Newb to Reloading 7.5x55 Swiss

wiking

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Hi,

I have a K31, but I need to reload, but never have done any before.

Can somebody perhaps list off everything I need to buy to make safe bullets? I hear that I need the Redding die set. Also can somebody explain all the types of dies there are, and what I need for the 7.5 swiss rounds? So much confusing information out there that contradicts, and I'm lost now.
 
Lee dies are fine. .308 bullets are used. You can buy Grafs 7.5x55 brass from Tradex or others, or you can use .284 Winchester Brass.
Are you completly new to reloading?
 
Absolutely new!

Can you explain FL Dies, and Neck Dies and all the types of dies. And what kind of press is needed and etc.!!! Types of powder? Primers?
 
Go buy a copy of The ABC's of Reloading.
For rifle reloading, there's a sizer/decapping die and a bullet seating die for bottle necked cases like your 7.5. The former removes the spent primer while bringing the case back to spec. The seating die does just what it says. The seating plug can be adjusted to change the OAL of the finished cartridge.
FL dies resize the Full Length of the case. Required for any semi-auto.
Neck sizing dies size, well, the neck of the case only. That's the part of the case that holds the bullet. Only cases fired in the same bolt action can be neck sized only.
 
Thanks for the clarification. Now for the presses, single press or turret press? I hear single press is good for small amount of very accurate bullets. Advise?
 
If your planning on lots of shooting with this go with a turret press (faster)
go for the single if your a accuracy junkie and have lots of time
Ifeel it is easier for a newbe to reload with a single as there is less going on at any one time they have to worry about .
 
So for a single press, I have to do one operation, change the die, then do they next operation i.e. deprime, change the die?

I'm looking into approx ~50-100 rounds but no deadline or what not. Just leisure hobby style.
 
Start off with a turret press, and when you will no longer be satisfied with 1 MOA groups, move to a single and use your turret for handgun ammo.

I am achieving sub MOA groups in 223 loading on a turret press. Just remember to have a couple extra turrets handy, as you will be always running out of them after buying more guns.
 
As for dies, everybody recommends Redding for specifically K31, but they are expensive. How do the RCBS and Lee 7.5mm dies compare to Redding? Will they work in the K31 chamber? Which die would I use to reform .284 brass?

Also, which dies do I need? FL, Neck, Crimp, Bullet seating die? They only come in sets of two with either FL, Seater or Neck, Bullet seating, usually with the Crimp die sold separately.
 
I use a Lee set, FL and seater. Works fine for loading, as well as reforming Winchester .284 brass for use in the 7.5x55.
I use a single stage press for almost all rifle loading, a Lee turret for pistol. With the routine I use, a turret press would be useless for most of my rifle loading. I decap and size, tumble, seat primers off the press, charge powder off the press, then seat.
 
I'm fond of the Lee dies because they are more economical.

Doesn't the FL die decrease the length of the brass? If I have 7.5 swiss brass, I could just buy a neck sizing die? Also, the Lee FL die set comes with a crimper, do I need that?

Also, what kind of Lee Reloader Kit should I get? I probably will be reloading ~100 rounds, and time is no factor.

Lastly, do RCBS,Redding,Hornady dies work on Lee Presses and vice versa?

Oh and what kind of primers do I use? .308? Specific brand and type? Same question for gunpowder.

What about .308 bullets?

Thanks.
 
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large rifle primers I prefer and use only Winchester

bullets i use 168 grain weight .308 bullets work VERY well out of my k31 I have loaded 135 grain and 165 grain as well
 
So if I were to buy primers I just say "A box of Winchester large rifle primers?" or does it get more specific than that. What about powder?
 
yup just ask for large rifle primers any brand will do I personally ONLY use winchester

your choice for primer brand

as for powders get a reloading book (or 3) I use the LEE book

powder I use is the surplus powder higgionsons sells (wc735) or somthing like that its close to h335
 
Are all powders the same? Or do they come in different levels? Like more refined or course like blackpowder's Fg FFg, FFg etc.

And do I need a crimp die? And what is it :)
 
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Are all powders the same? Or do they come in different levels? Like more refined or course like blackpowder's Fg FFg, FFg etc.

And do I need a crimp die? And what is it :)

All powders are different speeds (more or less) and then you have extruded and ball, single base and double base. Ball flows nice through powder funnels, extruded is more consistant through a wide temperature range..
I use Varget and RL15 for K31, both work great. I use .308 winchester data for the 7.5x55 when working up loads as there isnt too much available data for the 7.5.
Crimping doesn't seem to do anything for accuracy in my experience. Roll crimpimg dies require canellured bullets, Lee Factory crimp will crimp anything. I don't crimp target loads, only hunting loads that may get banged around a little.
I use Hornady 150g FMJ's from Higginson Powders, they shoot just as good as match bullets in all my milsurps. They are a good spot for all Lee products as well.
 
I think you should buy a hornady 7th edition manual and read up on reloading .I'm suggesting the hornady because i think it is a good manual for the newbie reloader and it has your specific cartridge.It has load data from 130 gr.-180gr.
You need a full length die for your first firing of your brass.you can neck size after it has been fired once as it forms to your chamber after fireing . the manual will explain it better .crimp dies only on bullets with small groove in .
Powders are not all the same ! burn rates vary the faster the burn rate usually the smaller the case .
I think the best advice you could get is to inquire at your range as to any reloaders and ask if you could watch and if they could take you through the basics of reloading .Most reloaders I know will reload for you if you buy the dies if they don't have them and supply the componants .you might find reloading isn't for you ???
Your doing the right thing by asking lots of questions !
 
I hear that Redding makes the only die meant for the K31. However, they're really expensive, and sold out everywhere.

Which is the next best die for the K31? Hornady, RCBS, or Lee?
 
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