Swiss long rifles

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Thanks. After posting the pics, I noticed that this one has a fine sight adjuster on the rear sight. I've been told that these adjusters are somewhat rare on the long rifles.
 
This rifle does shoot GP11 ammo. Prvi Partizan, Hornady and Norma also make reloadable ammo for it.

You can also reload the 7.5 x 55 with .308 bullets.
 
The 96/11s pretty much all have the additional piece (pistol grip) that was attached later. These started life as 89/96 rifles in a different chambering (GP90) and were modified.
I found that on www.swissrifles.com. There's a lot of good information regarding these rifles there.
There's also a pretty good book with a lot of information about these and other surplus rifles called Military Bolt Action Rifles of the World. Worth checking out.
 
Thanks, October.

I thought this stock was interesting because of the contrast between to wood used on the original straight stock and the wood used for the pistol grip. All of my other 96/11's are pretty closely matched in this regard.
 
Do you ever shoot these rifles? Problems finding modern ammo?

TR, my sons and I shoot these ALOT. We use them in various vintage military rifle matches shooting Swiss surplus ammo (GP11), commercial target ammo (Hornady), commercial SP ammo, (Prvi Partizan) and my own reloads. These shoot very well in the matches.

The Swiss rifles usually do quite well at the Vintage Military rifle matches at Perry,using the Swiss military ammo.
 
I finally got to take possession of my Swiss rifles (the 10-day "cooling-off" period ended) and I had a chance to give them all a good going over

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I noticed that this one had a "P 59" stamp under the serial number

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I believe that this means that the rifle was turned over to the individual by the Swiss government in 1959. That made me wonder what "mustering out" process was generally used when a rifle was turned over to the individual soldier as private property? Was the rifle given a good going over to ensure that it was in good shape? Was it simply stamped "P" and taken off the property records?
 
Looks to me like the top and bottom ones are 1911's and the one in the middle is an 1896/11 (converted). What is the "flag" on the butt of the bottom one? The one in the middle is a dandy looking rifle. I have a couple of the 1896/11's and K-11 carbine and they all shoot equal to any of the k-31's I own. I just finished reloading 50 GP-11 Berdan primed brass to fit the K-11 (reloads for the K-31 won't work in this rifle).
 
Mustang, that is really cool. K31's are great shooters and you will enjoy it. swissrifle.com is a great place for information. Nice win..Happy shooting!
 
Looks to me like the top and bottom ones are 1911's and the one in the middle is an 1896/11 (converted). What is the "flag" on the butt of the bottom one? The one in the middle is a dandy looking rifle. I have a couple of the 1896/11's and K-11 carbine and they all shoot equal to any of the k-31's I own. I just finished reloading 50 GP-11 Berdan primed brass to fit the K-11 (reloads for the K-31 won't work in this rifle).


The one on top is a standard 1911. The one in the center is a 96/11 and the one on the bottom is a private issue 1911. It was sold initially to an individual and has a special series serial number.

The Flag on the buttstock on the private issue is a silver inlayed banner that has the original owners name on it.

The middle one, the 96/11, attracted me because of the contrasting pistol grip. I have several 96/11's and all of them have a pistol grip which closely matches the base stock. Also, after I won it, I noticed that the pictures showed some kind of precision sight adjuster.

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Turns out that it is a Sahli elevation adjuster and fairly rare for the long rifles.

The private issue 1911 has an unusual stock profile and the silver banner.
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It also has a gunsmith stamp and private issue 5 digit serial number
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Mustang, that is really cool. K31's are great shooters and you will enjoy it. swissrifle.com is a great place for information. Nice win..Happy shooting!

Thanks Chasing crow. I actually glommed 4 Swiss rifles at the auction...these three 1911 series rifles and a walnut K31 that had an interesting competition sticker on it

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After it arrived, I got a better look at the competition sticker. It indicates that the rifle was in the finals of an area competition in Olten, Switzerland in 1986
 
Now that makes for a special rifle. I'm sure you will get many hours of enjoyment from that rifle alone! Here is a picture of mine taking out a one gallon jug of water at 150 yds. Feels Good!
 

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The K-31 is a great rifle, I am sorry I waited so long before buying mine. Look under the butt plate as many of the civilian owners put their name and address on a paper beneath it.
 
Got a chance to shoot this at the range last week. I was using the Hornady 7.5 Swiss match ammo, with this result

(4 shots @ 100 yards)
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Not sure this ammo is as good as GP11, but I think it is a shade better than the Prvi
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The contrasting pistol grip on that one is very cool!!! I bought my 1st Swiss rifle last Friday [1940 walnut k31] and still waiting for it to clear. I hear nothing but good things about them and can hardly wait to give it a test drive.
 
If you are taller than average be EXTREMLY careful when you cycle the action not to hit yourself in the face with the de-cocking ring. People have been known to breal the thin bone under their eye with these. Other than that it is an EXCELENT rifle. I have a 1911.
 
Very nice. BTW, it did not take much to better GP11 ammo accuracy with handloads. Actually, my first load did it. I think I used 4064 powder and pulled GI 150 gr bullets.......chris3
 
Thanks, guys

Moon, you won't be sorry with that K31..they are a great rifle.

Owen, I'll be careful around that ring.

Ball, I've had good luck with 44 grains of 4064 and the 168 grainers. I need to load some up...have a vintage military rifle silhouette match this weekend
 
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