Bulk 7.5x55mm Swiss Ammo

7.5 Swiss Ammo: Common Uses & History

The 7.5x55mm Swiss (also referred to as the Schmidt-Rubin) was introduced in 1889 for the Swiss military. The nickname "Schmidt-Rubin" originates from the cartridge developer, Swiss officer Eduard Rubin, and the creator of the Model 1889 rifle chambered for the round, Rudolf Schmidt. Unlike many of its cousins in the "battle rifle" class of military cartridges such as the .30-06 Springfield and .303 British, this round is still in use by the Swiss army. In the rest of the world, however, it is primarily used for hunting and target shooting. With appropriate ammo, it is capable of taking most North American game including all species of deer.

The mil-spec GP11 round fires a 174 grain full metal jacket bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2,560 feet per second. By modern standards, this is a rather heavy bullet propelled to a medium velocity. 7.5x55mm ammo performs well at long range; however, it should be noted that the commonly encountered GP11 is a relatively high pressure loading that should not be used in Model 1889 rifles. The GP11 performs well in the newer K31 rifle. GP11 ammo, while non-corrosive, affordable, and of good quality, uses Berdan primers which can pose problems for reloaders.

Factory ammunition for the 7.5x55mm Swiss is available from Prvi Partizan and Hornady. These loads use Boxer primers and are better suited for reloading than RUAG's GP11 surplus load. Soft point projectiles and their derivatives are preferred for hunting, as they will expand or mushroom for improved lethality without fragmenting and destroying excessive amounts of meat.