Reloading the 7.5x55

[Wyatt Smith]

I am about to begin reloading for the 7.5 Swiss. The dies are on the way. I plan on using the 168 Sierra match king. I was looking at load data and noticed that H4895, H4831, and several in between, are used for that bullet.
I am guessing that the 4350/ H414 burn rate would be best.
What are your thoughts?

 

[shootist~]

I only loaded Hornady 150 FMJ-BTs in my 7.5s. 45.1 grains of H414 makes a nice load. COL of 2.860" with a F210 primer. Brass was Grafs.

I used a couple of K31s in our Surplus Military rifle matches and had lots of fun with them.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I have several pounds of H414, that’s what I intended to use. I bought a large lot of pulled 168 SMKs on gunbroker long ago for next to nothing. I think the combo will work just fine.

 

[machinistbutler]

Watch the seating depth , only issue I found loading for the 7.5x55. gp 11 bullets are a little different than the sierras . I run RL17, a swiss powder about the equivalent of the GP11, some say it is the same, and 165 hornady interlocks for deer . Works great .

Love the swiss rifles!!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Does like to be seated longer or shorter? I wish I could find a case of the GP11.

 

[shootist~]

Does like to be seated longer or shorter? I wish I could find a case of the GP11.

I have a case and a half of GP11. Late 1970s, IIRC.

Go to Gunbroker and see what they are selling for (yikes) - then make me an offer for some (does not have to be $2.50 per round like I saw recently).

 

[sestoppelman]

Not being a semi auto almost any powder will do other than pistol powder of course. But anything from 3031 to the 4831's are good. I used some Re15 with that bullet and they shot well in my K31, but the GP11 ammo shoots so well I decided who cares about loading for it, as I have a lot of GP11 ammo. Was lucky to snag a case before the prices went nuts for stuff.
I was at my FFL guys place today and saw he had a few bottles of H4831 on his powder rack and I am about out of it. I set one bottle down on his bench with a $50 bill on top of it. I bought it home.
Thats a lot but about half what GB prices are right now and no one has any!

 

[machinistbutler]

Does like to be seated longer or shorter? I wish I could find a case of the GP11.

The gp 11 bullets have kind of a dual diameter so they can be seated longer.
I can still seat the hornady to the crimp groove, but have to be a bit careful.

I have had about a dozen of the k31 , they are all the same . I have a beauty of a k11 , but haven't shot it so I am not sure on that model.


I sold quite a few cases of the gp 11 in Edmonton this winter, shipped some out east as well. There doesn't seem to be much of it around, in Canada anyways. I have a fair bit , and have saved the brass. Have a bunch of new prvi brass too.

Just picked up a 70th anniversary of the swiss gunmakers association rifle. Real nice.

 

[sestoppelman]

The gp 11 bullets have kind of a dual diameter so they can be seated longer.
I can still seat the hornady to the crimp groove, but have to be a bit careful.

I have had about a dozen of the k31 , they are all the same . I have a beauty of a k11 , but haven't shot it so I am not sure on that model.


I sold quite a few cases of the gp 11 in Edmonton this winter, shipped some out east as well. There doesn't seem to be much of it around, in Canada anyways. I have a fair bit , and have saved the brass. Have a bunch of new prvi brass too.

Just picked up a 70th anniversary of the swiss gunmakers association rifle. Real nice.

Shouldnt we see a picture of that rifle?

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I did measure a GP11 bullet and know what you mean by dual diameter.
So I need to be careful not to seat the bullet into the lands? Are the lands close.

 

[machinistbutler]

I did measure a GP11 bullet and know what you mean by dual diameter.
So I need to be careful not to seat the bullet into the lands? Are the lands close.

They can be, just be cognisant of it when loading the first few rounds, once you know where it is with the bullet you are using you will have no problem! I think the old swiss rifle forums had a bunch of info on it.

 

[machinistbutler]

Shouldnt we see a picture of that rifle?

Will take some of the new k 31 when I get home, do have a couple from the place I bought it,.serial number 25 which is kind of neat!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’ll measure it. Thanks.

 

[machinistbutler]

Nice tiger striped k11

 

[sestoppelman]

Are these 75th Ann rifles new made or refurbed and re marked? Neat rifles!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Sweet rifle.

 

[machinistbutler]

Picked up a couple beautiful antique Swiss 1882 revolvers, one made in 1887, other 1896.

I cannot believe the shape they are in, barrels look new . Amazing for a round that spent it's whole life as a black powder . Possibly the last loaded military black powder round. I think the swiss military still loaded it with black powder up to the 70's.

I have some 32-20 brass on the way, will make up some rounds this week. The rounds I purchased with it are probably less powerful than if I used a slingshot to shoot them. Still fun though.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Very cool!

 

[bruce moulds]

the case hold less than a 30/06 and not much more than a 308.
this would suggest varget, 4064, 4895, re15 type burning rates for best velocity potential.
4831 and even 4350 will probably be too slow for best results, but will not give high pressures.
with regards sierra matchking 168 gns, they are well known to be poor performers at long range.
this is because they go unstable as they approach the transonic zone.
bruce.

 

[sestoppelman]

The Swiss round is much closer to the .30-06 than to the .308, holding app. 15 percent more powder than the .308 Win. I just ran a little informal capacity test by filling both cases to the top with ball powder. The Swiss case held 65.8 grs and the .308 ran 55.2 grs, or 16 percent difference.
A .30-06 case by the same method held 67.5 grs.
Remember that the fat .284 Win case which holds very nearly the same powder as the .270 Win or .280 Rem/7x64, is very close to the Swiss in dimension.
As to the Sierra being a poor performer at long range? Any bullet starts yawing pretty bad at distance where velocity is lost. Drive it fast enough and it wont do that at reasonable ranges. Thats why the .308 is not an ideal 1000 yard round. The Swiss would be better.