Help reloading 7.5 Swiss for K31

[iareConfusE]

So, just picked up my powder today and began finishing my first reloads. I finished a couple rounds, and when I tried to chamber them, none would allow the bolt to fully close.

All reloading data that i have found online and in manuals have said that .308 is the correct bullet diameter. I have read that using some brands of .308 bullets won't work with the K31 and some will. Does anybody know of a brand that will work?

If I seat the bullet deeper and deeper I'm sure I can get it to work, however I'm wary of over pressuring the brass and possibly destroying the gun and myself along with it.

edit: I just measured the bullets I'm using for reloading, and they measure exactly .308, however the bullets from PPU factory ammunition measured only .305. Is it even possible to buy .305 bullets?.... I've never seen them.

Help!

[postal16]

I use the Sierra Match King 175 grain bullets for my K31.

Did you resize the brass to the right dimension? It may be too long (not correct headspace) and that is why your bolt isn't closing.

[postal16]

http://www.hornady.com/store/Headspace-Gauge-Kits/

this is useful for checking the headspace dimension when setting your resizing die. Also, I would work on getting a "blank" round (i.e. bullet and deprimed case only) set to the right dimensions, check that is chambers correctly and keep it on hand so that you can use it to set your die the next time you need it

[gunboat]

1- check a resized empty case to see if it fits -
2 -- as said above, make a dummy cartridge, seating the bullet slightly deeper till it chambers.
All bullets do not have the same ogive, so some seat deeper than others. Just think round nose and spire point.
If your bullets seat a lot deeper than you feel comfortable with, just lighten the powder charge a few grains.

[Peter in CA]

Re: Help reloading 7.5 Swiss for K31

iareConfusE,
When I reloaded for a K31 and a Model 1896/11, the K31 had to have the bullet seated MUCH deeper in the case than the 96/11. May I suggest that you make a dummy round for your K31, seating the bullet deeper and deeper until it will just allow the bolt to close on the dummy round and then seat the bullet about 10 thousands deeper. This will become the master round for that particular K31 (label it as such) and you can adjust the seating die with it. May I also recommend that you start at the lowest end of the range for your powder of choice. Load 5 or 10 rounds and see how they do. Then adjust the amount of powder upwards if you so desire.

Peter in CA

[iareConfusE]

Thanks for the responses guys. I found out that it was just that I hadn't resized my brass all the way. This is my first time reloading, so I didn't know exactly how far and how hard I had to pull on the lever. I just mashed em in real good this time and they all fit perfectly now.

Thanks guys!

[iareConfusE]

Fired off my rounds today and I had quite a bit of problems...

Out of 10 rounds, I had one misfire - still is unfired and sitting in a bucket of water; 5 hang fires that were about half a second before detonation; and 4 that were just fine.

I may be able to attribute the hang fires to not knowing any better, and cleaning out the insides of the cases with hoppes 9, or handling the primers individually with my hands and perhaps having my skin oil touching the primer.

Not sure about the misfire though... Primer seat depth was just fine, flush with the bottom of the case, and the pin struck it pretty deep. I tried firing it a second time to no avail.

Any advice?

[SDJim]

Here's a site that has a fair amount of info on Swiss Rifles and here specifically about reloading. http://www.swissrifles.com/ammo/reload1.htm

[iareConfusE]

I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, or if this particular cartridge is just incredibly hard to reload because of really tight tolerances, but I have the hardest time resizing my brass. I'm using the Lee Anniversary set, and using Lee dies. I have the resizing die set all the way down, however it is requiring a ridiculous amount of force from me to get the necks to be resized.

Let me describe the set up I'm using right now... The reloading press is C-clamped to my pretty thin particle board table, so I do need to apply upwards force while I'm pulling down on the lever so that the C-clamps + press don't rip apart my table. Whenever I try to resize my brass, I am required to stand up, put all of my weight down on one arm plus exerting as much downward force with that arm as humanly possible for me. I have to push so hard that I need to have my palm padded since the last time I did this my hand went numb from the force required to push down. This is just my right arm, my left arm is holding the press itself, pulling upwards, and my left leg is pushing against the bottom of the table to prevent it from flexing more than it already is. I;m basically playing twister with my reloading press, and its pretty ridiculous...

I don't think I'm doing anything wrong, but could there perhaps be a defect in the resizing dies?

[gunboat]

Sounds like a lot of force -- or at best an awkward set up. It wore me out just trying to read about it :-)
You should be able to resize those cases literally holding the press in your hands -- You are lubing the cases?
After firing, can the cases be re inserted in the chamber? You should be able to just neck size the cases fired in your chamber -- back the die off about a thread.
Oiling the interior of the cases possibly could result in your misfires --
You only need a smidge of lube on the sizing button every few rounds.
Since you probably don't have a puller, just remove the die, run the cartridge up to the top, grab the bullet with a pair of pliers, lower the ram, and bob's your uncle - You can probably even reuse the bullets if you are not too energetic grabbing them --
Hopefully there is a calgunner nearby who could come by to help you verbally --

[iareConfusE]

Sounds like a lot of force -- or at best an awkward set up. It wore me out just trying to read about it :-)
You should be able to resize those cases literally holding the press in your hands -- You are lubing the cases?
After firing, can the cases be re inserted in the chamber? You should be able to just neck size the cases fired in your chamber -- back the die off about a thread.
Oiling the interior of the cases possibly could result in your misfires --
You only need a smidge of lube on the sizing button every few rounds.
Since you probably don't have a puller, just remove the die, run the cartridge up to the top, grab the bullet with a pair of pliers, lower the ram, and bob's your uncle - You can probably even reuse the bullets if you are not too energetic grabbing them --
Hopefully there is a calgunner nearby who could come by to help you verbally --

Thanks,

Yeah I am lubing up the cases quite generously with the Lee lube.
And yeah my setup is very awkward, but I'm a college student with no real workbench in the garage, however despite this, I still don't think it should require as much force as I'm putting into it.

[gunboat]

do you have a way to mount your press on a chunk of 2x6 ? You could then clamp that to a kitchen table using a couple "C" clamps and pads to prevent damage to the table.

The amount of force you seem to be exerting is a bit bewildering -
Perhaps you have your die set too close to top of the stroke and you are having to exert a lot of force to overcenter the ram. Try setting the die so the ram just kisses the die without a case in it. Then when a case is being sized, the force needed to size will just let the ram clear the end of the die by a few thou --
I started reloading with a set of lyman tong tools, a hand held tool, and although it only neck sized, 30/06 and 45/70 were easy enough to size with just one hand --

I can not speak to the amout of lee lube required, I am still using a ink pad and lanolin lube. Too much lube can cause dented cases, not a big deal but they do look a mite unsightly.
my ha-penny

[gorblimey]

I did come across several comments elsewhere, to the effect that most sizing dies for the caliber, other than Redding, are geared for chamber dimensions of older rifles. IOW, people were recommending solely the Redding die for the K31. I'd already sent a question to Redding tech about this, should be hearing back from them soon.

[iareConfusE]

do you have a way to mount your press on a chunk of 2x6 ? You could then clamp that to a kitchen table using a couple "C" clamps and pads to prevent damage to the table.

The amount of force you seem to be exerting is a bit bewildering -
Perhaps you have your die set too close to top of the stroke and you are having to exert a lot of force to overcenter the ram. Try setting the die so the ram just kisses the die without a case in it. Then when a case is being sized, the force needed to size will just let the ram clear the end of the die by a few thou --
I started reloading with a set of lyman tong tools, a hand held tool, and although it only neck sized, 30/06 and 45/70 were easy enough to size with just one hand --

I can not speak to the amout of lee lube required, I am still using a ink pad and lanolin lube. Too much lube can cause dented cases, not a big deal but they do look a mite unsightly.
my ha-penny

Thanks for the advice. I think I have a couple of smaller pieces of wood laying around that I can clamp to the desk to spread the pressure around a bit more. Additionally, I have the die set down really far so that the the ram would actually go past the die if it were not there, if you know what I mean.

I may need to play with the die setting so that the ram touches the die when it cams over for better mechanical leverage.

[CSACANNONEER]

If you ever get up my way, PM me and bring your rifle and reloading gear. Until then, since it sounds like you are doing this whole reloading thing by yourself, please be careful! Don't forget to check your brass length before loading. If your brass is too long, it needs to be trimmed or bad things will happen.