Range Report--K-31 shooting near MOA

[Dave R]

If you've wondered how accurate these K-31's are--mine is shooting near MOA. And in the interest of full disclosure, a gent here who goes by HarryB just posted pix of a .75" group at 100 yards in a thread titled "Swiss K-31 Scout Project." He was using GP-11 ammo. I'm using handloads. Usually, handloads are more accurate than factory ammo, but I'm not the world's greatest handloader, and I'm using lighter, cheaper bullets (Speer 150gr. Hot Cor.) GP-11 uses 175gr. bullets, and the K-31 seems to prefer them.

Enough excuses--here's my report.

The rifle is a 1930's vintage K-31 from AIM Surplus. $79 plus shipping and FFL fee. About $110 to my door.

It is unaltered, except for the addition of a "Darrel's" scout scope mount. It replaces the rear sight, and requires no permanent alteration to the rifle. 10-minute installation. The current scope is an NCStar 2.5X intermediate eye-relief scope. Its a hunka Chinese junk, but I'm on a tight budget. I consider it disposable while I save up for a Burris or Leupold. Scope & mount together under $100. You can use stripper clips with the scout scope in place. How tactical. (BTW--stripper clips $10 per 10 at Dan's Sporting goods. Order online.)

The ammo is my load. Reformed .284Win brass, CCI 400 (magnum) primers, 43gr. of H335 and the previously mentioned Speer 150 gr. Hot-Cor bullets on the end. Velocities in the high 2700's to low 2800's. Hmmm--that's .308Win specs. And the cost for this load is in the neighborhood of the cost for surplus ammo.

Accuracy at 100 yards--2 best groups were identical 1.3"

Accuracy at 200 yards--2 best groups were 1.6" (3 shot group) and 2.15" (4 shot group).

Just for fun, after leaving the range I went out to the desert, spread out some clay pigeons at 100 paces, and tried rapid target acquisition with the scout scope. Between the straight-pull action of the rifle, and the "both eyes open" scout scope, I was able to break the clays significantly faster than my Rem700 boltgun. Sorry, no stopwatch comparison. But I think there's really something to this whole scout scope thing.

The ergonomics of the gun are fine. Recoil is well absorbed by the 8lb+ weight. The snick-snack of the straight pull bolt is a tactile joy (if not a tactical joy.) And with the scout scope--no fear of dinging your eyebrow under recoil.

Summary: this setup pegs the meter on the fun-per-dollar scale.

[jobu07]

Nice shootin!

[spartacus2002]

K-31s are deadly accurate. I only got rid of mine because the ammo was more than I wanted to pay.

[Steve in PA]

Yep, have heard lots of stories about how accurate the K31's are. Makes me glad I also got one a few months ago from AIM. Haven't had a chance to get out and shoot it yet, but I bought 60rds of the Swiss ammo from AIM and I also have a bunch of handloads ready to try.

[MLC]

I just took mine to range recently and noticed that I'd be getting back on target before the brass from the previous shot hit the ground(from the prone).
Very fast action and accurate rifles.

[wally]

The current scope is an NCStar 2.5X intermediate eye-relief scope. Its a hunka Chinese junk

Why's it junk if it holds zero, provides fast target acquisition, and doesn't interfere with use of stripper clips? Sounds like a good solution to me, being low cost is a nice bonus!

--wally.

[Dave R]

Lemme translate--hunka Chinese junk means its not a Leupold....just kidding.

I have heard mixedreports on the NCStar. Some reports of failure to hold zero, and breakage after a few hundred rounds. We'll see how this holds up.

But the scout scope concept sure seems sound to me.

If I can get 2" groups at 200 yards, that's certainly enough magnification. And target acquisition is noticeably faster than with either iron sights or traditional scope. Its kinda cool having both eyes open, full field of view, and have the target area "pop out" at 2.5x magnification with the crosshairs on. Kinda like having an "instant zoom feature" for my own eyes.

My son tells me me its like the sniper rifle in Halo. That's good, right?

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I've been a staunch supporter of S&R K-31s for many, many moon.

And, for those that have none, when the push comes to shove and their prices go sky high ya ain't gonna get any of mine, lol.

I just love that smooth...pull......boom! non-military trigger.

[Dave R]

Hmmmm, good point. I neglected to mention how much I like the K-31 trigger. Feels like a 'smith worked on it. But I'm sure its just a good trigger done right.

[swingset]

My 1934 K-31, with a 10x scope mounted and otherwise completely bone-stock, has shot a .675" six-shot group at 100 yards with handloads. The 1911 Long rifle I have will shoot that well too, tho it's not scoped. Even with the limited iron sights I've eaked out 1.25" groups with GP-11.

[cracked butt]

If you haven't tried it yet, try getting off the bench and shooting them once. I find that the fit and balance is just about perfect, making it easy to shoot standing. They are a real joy to shoot no matter how you shoot them.

[wally]

I had an NcStar reflex sight that didn't hold zero, dealer exchanged it no questions asked, replacement has held up well so far. Didn't take long to figure out the original was defective.

I's rather spend my money on guns than scopes, but age is making them a necessary evil

--wally.

[Daniel T]

Dave, where did you get the scout scope mount? I tried doing a couple Google searches for "Darrell's scout scope mount", and, while I've found lots of words about them, I found no place to actually buy one.

Thanks,
Daniel

[spartacus2002]

http://p077.ezboard.com/fparallaxscu...icID=133.topic

This is where you order them.

[Black Snowman]

Shush all of you! How am I supposed to ever save up for that AR upper with tempations like this!

I already have the C&R . . . I'm doomed!

[homeka45]

I had just managed to talk myself out of a K-31, the ammo's too hard to get, I need to focus my purchases to a certain country, I want to build an AR on my Bushie receiver, then you go and write this glowing range report.

[Shane333]

Thank you Homeka45. That's one more k31 for me to snatch up.

[Dave R]

If you haven't tried it yet, try getting off the bench and shooting them once.

Y'know, I haven't shot it offhand, yet, but I have done quite a bit of plinking from seated positions. You're right, it balances well. Blasting clays at 100 yards with rapid fire is tons of fun.

Dave, where did you get the scout scope mount?

Thanks to Spartacus for posting the link. Darrel is a good guy, very professional. He makes a good mount.

My 1934 K-31, with a 10x scope mounted and otherwise completely bone-stock, has shot a .675" six-shot group at 100 yards with handloads.

Cowabunga! That's some good shooting. PM sent asking you about that load...

[Sam Adams]

Cowabunga! That's some good shooting. PM sent asking you about that load...

Why a PM? You can't keep good loads secret, especially for milsurps. That's against the rules - George Costanza said so!

[NOOk]

Just got my first K31 last week, and a few boxes of Wolf ammo. Shooting 3" groups at 100m with iron sights, so we'll see how some basic accurizing affect the groups!

[ohioarmedneutrality]

Sharp rifle! Love the K-31. Wish the ammo wasn't so expensive, though.

[sixgunner455]

a few boxes of Wolf ammo. Shooting 3" groups at 100m with iron sights, so we'll see how some basic accurizing affect the groups!

Please, try some GP11 before you mess around with accurizing that rifle. Sounds pretty accurate to me. Wolf is a source for reloadable brass, not accurate ammo, IMHO. 3" groups from Wolf K31 ammo is actually pretty decent. Mine doesn't do quite that well with Wolf, but GP11 prints on top of itself (very tight groups).

[Navy joe]

I just took mine to range recently and noticed that I'd be getting back on target before the brass from the previous shot hit the ground(from the prone).
Very fast action and accurate rifles.

You're not fast, the brass just went about 30 feet straight up when you yanked on that bolt. Truthfully, I know the feeling, it feels like a human operated semi-auto. I have 4 now, one of which I worked the trigger on to be even nicer. i want 1-2 more rifles and a couple of cases of GP-11. I did get brass when Graf's was selling at least.

[Davo]

The triggers are great...these are a best buy out there.