Quote Originally Posted by RC20 View Post
I have been intrigued by the caliber for some time.

I don't see any reports of having been done.

Reamers might be an issue.

Good starting data in my favorite Hornady and Sierra

barrel would have to be 308 of course but that works fine for the bullets available anyway.

Thoughts?
I live in Switzerland, I shoot 7.5 x 55 Swiss and reload the same, I've pushed the calibre to 1025m, but luckily for me at altitude.
I've been pushing 190 grain Sierra Matchkings at 830 m/s. I've been reloading GP11 Berdan primed brass, I'm about to move over to boxer.

Living in Switzerland, 7.5 x 55 Swiss bolt faces are ten a penny... but its a pretty penny we have to pay. I'm running an Accuracy International which was originally chambered in 7.5 x55 from the factory, with a very propriatorey magazine that I cant get hold of anymore. I've modified the rifle over from a Prone/Dioptre rifle into a full blown "Sniper" setup. This involved ordering an AI Chassis (to replace the beautiful wooden stock that was too short) and having an gunsmith ream out the magazine well, as the chassis was a 308 fit.

What do you want to know?
for reference 7.5x55 barrels do differ from 308, the lands and grooves are different depths, but perhaps not enough to warrant much attention if you intend to use 308 bullets.

I used GP11 brass because I could acquired literally thousands of once-fired brass for free, and easily acquire primers..... it cost me a pretty penny in the hydraulic tool to eject spent primers tho.... but it was still worth it. The time saved vs a more mundane mechanical setup was worth the entry fee.

I used 190 grain Sierra Matchkings because they were the cheapest bullet by far, and they happened to fit my idea of a large range bullet.

I pushed that bullet pretty hard and my barrel life has suffered, I've completely burnt out the chamber end of the barrel. My accuracy is still .75-1 MOA so I'm not prepared to replace the barrel just yet, but its on the cards.

For the US market where I guess this originates from I don't see the point in going to 7.5 x 55 Swiss, when you guys have the 30.06 available. My specific action is tailored to the 7.5x55 Swiss, its neither long nor short, but something in between.$

While GP11 ammo is superb, I've managed to gain performance simply by pulling it apart and reloading it to tighter tolerances... the grains of powder in each case varied by several grains!

In short:
Reloading Berdan is a pain (I just bought 600 boxer 7.5x55 Swiss, but have thousands of berdan....)
Its going to cost you severely to tailor a US action to the round.
Performance is on par to 30.06.
Actual GP11 is a Match Cartridge I can obtain for 35 cents a round, so I'm sold, but its long range capability leaves much to be desired.

If you can obtain original GP11 in vast quantities for cheap it might be a worthwhile endeavor, but otherwise its eclipsed in cost effectiveness by a standard 308.
(its possible to load a 308 case to the same specs as standard GP11...I intend to do the same once my 308 arrives, as I've pulled many a GP11 Bullet)