K31/GP 11 question

What method are you using to decap the GP11 case? I want to try, and I've seen a few different ways.. Water, RCBS tool, very small punch...
JR Hartman said:
sometimes I shoot more than you guys... :)

I have almost 2 cases of GP11, and it shoots great. I also have 160 rounds of Prvi and its as good, at least in my rifle. I have been reloading and the Prvi 174 grn bullets are pretty damn close to the GP11.

one of those over 37grns of IMR4064 in a properly sized GP11 case with a Tula primer produces tighter groups than the GP11. I did seat them using Pierres reccomendations about how to obtain COAL for YOUR rifle. I suspect I can tighten them up a bit more.
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GP11 only for rich? LOL, at $299 for 480 rounds, its the cheapest non corrosive centerfire rifle cartridge out there. :)

for depriming, I have done 2 ways. I tried the hydraulic and it wasn't as easy as they show it on youtube, or at least for me. It worked, but it was slow and annoying.

I do it using a combination of a couple of ways. I saw one guy who drilled a hole in hardwood, put the case in it with the primer up, and pounded a sharp tool into the primer on an angle, then prying it out. I changed that a bit to make it more reliable and long term. I remove the guts of the resizer die, install it upside down in the press, so the bottom of the die is facing upwards, out the top of the press. lightly lube the cases and inside the die, set the case in, tap the tool into the primer on a 45deg angle, being careful not to hit the anvil, and don't go all the way thru so you don't score the inside of the primer pocket. pry out the primer. pop the case out of the die. repeat. Once you get into the rhythm of it, you can do 4-6 cases a min. no, its not as fast as boxer, but its reasonably quick for lower volume rifle. I do this with 8mm mauser berdan primed brass as well. works great.

tips. have the die flush or so with the top of the press. I figure this will make it less likely to bend or damage anything. have a small pry bar around that will fit nicely into the extractor slot in the cartridge. use this to lightly pry the case out of the die. it never gets "stuck" but sometimes you can't pull it out by hand. use the firing pin dent to start the tool.

the tool is more of a "chisel" than a punch really.
 
Tula large rifle berdan primers. Budget Shooting supplies has them, as well as others. same price as regular large rifle primers. work in my RCBS hand primer too.
 
kawicrash said:
What method are you using to decap the GP11 case? I want to try, and I've seen a few different ways.. Water, RCBS tool, very small punch...
Click to expand...

I tried the water method as shown on youtube (metal or wood rod inserted into mouth, try to stabilize by hand, bonk with a hammer), and had NO luck at all.
I then changed it a bit. I removed the decapping pin from the resizing die, then resize the case, leaving the primer in.
Then fill the the resized case with water and slam it into the resizing die again. Works every time.
Remember to dry and re-oil the press and dies afterwards.
 
I'm a lazy S.O.B.
I and my cats don't like getting wet.
Wife sounds like a harpy when I make a mess, so this is how I do it.

 
How many times you could reload your GP11 case, do you have to anneal every two to three reload?

I know one guy reuse 6.5x55 Swedish case and use the minimum powder charge. He told me some of his cases have been reloaded for 9 times and he doesn't know what is annealing.
 
of course I'd believe it :) its the one its made for.

so far I have 3 shootings out of some cases. not sure how long they will last, but they have no problems so far. full length resizing. no annealing so far.

I do notice that the Prvi factory ammo is annealed right out of the box.
 
that's a little quicker than my way. not horribly faster, but it is.

but that tool is expensive once you factor in shipping, border fees and exchange. I'd use one too if it was in my home.
 
jeanlikethis said:
Would you believe the same Tula primer works for 762x54R surplus?
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Depends on who made the brass cases and when. Most newer commercial cases , yes
Milsurp 7.62x54r will likely be larger diameter of 0.254" (6.45mm) instead of the size 7.62Nato, 7.5x55, 8x57 6.5x55 use, 0.217" (5.5mm)
 
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jeanlikethis said:
How many times you could reload your GP11 case, do you have to anneal every two to three reload?

I know one guy reuse 6.5x55 Swedish case and use the minimum powder charge. He told me some of his cases have been reloaded for 9 times and he doesn't know what is annealing.
Click to expand...

After 5-7 reloads and that's with 50grs RL17, 44grs Varget, 43grs 4895 and I forgot what else.
Depends on when FL resizing starts being more difficult.
I had a few batches of Prvi I had to anneal out of the bag. Looked annealed, but very hard.
Never a problem with GP11 brass
 
diopter said:
Depends on who made the brass cases and when. Most newer commercial cases , yes
Milsurp 7.62x54r will likely be larger diameter of 0.254" (6.45mm) instead of the size 7.62Nato, 7.5x55, 8x57 6.5x55 use, 0.217" (5.5mm)
Click to expand...

You are right, I did the measurement, I don't know others's situation but mine 54r is bigger primer, bigger than 5.5mm.

So I assume in this case, there would be no way to re-primer a 6.45mm Berdan brass as there is no such Berdan primer available.
 
Eventual, yes. Most I reloaded with one batch of GP11 brass was ten times. no annealing, but then i do have a very good supply of brass.
 
I don't reload, but I was snatching that Swiss brass out if the air upon ejection yesterday and was pocketing them.
 
I haven't done any hot loads really yet, as I have found that 37-39grn of IMR 4064 or similar is very accurate for my rifle. I don't have a range that goes past 200 so I don't need any more power.

I hope I can get a few more reloads out of each, but if I only get 5-7 that's fine.
 
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