K-31 Rifles and Ammo question

[phantomak47]

I have read on various dealers and message boards that K-31s are getting slim and as I do have a C&R license that has not been used yet(I know I Know) I am thinking about getting a K-31.


My question is other than rifle supplies getting slim, will I have issues in the future getting ammo for this rifle? I plan on shooting milsurps now and then, so I do not want a wall hanger. thanks

 

[jzimm9mm]

Prvi Partizan manufactures new 7.5x55 Swiss. Their brass is reloadable also, so you should be set.

Jer..

 

[spiroxlii]

I don't know how URGENT it really is, but the supply of K-31s is drying up, yes. It's because the Swiss don't use the K-31 or make it anymore, and nobody else ever adopted it for use. Once the milsurp Swiss ones are gone, it's not like they're gonna fire up a factory to make more.

The K-31 is a fine rifle by all accounts, but it's not impossible to find one at this time. I'm going to add one to my collection within the next two months for sure. As for ammo... there are plenty of K-31s and Schmidt-Rubin rifles floating around. The milsurp ammo may become scarce soon, but there is new commercial ammo being produced. It's not likely to disappear soon, in my opinion.

It's not what I'd call cheap ammo, though... so if you shoot a lot, you ought to consider learning to reload your own ammunition! I've got the milsurp bug BAD, so I guess I'm going to have to start reloading sooner or later.

 

[TAB]

Lots of surplus out there still( runing right around $.50 a shot or less in bulk)

I normaly buy mine at gun shows, but I recently ordered some from midway( bunch of freinds are going out to shoot "battle field rifles" end of jan). I know a few other companys manufactor it new, but it is not cheap... other then the wolf stuff...still I would not run it thru my guns.

 

[ROMAK IV]

I woudn't worry too much, but like ALL the surplus rifles and ammunition, things have changed. Like the now significant market for AR and AK type rifles, surplus is much the same, with the added problem of it being so easy for export to be blocked. So, I would just grab one now before all the imports are gone and get a decent supply of GP-11 as well. The PRVI Partisan is excellent and reloadable, (uses a 308 bullet I hear), and is usually less expensive than a similiar caliber box mad here in the US. K-31's are out there, and I have even seen other Swiss rifles available. I happened upon a 1896/11 that got me started, and snatched up a K-11. I need to look for a K-31 too, and get some ammunition as well. I came real close to buying a K-31 I saw for $150, but it ended up as the first Swiss rifle I have ever seen with a dark bore, so I passed. In spite of the 96/11 being over 100 years old and the K-11 being 82, the bores remain excellent. I know where about a dozen total are for sale, as well as a good quantity of GP-11, so I have a bit of time.

 

[Soybomb]

If you read some of the old threads in the swiss forums, they've been drying up for years. One importer of the k31 I asked said he saw no reason to rush. For c&r people the sky is always falling and something is always almost gone.
You can buy surplus gp11 for about $.50 a round, or reloadable prvi ammo for the same.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Ammo is not gonna be an issue for 7.5 Swiss. Norma and PRVI both make new, unprimed brass as well as loaded ammo. I just bought PRVI from buffalo arms for $32/100 and use standard Hornady 150 gr. FMJ-BT for $13/100. Add primers and powder, about $0.60 round.

 

[TimboKhan]

The GP-11 is getting somewhat harder to find, and I think we all agree that it is the cream of the crop when it comes to surplus ammo. The Prvi stuff is fine. You should get a K31! They are fun to shoot! Mine is probably my favorite mil-surp to shoot, although it is not my favorite overall, losing out to the 03 for general purpose usage, and my Swedish Mauser for accuracy. Overall though, it is a great rifle.

 

[cracked butt]

Wolf, Norma, Hornady, and prvi all make ammo for the k-31. Its also very easy and worth reloading- just use standard off the shelf .308 bullets with .308 win loading data and watch you seating depths.

 

[Geno]

I have noticed that many dealers (the "pushers") like to tell people buy it now...they're almost gone. This has a couple of effects: 1) drivers up their asking price...now it's a commanding price. 2) It puts the unsuspecting buyer into the mind-set of I better pay it now, or I won't get one. There are thousands of K-31s on the market.

The ammunition can also be made from .284 Win brass, then form-fire, just like Weatherby used to do. Buy one when you are ready, and watch for a good price.

Doc2005

 

[cracked butt]

I have noticed that many dealers (the "pushers") like to tell people buy it now...they're almost gone. This has a couple of effects: 1) drivers up their asking price...now it's a commanding price. 2) It puts the unsuspecting buyer into the mind-set of I better pay it now, or I won't get one. There are thousands of K-31s on the market.

They are just selling them for what demand will pay for them. 5 years ago, k-31s were everywhere and very few people wanted them because of the big question mark that hung over the ammunition. Once ammunition companies started making ammunition for 7.5x55 and people started buying and discovering how good these rifles are, the importers could start raising the prices.

 

[ohioarmedneutrality]

Ditto to what cracked butt says.
Case in point: I bought my K-31 about 4 years ago for $80. Heck, I paid almost as much for a bayonet as I did the rifle.
Today, I have yet to see in person a K-31 for less than $199. I'm sure there are some out there, somewhere, cheaper than that. Regardless, happy hunting and you won't regret buying one.

 

[davera]

They (and other milsurps) will probably always be available from gunshows or dealers or collectors. Even if every Swiss K31 has been bought, some people somewhere will be selling theirs for one reason or another. The prices will go somewhat higher due to supply and demand but I think they will still be available over time.

Having said all that - go ahead and get one now if you can. The commercial ammo is not too terribly expensive and the rifles themselves are literally works of art (IMO).

 

[sixgunner455]

Love my K31. Nicest milsurp you'll ever find, imho. Love shooting it, looking at it, etc. Just a sweet, sweet rifle. You should get one, unless it's a really good deal. Then I should get it so I have a spare.

 

[Dave R]

will I have issues in the future getting ammo for this rifle?

Not if you reload. Get some brass--either 7.5 Swiss, or just run .284Win through your 7.5 Swiss dies--and reload it like a .308.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

One Each St Marie Scope Mount. One Each Burris 9 power Scope and I am busting pebbles like nobody's business. Wolf ammunition.

 

[Slimbo]

i picked up a k31 at my local cabelas a few months back for 130 out the door. they had probably 10 of them.

 

[Navy joe]

Uses .308 caliber bullets, every now and again Graf's makes a run of brass. I got 500 pieces of it. Along with the other commercial sources thee is no ammo problem. I'm saving the GP-11 brass too in case I ever get some berdan primers.

 

[sagebrushjim]

These K31's are Very Accurate with both Open sights and Scope... Top is Walnut and Bottom is a Beech... Just my .02 ...

 

[Cosmoline]

The GP-11 is slowly drying up, but at the same time there's a bunch of new brass available from Graf plus a steady supply of Norma brass. Privy and Wolf both market loaded ammo with reloadable brasss. Compared with five years ago the situation is MUCH improved.

 

[cracked butt]

but at the same time there's a bunch of new brass available from Graf plus a steady supply of Norma brass. Privy and Wolf both market loaded ammo with reloadable brasss. Compared with five years ago the situation is MUCH improved.

Plus with the more recent popularity of chambering rifles in 6.5x284, 284 win brass isn't all that hard to find either- a couple of places near me stock it, one shop stocks it mainly for the 6.5x284 shooters.

 

[Hoppy590]

theres a few companys making new ammo. privi part, wolf, etc. and there plenty of know how to roll your own. but keep in mind, while theres GP11 surplus left, its not surplus prices, though on that ground, its not normal surplus quality either

 

[cracked butt]

while theres GP11 surplus left, its not surplus prices, though on that ground, its not normal surplus quality either

LOL. I remember responding to a lot of threads a few years ago where people were wringing their hands over spending $100 on a K-31 because GP-11 was soooo expensive at $24 for 60 rounds and where others reccommended that $100 was much better spent on a noisy magnet instead

The prices have changed since then but the equipment hasn't, you could spend money on the most expensive 7.62x54r ammo in the world for a $100 mosin and it still won't shoot anywhere near a K-31 (which seem to have appreciated in value nicely) and the $0.50/rd GP-11 ammo. Heck, the cheapest remchester ammo costs almost twice as much as that and would be doing good to shoot through a remchester as well as a k-31 shoots

 

[collateral]

I can find 7.5x55 swiss at just about any gun store in my area, the rifles are still relatively easy for me to find as well.

I sold my K-31 and I regret it. if you want one buy it soon because the prices will rise. I payed 140 for mine a few months ago and now I see them being sold around 180-200.

A lot of companies are starting to make 7.5 as well. Wolf Gold does, and it is actually pretty good ammunition. Brass cased and reloadable.

 

[qajaq59]

I wouldn't worry about K31 ammo drying up for a long time. The K 31 Swiss is one of those old military rifles that people actually shoot a lot. Which is why you can buy non-military ammo for it. Plus you can buy the commercial brass and reload it, which is what I do.