Swiss K-31 Accuracy Revelation

[lencac]

Hi Guys:
I just got done stripping a K-31 stock and handguard and I was looking it over.
I came to an insightful observation which I think is just one more thing that all adds up to why the K-31's have incredible inherent accuracy.
Looking the bare stock over I noticed that, unlike any other mil-spec bolt rifle, the K-31's load bearing recoil lug of the receiver is at the back of the trigger housing, not at the back of the front main screw bulkhead.
Think about it.
All other bolt rifles that I'm aware of, the load bearing recoil lug that transfers the energy of the cartridge discharging through the receiver into the wood stock are at the point of the front main screw lug to stock interface. That energy then is transmitted through the stock to your shoulder. This energy must pass through the weaker portion of the stock where the magazine and trigger cutouts are made in the stock. This results in a flexing and vibration, not to mention that there is 5 inches more of stock that the energy must go through.
The K-31's load bearing lug is at the back of the trigger housing that is a machined integral part of the receiver. Now the energy only has to go from the rear of the receiver through the solid portion of the stock to your shoulder. 5 less inches of stock the energy goes through not to mention it's not being transmitted around the magazine-well and trigger cutout in the stock.
Definitely a plus for accuracy and overall feel of being solid against the shoulder when being fired.
These things don't even utilize steel cross bolt lugs in the stock to prevent cracking the stock.
Absolutely superior designing and engineering.
The whole rifle can be taken apart in the field with a simple straight small screw driver (universal K-31 tool aka Swiss Army knife). The trigger is a work of art unto itself and can be serviced by hand, no tools needed for complete removal and installation.
The rifle itself is an inline design also. Stand a K-31 and any other contemporary mil-spec bolt rifle on their respective butts and look at the angle the K-31 stands in relation to the others.
These Swiss cats were light years ahead of all others
I wonder what it would cost to produce these rifles today.
Probably a lot
Anyway, just wanted to share with y'all

 

[The_Next_Generation]

Interesting. So you are saying the recoil lug is at the rear of the action, and is not the big block at the front where the front action screw is inserted?

I heard somewhere that the cost to produce the action of the K31 today would be around $1k...but I don't know who said it or where so take that for what it's worth.

Side note: 500 posts! Woo!

 

[Edarnold]

There is a minus to the bedding system: as chronicled on the Swiss Rifle forum, accuracy is also affected by the rear action screw. It's usual to tighten the action screws to a reasonable degree, shoot a group or two, then adjust tighter or looser on the rear screw to get optimum accuracy. Also be aware that if the wood has shrunk, you can break the rear tang by over-tightening.

 

[torqem]

ahem

Will they group 5 rds into 3" at 300 yds, like a good AR will do? Do you know that some AR's come guaranteed to group 1/2" at 100 yds, for 5 shots, with a given load? In the field, better accuracy than 1 MOA is rarely able to be demonstrated, due to vegetation or terrain ruling out bipod use. Nor is it needed in any way. Target movement, wind, mirage, etc, makes anyone miss a "mere" 200 yd shot on a crow or prairie dog, now and then, regardless of what gear they are using. Also, if you missed every other one, so what? It's not like you are going to eat them, or that you could keep yourself alive by feeding on nothing else. Since that is the fact of the matter, even a "mere" 2 MOA is plenty of realistic accuracy. Obviously, since nobody had better accuracy, 100 years ago, and millions of men and lots more animals have been shot by much less accurate rifles.

 

[lencac]

Next, that's correct, the front lug does not sit against the wood stock at the front location. The rear load bearing lug is the trigger housing. Pretty cool uh
Edarnold, your points are well taken but somewhat out of the realm of the observation I had made. This difference makes the K-31 a unique and superior rifle among titans.
I would think that the points you make would apply to virtually any other wooden stocked rifle though.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

Very interesting indeed!

I have yet to shoot my K31, so it will be interesting to see how that recoil feels compared to my other guns. I've never owned a mid-power rifle (Although I guess the media calls anything over .22lr "high-power" lol...) before, only .22s, a 223, 30-06s, and a 7mm Rem Mag.

It still seems weird that the front block isn't the recoil lug

 

[lencac]

Next, I suppose the 7.5x55 Swiss and 30.06 being called mid-power cartridge is a very apt description. I would certainly call any type of magnum cartridge though high-power.
I've shot virtually every type of military wooden stocked rifle and the feel of the K-31 being rock solid over others, albeit small is still present and with it being an inline configuration makes it a super shooter.
If you ever get a chance to pull the K-31 apart take a look. You will see what I'm talking about.
That fact makes the K-31 unique among rifles of its type.
I don't think it's weird, I think it's ingenious and quite an adept level of engineering understanding.