I went with the K31!

[Scimmia]

LGS only has the Hornady (which looks like reboxed Prvi) and it'll do for now.

Na, Hornady uses Prvi brass for a lot of their odd calibers, but they load it themselves. I would rather have Hornady bullets than Prvi, so this is a good thing.

Of course, reloading using the same Hornady bullets and Prvi brass is the way to go if you're going to shoot more than a box or two.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Not as of yet, but will be sometime after August.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Not as of yet, but will be sometime after August.

Good. You may get brass and money pitched in for supplies coming your way. Find us a good load, and I'll keep you in stock.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Looks like I'll be kept quite busy, what with making stocks, doing some reloads... LOL

 

[meanmrmustard]

Gotta have a hobby my friend. Idle hands are the devils playground and all.

Edit: What is the median rate for a nonrefurbed walnut K31. I believe, having only fired one round through it, it has become love at first shot! I will want another. However, the one I currently own will always be my fave.

P.S. 100 yards, standing with a sling hold, blew up water jug and ejected spent brass with a stupid grin on my face. I suck with irons: This rifle makes me look good, I mean REALLY good.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

LOL what do you mean median rate?

 

[meanmrmustard]

LOL what do you mean median rate?

Average price. As in, what can be expected for a relatively decent K31?

 

[barnbwt]

I payed about 300$ a few months back for my walnut and 330$ for the beech (its bore was slightly better-er, or something, I couldn't tell). For some reason my LGS had 6 of these on the rack, gathering dust. Been seeing K31's online for 50-100$ north of what I paid, and in much worse condition.

If your looking for stock mod ideas...
Someone a while back slapped together a bullpup K31 since the action makes it so easy.

TCB

PS- Mustard, have you succumbed to the urge to catch your brass yet?

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I will sometimes try to catch my brass, lol. And between $3-350 is an average price.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I payed about 300$ a few months back for my walnut and 330$ for the beech (its bore was slightly better-er, or something, I couldn't tell). For some reason my LGS had 6 of these on the rack, gathering dust. Been seeing K31's online for 50-100$ north of what I paid, and in much worse condition.

If your looking for stock mod ideas...
Someone a while back slapped together a bullpup K31 since the action makes it so easy.

TCB

PS- Mustard, have you succumbed to the urge to catch your brass yet?

I have shot only one round. Picked it up, but did not think to catch it. I was too busy being amazed at the tattered milk jug 100 yards away that lay in ruins. I may try the brass catch, though.

When I found the K31s at Cabelas, there were four, all beech. My LGS owner swore that a K31 was a made up rifle that never existed (he's an idiot). They were all $400.
Went in last Friday and two were gone. I got the "not as jacked up stock" of the remaining two. Both bores and actions were prime.

$300 later, I'm hooked in a bad way.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Man, I'm telling ya, I already want about a dozen more.

 

[barnbwt]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=296177118

Man, I'm telling ya, I already want about a dozen more.

Better get to 'em before Bubba over on GB does...(my apologies if someone here actually is that guy...maybe)

TCB

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Broke now, man, otherwise I'd be jumping on it lol.

 

[Sam1911]

This rifle makes me look good, I mean REALLY good.

They're like that.

Try taking one to a "practical" match of some sort. The slick and fast bolt and the lightning fast reloads with those cool stripper clips earned mine the nickname, "That (darned) bolt-action machine gun."

 

[Mr.GunCrazy]

GP11, where available is $.70-$.80 a round.

That is way too much for it. You can grab it for $.56 a round on the internet. Sportsman' Guide has been very useful for this. Good luck with your K31. They are just a joy to shoot!

 

[meanmrmustard]

That is way too much for it. You can grab it for $.56 a round on the internet. Sportsman' Guide has been very useful for this. Good luck with your K31. They are just a joy to shoot!

Yeah, and pay their ridiculous shipping charges? Ha, no.

I'll get my gomer LGS owner to order it, mark it up, and still sav money.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Hey Mustard,

I still have to get more details from my LGS, but there are matches here that are strictly K31's, well, in the southeast corner of Nebraska there are anyways. We'll have to look into them.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Hey Mustard,

I still have to get more details from my LGS, but there are matches here that are strictly K31's, well, in the southeast corner of Nebraska there are anyways. We'll have to look into them.

That would be ridiculously fun!!! We should seriously hit that up.

GFs posting pics after we eat.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

That would be ridiculously fun!!! We should seriously hit that up

I'll get the info for it.

And sweet, about time! lol

 

[meanmrmustard]

Drum roll please! Here ya go fellas, my first K31, and my first attempt at a stock refinish. I like, hope you boys do too.

P.S. Please excuse the CD case and Qtips holding the rifle prone:banghead:

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Man, she looks beautiful! GOOD JOB!

 

[meanmrmustard]

Man, she looks beautiful! GOOD JOB!

Thanks man! I put alot of sweat into it. She's slick and slim now. Wish I'd had taken "before" pics. Pretty rough.

I'm super happy with my choice of a first WWII-era rifle.

 

[barnbwt]

Looking like a mosin stock...

Admit it, you were just pulling our legs... Looks good, man! The grain of that (beech, right?) has a lot more depth (transparency) than I would have figured. I bet it looks great in the sunglight. And great job holding back on the red tones, it'd be really easy to go overboard, I'm sure.

I'd say you've improved the rifle considerably, regardless of the initial stock condition. I've always though the beech was a bit too yellow for my tastes. Congrats!

TCB

 

[meanmrmustard]

Admit it, you were just pulling our legs... Looks good, man! The grain of that (beech, right?) has a lot more depth (transparency) than I would have figured. I bet it looks great in the sunglight. And great job holding back on the red tones, it'd be really easy to go overboard, I'm sure.

I'd say you've improved the rifle considerably, regardless of the initial stock condition. I've always though the beech was a bit too yellow for my tastes. Congrats!

TCB

Thank you very much. I used a trick, self taught:

Two even and light coats of Sedona Red Minwax went on after wood conditioner. I allowed these to sit for 15 mins then dry wiped the stock so as to remove any excess that may cause gloss. Let dry overnight.

I then, very lightly, hit the stock with steel wool, to even things out. Here's the trick...
Dry wipe with a lint free cloth, then go over with Walnut stain. It brought the grain back out. At this point, any yellow Beech look was gone, whole new animal!
Once the Tru oil was put on, each coat was wet sanded lightly with 400 grit, up until coat 5. Coat six was left to dry 8 hours, then hit with 0000 steel wool to give satin finish. Lastly, I used Birchwood Casey's Stock sheen polish. It's the smoothest stock I own! Lightly oiled, then took pictures for you fellas! Can't be afraid to experiment.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

You've done good in my book, Mustard!