Are these rifles worth buying? I have found one in just about perfect shape and I think I can reload if I don't mind paying the high brass prices and can use .308 bullets. Does anyone have any advice on these? They look pretty nice. I plan on shooting cast bullets so I would not really be hard on the rifle.
Schmidt-Rubin K31 7.5X55
- Thread starter Lucky Jim
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Lucky Jim,
Yese are really nice rifles and I say buy one! We have a dedicated forum on another board, here is a link. http://pub125.ezboard.com/fcollectorguns35625frm1
Yese are really nice rifles and I say buy one! We have a dedicated forum on another board, here is a link. http://pub125.ezboard.com/fcollectorguns35625frm1
Cosmoline
Member
Was Alaska worth buying?
Of COURSE! They're the best deal in C&R rifles now, bar none. My K-31 is THE MOST ACCURATE rifle I have ever owned. With some tweaking on the stock it shoots sub-MOA with GP-11 ball. Plus, it's faster than any bolt action except perhaps an SMLE. The 7.5 Swiss is basically a .308 improved, with a very sharp shoulder. Its accuracy is all the more remarkable considering its vintage (late 1880's IIRC). Basically, the Swiss got it right the first time.
But they look weird, and people don't understand them, and the collectors aren't too interested in them. So they go for a bargain basement price. All I say is, their loss can be your gain.
Graff & Sons is producing low-price brass, which is currently backordered but should be flowing again soon.
The ONE drawback of the rifle is that it was designed for GP-11, and you'll only keep that awesome accuracy if you stay close to the ball loads in your handloads. Still, that's not hard to do.
Did I mention that GP-11 is the best standard grade military ball ammo ever made? Each round is carefully sealed with wax which both keeps out moisture and helps keep the chamber cool. Accurate. REAL accurate.
The only C&R rifles that compare are the best Swedes and the best Finns, both of which will cost you more and have less consistent quality control standards.
There are scope mounts and special sights aplenty from the Swiss, and some good domestic extras as well.
My advice--buy five. Pick the best one and put one of Darrel's mounts on it along with a nice LER scope. You won't be disappointed.
PS--you can often find the name and address of the former Swiss owner under the buttplate. Some buyers over here have made contact with these old soldiers, much to their astonishment! I know of one case where the US owner was so moved by the account given by the old Swiss man that he sent his old rifle back to him. Apparently not all the Swiss wanted to switch over to assault rifles, and missed their old K-31's greatly. They're still used for competition shooting over there.
Of COURSE! They're the best deal in C&R rifles now, bar none. My K-31 is THE MOST ACCURATE rifle I have ever owned. With some tweaking on the stock it shoots sub-MOA with GP-11 ball. Plus, it's faster than any bolt action except perhaps an SMLE. The 7.5 Swiss is basically a .308 improved, with a very sharp shoulder. Its accuracy is all the more remarkable considering its vintage (late 1880's IIRC). Basically, the Swiss got it right the first time.
But they look weird, and people don't understand them, and the collectors aren't too interested in them. So they go for a bargain basement price. All I say is, their loss can be your gain.
Graff & Sons is producing low-price brass, which is currently backordered but should be flowing again soon.
The ONE drawback of the rifle is that it was designed for GP-11, and you'll only keep that awesome accuracy if you stay close to the ball loads in your handloads. Still, that's not hard to do.
Did I mention that GP-11 is the best standard grade military ball ammo ever made? Each round is carefully sealed with wax which both keeps out moisture and helps keep the chamber cool. Accurate. REAL accurate.
The only C&R rifles that compare are the best Swedes and the best Finns, both of which will cost you more and have less consistent quality control standards.
There are scope mounts and special sights aplenty from the Swiss, and some good domestic extras as well.
My advice--buy five. Pick the best one and put one of Darrel's mounts on it along with a nice LER scope. You won't be disappointed.
PS--you can often find the name and address of the former Swiss owner under the buttplate. Some buyers over here have made contact with these old soldiers, much to their astonishment! I know of one case where the US owner was so moved by the account given by the old Swiss man that he sent his old rifle back to him. Apparently not all the Swiss wanted to switch over to assault rifles, and missed their old K-31's greatly. They're still used for competition shooting over there.
Don't forget too that you can resize .284 Winchester brass (one pass through the 7.5 dies then trim), then seat your standard .308 bullet and you've got 7.5 SR loaded up.
BTW, Cosmoline is exactly right, they are are incredible shooters. I have one scoped with a 9x scope, some slight tweaking done (not bedded), and I recently put 10 rounds onto a 4" gong at 300 yards with it (with about 10 witnesses who said I'd be lucky to get 3 on it).
People who dismiss them have no clue about them - what do the swiss make that isn't top notch??
BTW, Cosmoline is exactly right, they are are incredible shooters. I have one scoped with a 9x scope, some slight tweaking done (not bedded), and I recently put 10 rounds onto a 4" gong at 300 yards with it (with about 10 witnesses who said I'd be lucky to get 3 on it).
People who dismiss them have no clue about them - what do the swiss make that isn't top notch??
They are terrific rifles. You need to buy one or two. I have two. You are jumping into this at just the right time because that brass from Graff's is supposed to be coming out any day now. Get it while you can. If you miss this opportunity, you are in trouble.
Dave P
Member
Another vote to resize .284 Winchester brass. Easy to do, and it works fine - and saves $$.
DMK
Member
El Rojo
Member
I concur, but a few if you can. They are great guns. I have shot mine in quite a few of the THR Postal/Virtual matches. A very accurate gun.
0007
Member
You might want to check out www.swissrifles.com. There's also a guy named "K-31" on www.assaultweb.net who is considered the resident Swiss rifle expert over there. He posts on the Moison(sp) and Mausers thread. I have two.
SelfProclaimedExpert
member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2003
- Messages
- 323
DMK,
No joy on that link. Got another?
No joy on that link. Got another?
SelfProclaimedExpert
member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2003
- Messages
- 323
Also, who's got nice K-31s for a lowish price right now?
Cosmoline, thanks for the info. How is it that the K-31 is so fast of an action to cycle, as you say? What I mean is, when I handled one and cycled the action keeping my head in firing position, the result was a very painful bruising/cutting of my right check (visible for over a week), from that big ring. Thus, I concluded that the only way to shoot them was to lower rifle from shooting position between each shot, in order to work the action sans the sharp pain. This would be much slower than other actions, such as a Mauser. If you cut the ring off, then it would make sense. 
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Cosmoline
Member
Futu--I think you're holding your head way too close to the action. That's something I've noticed a lot of folks do who are used to shooting scoped rifles. The K-31's are designed to be shot with the head well back, rather than up near the action. At least that's my impression.
Duncan Idaho
member
I love mine.
Hmmmm..kay
Well, since there's only ONE area (approximately) on the stock where the optimal cheek weld can found, holding my head back from where I would put it on every single other one of my rifles is WHOLLY unacceptable, and is a flat-out design flaw in the rifle, period. Sure, one could learn how to hold one's head too far back from what is normal/comfortable/conducive to quick accurate shooting, but why would you?
So, the question becomes, what harm is there, if any, in removing all or part of the ring? What in the heck does was the ring designed to do? Obviously, it's for putting a finger or thumb into, but is this in order to "de-cock", or what?
Well, since there's only ONE area (approximately) on the stock where the optimal cheek weld can found, holding my head back from where I would put it on every single other one of my rifles is WHOLLY unacceptable, and is a flat-out design flaw in the rifle, period. Sure, one could learn how to hold one's head too far back from what is normal/comfortable/conducive to quick accurate shooting, but why would you?
So, the question becomes, what harm is there, if any, in removing all or part of the ring? What in the heck does was the ring designed to do? Obviously, it's for putting a finger or thumb into, but is this in order to "de-cock", or what?
Thank you 444. I see uses 2 and 3, but exactly HOW is it a safety? You mean it is THE safety? If so, does it turn to engage then? And, can it be replaced by a smaller ring or otherwise shorter, graspable part, whether ring or otherwise - anyone make such a thing that you're aware of? Probably only needs 1-1.5" shortened off of it.
Biff
Member
Schmidt -Rubin sighting!
Cosmoline-
Was that you shooting the Schmidt Rubin on range C at Birchwood Saturday afternoon?
Cosmoline-
Was that you shooting the Schmidt Rubin on range C at Birchwood Saturday afternoon?
I find no such problem with the K-31, and can with the cheek weld I use cycle the bolt without relenquishing my position on the rifle, just as I can with a SMLE.
Perhaps the problem is the designers used their military technique as a guide, while you prefer a more modern, "face on the action" style of shooting. I was always more comfortable with the English Musketry style, in which is the weld achieved with head to the mid-rear of the stock. You're comfortable shooting one way, and might find the K31 impracticle for that method, but realize it isn't a design flaw.
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