I've been on the fence about these K31 rifles. Something about the straight pull action really intrigues me. Does anyone here own one and shoot it regularly? What do you think of them? I figure for 3 bills or less it has to be a fun plinker at least. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I own one, but have never shot it. My buddy, who collects and rebuilds military rifles gave me one. It's beautiful. The workmanship is top notch. My buddy tells me that they are extremely accurate. Someday I need to take it to the range and see what it can do.

Sorry, I didn't really answer your question.

How's ammo availability for 7.5mm Swiss here? How fresh is it?

T-Star

Like Out West, I also own one...but have never shot it. I've had it for about ten years. Also, workmanship is top drawer, built like a Swiss watch.

I also shoot some military bolt action bench rest matches. Some of the other guys have brought their's and used them. The performance has always been top drawer. It is not only "competitive", but it is superior.

The performance against 03A3s, K98, etc. is superior. The only rub is the availability of the ammo and it's cost.

I actually have one, unopened box of ammo, but just have never used it.

I really think it is a top performer.

__________________
G.P. Charlie

I've had three over the past 15 years. All shot an inch or less from the bench with handloads. With milsurp (it's all noncorrosive), two inch groups were the norm.

Never saw one that didn't shoot good.

The last imports had some damage, minor though, on the lower stock just above the buttplate from moisture. I wouldn't let that stop me from buying one.

Bob

I have a couple. Very accurate, extremely well made and the straight pull bolt is fast and smooth. Cool factor is pretty high too…..

Surplus GP11 ammo is not as available as it used to be, but AIM surplus and Midway has it every now and then. Modern ammo is available, just not as cheap.

If you can find a nice, numbers matching example with a decent stock, I’d say go for it. You have to be careful though...after the K31 you're going to want a 1911 rifle and K11 carbine!

__________________
Smells like victory...

I have one, too. Scary accurate even with GP11 ammo and certainly better than the Enfields and Mausers I have shot. Prvi ammo is readily available on the web. Very easy to mount a no-drill scope mount.

just sold one with brass dies and ammo. they are very accurate. i used my own loads with a starting load of imr4350 and winchester military 147 gr bullets and it still would shoot into 2.5in all day from 100yds. been selling rifles lately as i can't shoot them if they have any recoil. believe mine was made in 1936. try simpson ltd. and see if he has any of the first bunch he brought into the country. they were generally in better condition than the later imports.

If you find anymore rifles you can't stand give me a shout I'm a moron about recoil. Between my 3.5" shotguns and .375 I am still looking for my top limit. I think the cool factor of these guns is what I am most interested in. But the fact they're swiss made has a lot of promise in it already. The sig's I've shot over the years were amazing performers so I can't help but think that these rifles would largely be the same way.

I like mine and like others who have posted has been remarkably accurate for a military rifle.

The K31's are great rifles! I have one that I mounted a Leupold 2-7X scope on with an off set mount and it is very accurate. Accuracy is near minute of angle with Swiss GI ball ammo. At first I thought the off set mount would be very awkward to use, but it works very well and doesn't present any problems. When you extract a fired case the bolt almost slides open automatically! Just give the bolt handle a little pull and the case is in the air. It is really a very slick feeling action quite unlike any bolt action I've ever used.

Commercial and military ammo is available through Graf & Son, Midway and several other suppliers. You can get most of your questions answered here:

The Swiss Rifles Message Board - Message Board

I had one up until about three years ago. I let a buddy borrow it for the last day of deer season on my farm, classic weapons hunt. He dropped a nice six point buck at about 200 yards. He made me an offer I could not turn down, $300 for a rifle I had all of $75 in. Wish I still had it as it was scarry accurate and something "Different". As far as accuracy goes the one and only that I have owned was good for 1.5" with mil surp/factory and with a good handload it would make a nice cloverleaf.

Class III

When the flood started on these for about $100.00, I bought one, and liked it so much I bought two more. The Swiss ammo is excellent quality. Highly recommended.

Well, it's still pretty cheap comparitively. And I feel the cool factor alone justifies owning one. And surplus ammo is still pretty cheap and easy to come by. And from what I've read its similar enough to .308 winchester I could make some pretty decent hunting rounds without too much extra work on my part.

They are great rifles. Of my two, one needed crown freshened with brass machine screw and valve grinding paste. After the recrown, the older walnut-stocked is slightly more accurate than later beech/birch-stocked. Both accurate with surplus Swiss ammo. Not sure if more accurate than Swedish Mauser or a decent '03-A3, or a ditto Finnish Mosin M39.

The K31s also respond to some careful accurizing. See, e.g.: Accurizing Your Swiss Rifle by  Pierre St

You will like one to try out. Matching ## is good. Let us know if you leap!

Regards,

Dyson

I bought two, a walnut stock and a beech stock when they were a whopping $89 each. Both are very accurate and especially with handloads. GP11 is very pricey so handloading is the best alternative. Shoots on a par with my Swedish Mauser and '03. With handloads and scout scope can get MOA. The issue triggers are beautiful.

A little heavy for long hikes deer hunting but the removeble magazine makes unloading and loading easy.

I purchased one a few years ago from a private sale. The rifle is in pristine condition and is Russian made with all matching numbers. I disassembled it completely and found little wear. I don't intend to shoot it since all of my military rifles are for collection only. Buy one, you would not be disappointed.
Nick

"The rifle is in pristine condition and is Russian made with all matching numbers."

I believe we are talking about two different rifles. The K31 is a Swiss straightpull, chambered in 7.5 Swiss. I think you have a Moisin-Nagant 7.62x54R.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

If you take a look at the results for the last couple of Camp Perry Vintage Military Rifle Match results you will usually see one or more K31's in the line up within the top 10. Between the K31's and the Swedish Mausers it is hard to get a 1917 into the top ten.

bob

I have one, bought it to go with my pioneer bayonet that my grandfather brought back from german during WWII. Mine shoots great to 300. I purchased dies and reload after buying two boxes.

__________________
with wings as eagles

To my knowledge the only ones who made the K31 were the Swiss. Please post a picture of your Russian K31. Thanks.

The other day I saw a beautiful K31 with a pristine yellow blond original finish stock with no "beaver chewing marks" on the butt at the Cabelas in Hamburg, PA. Of course with their reputation of great prices it had a tag of $399! Yow! But one of the finest examples I have ever seen.