Updates on my 7.5 Swiss precision rifle

[keithherrington]

After about a 6 month wait, I was able to get my new 7.5X55 Swiss precision rifle to the 600 yard range at Fort Meade. Up to now all I have had an opportunity to do is shoot 100-300 yards. At those ranges the rifle consistently shot between .5 to .75MOA from the bench. The gun was built by Sid Goodling in Spring Grove, PA using a Pacific Tool and Gauge one-piece bolt and a Brux .298"/.306" Palma contour barrel with a 10.5" twist. The rifle uses a PTG chamber made to match the original chamber on the K31 Swiss rifle.



The gun was designed to shoot GP-11 Swiss ball ammo only (though I could just as easily reload with 175 SMK bullets and duplicate the load). When I bought the ammo I could get all I wanted for $.50 a round, cheaper than I could reload. This is my practice gun since my 30'06 match gun is set up identically. You'll notice from the ballistic table below the performance is not unlike a 308 using a 175 SMK at 2550fps, albeit at a much lower pressure, about 40000 psi.


This is what the gun did from a Sinclair Tactical bipod and rear bag at 300, 500 and 600 yards, 10 shots at each distance. You'll notice 28 bullets on target. The two missing are in the V ring (5" across) covered by the tape. The come ups on the range were within 1 click (or .25MOA) of the calculated come ups from the table. Bucked the wind very well. It was gusting from 5 to 15mph, and swinging from 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock the entire time. Catching lulls was next to impossible. I was aiming off for windage rather than inputting offsets.


The rifle is also set up for iron sights, using a Redfield Palma with Gehmann adjustable iris on the rear and a Riles Palma front sight also with a Gehmann iris and a .3 diopter lens.


Keith

 

[Culina]

Very nice, I hope you have a nice stockpile of GP-11, people have been complaining already about it running out.

 

[loc n load]

Interesting concept with the 7.5 X 55 Swiss....I am most interested in your choice of optics & the stock you are using. You have a very nice rifle there, quality components, obviously built by someone who knows what he is doing. I have decades of shooting and instructing precision rifles in 308, 300 win mag, 338 lapua & 50 BMG, and always admire a well thought out and executed rifle.
I have a soft spot for the 30-06, it is one of my favorite chamberings, having shot it for years in service rifle competition years ago with a M-1 Garand. Interesting that you are using the 7.5 X 55 Swiss to replicate your 30-06 match rifle. I shoot long range every week and am fortunate to have access to a 1200 yd range. Your down range results are very good - especially having to dope your windage with varying values & holding accordingly....thanks for sharing.

 

[keithherrington]

Very nice, I hope you have a nice stockpile of GP-11, people have been complaining already about it running out.

Right now I have in excess of 10,000 rounds of GP-11, and a 1000 Norma cases ready to load. Goodling fit three barrels at one time so the ammo I have should last the life of those three barrels, at least that's my plan.

Keith

 

[keithherrington]

Interesting concept with the 7.5 X 55 Swiss....I am most interested in your choice of optics & the stock you are using. You have a very nice rifle there, quality components, obviously built by someone who knows what he is doing. I have decades of shooting and instructing precision rifles in 308, 300 win mag, 338 lapua & 50 BMG, and always admire a well thought out and executed rifle.
I have a soft spot for the 30-06, it is one of my favorite chamberings, having shot it for years in service rifle competition years ago with a M-1 Garand. Interesting that you are using the 7.5 X 55 Swiss to replicate your 30-06 match rifle. I shoot long range every week and am fortunate to have access to a 1200 yd range. Your down range results are very good - especially having to dope your windage with varying values & holding accordingly....thanks for sharing.

Here is the 30'06 match rifle I mentioned. The barrel is a Schneider 1 in 10" twist. Same trigger and Riles front sight but I use a Centra sight on this gun. The scope is a 24X with a 1/8MOA dot rather than a 16X with a 1MOA dot.




Keith

 

[loc n load]

30-06

Very nice professional set up on both rifles, you can always tell a craftsman by his tools.
So, I have to ask, what load are you shooting in the 30-06?

 

[keithherrington]

Very nice professional set up on both rifles, you can always tell a craftsman by his tools.
So, I have to ask, what load are you shooting in the 30-06?

Have not settled on one yet. My next step is to determine the best load using the 190 and 210 SMK. Any ideas?
Keith

 

[Culina]

Right now I have in excess of 10,000 rounds of GP-11, and a 1000 Norma cases ready to load. Goodling fit three barrels at one time so the ammo I have should last the life of those three barrels, at least that's my plan.

Keith

Sounds like you have it all figured out. You should get ~ 5000 rounds out of a barrel. At least that's the general rule of thumb for the high power circuit. Are you shooting F-class or just for fun?

 

[BigBill]

I purchased all the ST. MARIE goodies for my Swiss k31. Cases of the gp-11 ammo too. I have two muzzle brakes, scopemount. This will be my winter builds. Two k31's one scoped, one peeps.

 

[keithherrington]

Sounds like you have it all figured out. You should get ~ 5000 rounds out of a barrel. At least that's the general rule of thumb for the high power circuit. Are you shooting F-class or just for fun?

The 7.5 is just for fun and practice. My 30'06 is my serious match rifle. F Class is what I'm most interested in and I'll shoot my first match next year.
Keith

 

[vonn]

Very nice. Keep us posted on your result once you get the 30-06 dialed in. Have a soft spot for it myself.

 

[loc n load]

Heavies

Have not settled on one yet. My next step is to determine the best load using the 190 and 210 SMK. Any ideas?
Keith

Had to go dig out some of my logs. I have used IMR 4064 & 4350 with the 210 gr bullets. These are out of a 26" Lilja with a 1-10 twist rate. Rem 700 action / NF optics.
210 gr 30-06 40.5gr@IMR 4064 @ 2262 FPS
210 gr 30-06 45gr @ IMR 4350 @ 2242 FPS
210 gr 30-06 45.5 Accurate 4350 @ 2305 FPS

190 gr 30-06 55 gr @ IMR 4831 @ 2645 FPS
190 gr 30-06 45 gr @ IMR 4064 @ 2480 FPS
190 Gr 30-06 SMK 45.3 @ IMR 4895 @ 2495 FPS
190 Gr 30-06 SMK 45.5 @ IMR 4064 @ 2437 FPS
These are Berger Match VLD's with the exception of the two SMK loads. Nothing engraved in stone here, but gives you an idea of what I have used. You know the drill, do your research ( the more data the better), develop a starting load, and see how it shoots in YOUR rifle, and then adjust accordingly. I too, would be interested in your developments. Good shooting.
Bill

 

[LVSteve]

I purchased all the ST. MARIE goodies for my Swiss k31. Cases of the gp-11 ammo too. I have two muzzle brakes, scopemount. This will be my winter builds. Two k31's one scoped, one peeps.

I also have a St Marie scoped K31. It makes me look good.

 

[Frank46]

I once had a pre'64 match rifle that had been rebarreled in 30-06. Only shot at 100yds as that was the maximum we could do at that range. I started out with IMR 4895 and the 168 grain sierra match king. Couldn't get the accuracy I wanted. Stuck a 3x9 leupold scope on it and changed to IMR 4350 with win LRP. Chrono data showed some inconsistent velocities. Changed to the CCI large rifle magnum primer and ended up with sub one inch groups. I ended up shooting with 55.5 grains IMR 4350, cci lrm primer,168 mk, and at the time RP brass. Since I only shot informally that was the load I used. I also at the time loaded for another model 70 made in 1949. Used the same load except for the 165 sierra game king again I got excellent accuracy. Sold both rifles when moving to Louisiana. Bought a sako 75 hunter in 30-06 and tried the same basic load only with the nosler 165 grain ballistic tip. Had a chronograph and getting easy 1" groups and the velocity was chronographed at 2800 fps. The sako has a love affair with LC 67 match with the old 173 grain match bullet. So basically tha e same load with IMR 4350 and the CCI lrm primer is a good one in at least three rifles. And velocities are very consistent. Now some folks say that you do not need a magnum primer with 4350 in my case it is if you want consistent velocities and great accuracy. Frank

 

[keithherrington]

Took the rifle out again this last weekend to shoot just at 600 yards. First shot was low right (black dot). Second shot with adjustment just above it. The rest with one more adjustment went into the group you see. Conditions were bright, cold and will light breeze. Mirage off the barrel by the end of the string got to be a real problem since the breeze was not strong enough to clear the scope.



The pasters are over each shot to more clearly show the pattern of shots. The V Ring is 5" across.

Keith

 

[loc n load]

Looks like you have it dialed in good for 600 yds...nice group.

 

[JohnRippert]

I also have a St Marie scoped K31. It makes me look good.

I know the feeling. Mine makes me look good and I make it look bad.


Four shots one hole at 100yds plus the two flyers from me. You can still put a half dollar on it and cover most all. Using GP11 ammo with this rifle.

 

[BigBill]

I think the Swiss k31 in 7.5 Swiss will perform very well.

The most accurate surplus military rifles...

1. Swedish M96 6.5mm mauser
2. Swiss k31 7.5 Swiss
3. Finnish M39 7.62x54
4. Chilean 7mm mauser.
5. German 98k 8 mm mauser.

These all make great builds. If you on a tight budget this is a good way to do it affordable.

 

[surfgun]

Good shooting. The range at Fort Mead always has some interesting wind currents. Did you shoot with the old man John Pepper? I have not shot with him in some time with his practicle rifle protocols. I assume he is still with us? He is a grizzled old Korean War vet.

 

[keithherrington]

Good shooting. The range at Fort Mead always has some interesting wind currents. Did you shoot with the old man John Pepper? I have not shot with him in some time with his practicle rifle protocols. I assume he is still with us? He is a grizzled old Korean War vet.

Unfortunately, John is in very poor health these days as is his wife and he makes it to the range only very, very rarely. I have not seen him out shooting in several years. He may have been out without me knowing but I doubt it.

Keith