7.5 x 55 Swiss Smith/Ruben K31 rifle

[Gert Odendaal]

I have admired the Swiss Reuben from afar as every time l picked one up they felt clunky. I know, what does that mean? Can't explain it, I just feel it. I have heard they are a very accurate rifle.

For sure, these rifles are totally different from any new sleek designed rifle of today , they do feel totally different when picking it up, the real difference comes in when you SHOOT them, they are real fun to shoot....

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I have their mount for my scope. Pierre at Swiss Products, I guess has passed, recommended RL17 for the powder. Berger VLDs come close to the GP11 design. My rifle has the name tag of the soldier it was issued to under the butt plate. I also have the Swiss Products target sights and muzzle break. This is the Rolex of battle rifles. Like the Swedish Mausers.... great rifles not shot out.

Dr. Bob you are correct, this is really the best military rifle ever made..it was made in peace time, so they had time to make it well...in South Africa these rifles are extremely scarce..there are two SWISS rifle clubs here, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town.

There are no accessories like the SWISS product target sight available in South Africa at all, this is why I am trying to get a BAD ACE Scope mount from the USA..
Fortunately RL 17 propellant is available here in SA..I will be using this rifle with open sights to hunt ..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

The US military tried out the GP11 bullets but had to quit. With their high B.C. the range of the loads exceeded the range safety. If you look at the 284 Winchester, you will see they stole the design of the GP11 and necked it down. Winchester also stole the design for the 338 Win Mag from the 330 BSA. Great moves by Winchester.

Do not forget, they stole the Imperial Magnum design from Canada as well, it was the first design ever of using the 404 Jeffery brass case and neck it up/down into a series of rifle calibers by Aubrey White in Canada...this is where the concept of the RUM, EDGE , Remmington short action ultra magnum designs comes from...I am fortunate to have received the reloading components of the .338 Imperial Magnum from Aubrey White himself before his passing..

 

[DrBob]

Dr. Bob you are correct, this is really the best military rifle ever made..it was made in peace time, so they had time to make it well...in South Africa these rifles are extremely scarce..there are two SWISS rifle clubs here, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town.

There are no accessories like the SWISS product target sight available in South Africa at all, this is why I am trying to get a BAD ACE Scope mount from the USA..
Fortunately RL 17 propellant is available here in SA..I will be using this rifle with open sights to hunt ..

I don't have my load data but here is the link to Swiss Products. Here is the RL17 suggested loading:

"Bullet:175gr Berger Vld, Hornady 175 ELD or 175gr Sierre Match KIngAssuming you have followed all of the case preparation instructions, this beginning point for use of the 175 grain projectile and Reloder17 may put you exactly where you want to be for minute of angle shooting.Begin at 48 grains of Reloder17 and work your way toward 50.1 grains in 1/4 grain increments"

I wound up at 51 grains..... 175 gr pushing 2600 fps.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I don't have my load data but here is the link to Swiss Products. Here is the RL17 suggested loading:

"Bullet:175gr Berger Vld, Hornady 175 ELD or 175gr Sierre Match KIngAssuming you have followed all of the case preparation instructions, this beginning point for use of the 175 grain projectile and Reloder17 may put you exactly where you want to be for minute of angle shooting.Begin at 48 grains of Reloder17 and work your way toward 50.1 grains in 1/4 grain increments"

I wound up at 51 grains..... 175 gr pushing 2600 fps.

Dr Bob , thank you kindly for this informative response, it is much appreciated....I will shortly commence re-loading for the Smidt&Ruben K31 7.5X55 SWISS rifle ..
I will give feedback as I am making progress..I currently am in the process to complete the load development for my M96 Carl Gustav 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser.

 

[DrBob]

Dr. Bob you are correct, this is really the best military rifle ever made..it was made in peace time, so they had time to make it well...in South Africa these rifles are extremely scarce..there are two SWISS rifle clubs here, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town.

There are no accessories like the SWISS product target sight available in South Africa at all, this is why I am trying to get a BAD ACE Scope mount from the USA..
Fortunately RL 17 propellant is available here in SA..I will be using this rifle with open sights to hunt ..

I found that the Swiss chose the elevation of the sights to correspond with the human they were shooting at.... with the longer ranges set to shoot at a prone enemy while closer for one upright or running. I love how the Swiss general responded to Wilhelm II .... Wilhelm said that the German army was twice the size of the Swiss. The general said in that case that the Swiss would use two bullets.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I found that the Swiss chose the elevation of the sights to correspond with the human they were shooting at.... with the longer ranges set to shoot at a prone enemy while closer for one upright or running. I love how the Swiss general responded to Wilhelm II .... Wilhelm said that the German army was twice the size of the Swiss. The general said in that case that the Swiss would use two bullets.

Dr. Bob, are there any gun shops you know about that do have K31 7.5x55 SWISS rifle parts available and in stock ? A friend of mine owns a K31 and need a part on the front sight.. I would really appreciate it very much if I can get any information about a possible source for parts of the 7.5X55 SWISS rifle..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Got some loaded rounds for the 7.5X55 SWISS:
GP-11 , greater OAL of round 77,65mm , 174gn bullet
NORMA OAL 71.16mm , 180gn bullet
RE-LOAD round : OAL 75.66mm, 150 gn bullet

 

[DrBob]

Dr. Bob, are there any gun shops you know about that do have K31 7.5x55 SWISS rifle parts available and in stock ? A friend of mine owns a K31 and need a part on the front sight.. I would really appreciate it very much if I can get any information about a possible source for parts of the 7.5X55 SWISS rifle..

SHOP | Swissproductsusa

shop for products for swiss rifles. swiss products usa offers quality products for your k31, 1911 and zfk55 rifles. Diopters, clamp on muzzle brakes, bipod adapters, scope mounts and more for your swiss firearms.

www.swissproductsusa.com

Also, they can possibly direct him to other vendors.

Also, eBay has some parts....

 

[DrBob]

A VLD a century before VLDs.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Members are there one of these front post available ??

 

[DrBob]

Dr. Bob, are there any gun shops you know about that do have K31 7.5x55 SWISS rifle parts available and in stock ? A friend of mine owns a K31 and need a part on the front sight.. I would really appreciate it very much if I can get any information about a possible source for parts of the 7.5X55 SWISS rifle..

also:

Swiss K31 1911 1889 Parts - Liberty Tree Collectors

www.libertytreecollectors.com

 

[DrBob]

also:

Swiss K31 1911 1889 Parts - Liberty Tree Collectors

www.libertytreecollectors.com

eBay has the part

Schweizer K11 K31 Korn / Swiss Schmidt Rubin K11 K31 front sight blade | eBay

Suitable for Schmidt Rubin Carbine 1911 /K11 and Carbine 1931 / K31. Original Swiss Army Schmidt Rubin spare parts.

www.ebay.com

 

[Gert Odendaal]

SHOP | Swissproductsusa

shop for products for swiss rifles. swiss products usa offers quality products for your k31, 1911 and zfk55 rifles. Diopters, clamp on muzzle brakes, bipod adapters, scope mounts and more for your swiss firearms.

www.swissproductsusa.com

Also, they can possibly direct him to other vendors.

Also, eBay has some parts....

Thank you kindly Sir

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Memebers please assist, I am in need of a load for my 7.5x55 SWISS,

150gn bullet
AR -17 (Reloader propellant)
What starting grains will I be use??
I will use the same OAL of the GP-11 round..

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Members any loads for a 150gn bullet, RL 17 propellant for the 7.5X55 SWISS rifle K31 version please?

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’ve never used reloader 17, but have read that the powder loaded in the gp11 ammo was later sold as reloader 17.
So it may be the same powder as gp11.
There are some forums out there that have a lot of members shooting the 7.5. Try a google search.

 

[reinwood]

Members any loads for a 150gn bullet, RL 17 propellant for the 7.5X55 SWISS rifle K31 version please?

Hello,

On the site of the Swiss Reload Powder you can find a number of loads for the 7,5x55:

Rheinmetall

www.reload-swiss.com

and the comparison to other powders: https://www.reload-swiss.com/en/tools/relative-burn-off-velocity

RS60 looks closer to Reloader-17, at least might be a starting point.

Hope it helps

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Hello,

On the site of the Swiss Reload Powder you can find a number of loads for the 7,5x55:

Rheinmetall

www.reload-swiss.com

View attachment 631197

and the comparison to other powders: https://www.reload-swiss.com/en/tools/relative-burn-off-velocity

View attachment 631198

RS60 looks closer to Reloader-17, at least might be a starting point.

Hope it helps

Thank you kindly, I am currently have some time to shoot this rifle..I shot it a week back open sights at 100 meters shooting at a ghong of 100mm diameter and hit it 5x out of 5x times, this rifle is extremely accurate for sure..I now want to see how accurate I can shoot it opens sights at 150 meters shooting at a 200mm diameter ghong.