K31 Dies for 7.5x55 Swiss

[Sentryduty]

Please explain what you mean by "a brand case". Makes no sense as written.

Perhaps he means "brand new case" it's all I can think of in the context.

[alamo308]

Any suitably-weighted bullet with a TANGENT ogive, like the Sierra Match-King series, will probably give you problems with seating / overall length measurements. ...they would not chamber. They fed fine through K-11s, both his and mine.

The earlier G / K-11 series have a LONG throat because, when they were introduced, there was still a vast amount of the earlier "torpedo"-bulleted ammo in the system.

I understand (I think!) that Sierra MKs are less than ideal (don't work?) for reloading GP-11 for the K31, but are OK reloading GP-11 for the 1911, right?

If that is correct, what are some appropriate secant-ogive projectiles to use in reloading GP-11 for the K31?

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Hornady produce several Secant ogive bullets in .308" size.

Anything from 150 to 175gn be it FMJ, HP or SP should work.

Here in Oz, a local bullet maker, BJD, does a very nice 155gn HP with a scant ogive that is primarily used by "full-bore" (.308 / 7.62 NATO) target shooters, who often work out to 900 yds. They work OK in the K-31. (As well as my trusty old K-11)

These bullets, called the HBC (high ballistic coefficient) have been sent to the US and Canada in SMALL batches; ask around and check the inter-tubes.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Those HBC, secant ogive bullets, here

[Wineman]

The SMK's are fine for a K31, they must be seated deeper than a VLD bullet but they work just fine. I had a pile pulled from M118LR ammo and I knocked over 10 rams at 550 yards, 10 pigs at 330 yards eight chickens (really you missed two up close @3%*) at 220 yards and was working on the Turkeys at 400 yards when the thunder storm ended my best day at the silhouette range. K31's seem to cause issues. Think of them as a pump rifle (tight chamber, no camming action, OAL important) and you cant go wrong. Always full length size, seat appropriately, and quit worrying about overworking the brass with regular 7.5x55 Swiss dies and they are lots of fun. If you have K31 dies even better, but you need other dies for your K11, 96/11 and G11's. They have great bores, exquisite craftsmanship, and a panache that few other military rifles have. If you have a stash of GP-11 cool, if not Prvi has brass, there are zillions of 30 caliber bullets, and any powder that gets you a safe 2,500 fps with 45 grains and a 175 grain bullet is a go to. Shooting cast bullets successfully really requires a Jedi mind trick. No throat and little tolerance for neck sized cases makes for a tricky situation. Enjoy.

Dave

[RC20]

Then those craft German chaps turned the ballistic world on its ear and introduced "spitzer" bullets driven at considerably higher velocities. Thus, everyone who wanted to stay in the game had to turn around and re-engineer their rifles and machine-guns (sights, feed systems for starters), and re-think their range tables.

Hence "'03-A3" Springfields.

Bruce: I know this is older thread but I feel the need to correct things.

I believe you are mixing up Pre WWI and WWII rifles and the cartridge history.

The original cartridge for the 1903 was the 30-03. That was the 220 gr.

The 1903-A3 is a WWII Remington (mostly) modified 1903 for faster production as well as rear peep sight ala the M1.

It was actually the French who0 started the move to sharp bullets, the Germans took that and went further.

The US then followed, modified the 30-03 Cartridge slightly and turned it into the 30-06 (date of mod)

To the best of my knowledge, they made no changes to the chamber as far as accommodation the rounds. The 06 case was shorter, which allowed them to cut a thread off existent barrels (a fair number) and change them to 06.

---------- Post added at 10:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:34 AM ----------

I can not comment on later Swiss 7.5x55 chambered weapons. Probably like the K31, shoot the ammo and throw the brass away. I don't know if modern military units would reload fired brass, probably not.

Dave

GP11 is Berdon primed and not intended to be reloaded, it can be with various tools or converted to Boxer (I believe) so re-use was never an issue. With PPU available there really is no point other than sad to see the GP11 cases go to waste but the work to convert and the primers in my opinion make that a total waster of time (some do it, vastly more time than I have)

[alamo308]

GP11 is Berdon primed and not intended to be reloaded, it can be with various tools or converted to Boxer (I believe) so re-use was never an issue. With PPU available there really is no point other than sad to see the GP11 cases go to waste but the work to convert and the primers in my opinion make that a total waster of time (some do it, vastly more time than I have)

The only 'time' investment is the initial setting up of the RCBS decapper, finding the best depth and angle for the pin. Once that is tweaked, just pop away.

Using the RCBS Berdan decapper while sitting comfortably in my easy chair and watching TV, I can conveniently and fairly quickly decap GP-11 brass at at least the same or even faster pace than Boxer-primed (which of course requires using the decapping press at my reloading bench). Not having to use a press with the Berdan means I can do it anywhere.
I use my Lee Auto-Prime for either Tula KV-7.62N or PMC LARGE RIFLE BERDAN primers. Both work just fine. I will continue reloading the GP-11 until I run out of primers (8,000 on hand, but I also use them for some very nice FN 7mm Mauser brass), and then start using my untapped inventory of RUAG GP-11 crates, and just say good-bye to that brass after shooting.
I suppose eventually turning to PPU cases, which I know from my other calibers is really good brass, too.