K31 bolt a bit clunky.

[2meterB]

LEE is my preference but i read it sizes slightly smaller for thr 11 rather than k31 chamber. While hornady was for k31.


Redding looked nice but spendy.

[OpenSightsOnly]

LEE is my preference but i read it sizes slightly smaller for thr 11 rather than k31 chamber. While hornady was for k31.


Redding looked nice but spendy.

I use an RCBS FL die set for 7.5 Swiss.

I use that for the 96/11 and the K31.

Spend your $$ on brass.

[kcheung2]

I also use a RCBS die, but I raise it up half a turn so it doesn't work the brass as much. I only have a single K31 so no need to resize the brass too much. I use hornady .308 150gr FMJ from Grafs, they're about 22c each. People have had problems with heavier projectiles & OAL because the swiss 174gr is really pointy, but the 150 is sufficiently pointy (secant ogive or somesuch) so i havent had to load it further back.

For powder I use H380 because I have a lot but any 308 powder will work. There's very little load data out there but since the case size is similar to 308 I used starting load data from that. And sure enough the sweet spot for 7.5 was the same as for 308.

[2meterB]

Thanks for the input!

Right now I'm looking to start with 42gr of Varget and CCI 200 with the 150gr Hornady bullets.

Looks like i'll have to dust off the old chrono.

[SanPedroShooter]

That's should be fine. id have to check my books for my formula, but the lee dies come with 7.5 data. The Hornady 7th has a Swiss page too.

Im going to load berdan someday too

That GP Swiss stuff is to nice to just chuck.

[OpenSightsOnly]

I also use a RCBS die, but I raise it up half a turn so it doesn't work the brass as much. I only have a single K31 so no need to resize the brass too much. I use hornady .308 150gr FMJ from Grafs, they're about 22c each. People have had problems with heavier projectiles & OAL because the swiss 174gr is really pointy, but the 150 is sufficiently pointy (secant ogive or somesuch) so i havent had to load it further back.

For powder I use H380 because I have a lot but any 308 powder will work. There's very little load data out there but since the case size is similar to 308 I used starting load data from that. And sure enough the sweet spot for 7.5 was the same as for 308.

Folks have OAL "issues" with a K31 since it has a short throat, and they don't use OAL tool from Hornady.

Every bullet will be different . . .

[0321jarhead]

Thanks for the input!

Right now I'm looking to start with 42gr of Varget and CCI 200 with the 150gr Hornady bullets.

Looks like i'll have to dust off the old chrono.

150 Hornady? Why 150 when when you could do better with Sierra 168 or 175 HPBT. I'm not saying 150 are not good. Hornady in that weight range are really good too. But, lately I have used the Hornady A-Max and HPBT and have had slightly better results than Sierra. Those A-Max are working great for me. But, not everyone likes brussle sprouts. As you grow with that rifle it will tell you what it likes to eat. Enjoy and have fun.

[chknlyps2]

Thanks for the input!

Right now I'm looking to start with 42gr of Varget and CCI 200 with the 150gr Hornady bullets.

Looks like i'll have to dust off the old chrono.

I found 2 sweet spots with Varget and 150 gr bullets, 42 grains and 43.4 grains. 42 is light but makes great groups for me at 100 to 150 yards, I think the bullet drop I got between the 42 grain load and GP11 was around 4 inches at 300 yards. The point of aim was much closer at 300 yards between the 43.4 grain Varget load and GP11 and I got good groups again.

*EDIT You should start with a safe published load and work your way up checking for pressure signs as your results may vary from mine.

Like others have said the throat on a K31 is short, I colored a bullet with a sharpie, stuck it in an empty sized piece of brass and chambered it to see where the lands pushed the bullet in to. I then seated .015" shorter. I now have a Hornady comparator but I still need to make a modified 7.5 case for when I switch to a different bullet profile.

Graf and Powder Valley both have Berdan primers. The Tula 7.62 nato (KV-762N) Berdan primers fit GP11 perfect. PV also has 7.62x39 (KV-24N) Berdan primers, the primer is the same diameter but the cup is shorter. They will fit GP11 but you can seat them to deep and I am sure the anvil is touching the priming compound, they still go bang though... you gotta get the feel for seating them just flush with the case head.

I made a pry tool out of an awl and it takes me just a few seconds per case to deprime.

[2meterB]

90% of my shooting will be 100-200 yards (There's a range two minutes from my house.)

What do you like to seat them with? I asked RCBS, and they advised me NOT
to use their hand priming tool to do it.

Maybe I'm missing something, because I'm basically self-taught on reloading- why not match the OAL with GP11?

[chknlyps2]

90% of my shooting will be 100-200 yards (There's a range two minutes from my house.)

What do you like to seat them with? I asked RCBS, and they advised me NOT
to use their hand priming tool to do it.

Maybe I'm missing something, because I'm basically self-taught on reloading- why not match the OAL with GP11?

I use the Lee hand priming tool and it works great. RCBS probably knows there are many different Berdan primers and you could smash the primer into the anvil if you push the primer in past flush with the case head.

The bullet profile on GP11 is different than other bullets, the profile is even different between brands of the same weight bullet. I used the Lee OAL that came printed on the card in the set of dies for 150 grain bullets and the first one I chambered and then unloaded stuck the bullet into the lands and only the case came out spilling powder all over. I had to tap the bullet out of the chamber with a dowel. I figured out how to check to see how far the ogive was from the lands after that.

[2meterB]

Thanks! I really appreciate the advice on these.

[SanPedroShooter]

GP-11 OAL is good for that bullet and that's it.

Read Number six. I started a bullet in the case, chambered it, ejected it, caught it and measured from there. I did it a couple times and set the bullet 2 thousandths deeper.

http://www.swissrifles.com/ammo/reload1.htm

[chknlyps2]

Thanks! I really appreciate the advice on these.

No problem, if you do go the Berdan primer route make sure you get the Tula 7.62 Nato (KV-762N) they seat flush with the case head on GP11 brass.

I will try to get a pic of my decaping tool I made in a day or 2 and post it.