The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

So oomans, given that GP11 military surplus ammo for Swiss K31 carbines is rarer than rocking horse poo, what are you shooting through yours and why ? The options seem to be Privi Partisan 7.5x55 or reloaded ammo. What's best, and if it's a pawload*, what recipe do you use?




*handload to you oomans

Not had 7.5x55 Swiss in Privi, but, what I can say having used two of their loads in .223 and some 7mm-08, they were hot! So all depending what sort of aged old war horse you intend to put them through, bear this in mind. It would be a shame to batter a nice old rifle to death.....

For me, it would be a no brainer. Hand loads. And on that, I'm using Privi's .223, 7mm and .44 brass. I rate it.

I've used Prvi Partizan in my K31 and it's fine accuracy wise. Plus, I've saved all the brass for future handloading.

Compared to the GP11, which I've also used in the same rifle the Prvi version seems significantly milder. The GP11 required less elevation and pretty much matched the graduations for the tangent-leaf sight.

I purchased some Prvi ammo at £46 per hundred (I wish I brought more )
Full size resize and reload using Privi bullets and N140, still working on getting a better group. I think it works out to about 38 pence from memory.
Dont forget to try this site, more reloading data than you can throw a stick at

http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard ... /directory

I currently use 43grn VN140 behind a PPU174gn FMJ which is the same bullet as used in the Prvi factory loads, in my rifle I have no signs of pressure and I can keep on the black at 1000 yrds as long as I can read the wind, factory prvi is faster and requires a mildot less elevation in my scope. I always full length resize and rotate the case 90 degrees and size again to ensure no chambering problems, I load to the same average OAL as the factory rounds. the brass is now on its 5th reloading and I have just annealed it.

Where did you get your data from and what signs did you look for for pressure?

dromia wrote:Where did you get your data from and what signs did you look for for pressure?

I spent a lot of time on the net cross referencing, and talked to people who had been reloading the cartridge for a few years. I look for signs of the brass "flowing" into the ejector cut out and have had more experienced people look at the brass after firing, this has been a process of gradual increments that has taken some time, and I do stress its my rifle not any rifle.

I'm down to my last 2 doz GP11 and couldn't find any at remotely sensible prices at Newark this year.

I have some homeloads to develop for my Model 1911 long rifle with this knowledge in mind:

"in 1913, the Model 1911 was formally adopted. These rifles, along with those converted to the new pattern, fired the new GP11 round. The GP11 round fired a 175 grain round at 2640 fps. The 1911 possessed all the improvements listed above"

Mindful that she's an old lady, I'm going to keep mv and therefore chamber pressure down and see how she fares.

AL8 wrote:Full size resize and reload using Privi bullets and N140, still working on getting a better group. I think it works out to about 38 pence from memory.

That's about the cost of my .303 reloads as well - I'm using the same powder and bullets, but found the groups got a lot better when I started just neck sizing....

Badger: Another benefit I've found from reloading, is that they can be much gentler on the old rifles - I only shoot my SMLE at 200 yds, so have found a very accurate load of 39 gns of VN140 behind a Privi 174 FMJ - when you compare them shot for shot with Privi factory, the difference in sound and recoil is significant...

Hmmm, it's looking more and more like we'll have to consider investing in the kit needed to can our own bangs...