Attn: Pierre... Hunting Loads

I'm about to get my reloading equipment back and set up and I've got some RL17 and a selection of bullets including 175gr Berger VLD on the way to begin playing with. I'm pretty excited about reloading for my Swiss rifles and you've given some great starting points to play with for match loads. But I also like using my Milsurps to hunt with and being from Montana I assume you do some hunting of your own. Do you have any recommendations for bullet selection and recipes for hunting loads?

Also, I’ve looked around and can’t find load data for the 7.5 Swiss using RE17. Do you have a recommendation on starting grains?

Thanks in advance.

Back in a bit. Very heavy storm coming in and I'll have to shut down till the lightning is gone.
Later
P

This is the load data my son uses. I used it also, but being that I bought my first 1911 Swiss long rifle in 1959, that gives you some idea of why I no longer hunt. A cane in the woods doesn't work well.
The projectile is a Hornady 180gr BTSP (soft point). Suitable for all deer and elk....... It will work for moose with a well placed shot.
Powder is 45.8gr IMR 4350, but start your own load at 44.8gr just to be safe.


This is one of his targets at 125 or 150 yards. Fully repeatable with no "cold shots". Can't find the logbook. It's somewhere in the armoury but in a place "I'd never forget"...... but not with all the others. sheesh...............

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...pko1fpjl-1.jpg

His k31.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...gogtednc-1.jpg

---------- Post added at 12:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 PM ----------

Forgot about your 2nd question. Yes. a 175gr Berger VLD or a 175gr SMK and begin at 47gr of RE17. You'll probably end up near 49.5, but work it up to whatever shows as most accurate for your particular rifle.

P

Thanks for posting that, Pierre. I'm going to give the Hornady load a "shot".

Don't know how much difficulty you have in getting around, but I have mobility problems as well and have taken up trekking poles. I get by with one for the most part and sometimes need two.

I use a cane, and on uneven ground I'm not stable at all. I spent a lot of years trekking the ridges and mountains around Lost Prairie hunting and only began having my mobility difficulties when I turned 70. That's quite a while ago now and I don't expect anything to change anytime soon.

After 50 years here in Lost Prairie with Ma, I am still able to load firewood into the firebox, and that's the main thing. The kids come out here every once in a while to help with the things I can no longer do, but they want Ma and me to move closer to town next year. I wouldn't mind doing it as long as we're far enough out of town and I have a 100 yard underground range to continue with my load data gathering. My son now tells me that above-ground ranges can be enclosed very effectively so as not to disturb neighbors. I don't really know the meaning of neighbors out here. LOL

When I do go to town, I always have the three things you see in the photograph.... And pants and suspenders, of course. LOL

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b91fymhy-1.jpg

I see! Seems like life is pretty good despite your challenges. You obviously overcome and adapt by maintaining a positive attitude. Something I admire. I'm only 73 and my mobility problems are due to an injury back in 2012 but I get around better now. I expect the gradual loss of ability such as you have experienced and will try to do as well as you in dealing with it.

I'm more than sure you will. As of last night, everything is changed here. This old log home is going to hear the pitter patter of both big and small feet again. Rather than selling off the land and our home of the past 48 years, my daughter and her husband and my granddaughter Scarlett are coming back to Lost Prairie to live again.

4400 ft.² of house was getting to be too much for Ma to handle. Even with that part of the family home, it still leaves a couple extra guestrooms. I know it will never happen, but I'd love to see my son his wife and two children come home too. Anyway, it looks like this old man will be in lost Prairie for a number of years to come now.

The bow hunters are out and the smaller of the two elk herds were in the pasture yesterday afternoon, but I'm sure they've moved on toward Gunsight Pass this morning. With a bit of early snow on the ground, I'm sure the hunters are happy this morning. With the kids home now, the reloading room is going to get very active again.
P