x 55 chamber. Redding makes a K31 specific die which many people swear by but the standard dies make very shootable ammo as well. They are essentially a small base die for K31's.
The other thing to consider are the highly variable throat dimensions of K31 rifles. Its probably a good idea to measure the length to the lands so you know what you have to work with.
I've used IMR4350 with good results, and have tried Re17 with about the same degree of accuracy. Varget is also supposed to be very accurate but I've never tried it.
As for brass, I bought a bunch of Prvi ammo (which I found to be quite accurate) and saved the brass. You can also buy Prvi brass if you're too cheap to get Lapua (like me).
You need to go on the Swiss Rifles message board and peruse the handloading threads. http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/directory There is a wealth of information there that you should look into. Good luck.
Laphroaig
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Steve in PA
Member
I have a K-31 and also use RCBS dies, but I have zero issues with sizing.
I use regular Hornady .308 projectiles, either FMJ for plinking or SP for hunting. And IMR-4350 is my choice of powder. The only challenge you are going to have is find brass if you are a reloader. I have no idea about factory ammo.
The rifle is extremely accurate, even when using open sight at 100 yards with aging eyes. Great rifle.
I use regular Hornady .308 projectiles, either FMJ for plinking or SP for hunting. And IMR-4350 is my choice of powder. The only challenge you are going to have is find brass if you are a reloader. I have no idea about factory ammo.
The rifle is extremely accurate, even when using open sight at 100 yards with aging eyes. Great rifle.
cougar1717
Member
I have a friend who reloads this. The data is very close to 308 Win and most powders that work well in 308 Win will work well in 7.5x55. That said, please use appropriate data. His biggest issue was finding boxer primed brass - the choices used to only be Lapua or Prvi. There may be more manufacturers now. The surplus ammo is berdan primed and not worth the hassle IMHO (although I'm sure some go this route).
I could see how after several firings that it might be difficult to chamber or extract a reload with a K-31 straight pull action, as it would be a "stuck bolt" instead of a typical bolt action's "sticky bolt," but this has not yet happened to my friend.
I could see how after several firings that it might be difficult to chamber or extract a reload with a K-31 straight pull action, as it would be a "stuck bolt" instead of a typical bolt action's "sticky bolt," but this has not yet happened to my friend.
I've reloaded 7.5x55 Swiss for decades. Initially I bought a C-H dies set for my Schmidt-Rubin 1911 rifle and carbine. Worked fine with the I.A.C. boxer-primed ammo/cases available at the time. When K31's hit the market, I had to have one. Excellent rifle but my old C-H dies had to be screwed down further to size the cases so they properly chambered. This was because the Swiss changed the case shoulder angle without changing their ammunition designator -- GewehrPatronen 1911 a.k.a. GP11. The GP11 made for the K31 will also chamber in the 1911 rifle and carbine but not vice versa. I bought the Hornady 7.5x55mm Swiss dies for K31 and they properly size for the K31. I still use the C-H dies for the 1911 rifle/carbine. I got boxer-primed cases from Graf & Sons, headstamped GRAF or PPU, both Serbian-made. They work flawlessly. I use IMR 4895, also without problems. To satisfy my curiosity, I also learned to reload and successfully reloaded berdan-primed GP11 cases. It is do-able but a real pain and I found no advantage in doing so, and it is way too much effort.
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