Swiss K-31 range report and a few pics too

[hobocircus]

I took my Swiss K31 rifle for a test run last week. This is free desert shooting without a benchrest so not really the most ideal conditions. Slight breeze from the west, but nothing too severe. At nearly 60 cents a shot, I didn't shoot a whole lot, infact I only brought a box of 10 so I wouldn't burn off too much. I am sure if I had, I would have fired more, but time was also a factor. I paced off about 45 yards and fired from the desert floor, shooting off a improvised padded rest. Magazine loaded easily enough from the top and loading was a single cartridge at a time (I don't have any stripper clips, yet). Trigger has a loooong creep untill you get to the sear engagement, but when you do the next movement is ignition. Trigger pull is very nice and crisp. This has got to be one of the best triggers I've experienced on a military surplus rifle. I can't really say it's better than my 1967 dated Finnish Mosin Nagant M39, but it's in my top 5 for sure. Feeding and extraction is smooth and positive and if you don't pull back on the bolt in a sharp, deliberate manner the spent case will eject left instead of right Shooting from the prone position, felt recoil is sharp, but not over powering. To me it felt like shooting a .308 in comparision. First string of 5 grouped a little low and right, but the group was fairly tight for my first shots ever. The second string of 5, I raised the rear sight up a single click and trying my best to be precise, I managed a slightly better group compared to the first. The shot landing in the 8 ring, I will blame on some insects in the area and I think the bullet was deflected off of a butterfly After some more practice, the rifle has some good potential with just plain open sights. Overall I rate my K31, 8 stars our to 10.

My shooting platform (not too good). Rolled up shirt isn't a good rifle rest and shooting prone on rocks isn't too stable either, but the targets still shows the potential of the Swiss K31 rifle.


........................................first string of 5 shots............................................. ...............second with elevation adjustment only.

A great deal for under $100 Too bad ammo is so expensive, because it is a fun rifle to shoot.

[Brickboy240]

Imagine what it will do with handloads from a nice stable bench?

These rifles are way underrated.

- Brickboy240

[txpete]

hobocircus sweet rifle!.if you get around to handloading pm me.I did some load work with my K-31.the surplus pulled 173 gr match g.i. bullet shot the best.it is said they copied the swiss bullet .
pete

[hobocircus]

Originally Posted by txpete

hobocircus sweet rifle!.if you get around to handloading pm me.I did some load work with my K-31.the surplus pulled 173 gr match g.i. bullet shot the best.it is said they copied the swiss bullet .
pete

Thanks for the offer Pete! I never thought about handloading for the K31, but I can see it's potential. I may order some dies from Midway and will PM you for some load info.

Yes sir, Brickboy! these rifles are the buy of the century. If I had to do a honest appraisal of the K31, I would price it in the mid $400+ range easy. Luckily I got mine for $89 Hording some away would be a good idea.

[beardman2]

I just got back with a K31 and a couple other toys. I'd love the load data. I'm hoping to get some dies etc for christmas and start loading for the K31 and swede come the new year.

[hobocircus]

Originally Posted by beardman2

I just got back with a K31 and a couple other toys. I'd love the load data. I'm hoping to get some dies etc for christmas and start loading for the K31 and swede come the new year.

pics pics pics! what other toys? pics pics pics!

[beardman2]

K31
Turkish mauser
mosin 91/30 dated 1937 I wasn't thinking this one would be so high on my list but its the one I'm most excited about shooting after a little while playing around last night.

Cleaning them up tonight and taking them hopefully to the range tomorrow.

[beardman2]

all I can say is wow. What a blast to shoot... hurt yes but fun too.

So the K31 I'd say I shot about a 1.5" group with 30 rounds at 15 yards. I don't know how the math works out at longer distances but I was really happy.

And only 15 yards because I could see where I shot at that range!

the 91/30 did just about is well about 2" but my shoulder was tired after the K31.

Almost did something really dumb though! no idea what led to having a unfired round in the chamber and trying to chamber a fresh round but thank god I saw the round chambered and was finally able to get the bolt to grab and extract it and then everything was fin after that.

[hobocircus]

Originally Posted by beardman2

Almost did something really dumb though! no idea what led to having a unfired round in the chamber and trying to chamber a fresh round but thank god I saw the round chambered and was finally able to get the bolt to grab and extract it and then everything was fin after that.

I am not sure why you are having a problem with loading your rifles, but:

The K-31 has a 5 shot magazine. Since the Swiss 7.5x55 cartridge is rimless just push 5 cartridges in one by one from the top and load the magazine.

The Mosin Nagant 91/30 is a little different. In theory the 7.62x54r ("r" stands for rimmed) cartridge can also be loaded the same way, with no worry about the rims grinding into each other. The Mosin Nagant has a magazine interupter built in so that each cartridge will ease itself into the chamber one at a time. I have found that this doesn't always work with every rifle. What I do is load a cartridge into the mag from the top and then the next round is loaded a bit forward of the one you first loaded until the magazine is filled to capacity (again 5 rounds). What I am doing to loading the magazine with the rims staggered one in front of the other. This way if your interupter isn't quite working the way it should, you can still have smooth loading from the magazine.

From what I can guess is that you are having a loading problem with the 91/30 so you were loading one at a time without using the magazine and forgot you placed one into the chamber and almost double fed.

Not sure if this what happened, but just what I can "guest-i-mate"

here is some good information on your rifles

http://www.surplusrifle.com/russianm...operations.asp

http://www.surplusrifle.com/swissk31/operations.asp

Good luck, have fun, be safe.

[beardman2]

yeah sorry didn't really add enough info. It was the 91/30. Nope I took a little while to figure out the magazine on the 91/30. Luckily I decided I was in no hurry and took my time to figure it out. The second to last round is the one that was unfired and chambered and I was trying to chamber the last round in the magazine. Like I said I sat there a few minutes and went "how in the..." Still no idea. The bolt is semi tight yet. It could use some more cleaning I think. Thank god that chambered round didn't go with me trying to chamber that second round.

The K31 was a dream start to finish. It isn't as good a condition of the 91/30 but it was a dream to shoot and clean. Putting the bolt back together was a little creepy if you've never done it though!