1st Range Session with K31.....Good Potential.

SHELL SHUCKER

SHELL SHUCKER

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Now that the rain has eased up, I went out to the range to test my recently aquired Swiss
K31. I used up 20 rnds. of Privi 174 gr. FMJ to see how she functioned. 1st. shot on 4" gong
at 80 yds. resulted in a nice slap. I took the second shot on a 4" one at 130 yds. using a 12-0-clock
hold and got the same result. I made no adjustments to the sights & the rear was set at 100.

I then put up a 6" paper plate at 80 yds and took 3 timed shots on it using a 6-o-clock hold.
I put 5 more shots on the plate, then moved on to a 12" gong at 200yds to finish off the box
of ammo.

The rifle was given a 2 minute cool down between all shots fired & the bore was given a couple
of patches treated with Jet Lube 12/34 every 5 shots, followed with a dry patch. All shots were
taken from the bench with the rifle supported both fore & aft using my Case Gard plasti-rest.

This is not my usual way to shoot a milsurp. My prefered way is to rest the fore end in my
hand which is supported by a fore rest. The butt of the rifle is against my shoulder, without
a support bag. The rifle feels great to hold and the trigger is a delightfully light 2 stage with,
smooth take-up and a crisp, 2.5 lb. let-off.

The target shows a spread that would make varmint hunters cringe, but for an old fook, with a floater
in me shootin' eye, I'd say this rifle is capable of going into 1.5 moa at 100 yds. with the right loads
and a finer front sight blade, which I'll soon fix. Next time out will see a big improvement. No worries
at this point though, as this is still minute of deer heart shooting out to 100+ yds.
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I was just out to waste the ammo to get the brass anyhow so I can work up a nice cast boolit load
for the beasty. Privi has good brass, but the powder they use in these 7.5 Swiss loads is pretty
dirty stuff. No biggie, my loads will run far cleaner and accurately from this rifle.:)
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Looks like you're having some good success with that rifle bud. They really are great rifles and I myself am in the midst of working up some loads for my great grandfathers K31 as well as an other. Thanks for the range report and good luck with the load development.
 
Thank ye. SR4759 & Accurate 5744 are perfect powders for cast boolit loads in a vast pile
of cartridges,especially when topped with a pinch of lightly tamped kapok filler to keep
the powder in place.:)
 
Thus far got an assortment of reloads using Varget. Had a little problem with chambering rounds last weekend at the range. Seems the brass has fire formed to the specific rifles and even when FL resized won't chamber in the other rifle. Now have to go through all my brass and match it to the right rifle.
 
Try seating bullets a little deeper. OAL might be too long.

Usable O.A.L. chart for these .308 bullets In 7.5x55 Swiss K31 rifles

Bullet Model Grs. O.A.L" Bullet wt. O.A.L
GRAMS mm
1 ? MIL. PULLED FMJBT 143 = 2.985 9.27 75.82
2 WINCHESTER FMJBT 146 = 2.985 9.46 75.82
3 LC(pulled, resized) FMJBT 147 = 2.855 9.53 72.52
4 HORNADY FMJBT 150 = 2.850 9.72 72.39
5 HORNADY FMJBT 150 = 2.850 9.72 72.39
6 HORNADY BTFP 150 = 2.825 9.72 71.76
7 REMINGTON PSP-CL-CW 150 = 2.985 9.72 75.82
8 SPEER BTSP 150 = 2.985 9.72 75.82
9 SIERRA SPITZER 150 = 2.915 9.72 74.04
10 SIERRA PALMA 155 = 2.985 10.04 75.82
11 (MIDWAY ?) SPITZER 165 = 2.985 10.69 75.82
12 HORNADY INTERLOCK 165 = 2.985 10.69 75.82
13 HORNADY SPBT 165 = 2.850 10.69 72.39
14 NOSLER BALISTIC TIP 165 = 2.925 10.69 74.30
15 PRVI PARTIZAN SPBT 165 = 2.820 10.69 71.63
16 SIERRA HP/BT 165 = 2.890 10.69 73.41
17 BERGER VLD 168 = 3.060 10.89 77.72
18 BERGER VLD MATCH 168 = 3.001 10.89 76.23
19 HORNADY BTHP MATCH 168 = 2.888 10.89 73.36
20 NOSLER BALISTIC TIP 168 = 2.995 10.89 76.07
21 NOSLER Custom Comp. HPBT 168 = 2.875 10.89 73.03
22 NOSLER Custom Comp. HPBT 168 = 2.885 10.89 73.28
23 PRVI PARTIZAN HPBT 168 = 3.050 10.89 77.47
24 PRVI PARTIZAN HPBT MATCH 168 = 3.000 10.89 76.20
25 SIERRA MATCH KING 168 = 2.890 10.89 73.41
26 SIERRA MATCH KING 168 = 2.880 10.89 73.15
27 SPEER Gold Match HPBT 168 = 2.880 10.89 73.15
28 SPEER Gold Match HPBT 168 = 2.890 10.89 73.41
29 GP11 FMJBT 70A 173 = 3.048 11.21 77.41
30 GP11 FMJBT 78T 173 = 3.046 11.21 77.36
31 GP11 FMJBT 84T 173 = 3.042 11.21 77.27
32 BERGER VLD 175 = 3.060 11.34 77.72
33 SIERRA MATCH 175 = 2.920 11.34 74.17
34 SIERRA MATCH KING 175 = 2.890 11.34 73.41
35 HORNADY AMAX 178 = 2.905 11.53 73.79
36 HORNADY AMAX 178 = 2.912 11.53 73.96
37 HORNADY AMAX 178 = 2.920 11.53 74.17
 
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Question here -------did you reload the ammunition yourself? A couple of things come to mind that newer reloaders are not aware of.

First is CASE LENGTH. When a cartridge is fired, it tends to flow the brass forward in the neck area. This can eventually lengthen the case, and cases should be checked for length every five firings and trimmed if necessary.

Second is SEATING THE BULLET. In most two die sets, the seating die will also CRIMP the neck onto the bullet if the die is set too low. If the crimping action is at a point that it takes place at a solid section of the jacket, it is possible to ram the bullet backwards and slightly buckle the shoulder of the case.

Third----pay attention to DIOPTER. He is the "go to" guy for the Swiss Rifles. Also, Reloader 17 is a great powder for reloading the 7.5x55 Cartridge. A hint to this is that if you look at the container as to where it was made, it is the only Reloader Powder made in Switzerland by the same people who made the powder for Swiss Service loads.
 
buffdog said:
.

Question here -------did you reload the ammunition yourself? A couple of things come to mind that newer reloaders are not aware of.

First is CASE LENGTH. When a cartridge is fired, it tends to flow the brass forward in the neck area. This can eventually lengthen the case, and cases should be checked for length every five firings and trimmed if necessary.

Second is SEATING THE BULLET. In most two die sets, the seating die will also CRIMP the neck onto the bullet if the die is set too low. If the crimping action is at a point that it takes place at a solid section of the jacket, it is possible to ram the bullet backwards and slightly buckle the shoulder of the case.

Third----pay attention to DIOPTER. He is the "go to" guy for the Swiss Rifles. Also, Reloader 17 is a great powder for reloading the 7.5x55 Cartridge. A hint to this is that if you look at the container as to where it was made, it is the only Reloader Powder made in Switzerland by the same people who made the powder for Swiss Service loads.
Click to expand...

Very good points. As Buffdog says, Diopter is our go to guy. He know Swiss rifles.

I will add that I have 1x fired Prvi brass that I have successfully reloaded. As the ogive of the bullet is different for each projectile you will have to create a dummy round (sans primer nor powder), which has been properly sized. Set up your seating die. Grab your rifle and you will have to start seating long and dial it back if the ogive contacts the lands as you attempt to chamber the dummy round into battery. You can mark up the seated bullet in your dummy round with a sharpie, this will help. This is the method I have used and achieved MOA accuracy using WLR primer, R-17 and Hornady 168gr HPBT. Good luck
 
How many times have cases been fired, and have you annealed the cases yet?
Had one press where the press and mounting flex prevented proper(and consistent) resizing.

Advise FL resizing to smallest dimension needed for all your rifles.
I set it back to GP11 SR dimemsions so it fits everything.
 
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Shucker:
Try it again with GP11 and an $80 muzzel brake from Swiss Arms. Chances are you will soil yourself! Add a Swiss Arms mount, and even a cheap scope, and it borders on almost ridiculous. I own three K31s now, and all will out-shoot my $1400 scoped .308 Tikka varmiter (shooting store bought ammo).
Has anyone bothered to try getting a K31 re-crowned? I heard of a guy who picked up one from Tradex - had good bore and would shoot about 2.5" group off bench at 100yds (scoped) with GP11. Even though the barrel looked good, he took it to a smithy for a $100 re-crown job. Same gun will now shoot 1" at 100. Anyone else bothered with a re-crown?

Dave
 
I was shocked at just how accurate these rifles are, and I can't believe I didn't get one sooner. I brought mine out for the first time this past fall and tried it out while we sighted in hunting rifles. I fired two shots at 100 yards to make sure the front post was centered, and it was, so we backed out to the 200 yard mark and I put five rounds of PRVI downrange. Utter shock when we walked up to the target and found a 2.5" group just slightly high, by far my best showing ever with open military sights. These things are awesome and I can't wait to get a second one!
 
I've had to polish up a few crowns with minor dents and burrs. Yes, makes a difference.
I try to keep to original crown profile to keep the rifles legal for Swiss Shooting competions.
 
fenelon said:
Shucker:
Try it again with GP11 and an $80 muzzel brake from Swiss Arms. Chances are you will soil yourself! Add a Swiss Arms mount, and even a cheap scope, and it borders on almost ridiculous. I own three K31s now, and all will out-shoot my $1400 scoped .308 Tikka varmiter (shooting store bought ammo).
Has anyone bothered to try getting a K31 re-crowned? I heard of a guy who picked up one from Tradex - had good bore and would shoot about 2.5" group off bench at 100yds (scoped) with GP11. Even though the barrel looked good, he took it to a smithy for a $100 re-crown job. Same gun will now shoot 1" at 100. Anyone else bothered with a re-crown?

Dave
Click to expand...

I'm well aware of GP11 performance from a good condition rifle, however...I love to taylor cast boolit loads for each one of my rifles & slug guns. Each one of them are set up and tuned for the ranges I normally shoot at. I also don't mind tossing some reduced velocity loads with jacketed like Sierra or Lapua projectiles as well.

Hell, I'm gonna load a batch of loads using Hornady 110 gr.FMJ RN bullets driven at 2200 fps. which is 200 fps. above speed of the M1 Carbine load. In the 1 in 10.5" twist of the K31, it should be a gopher thonker out to 200+ yds., and it will feel like shooting a big .22 as far as recoil goes. It's very economical to shoot lighter than standard loaded ammo and is more rewarding to me to dial in a particular handload.(As well as my gun's barrel life) ;)

The crown on my rifle is fine for now, but I may touch it up in future if my rifle needs it. A wee bit more of set-up and ammo testing will reveal more potential of my K31. So far, I love the bastard!:)

A no-smithing scope mount might be an option in the future.(Especially when the eyes get older.):eek:
 
Mine shoots like a laser, but the POI is a bit to the left. I remember seeing somewhere a sight tool specifically made for the K 31...I will post pics later, very impressive shooter!
 
diopter said:
How many times have cases been fired, and have you annealed the cases yet?
Had one press where the press and mounting flex prevented proper(and consistent) resizing.

Advise FL resizing to smallest dimension needed for all your rifles.
I set it back to GP11 SR dimemsions so it fits everything.
Click to expand...

It's once fired Prvi brass. FL resized with an RCBS die.
 
kennymo said:
I was shocked at just how accurate these rifles are, and I can't believe I didn't get one sooner. I brought mine out for the first time this past fall and tried it out while we sighted in hunting rifles. I fired two shots at 100 yards to make sure the front post was centered, and it was, so we backed out to the 200 yard mark and I put five rounds of PRVI downrange. Utter shock when we walked up to the target and found a 2.5" group just slightly high, by far my best showing ever with open military sights. These things are awesome and I can't wait to get a second one!
Click to expand...

Why's that? What's wrong with the first one?

tac
K00/11
K31
K31-actioned 300m target rifle
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
A no-smithing scope mount might be an option in the future.(Especially when the eyes get older.):eek:
Click to expand...

THE definitive easy-fit clamp-on scope mount is the Swiss Products model in alloy. The hard anodised finish is actually tougher than steel, and half the weight. It incorporates a recoil stop, too. Use Warne or Leupold rings to suit, but remember that they need to be 11mm/ 3/8th size as used for air rifles. Tradex usually has them in stock.

Handy hint to all of you who have not yet made the leap of faith - join www.swissrifles.com, like the rest of us Swiss shooters.

tac
 
Thanks for the pics Diopter...do you know where to get the basic sight tool? and the cost? I am looking to use my K31 for deer hunting this year.
 
 
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