Fired my K-31 for the first time today

[Oldnamvet]

Although I got it a couple weeks ago, I finally got to start shooting my K-31 at the range today. Being a weekday, I was the only one there. I wanted to be sure the rifle functioned properly before I did anything like steaming out dents, reblueing, putting on mojo sights, etc. I spent last night making up a few middle of the road type handloads using the gold plated norma brass. Must be gold plated for what it cost. Fortunately I only bought 20 rounds. First time I touched off a round I was surprised. The trigger was better than anything else I have (save perhaps a set trigger on a CZ). Absolutely no creep at all. It broke like glass. Made a good dent in the primer so that seemed good. Pulled the bolt back and the spent round flipped 5 feet in the air and landed in my lap. Cool, you don't have to chase them off to the side. Racked the bolt forward and it fed another without a hitch. After finishing off the magazine, I noted something else. That steel buttplate was knocking the snot out of me. All my other rifles have some sort of recoil pad and they really work. I couldn't really check for accuracy since I couldn't really see the battle sights all that well. But I hit the paper every time which was good enough for me for now.
Next step, better sights (already on order) and check for accuracy. I'll also wear a recoil pad on my shoulder next time.
Still can't get over how good that trigger feels. Maybe I'll have to order another -- or maybe an SMLE -- or a MN. Probably all of them.

 

[Stiletto Null]

Is the kick any worse than an M48?

Don't forget to get some Mausers.

 

[wrench]

Set the hook, oldnamvet is caught!
Seriously, these old military surplus guns are addictive, I started a year and a half ago with my first SKS, now I'd be ashamed to say how they've stacked up.
The K31 has a great trigger, the enfield has a fast action, mausers are just elegant, mosins drip history.....you need them all

 

[ARperson]

FWIW, you shouldn't need to add any thing to the rifle as far as sights/optics go for accuracy...unless it's your own limitations to use irons. The K31s are known for great accuracy with irons. All FOUR of mine are winners. Even the GP ammo is good for accuracy. Though it is fun to run different loads through and see what gets the better results.

Sounds like you have caught the milsurp bug bigtime. Say goodbye to your disposable income now.

 

[Stiletto Null]

Even the GP ammo is good for accuracy.

lol, the gun's designed for the round, and it's the freaking Swiss. Of course it's good for accuracy!

BTW, anyone here tried the Wolf/Prvi Partisan ammo yet?

 

[djohns6]

Yep , my K31 packs a whallop too . So does my M91/30 Mosin . And I have a bad shoulder to boot .

 

[Dave R]

Still can't get over how good that trigger feels.

Amen, Bro.

I don't think anyone who has shot one would argue that the K-31 has the best trigger for the price of any longarm.

 

[dm1333]

My advice is that if you buy a MN put it in an ATI stock, the recoil pad is right nice! I have a bum shoulder from a seperated collar bone and dislocated arm so I know just how hard some of these surplus rifles kick.

 

[cracked butt]

Its not every day that you get to hold a work of mechanical art in your hands, then shoot it.

 

[smince]

Funny, but as a mil-surp, I thought the K31 recoil was very mild. Especially compared to the MN and 1903 Springfield.

My first group was at 50yds and 5 of the six were touching. I pulled the first shot because I expected recoil to be more severe than it was.

 

[Firehand]

Agreed on the trigger, very nice! Of all the milsurps I've fired, the three with the best triggers were 03-A3 Springfield, M39 Finnish Nagant, and K31; and the M39 and K31 were about tied for clean & no creep or drag.

Took mine to the range a couple of weeks ago and put 30 rounds through with very good results. Just about minute of angle at 100 yards.

Recoil didn't really bother me, just a solid push. Compared to the Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 I fired, the K31 & ball ammo is a pussycat.

 

[Bentley8]

Stiletto Null:

I've tried the Wolf 7.5 Swiss ammo. It shot as good a group as the GP-11 (though it's the worst-shooting K31 I own so it's a 3 MOA group). Also, the group wasn't as high as the GP-11, it was closer to POA. I only shot it in one rifle and it was only one box, so YMMV.

When I bought it at a gunshow it was $9 a box, making it more expensive than buying a case of GP-11 and having it shipped. If I can get it for $7 a box or less I would use it in lieu of the Swiss ammo.

 

[meef]

Regarding recoil -

When I first came here, I asked about recoil abatement because I had just purchased a Mosin M44. The recommendation I followed was a Limbsaver Slip-On pad.

What a great investment!

I use it on all of my nasty recoiling rifles and it tames them all to pussycat level.

No exaggeration whatsoever. Anything you shoot that can take a Limbsaver will be a pleasure to shoot compared to without it.

Yeah... I know. It changes the length of pull and it looks sort of funky. Believe me, I can live with that. And my shoulder heartily agrees and is always ever so grateful! My shooting sessions are easily 5-10 times longer than without, and the after effect is no comparison. Bye-bye bruises.

One Limbsaver for 20 bucks or so... so many rifles. What a deal!

 

[Trebor]

That's funny. I fired my K 31 for the first time Friday as well. It was dead on at 100 yards and very accurate. The best news is that I didn't accidently leave it at the range when I left (more on that later).

 

[qajaq59]

If you like the way that K31 shoots at 50 yards just wait until you try it at 200, even with the iron sights. That's one of the few guns that I wouldn't put a scope on. Not unless I was going to shoot so far that I literally couldn't see the target anyway. You work up some good loads for that and you will have a ball. And watch out that those spent shells don't go down the back of your shirt collar or you're going to be dancing on the firing line.

 

[Nhsport]

Yup , some rifles will punish you. First thing I recomend is to make sure you are pulling the rifle firmly back into your shoulder . this will help with recoil and will tighten your groups as well .

 

[BillinNH]

Try this for your K31 recoil. It is an Uncle Mike's rubber recoil pad and the taper is just about a perfect match to the K31 butt. Originally it came as far forward as the rear sling attachment and was a little loose in front. I cut it to a shorter length and put the left over "rubber band" on top of the pad giving me a tight fit. Works well. Previously I had it on a MN model 38 and it was very effective there but didn't fit all that well


Hope this is useful.

Bill

 

[redranger1]

mine is on the way...im so excited!!!

 

[Oldnamvet]

Thanks for all the suggestions on recoil pads. I must be getting a little soft in my dotage. Many years ago at Ft. Leonard Wood, I used to shoot hundreds of rounds through my M-14 and it never bothered me. It had a steel buttplate as well.
I decided that the SMLE is my next acquisition. Just have to wait for another pension check. As someone said, there goes all my "extra" money.

 

[Cacique500]

Worth it's weight in gold...

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=699899

I can shoot an M39 all day long and not break a sweat...(unless it's hot out )

 

[LiquidTension]

I fired mine for the first time a little while ago as well. The recoil is noticeable but not too bad. My trigger breaks clean at just over 4lbs. I've gotta get some dies to reload for it, probably some of the Prvi ammo that AIM has as well since the GP-11 is berdan primed.

 

[tulsamal]

Funny, but as a mil-surp, I thought the K31 recoil was very mild. Especially compared to the MN and 1903 Springfield.

Those are my thoughts pretty much exactly. The 1903 can kick the heck out of you off the bench. He did say he was using reloads so maybe there was something peculiar going on there? I would say my two K-31's recoil more than most 30-30's but less than many .308 bolt actions.

Gregg

 

[tulsamal]

I spent last night making up a few middle of the road type handloads using the gold plated norma brass. Must be gold plated for what it cost.

You should go to grafs.com and buy their 7.5 Swiss brass. They've got a bunch of new brass for the "more rare" military calibers. That's where I got my 7.5 French as well.

And they will give you dealer prices if you send them a copy of your C&R!!

Gregg

 

[TimboKhan]

I sort of said this on another post, but milsurps are addictive! I flat out love collecting them and shooting them, even though some are less pleasant to shoot than others. I can afford "better" guns, and I have some nice guns, but more and more I find that my interest lies in the directions of milsurps, if for no other reason than that they are historically interesting.

 

[farmallmta]

K-31 is just a terrific rifle! Glad you like yours!

The interesting thing is how few people have ever heard of them. Count me as one of those until a friend of mine told me about his. Once I tried it, just had to have one.

I really like the milsurp ammo available cheap. My buddy loads some hotter rounds and make the K-31 kick noticeably more, but with no increase in accuracy at mid ranges of 200 yards or so. So for now I'm sticking with the milsurp ammo.

The other milsurp rifles I've tried/owned are the SKS, the MosinNagant, the Steyr M95/30, the Springfield '03, and an AK47. I got rid of or never bought these because I just wasn't nearly as happy with them as I am my VZ-24's and K-31. I'd love to try a Garand M1 or an M-14!

Happy shooting!