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11 comments

  • Wiscokid
    I'm curious about the cost of ammo (if you don't reload) for these rifles. I understand the 7.5x55 can be a little tough to find (compared to the 7.62x54) in surplus. Who makes it as a new load?

    Also, I'd like opinions on how they shoot. Are the claims of accuracy founded? What groupings would you see out of an example with bright bore?

    Thanks!

    MM336

    Remington 870 large-frame Wingmaster 20
    Marlin 90 O/U 12
    Marlin 39A
    Marlin 336SS 30/30
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  • MPinkston
    I think it shoots 8x56 which is kinda hard to come by. I believe I saw some recently at Florida Ammo Traders www.floridaammotraders.com. Here's the ad:

    8X56R M95 Mannlicher/Steyr Carbine

    Now Back in Stock 1939 Corrosive Surplus With Nazi Eagle Head Stamp
    Surplus-- Brass case
    Price is $6.00 Per 10 round box
    on 2 Stripper Clips
    $5.00 10 or more




    aguncollector@yahoo.com
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  • Tailgunner1954
    Danger Will Robinson Danger
    the 7.5x55 Swiss is not the same as a 8x56R Austrian Mannlicher is not the same as a 8x56 MS (Mannlicher-Schoenauer)

    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • kaboom
    The Swiss Schmidt-Rubin rifle is a fine piece of workmanship and they are usually very accurate rifles. It was also one of the first small bore, high velocity rifles adopted for regular military service. The K31 is preferable to the earlier versions because it's straight-pull action is much shorter and handier than the older one. The Swiss citizen-soldiers took good care of their arms, so all of the surplus guns I've seen were in very good working condition with bright shiny bores. I've wanted one ever since I saw an almost like new example in a gun store surplus rack about 40 years ago. It looked like it was made by Swiss elves who had practiced by making Swiss watches. The big problem is ammo. I would buy one in a NY minute if ammo was readily available at reasonable prices. The 7.5 Swiss cartridge is a very old design, 1886 I believe, but it's still a good round. Ballistics are pretty close to the .308 Win. But it's awfully hard to find surplus Swiss ammo, and no company has ever made it commercially as far as I know. You can sometimes buy surplus 7.5 ammo from places like the Old Western Scrounger but the price is pretty steep. As far as I can find out there has never been any Boxer-primed ammo made for the Schmidt-Rubin, so reloading isn't a good option either. You can reload Berdan cases if you have the right tools, but it's slow and tedious. I've never done it and I don't care to start now. To sum up, if you can afford the high priced, hard to find ammo and don't mind being restricted to corrosive FMJ military stuff, go for it, they're fine rifles. Who knows, some company may start making reloadable ammo for it if enough of them are sold.
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  • Mballistic
    Norma makes 7.5X55 Swiss brass. You can also make it from .284 Winchester brass. Just run it through the sizing die, trim to size if needed. Got to admit that .284 brass is not cheap. Norma brass is about $65.00 per hundred. SOG also has loaded ammo.
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  • kaboom
    Thanks for the info Mballistics. I didn't know Norma was making 7.5 brass. That must be a fairly recent development since I tried everywhere looking for a source for reloadable 7.5 brass a few years ago. Well, maybe it was more than a few years ago, time does fly when your're having fun.I had heard about the possibility of reforming .284 brass to fit the 7.5, but I also have heard it said that the rebated rim of the .284 case can cause extraction problems in some 7.5 rifles. I don't have any personal experience with that so I can't really comment on it, but since the .284 rim is only rebated a bit under 1mm it doesn't seem like it should be a big problem. Have you tried reforming .284 cases? if so, did they work OK in your rifle? I would love to have a Schmidt-Rubin if good new brass is available now, so I'll check on the availability of the Norma cases.
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  • Diesel Dummy
    Check out www.aimsurplus.com for swiss ammo - about the best price around. They also have a good price on the rifle.
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  • l-girl
    Don't pass up the surplus bargain of the year. The K31 is extremely well made and will shoot 1.5 MOA groups with iron sights. Surplus (albeit corrosive) ammo is available. Just be sure to clean the barrel properly with hot soapy water and then dry and oil as usual.

    If you want to reload then 7.5 Swiss dies are readily available if you do get some boxer primed brass. The 7.5 Swiss round uses standard .308 bullets which will give you numerous reloading options approximating the .308 NATO round.

    Best regards,Rich
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  • jonk
    While handloading is preferable, ammo is available. Basically your choices are:

    1. Norma. Runs about $20-$30 per box of 20. Ouch.

    2. INDEP- company in portugal makes it for about $10 per 20, in a blue box. Reloadable, kind of hard to find but available at most gun shows. Fairly accurate but not great.

    3. Surplus- currently GP11 is on the market, Berdan primed, non corrosive, a bit expensive at $4.95/10 but very accurate.

    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf
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  • Mballistic
    Kaboom.
    I have resized .284 Win and so has a buddy. No problems so far. Since I have a couple .284 rifles and had the brass thought we would try. Midway has Norma brass.
    43 grs.H380, 150grFMJ (.308)=2600FPS. Accurate load. This is with the Norma brass.
    Good Luck,
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  • Diesel Dummy
    Aim Surplus: GP11 - $3.95/10rds.
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