MN 91/30 or K31 - Help with decision

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alamo

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I've been collecting WWII milsurps recently and thought I'd stop at 4, I don't have much room for much more. Here's what I have now:

1) M1 service grade from the CMP
2) 1903A3 from the CMP
3) RC Mauser 98K
4) Enfield No.4 Mk.1

The MN 91/30s and K31s are only a hundred bucks or so and I'd thought I'd add just one more to the collection. I really just want to get one more - I don't have time to shoot much these days and I'm stocking up for when I do have time. I'm not a big shooter anyway. I like WWII history and want to own a few good examples just to have and shoot every once & awhile down the road.

Just want to see what I might be overlooking in my decision.

K31

Pros:

- Very accurate rifle
- Cool Swiss Cross on receiver
- Unique straight pull design
- Great looking

Cons:

- Relatively expensive ammo. When I finally get time to shoot it in a few years, it may be more expensive & hard to find (in the meantime, occasional shooting of the other 4 would take priority)
- Not a WWII rifle
- Uncertain parts availability


MN 91/30

Pros:

- WWII rifle, lots of interesting history which I like
- Probably available for some time to come
- Ammo cheap and available
- Parts will likely be cheap and available

Cons:

- Not as nice looking as the K31
- Not as accurate, but not a huge deal to me. I'm just intrigued by the stories of the K31 accuracy, not that I can shoot rifles very well though


Anything in the MNs favor I've overlooked ? This rifle will be by far the red-haired stepchild to the other four but I don't want to regret the decision later.
 
You could get an M39...:D

It's got the WWII historical angle;

it shoots cheap ammo;

it's very accurate.


I've got all three and the M39 gets the most range time.

Here's more off-kilter advice: come up with more gun storage room....
 
Which one feels better to you?

I find that the K-31 is more comfortable to shoot. Something else that may be a factor to you is that the K-31 will be worth more in 10-20 years than a MN unless the MN is a rare variant.
 
should be moved to "rifles"
Click to expand...

You're right, it was late. Clicked the wrong link. :(

I thought about getting both but I'm just out of room with a few shotguns and .22. I've got a few handgun purchases to make after this.
 
Thought I'd bump this up to the top. When it got moved, it ended up on the bottom.

I'm feeling good about the MN today, will probably want the K-31 tomorrow.
 
If you're a hopeless romantic and watched Enemy at the Gates umpteen times, then by all means pick up a (probably) remanufactured 91/30 and a few thousand rounds, hope for a good bore and be sure to clean out the corrosive primer salts after every range session. Those rifles exemplify the quantity side of the quantity v. quality discussion. They did the job under tough conditions.

If, however, you like precision, accuracy and quality in your firearms collection, the K31 would seem to be a better fit. Unique action, fine workmanship, and honest use by citizen soldiers who kept an ever-expanding 3d reich at bay meant that they were not active participants in WWII but they did indeed have a role in the geopolitics of the time. Best of all, they are unique, characteristic of the Swiss mindset, and many have a tag that lets you connect with the former holder. I am hooked on 'em.

Either way, you will have a fun shooter.
 
Thank you rust collector. Very well stated on both sides. The K31 seems to be the way to go. I'm not often this indecisive but there are other financial priorities coming up and I don't want to look back and wish I had made the other choice. And MNs may be around for awhile to come if I ever decide to get another rifle.
 
I have both, had the MN for a few years and just got the K31. Here's the deal.

GET THE K31!

There aren't THAT many of them, and when you want one in a few years, they'll be a lot more. The MN will still be cheap for a long time, there were millions and they were used hard. The Swiss Karabiners were hardly used at all, and have the bores to prove it.

Unless you're going to be shooting hundreds of rounds, the ammo prices won't make that much difference, unless you're stocking up for SHTF or TEOTWAKI (and then use the M1.) Plus, both kick enough that you won't be shooting hundreds of rounds at a time.

The K31 is the most underpriced rifle I've yet run across. For the same price, I'd rate it worth many time the value of the Mosin. However, I do love my Mosin, don't get me wrong, it's just a completely different animal. You'll eventually improve your marksmanship and then you'll really appreciate the K31. My shooting....well...sucks....but I'm getting better, and can now appreciate the difference. You will, too.

If you get a 91/30 or M44, or M38 you won't be disappointed, they're a hoot. But if you get a Schmidt-Rubin somewhere down the road, you'll regret the lost time. As always, YMMV.
RT
 
I think RT pretty much said what needed to be said...

MN 91/30s were made in the millions...there aren't nearly as many K31s (and I own 5 of them...)

Also...Wolf now has 7.5 Swiss in their Gold line...so ammo for the K31 will be available at a reasonable price.

Also, if you want to spring for a St Marie Graphics bolt-on mount, and an inexpensive 4x scope, the K31 will make a great hunting rifle, as well.
 
Depends on how you look at it - -

alamo - -

In listing the cons of the K31, you wrote,
"- Not a WWII rifle
- Uncertain parts availability"

I beg to differ with at least the first point. It was very much involved in WWII, though Switzerland was not a belligerent power. From all reports, the German forces would have found it pretty convenient to violate Swiss borders to a greater or lesser extent at a couple of points during the war. The problem was, it would simply have been too costly to do so.

The Swiss army had thousands of soldiers at their frontiers, mostly armed with K31 rifles. They had their ranges surveyed down to the meter, their firing stakes set out, and every gunner and rifleman had their sights pre-set. The sappers had the passes mined, too. The Swiss proficiency with their armaments was legendary, and a very powerful deterrent. Those K31s my not have fired many blood shots during 1939 -- 1945, but they were ready to do so, and so played a very valuable role in the war.

As to the parts avilability, well, yes and no. First, the Swiss rifles were indeed mostly used for garrison and outpost duties, and as such, were not subjected to the severe rigors of being dragged through the mud and constant firing under adverse conditions. They were, however, insected regularly and were scrupulously maintained. Consequently, you have to look hard to find one that's not in perfect mechanical condition. Chances are, unless you're way over the top in shooting milsurp matches, not one in a thousand of those rifles will ever need any parts replacement.

Just a few thoughts - -

Best,
Johnny
 
Play it safe... buy both! They're inexpensive (for now) and the supply won't last forever.
 
if you are collecting WWII rifles the MN is the one to get, but the K31 will shoot better. Down side is ammo is expensive. You can always get a Finn M39, that would give you a Finn rifle built off of captured Russian parts, adn it would have seen action in more than 1 war, especially if you got an antique receiver. SO my vote is for the Fin M39
 
The story goes that 1 million Swiss troops were armed with K31's, and were going to be attacked by 2 million Germans. Their orders? Shoot twice and come home.

Really happen? I doubt it, but it is testament to the rifle.

I have both rifles you speak of and enjoy the K31 more. You won't regret getting the MN, but you will regret not getting the K31. Look under the buttplate!
 
Great decision you won't regret it. I've owned up to 11 of these at one time and love them. The K31 surplus ammo isn't really any more expensive than what the current going price is for good NC 30-06 surplus ammo. And there are starting to be new suppliers of ammo. Get into reloading the K31 alone makes it worth it. You'll still get you a Mosin later, when the surplus era dries up I bet the Mosins will be the last ones left.
 
It got it today. The metal seems to be in very good condition. The stock needs some clean-up and tung oil but should look nice after that with some scratches and dings for character. I couldn't be more pleased. Looks like there are not many left - get one now if you are considering one.
 
I love Mosins, but I won't buy any Soviet one without getting to check it by hand first. There's too much variation in them. K-31's OTOH are almost all in good internation condition with excellent bores. The Swiss were among the first to switch to non-corrosive primers and their soldiers carried their rifles home with them so they were taken very good care of. On balance I'd go for a K-31 over a Soviet 91-30 now, but I'd go for a Finnish Mosin over either of them.
 
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