SLower powders

All of my K31's like the slower powders, 4831, 3100, 4350 and the best of all 4064. Any bullet from 165 to 180 grain shoot great.

I've also had good luck with 150 grain SP and M2 ball bullets but they do shoot to a different point of impact but still good.

 

GP11 is match grade ammo. Very consistent! If you really want to reload, you'll need a lot of trial and error to find out exactly what YOUR rifle likes to eat. It will be worth the effort however...
G/L

 

K31 Match reloads

I have found over the years that those powders in the 4064 "zone" such as R-15,VV N140 and Varget give the best results.The number one and most costly bullet would be the Berger 168 or 175 VLD.The next in line would be the Sierra 168 or 175 Matchking.With these components I would start my loads at 43.0 grains and work up to no more than 46.0 grains,I have gone higher but found no gains in accuracy.My best load has been 46.0 of Varget(or R15) with a Berger 168 VLD.This combination works quite well at 300 meters.Oh Yeah-My 3155 with a fairly well worn throat prefers the Sierra 168,same powder charges.Will

 

Before I start reloading (and because I want to get out and shoot right away!) I am going to buy a few hundred rounds of the GP11 match grade ammo mentioned earlier. This should get me comfortable with the rifle, its sights, etc. Then I will start to reload based on some of the fine input I have received. Rifles should arrive tomorrow or Monday!

 

Rifles should arrive tomorrow or Monday!

Welcome to the Swiss side, Rudybolla!! It's almost as much fun as the Swedish side...

 

7.5x55

I feel I could share these observations confidently after
tinkering with the K31's and reloading for them a bit.

I have found the 7.5x55 to be an inherently accurate cartridge.
Similar to the 308 Winchester in this regard. It would be
difficult, if not imprudent, to try to improve on this cartridge's
design for a 30 caliber of this power level. It's chubby
combustion chamber and rather sharp shoulder angle have
all proved to be "correct" in our high tech era.

As has been mentioned the GP11 is high quality ammunition
that has been built to perform well in the K31. If your rifle
will shoot GP11 well, that is, it has no bedding problems,
bore and crown is good, etc., you should have no problems
building a load that will perform equal to, if not better than, GP11.

On GP11. If you break down this cartridge you will find it
loaded with 51 grains of a stick powder that looks a lot like
4350. Also this charge weight would be in "the spot" for the
cartridge if loaded to standard pressure with 4350.

I have used 4064 and it works very well. But I will have to say
that I have achieved my finest accuracy with H4350 and AA3100.
But as others have mentioned other powders working well, this
all just shows that the cartridge is not "picky". I have also found
it very easy to build reduced jacketed bullet loads using Blue Dot
powder that will shoot lights out too.

I have used bullet weights from 110 grain to 180 grain and have
been able to get them all to shoot MOA in selected, tuned K31 rifles
with relative ease of load development.

best, dxr

 

I used to work at a shop where the owner described every shipment of ratty old surplus ammo as "match grade". Personally I think the phrase "match grade" is an invetion of unscrupulous dealers used seperate customers from their money. I would agree however that some milsurp does shoot superbly; GP11, HXP 303 and HXP 30-06 to name a few.

 

SM Match 7.5

Terry-True Match 7.5 doe exist or atleast did as late as 2000.I saw it on display at ESF 95 and ESF 2000.There were three diferent loadings using Sierra MatchKing bullets.The ammunition was next to impossable to buy-I tried.The production was limited to the Swiss National Team,though I think that it became available to lesser mortals.Check with Guisan.Will

 

Terry-True Match 7.5 doe exist or atleast did as late as 2000.I saw it on display at ESF 95 and ESF 2000.There were three diferent loadings using Sierra MatchKing bullets.The ammunition was next to impossable to buy-I tried.The production was limited to the Swiss National Team,though I think that it became available to lesser mortals.Check with Guisan.Will

Will - Guess I'm even less than a lesser mortal, then. I never clapped eyes on it in my life.

Besp

tac

 

rudybolla,

In my K31 (and G11..) I feel good with 51 grs of VV N160 and a Sierra MatchKing 168 grs with a 2 mm freeboring, neck-sized brass...

Regards!

 

Hee is what I load:

Bullet: Sierra HPBT MK .308 168grs
Powder: IMR 4064
Powder Charge: 42grs
Primer: CCI 200
Case: Norma
OAL: 2.894
OGive: 2.302
Avg Vel: 2000 Fps

 

They are fussy about some things

There is not much of a throat on K31 rifles, so pick a bullet that begins to taper immediately ahead of the cannelure (or where the cannelure would be). Mine don't seem to like the 168gr SMK or several 168gr versions from Hornady (I have not tried the AMAX yet). I've had more luck with the 165gr Remington bulk softpoint than anything else, and with 4831-speed powders. Lots of people talk about 4064 or its short-cut version Varget in the 7.5x55, but I've never had much luck with these powders in anything.

Full length sizing is a must, or you will have trouble getting the bolt all the way closed. I have the feeling that I get the best accuracy when I size just enough that the bolt closes freely.

Some really good links:
http://www.swissrifles.com/ammo/reload1.htm
http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/pierre/loaddata.html
http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/pierre/data.html

CDD

 

There is not much of a throat on K31 rifles, so pick a bullet that begins to taper immediately ahead of the cannelure (or where the cannelure would be). Mine don't seem to like the 168gr SMK or several 168gr versions from Hornady (I have not tried the AMAX yet). I've had more luck with the 165gr Remington bulk softpoint than anything else, and with 4831-speed powders. Lots of people talk about 4064 or its short-cut version Varget in the 7.5x55, but I've never had much luck with these powders in anything.

Full length sizing is a must, or you will have trouble getting the bolt all the way closed. I have the feeling that I get the best accuracy when I size just enough that the bolt closes freely.

Some really good links:
http://www.swissrifles.com/ammo/reload1.htm
http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/pierre/loaddata.html
http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/pierre/data.html

CDD

Sir - I have very good results with both my K96/11 and K31 with 4064, as recommended to me by Will over on www.swissrifles.com

I settled on 45.5gr under a comparatively hard-to-find in yUK bullet - the 175gr JLK benchrest bullet. I guess that Walter Berger's fine VLD bullet of the same weight would do just as well, but since I have around 400 of the JLK and none of his, it's an experiment that will have to wait.

The reason why I settled on that bullet was easy - not only do I have a lot of them but I shoot JLK bullets in both my Krico .308Win 650SS practical/tactical and my K31-actioned .308win target rifle.

I used to load with Vihtavuori, but since my local dealer put the price up to almost $150 a two-pound can, I've passed on that one.

tac