K.31 Swiss Rifle

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Okay. So I went shooting with a fellow THR member, and got an oportunity to shoot a Swiss Schmidt-Rubin straight pull k.31

I'd been putting off buying one for a while, always saying, "Oh what about the ammo?" or "That whizz bang semi-auto is soooo much cooler."

Then, I shot the K.31. It is unequivocally the finest rifle I've ever shot. First of all it looks cool. (Not that that has anything to do with the gun's shooting, but it does, and the straight pull system has a finely cammed and machined bolt and fairly complex looking mechanism). It is put together like a Swiss clock.

I shot it at 200 yards on a gong and wrung it each time I shot. That kind of accuracy hitting pretty much at the same place, with a gun I'd never picked up in my life was impressive.

Suffice it to say, about $240 dollars or so are gonna be going to this weapon soon.

Now, I just have to get into reloading......
 
Everybody who touches one of these can appreciate them for what they are- slick operating, very accurate, and chambered for a good cartridge.
 
I felt that it could easily have kept on making the hits out to 500 yards. Probably past with no real problem (through the scope on the weapon), though I would have had to start doping the wind, something I don't know how to do.
 
I bought one last year and I absolutely love it. I have no desire to even purchase another long range rifle. It shoots dead on.
 
the stock looks like it lost the war (twice), metal is 98%+ and the trigger is ---soo good i understand why it is sighted at 300 yards. reload using redding 7.5 swiss dies: they are made for the k31 specifically
 
Don't forget

the best trigger I've ever pulled on a milsurp. Unless you really don't like two-stage triggers, you'll love it. Light, consistent take-up, a positive stop on the sear, and a quick, ~4 pound break.

Great guns... I love mine. And if you don't reload yet, the Prvi Partisan is reasonably priced, and great ammo to boot.

Mine shoots into 1 1/2" at 100 yards with Partizan or GP11, and as little as 3/4" with handloads it likes... no, not consistently under 1", but that's my fault, not the rifle's. 3-9x40 Nikon ProStaff on a St. Marie's clamp-on mount.

Bottom line, if you miss with a K31, it ain't the rifle.

--Shannon
 
I was one of the people who was completely nonplussed by the K31- until I held one. Oh my, I thought. That sure does balance well. Oh my, that bolt sure does operate smoothly. Oh, dear Lord...what an incredible trigger.

Yeah. I now own two.

Mike
 
I've owned one for several years.

Mine's a 1939 I think, has the soldiers tag under the buttplate, a beautiful tiger-striped(100% striped!) light colored walnut stock. The metal is great shape too, with an excellent bore and fine mechanics, all matching numbers(stock and all), moderate blueing wear. A super nice rifle. The only real flaw is the stock, while solid as a rock, is covered with minor dents and scratches, plus the usual "snow ring" dark spot around the butt.

She shoots great, however the straight pull is a bit strange for me. I honestly like my Steyr M95 better as far as the manipulation of the action goes. Nevertheless, the K31 is a smooth working, straight shooting rifle I'm quite proud of!
 
Most battle rifles of the era are apparently zeroed in the 300 yard range. My K31 doesn't seem to be nearly as far off as my Mosins. I can easily hit head shots, off hand, at 100 yards with my K31 by aiming between the shoulders of a silhouette target. at about 200 yards it seems dead on but thats from shooting a sand bluff at that distance I haven't tried it on paper at that distance.
 
Most battle rifles of the era are apparently zeroed in the 300 yard range. My K31 doesn't seem to be nearly as far off as my Mosins. I can easily hit head shots, off hand, at 100 yards with my K31 by aiming between the shoulders of a silhouette target. at about 200 yards it seems dead on but thats from shooting a sand bluff at that distance I haven't tried it on paper at that distance.

I found a couple of mine shot way high, even with GP11 service ammo.

TN Gun Parts has taller front sights for the K31. This will bring POI down and allow you to file the sight blade to zero the weapon to the marks on the rear sights using whatever ammo you shoot.

http://www.tngunparts.com/TALLSIGHTS.html
 
The only real flaw is the stock, while solid as a rock, is covered with minor dents and scratches, plus the usual "snow ring" dark spot around the butt.
It would be nice if someone made a quality repro of the original stock, for those that wanted to restore their rifle to like new condition.


Now, I just have to get into reloading......
You can still buy GP11

http://www.dansammo.com/ammo.asp
 
They say a picture is worth a thousand words:
53K31Group2-1.gif

P3210022-1.jpg

44K-31Groups3-1.gif

K-31Groups1.gif

40Group.jpg

I have four and am about to sell a couple of them. In my opinion, they are simply the finest military rifles ever produced.

35W
 
The best part is three years ago people were crying about the expensive ammo. The GP-11 price has remained essentially unchanged even as the cost of common ammo and the rifle itself doubled or more.
 
They truely are a beautiful rifle! Finely fitted and made. A level of craftsmanship few military rifles or any rifle enjoy.
 
But Navy, these days will not last. When the GP11 stops coming in, ammo prices will rise very steeply very quickly. As an owner of a MAS 49/56 AND a VZ-52, I can attest to that...

Ash
 
The K31s are very popular. Several ammo companies are already starting to load ammo for it. I'm not particularly worried. Its not like an AK47 where you'll blow off 200 rounds a day with it. Don't let the ammo scare you away from a terrific weapon.
 
Ammo will be available. I do not say it cannot be had as in the case of the VZ-52. 7.5 ammo is commercially available.

But, commercial ammo will be more expensive, so these days of cheap ammo are numbered. You will always be able to shoot the K31 (or at least, for a very long time). But, consider, too, that Remington used to make 7.62x54r ammo for the hundreds of thousands of Mosins in country after WWI. But, by WWII, they had stopped and did not start up again.

Ash
 
It's my favorite mil-surp to shoot, but it's not my favorite mil-surp overall. I mean, it's a matter of degrees, but I like my Springfield and my Swedish Mausers and even my Mosins just a touch better.

Why? Well, the Springfield shoots like a champ and fits me like a glove while the Mausers are more accurate. My Mosins just touch something primal within me, and I can't explain it any better than that. Like I say though, it's a close thing. I really enjoy shooting the K31, and I like the cartridge. I can't imagine being without one, but I also can't imagine not having the other three, either. Thats sort of the fun of mil-surps for me; I like them all for different reasons, and they are all a blast to shoot!
 
Agreed. I really like my K31 also. My favorite aspect, aside from accuracy, is the straight-pull bolt.I think they are just slick, and wish more guns had them. That said, wait until you try a Swede Mauser. That mistake will end up costing you twice what the K31 did, bt you'll do it anyways, becuase if you love the K31's accuracy, you wont be able to pass up the Swede Mauser once you try one. they are as slick as greased dog poo. I'm curious to get a good bench setup, and some good handloads for each, and test them side by side to see if there is a clear winner. I think the Swede will come out on top, but not by much.
 
I have been considering a K31 for quite some time. But I'm 6'3'' and I'm concerned that the ring at the end of the bolt is gonna be a nose knocker. Can anyone tell me about that?
 
I'm about 6'1" and the ring doesn't smack me.

I love mine. I haven't shot it much at all. I bought 60 rounds with the rifle and I still have some left. I need to order some Prvi so I can reload for it, but I've just gotten into reloading for my 700 so it's not real high on the list. I'd like to pick up another K31 and throw some glass on it.

Unfortunately the bank account won't tolerate that in the near future :(
 
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