K31 Ammunition Question

Desert_Fox

Desert_Fox

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*Cross Posted in the Reloading Forum*

Good day!

Looking for any info in regards to a K31 deer hunting load.

I would like to use my surplus 1992 manufactured GP11 ammunition as a basis for creating some. I have pulled the FMJ's, and now I would like to know if anyone has any data on using either 150 or 180 grn. .308cal Nosler partitions with the original surplus powder charge? Or if you would recommend dumping it and replacing with another powder (I have a stockpile of IMR4350, IMR4064, IM3031, IMR4831 that I'd like to use)? Also, of course, what should my C.O.A.L be using the 150/180 Noslers in the K31?

The mentioned projectiles and powder are what I have on hand, but if any of these combos are not suitable, I am all ears.

Will be using a 1943 K31 + Swiss Products Mount + Leupold 1-4x scope w/ Leupold Steel Rings.

Thanks! :cheers:
 
I'd keep it simple, if you going to use 180 grained bullets then seat them as high as you can just so you can close the action on your rifle. This will keep the pressures close to GP11 level. If 150s then I'd seat them in as deep as the FMJ slug, because its lighter projectile and the pressure will be less than with FMJ. I'd use the same powder, no reason to adjust accurate charge of GP11 and mess with different powders. Anyway its trial and error so good luck.
 
I have pulled the GP11 bullets and replaced them 178gr Amax with the same powder charge. Just be carefully not to spill any.
Should be 50grs of original powder. Powder is milspec version of what sells commercially over here as Alliant RL-17.
2.905"
 
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Isn't 180 gr a little heavy to use on deer? I've never used a K31 for hunting (have a Savage 110 in .308 for that) but I've never used bigger than 150gr on deer (and I think that's heavy). The 180 would be fine for elk and maybe moose, but IMO it's way too much for deer.

That said, I hope the OP gets his K31 working for deer this season!!
 
Thanks for tips gentlemen!

Looks like I might work on a few different loads. Might pick up some of those A-Max bullets as well.

The reason I was going to use the 180s was because the GP11 is a 174gr FMJ, so I wanted to duplicate it the best I could in a soft point bullet. Plus. I have 150/180s on hand... I agree that 180s aren't really that necessary for deer. I usually load 150gr Barnes TSX bullets for my 30-06 Sako A7, and they seem to work just fine.

Heck, if it was legal in Alberta, I'd hunt deer with my .223, like we used to in BC...

If anyone else has any more input on hunting loads for the K31, it's still welcome!
 
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I worked up some loads using Prvi brass , rl17 and 165 gr hornady interlock. I have had great results with this bullet in A /06 on deer, so I may try these out this fall. They shoot great out of a couple of my k 31's.
 
The 180 would be my first choice. If you are a handloader, dump the powder from 10 rounds. weigh. divide by 10 and then re-throw that charge. Or just pull the bullet and replace, if you can do that without spilling any.

For COAL, seat the bullet to the same COAL as the factory round. This means it should cycle properly and fit the magazine. Chamber a few rounds and make sure the bullet is not engaging the rifling. If it is, seat deeper until it does not.

The 180 bullet is perfect for deer and larger critters. The cartridge is far more powerful than required for deer at 100 yards or less. A 150 gr bullet would tend to be very destructive, so a heavier bullet will do the job without blowing up a lot of meat. It also means you only have to make and zero one weight of bullet.
 
The GP11 bullet is very different profile compared to commercial hunting bullets. Following the C.O.A.L for GP11 will give you rounds that will not chamber properly in a K31 with commercial hunting bullets with the only exception that i\m aware of being the Berger VLD.
Should be fine in a 96/11, M1911 or K11, but too long for a K31 throat.

In short, check out the second link above in post #7 for the C.O.A.L. chart
 
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Well, Diopter is indeed still the K31 King! :)

His advice was right on the money.

I pulled the GP11 FMJ with my Press mounted .30cal Collet Bullet Puller, which kept the powder in the cases (BTW, they all weighed in at 50gr. of powder, just like Diopter said), and then I just had to seat the 178gr. A-Max bullets in (which I seated to the exact C.O.A.L that Diopter did as well, 2.905").

With the Swiss Products Aluminum Clamp on Mount, Burris 3/8" Dovetail Rings, Leupold VX2 1-4x20 Scope, and a 1943 dated Waffenfabrik Bern made K31, I was able to make nice ragged holes at 100 yards with the new "Hunting Loads" and the original GP11 FMJ!!

After sighting in with the new hybrid GP11/A-Max bullets, I was able to use the standard GP11 and still get the same basic POI on the targets! This is probably my new favorite Milsurp right now... I think another K31 might be on the horizon! ;)

PS: The biggest hurdle I found while trying to scope the K31 (besides figuring out the tight throat and correct bullet and seating depth to use, etc) was actually finding the correct scope rings to use for the Swiss Products clamp on mount! I bought 3 sets of mounts before finding the correct one that actually fit the mount the best and had the most surface area actually clamped onto the mount. I originally tried 11mm Leupold Steel rings (might work in a pinch, but are technically too narrow for the 3/8" dovetail) and then purchased the Leupold 3/8" Steel rings. These rings again, while being the "correct" size for the mount, barely had any surface area holding onto the mount itself, while they would probably work, I still wanted the best attachment point I could achieve. Next I tried the Weaver "Grand Slam" Steel rings for 3/8" mount, but they again, didn't have much mounting surface area, and were a little wider than I liked. In the end it was the Steel 3/8" Burris rings (NOT their "Rings for Grooved Receiver .22", which is most likely 11mm) that worked absolutely perfect on the mount and fit the bearing surface to a "T"!

Oh, and I should also mention that after mounting the scope on the K31, I went to boresight it... which is where I discovered that no adjustment was actually necessary as it was dead on with my Bushnell barrel mounted boresight kit. Only required 4 shots on target to get it exactly where I wanted it to shoot!

Hope someone finds this post useful. Take care and happy hunting!!! :cheers:
 
Regarding the rings, did you rest the front ring against the stop on the rail?



Like so:
P1010528.jpg
 
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^ yup, I found out the hard way about mounting the rings like diopter mentioned. I used Millet .22 rings with my Zeiss scope and no issues thus far after 600 rounds.

 
diopter said:
Regarding the rings, did you rest the front ring against the stop on the rail?
Click to expand...

Yes Sir!

I didn't at first, but then I figured that "stop" on the rail had to be there for a reason, so I read up on the Swiss Rifle Forum and found that The front scope ring should rest on that stop.

Sure would've been nice if the Swiss Products mount Package included some instructions...
 
I found that these $25 air rifle/.22 one piece rings and mount jobs from amazons work great on the K31 scope mount -

41dUSfsh3TL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

they even have adjustable ones -

scopes_mounts2.jpg


These .22 Dovetail to Picatinny-Weaver scope mounts are also good if you want to use your own weaver rings -

SPECIAL-DOVETAIL-TO-WEAVER-ADAPTER-RAIL-PRO.jpg
Hawke_AdaptorBase_HM17017.jpg
 
diopter said:
I have pulled the GP11 bullets and replaced them 178gr Amax with the same powder charge. Just be carefully not to spill any.
Should be 50grs of original powder. Powder is milspec version of what sells commercially over here as Alliant RL-17.
2.905"
Click to expand...

^^ This. I use Reloader 17 with great effect.
 
PS: The K31 that I was scoping up and reloading for was actually a Wedding present for my new Nephew in law (My Nieces Husband). He used it successfully to completely Tag out this Season!! All text book heart and lung shots! The Hornady A-Max bullets liquified the hearts and shredded the lungs on all his deer.

Thanks everyone for all the help in this thread, and a special thanks to Diopter for all his help!

Also, picked myself up another K31 last weekend too. Such a nice rifle! :)
 
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