Looking for a good soft point in 7.5x55

M

MEATSAW

New member
So I got a phone call today that made my day: invited to go on a scimitar-horned oryx hunt. I will be taking along the rifle that I feel I am most comfortable/confident with which happens to also be one that I just recently acquired, a Swiss K31. I've already shot over 100 rounds through it (not a crazy amount but enough that I feel good about it) and can regularly get 1 MOA 5-shot groups with it. I have a 4-12x40 scope mounted on it. But the only thing I have shot through it are the 174gr GP11 FMJ rounds. I know that these are match quality. I am looking for something that will give me the same quality but with a soft point.

Unfortunately I do not have a reloading kit and the hunt will be before Sept. 1. So I need to figure out my hunting load here pretty quick. Any suggestions for commercial soft point loads? All I have seen are Prvi Partisan, Wolf Gold, and Norma. Any particular one stand out? Anyone with direct experience? Thanks...
 
fwb- the .306 bullet diameter for the 7.5x55 ...... putting .308 bullets through that ....... that has caused no issues?
 
fwb- the .306 bullet diameter for the 7.5x55 ...... putting .308 bullets through that ....... that has caused no issues?
Click to expand...

Never had any issues, fired US surplus 174's FMJBT's and 168's. The cartridge case neck expand enough that the case neck is not pinched. That is more important than bullet diameter.

I conducted some load development for the 7.5 Swiss. I have never purchased Swiss ball, but a bud gave me a chance to shoot some across my screens.

AA4350 gave excellent accuracy and just about duplicates Ball velocities with 51.0 grains and a 168 Nosler Match bullet. As you can see 52.0 grains produced velocities over Ball, so I do not recommend that load. It is here for reference.

Instead of AA4350 I am shooting surplus WC852 in the 7.5 Swiss. This is a ball powder, and I purchased my lot from Jeff Barlett at GIBrass.com . It turns out Accurate Arms purchased a 90,000 pound lot of WC852, faster burning than Jeff’s lot, and now it is labeled as 2700. My lot of WC852 shoots extremely well, was dirt cheap, and I am using that up. But if I did not have the surplus powder, I would give IMR4350 or AA4350 a go as it shot very well.

A 165 grain SP bullet should be fine with my 51.0 grain load and it would be a better game bullet. Match bullets are not designed for deep penetration, the jacket could shed the core. I had that happen with Norma ammo, thankfully the core hit something vital or I would have lost a deer.

Code: 
[SIZE="3"]7.5 x 55 Swiss  Model K-31 

AP11 Swiss Ball headstamp DA 78						
24 Mar 04 T = 70 ° F								
					
								
Ave Vel =	2565				 	 		
Std Dev =	11				 	 		
ES =	23				 	 		
Low =	2551				 	 		
High =	2574				 	 		
N= 4

168 gr Nosler Match  51.0 gr AA4350 INDEP brass and primer OAL 2.850		
22 Dec 01 T = 58 ° F								
Ave Vel =	2536					 		
Std Dev =	17					 		
ES =	45					 		
Low =	2510					 		
High =	2555					 		
N=	9							
								
								
168 gr Nosler Match  52.0 gr AA4350 INDEP brass and primer OAL 2.850		
22 Dec 01 T = 58 ° F								
Ave Vel =	2624							
Std Dev =	31							
ES =	72							
Low =	2588							
High =	2660							
N=5					[/SIZE]
 
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