Need info on reloading 7.5 French

[jigenax]

Hi everyone,

I have a MAS44 chambered in 7.5 French. I'm planning to reload but found conflicting info about which bullet to use. One claims it uses .308 bullets while another states .311 bullets. Which one is correct?

Thanks,
Ken

[Maddog5150]

I am researching this also. There is this old reloading guru at my work who talked me through it once but I forgot what he told me. I'm going to write everything down next time I talk to him. I know grafs and sons has the brass, not a lot of people make the dies but every bit of research I did points me to the .308.
Generally I've been told that .003 inches wont cause any damage. Figure the American eagle 7.62x39 used to use a .308 bullet (i've mic'd it before) and the standard bore for most rifles chambered in that are in .311
I'll try to find out more and we can share research

[tujungatoes]

slug your bore to find the proper dia.

here's how

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reloading/slug/index.asp

if you haven't already been there, check out the forums at surplusrifle.com. lots of good milsurp info.

[jigenax]

Thanks for the info! The one on slugging is a great read! Can't wait to try it this week.

[Maddog5150]

Hah, found it in my reloading book. Hornady claims a 308 bullet. Odd but it also claims a CCI #34 primer ??? Does aftermarket brass require this? It also says to seat the primer 0.005 below flush or else you will slam fire with the 49/56
Good luck. Let me know how you do I want to reload for a 36 though.

[buffybuster]

I think the actual spec is .307-.3075 but .308" bullets will work fine.

[jigenax]

Sweet! I tend to use CCI 34s for my semi auto milsurps but the below flush info is good to know. For a bolt action 36, you should be fine with regular large rifle primers at normal depth.

[Someguy925]

I would slug the bore first. My MAS-36 came out to .307, so a 308 bullet worked perfectly for me.

I know grafs and sons has the brass, not a lot of people make the dies but every bit of research I did points me to the .308.

Lee makes a 7.5 french full-length sizing and bullet seater die. However, they don't make a neck-sizing one. For that, you can use a 7.5 Swiss neck-sizing die for that (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/arch...p/t-71505.html).

Grafs does sell new Prvi 7.5 French brass. You can also convert your own from 6.5x55 swede as well.