7.5x55 Swiss Reloading

M

mcunico

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I'd like some advise on the 7.5x55 Swiss Ammo, specifically on reloading. I'm reloading for a Swiss Model 1911 Rifle. I've got once fired Prvi Partizan rounds and the Lee Pacesetter Dies. I've got the cases cleaned a lubed, but I can't for the life of me get them to run through the resizing die. This is a full-sized resizing die. They get stuck with about 0.5" remaining of the case. It takes way too much force to get the case to resize and I'm wondering if I need another die-set, or are these cases just too hard to resize.

Thoughts?
 
mcunico, I reload PP cases for my K-31. Bit difference in chamber but sized rounds should be similar.

Measure the cases size:
1) Diam. at Base
2) Diam. at shoulder just before bottleneck

Your new cases should already be sized - We can compare then.
 
If I understand correctly, the cases were fired in another rifle that you don't have access to. So its chamber could be out of spec allowing the cases to expand too much and requiring extra effort to full length resize. Unfortunately a common problem in that situation. The better approach would have been to buy the PP ammunition and fire it to get cases better suited to your rifle.

Note that those Swiss rifles, like most straight pulls, have little primary seating or extraction power and so cases might have to be sized using an "autoloader" die.

You don't say what tool you are using, but if you have a good O or heavy C press, and lube the cases properly, sizing should not be that hard.

Jim
 
Yeah, That's kinda where I was going, too!

If those rounds were fired in a K-31 they will need quite a bit of resizing to fit back in a chamber of a 1911 rifle.
 
These rounds were fired through my gun. They are just a pain now to resize with the Lee die. I'll measure the cases and let you know.

Also, my initial attempt was on a Lee single stage press but then tried again on a Lee classic turret. Also had them lubed with Hornady one shot.

Thanks!
 
Did u lube the case? The die is at the correct depth? I have loaded like 100 rounds with the same dies for my k11 with no issues.
 
jojo, I used Hornady One Shot pretty generously on the outside of the cases and inside the case necks. Also used One Shot to lightly coat the inside of my die. As far as seating the die, I used the same requirements that I've seen everywhere else: screw the die down until it touches the shellplate, turn another 1/2 turn, finger tighten.

So, I'm left with probably one of two possibilities; either my die is out of spec (not unheard of) or my chamber is loose in the gun (also not unheard of).

I'll try it with some different case lube and see what happens. I'll also try another die set and see if that works...

Thanks again for the replies!
 
I don't. I'm going to be ordering some, but in the meantime, do any of you guys have any unfired you can measure? I'll compare to mine.

Thanks!
 
I paid $90 + $12 tax in 2002 and I paid $80 private sale in 2004 for Swiss K31s.
They are straight pulls, like the K11s.

The first time to the range it was new 284 brass, sized in a Lee 7.5 Swiss die.

The second time to the range...
I thought something was wrong. The reloaded ammo is to hard to get to chamber, compared to cycling the action without ammo.

I just had to push hard.
 
I was looking into the 284 brass for reloading. Anyone have experience with this? I've found a few older forums that covered it, but no one seemed to come to a consensus on how to reload them.
 
mcunico asked:

..... in the meantime, do any of you guys have any unfired you can measure?
Click to expand...


New cases Lee Sized & Trimmed:
Case OL 2.179''
Neck ID 0.304''
Neck OD 0.335''
Shoulder OD 0.458''
Base OD 0.495'' (at pressure ring)
Head OD 0.496''
 
Awesome! Thanks Ray! However, I think I've got it figured out. It really came down to case lube! The Hornady One Shot (spray) just wasn't cutting it. Luckily, I've got Lee Resizing Lube (paste). Lubed them up with that and they ran through just fine. Tried one with just the one shot, wouldn't go. Lubed it up with Lee, and no issues!

Thanks for all the help... I kinda figured it was coming down to something really elementary!
 
Never been a fan of Hornady One Shot, I prefer the RCBS lube pad for my bigger cases like 7.5 swiss, .308 and 7mm rem mag. For .223 I use the Frankford Arsenal spray and it works great.
 
I'm starting to agree with you. I'm going to look into a few different alternatives. I've never had issues with the Hornady One Shot with my 223 reloading... oh well...
 
I use the Dillon lube, but I stand the cases up in a tray, put an old ruler atop the open necks, and spray the cases down well, turning the tray, really drenching them. If I don't drench 'em, they stick.
 
Why not necksize only?

Since you fired the brass in your rifle and you are reloading for that same rifle, save yourself a lot of work by just neck sizing - you won't need any lube.
 
One shot is not that good and may of us have only given it one shot, hence the name. Any other lube works better. For my K-31 I use just a dab of Kiwi mink oil or Imperial sizing wax. These are pretty much the same although the Kiwi is much cheaper.
 
I have 4 swiss rifles and one thing I did was to take a sized and capped case and with a dremel, make a slit from the top to the shoulder. I then seat a bullet so it is long in the case, place it in the rifle and slowly close the bolt, carefully open the bolt and extract the case and then measure the overall length and set your dies to a touch shorter. My favorite is my 1911.
 
Ditto on the One-shot but there is something else that happens now and then. The decapping rod in the sizing die could be screwed too far down in the die. When that happens the bottom of the expander button could be contacting the top of the primer pocket, thereby preventing further sizing. Check to see if the decapping rod should be withdrawn some into the die. Not a common occurrence but happens occasionally when setting up the sizing die.
 
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