K-31 No Thanks

[Steve Marshall]

I'm probably going straight to Rifleman's Hell, but I am not a fan of these Swiss rifles. I know. They are the best. Except for little things like cartridge OAL. And cutting my nose retracting the bolt. And ergonomics.. etc.
Am I the only one here that doesn't like them? My buddy's son got one but neglected to buy ammunition for it. I bought two boxes and handed one back and said ...issue this to someone you don't like when the SHTF.

 

[amd6547]

Mine is the most accurate rifle I own, as well as the smoothest, quickest manually operated rifle.
Never managed to get my nose in the way of the bolt.
With a good supply of gp11 ammo on chargers and a decent scope, a good shot could dominate a pretty large chunk of terrain.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Maybe you just need an extended buttplate? Might improve the ergonomics and nose/bolt clearance?

I have always liked them by looks and holding a few in a gunshop. Will find out how I like shooting it soon, have a walnut stocked one (with matching bayo ) on order from J&G along with a case of ammo. Seems to me that the only way to make a faster manual action would be a pump.

 

[NCsmitty]

K31 rifles are wonderfully accurate and slick in a controlled environment, but if you have to deal with pulling your rifle out of the mud in adverse conditions and use it, I would want a Mauser or a Mosin or even a AK at hand.



NCsmitty

 

[Steve in PA]

Never encountered the issues you seem to have. My K31, like the other poster said, is very accurate.

This is my deer load I worked up for the K31 this past year, although I didn't carry it. Open sights, 100yds from a rest. Pay no attention to the first shot flyer! LOL!!

 

[Afy]

My STGW and K31 are about the best milsurps I own. They are accurate, easy to shoot and ergonomically amongst the best. Would take the STGW over the M16 any day.

 

[nathan]

I made sure i stashed 200 rds of GP 11, they are hard to find nowadays. But i have some factory loaded Hornady 165 gr BTSP for hunting loads even then its not as accurate as the GP 11.

 

[dnthmn]

I don't think they are the prettiest rifles, but I've come to even like the way they look. Mine shoot great and I've never seen a bad shooter. The action is neat and unique. It wouldn't be my first choice as my only rifle, but it sure wouldn't be my last.

 

[nathan]

Its ungainly and ugly look belies its capability of being a very accurate rifle.

 

[chicharrones]

I'm probably going straight to Rifleman's Hell . . .

Don't worry if you don't like it, no one can possibly be a fan of every firearm made.

I do like mine and love the accuracy. It can feel like a beast during carry compared to modern hunting or military rifles. If you carry it with one hand in the finger grooves it balances nicely. The grip is not a modern pistol grip and the K31 feels long and heavy when firing from a standing position. Of course it's a "carbine" compared to rifles that preceded it, but it is long compared to modern carbines like the AR proliferation.

Thank goodness it is heavy though. It helps take the sting out of that metal butt plate smacking you in the shoulder.

 

[StringTwelve]

I just bought one a few weeks ago and love it. Just picked up some hornady off the shelf to see how it would do and ended up consistently ringing the 200 gong. Even touched the 300 gong as well. I'm about to order dies, shell holder, etc. to start reloading it. Thinking about a scope mount and making this my deer rifle eventually.

 

[Al Thompson]

Steve, I know how you feel. The Browning Hi Power is my counterpart to your K31. Neat to hold, but horrible to fire in my hands. I've tried all the hammer configurations and they all chew the web of my hand to pieces.

 

[Rancho Relaxo]

Nothing wrong with not drinking the K31 koolaid. I love K31s but don't see what all the fuss is about with the M14/M1a. To each his own.

 

[aubie515]

Everyone has an opinion on most things...if you don't like the K31 no biggie. I liked all the K31s that I have owned.

 

[rogertc1]

Or a nose job?

 

[Steve Marshall]

The accuracy of the one I shot was more than adequate- approximately 2 MOA with irons. The recoil was about the same as a typical Enfield. I actually like the trigger. It reminds me of the Enfield .
Speaking of which, were I in need of dominating the terrain, an Enfield with or without a scope would be my ticket to ride. You can actually manipulate the bolt while maintaining a cheek weld and hold 3 or 4 MOA out to 300 or 400 yards without praying to the Gods. And sustain aimed fire of 30 or so more or less accurate shots a minute for some time. Probably until the ammunition ran out.
And of the 3 people (including myself) that I've seen shoot the 31, all lowered the rifle to chamber another round. Me because it whacked the bridge of my non-Cyrano nose, one because he'd heard that you must visually ensure the bolt is closed and the other because. I wish I had thousands of these, I'd give them all away to you guys that like them and at least for a week or so, be the most popular guy on THR.

 

[amd6547]

Personally, I work the bolt on my k31 from the shoulder...with or without scope. I do make sure to work it briskly.
I have owned both the Enfield number III and IV, and consider them to be the finest combat bolt actions...but I much prefer the straight pull k31.

 

[USSR]

Its ungainly and ugly look belies its capability of being a very accurate rifle.

And I hear Rosie O'Donnell is one heck of a dancer.

Don

 

[sixgunner455]

*shrug* don't buy one, then.

I doubt I'll ever own a Glock. But I love my K31. Different strokes for different folks, as they say.

 

[TechBrute]

The K-31 is the only C&R I own. I love it. The action, the accuracy, the trigger... It's all fantastic! I'm sad that the GP11 has mostly dried up, but that doesn't make the rifle any less spectacular.

Having said all that, I only speak for myself.

Oh and the metal buttplate isn't that comfy.

 

[jpwilly]

If the K31 wasn't so dang accurate, I'd join you.

 

[35 Whelen]

Except for little things like cartridge OAL.

What's wrong with the cartridge o.a.l.? Mine all fit in the magazine with room to spare. Are you maybe referring to the short throat in the barrel? If so, this can be to a high volumn shooters advantage as the throat has more room and time to erode. As such, all a handloader has to do is seat his bullets a little longer as the throat erodes.
I have a 1903A3 whose throat is eroded and I can't get the bullets seated long enough to get to the rifling as I run out of magazine length.

And cutting my nose retracting the bolt.

If you honestly cut your nose working the bolt on a K-31, then beware, because you're going to cut it on most any bolt rifle. This true especially when shooting prone IF you're holding NOT the rifle as you should. Watch this guy. He's holding the rifle as it should be held.

Swiss K-31 Rapid Prone

Here's another guy that's obviously a superb shot and knows how to handle a K-31 (fast-forward to 3:50):

Camp Perry: Rapid Fire with a K-31

If you listen closely, this guy is nailing the X-ring with this rifle. If you also look closely, while he's shooting sighters, you'll see he's doing all this with military surplus ammunition. A testament to the rifle and loads.

And sustain aimed fire of 30 or so more or less accurate shots a minute for some time. Probably until the ammunition ran out.

I own four Enfields, and love the position of the bolt handle for speed of operation, but it's still nowhere near as fast as a K-31. I shoot High Power with one of my K-31's and the bolt speed is incredible and the stripper clips are so fast, I don't bother using an extra magazine for rapid fire portions of the match.

And by the way, here s little sample of what I've been able to do with my K-31 during the rapid portions of our High Power matches:

Sitting:




Prone:




To me, here's the best meter by which to judge which milsurps have speed and accuracy. Take a look at the most popular rifles in the top 20-30 shooters:

2007 Camp Perry Vintage Rifle Military Match Results

2008 Camp Perry Vintage Rifle Military Match Results

2009 Camp Perry Vintage Rifle Military Match Results

2010 Camp Perry Vintage Rifle Military Match Results

All that being said, I kinda feel like everyone else: to each his own. (I don't like Glock's) But before you write off the K-31, make sure you understand them. They're hugely popular for a reason!

Regards,
35W

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

If my K31 would stop putting bullets where I want them, despite the many shooting errors that I make, then I'd join you, too. However, it keeps putting those rounds where I want them, despite my occasional flinch, occasional trigger pull instead of squeeze... You name it, it overcomes it. That's why I call her "Swiss Miss" like the hot chocolate. It sure is sweet.

 

[00]

Steve Marshall,
Yes, you are the ONLY one that doesn't like the K-31. Congrats!

In the realm of milsurp rifle, which do you like?

 

[Slamfire]

I'm probably going straight to Rifleman's Hell, but I am not a fan of these Swiss rifles. I know. They are the best. Except for little things like cartridge OAL. And cutting my nose retracting the bolt. And ergonomics.. etc.
Am I the only one here that doesn't like them? My buddy's son got one but neglected to buy ammunition for it. I bought two boxes and handed one back and said ...issue this to someone you don't like when the SHTF

I stuck a number of bullets in the bore, following the reloading manuals OAL. It was a mess cleaning the powder from the action. But, learn to seat the bullets deeper, and that problem will go away.

Ergonmics?. The buttstock is short for me. So I put a slip on pad to add a couple of extra inches.

Wish the rifle rear sight had a windage knob.

The Schmidt Rubin action is an interesting one and I have no idea how durable it is. The action bar has this small lug that fits in the bolt. I wonder if these bars get broken or bent. The multi piece firing pin, I am not a fan of these designs. I have had a number of 03 two piece firing pins break, I have no idea if this one is any better.

I like the workmanship on these rifles. Must have been the most expensive service rifle ever built. Apparently all bolts from the entire 30 year production run are interchangeable between all rifles. That is incredible.

The rifle is not a target rifle, it is a service rifle. However, the various ones I own, I believe they are as accurate as a NM M1903. That says something when rack grade production rifles are built to an accuracy level equal to our Springfield National Match rifles.