K31 Swiss

[smkummer]

Gents, I have 2 molds (Lyman 311291-170 grain and Lee TL 155 grain) for which I am about to embark on reloading for this caliber. I am looking for 30-30 performance but accuracy is most important over power for range use. Any load suggestions for bullet size and powder recommendations would be appreciated to save trail and error time. thanks ahead of time. Mike

[Maven]

Mike, I have 2 K-31's and have used the Lyman, but not the Lee CB, in both to good effect. While I've tried many CB weights & designs, I found that they performed best when sized to .309", although some bores do better with .310". I've also tried several powders (fast -> slow), mostly with excellent results.* One of the difficulties in reloading CB's for those rifles is their near absence of a throat or leade, which means you'll seat the CB deeply in the case (below the neck-shoulder junction) in order to chamber it and allow the rifle to go into battery and fire. That was certainly true of Lyman's #311291 as well as other CB's of that approximate length. Last year I read about a bumping die, which would allow you to not only size the bullet nose down to a given dimension (.300"), but also reduce the front driving band(s), thus resulting in a longer OAL (2.88" for -291 v. 2.65" without bumping). Accuracy was the same. If this interests you, send Smokemjoe a PM for details: Excellent workmanship at a very reasonable price.


*Search the archives for loading data for the K-31

[smkummer]

OK, I go with .309 sized bullets and see how the first range session goes. I will also try the search.

[mtgrs737]

There was also a group buy mould designed just for the K-31 short throat buy Nite Owl. A search should reveal this spl. moulds details.

[smkummer]

OK, looks like the first range session with the K31 will be with 147 BTFMJ pulled surplus bullets so as to be a positive experience. It appears for now that loading for the 7.65 argentine will be easier with cast than the 7.5X55 swiss.

[RU shooter]

I've had several K31's in the past and just traded for another one this past week. It is true that they have very little throat but some that have been shot more tend to have a larger one, my new one was made in 1935 and I was able to chamber boolits that have .302 nose dia. The RCBS 165 worked great seated the top band flush with the neck and sized .309 so experiment some and see what can chamber and not. I can even get my Lee155 to chamber well seated to the crimp groove.

[Maven]

"It appears for now that loading for the 7.65 argentine will be easier with cast than the 7.5X55 swiss."

Mike, Actually that's not so, as I reload the 7.65 x 53mm Arg. Mau. too, using the same powders as I do in the 7.5 x 55mm. The biggest problem I had was finding a mold which dropped a CB large enough to fit my rifle's bore. If your Argy's bore is ~.312" - .313" don't overlook Lyman's #314299 or even #311467 if you "beagle" it. Search our archives or the Castpics site (bottom of your screen) under Members' Research for a discussion of it.

[excess650]

I shoot the tapered Saeco #315 175gr sized .311" over 22 AA5744 with F210 primers. Try the 311291 over the same powder charge, and seat the bullet out to lightly engage the rifling. I've also shot the 200gr Saeco #301 sized .311" over the same powder charge, and the front driving band barely extends past the case neck when the .3005" ogive is starting to engrave. This latter load had enough residual energy at 500m to knock over 47# ram silhouettes reliably.

[Calamity Jake]

311291 with .299(as Cast) nose and sized to .309 seated in the 7.5 X 55 case to just touch the lands over a WW LP primer and 18.0 of Blue Dot.

With my aging eyes and issue sights I can shoot about 3in groups @ 100 with this load.

[FAsmus]

Gentlemen;

My K31 shoots very well with the RCBS 30-165-SIL over good conventional loads of Varget.

This RCBS design is long in the nose, short in the body, allowing you to seat it to a normal overall length without the bullet base extending beyond the case neck into the powder space, which I think is a very good idea.

It is my view that the 165 Silhouette is the "magic bullet" for all K31s.

Good afternoon,
Forrest

[runfiverun]

i like the 165 silhouette also in mine.
the noe should be a good copy of the group buy done before.
the group buy was a slightly altered rcbs silh boolit, with a beveled driving band to fit the leade better.
and possibly a slightly smaller nose.

[leadman]

The older RCBS 150-SP works well in my K-31s.