K31 General Inquiries

ObviousNovice

ObviousNovice

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So I am looking to add another milsurp to the collection to keep my Mosin's and SKS's some company. I decided to be on the prowl for A Swiss K31. Aside from being a bit difficult to find it seems (yes I do have a WTB add in the exchange forum) what sort of $ amount would I expect them to be? Last prices from dealers that I could see was about the $350-450 mark depending. Having said that anyone know of where to buy them? Private sale or otherwise it doesn't matter to me.

I was also wondering about ammunition choices and what they digest well, bullet weights or specific brands would be helpful. Any reoccurring or major issues with them?

Thanks everyone.
 
I would price a K31 in the 350-500$ area (unless something special like target sights or matching bayonet etc.). OP EE is likely your best bet, otherwise gun shows or wandering gun stores hoping one is there.
 
I think calgary shooting center had one with the target diopter for close to 1500, i think the 350 dollar pŕice tag is long gone


Beautiful rifles, and they shoot so good. They were such a bargain at last years prices.
 
K31's are great rifles, well made, easy to operate, excellent accuracy. I have only used Swiss GP11 ammo which is fantastic stuff and relatively cheap in today's world. Try to find one with the piece of paper under the butt plate giving the name of the Swiss soldier it was issued to, interesting history.
 
ObviousNovice said:
So I am looking to add another milsurp to the collection to keep my Mosin's and SKS's some company. I decided to be on the prowl for A Swiss K31. Aside from being a bit difficult to find it seems (yes I do have a WTB add in the exchange forum) what sort of $ amount would I expect them to be? Last prices from dealers that I could see was about the $350-450 mark depending. Having said that anyone know of where to buy them? Private sale or otherwise it doesn't matter to me.

I was also wondering about ammunition choices and what they digest well, bullet weights or specific brands would be helpful. Any reoccurring or major issues with them?

Thanks everyone.
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As you probably already know, the K31 is one of the finest and most accurate surplus military service rifles available. They were well cared for during their lifetime. Recoil is perhaps a bit more stout than a .308 Winchester. 7.5x55mm cartridge will most likely only be available as GP11, which is basically match quality or made by Prvi Partizan which is boxer primed and available at your LGS (local gun shop) or online. I have successfully realoaded reclaimed Berdan GP11 brass, as well as reloaded the Prvi Partizan as it is boxer primed. If you reload for other calibers and own a 30 calibre rifle, you're in luck, the bullet you would use to reload the 7.5x55mm is actually the same... or .308 diameter bullets. GP11 is an 174gr spitzer projectile. I use a 168gr BTHP Match Hornady 30 cal projectile with Varget powder.

As others have mentioned, you missed the boat with the K31's for 350$. I picked mine up 4 years ago for 275$, best money I ever spent. Your best bet now is the EE for milsurp rifles or other vendors online who sell milsurps.

Good luck!
 
samsplacci71 said:
As you probably already know, the K31 is one of the finest and most accurate surplus military service rifles available. They were well cared for during their lifetime. Recoil is perhaps a bit more stout than a .308 Winchester. 7.5x55mm cartridge will most likely only be available as GP11, which is basically match quality or made by Prvi Partizan which is boxer primed and available at your LGS (local gun shop) or online. I have successfully realoaded reclaimed Berdan GP11 brass, as well as reloaded the Prvi Partizan as it is boxer primed. If you reload for other calibers and own a 30 calibre rifle, you're in luck, the bullet you would use to reload the 7.5x55mm is actually the same... or .308 diameter bullets. GP11 is an 174gr spitzer projectile. I use a 168gr BTHP Match Hornady 30 cal projectile with Varget powder.

As others have mentioned, you missed the boat with the K31's for 350$. I picked mine up 4 years ago for 275$, best money I ever spent. Your best bet now is the EE for milsurp rifles or other vendors online who sell milsurps.

Good luck!
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Thanks for the great info Everyone. Yes I seem to have missed the boat completely (just my luck) Always am late on the bandwagon. I've checked almost every store I can think of and a few I haven't heard of, like Baur Arms just out Side of Ottawa. Gerry was great to help out and the folks at Marstar were great too, even doing some searching around for me on other websites. As it seems most of the imports out of Europe are done as far as milsurps are concerned. Russia still has some but that is about the only exception. Gerry did mention that Yeppers in various calibers are coming in though.

I did see a Schmidt Rubin carbine in a 30-30 that looked like fun but I'd rather the K-31.

Still open to suggestions though!
 
ObviousNovice said:
Thanks for the great info Everyone. Yes I seem to have missed the boat completely (just my luck) Always am late on the bandwagon. I've checked almost every store I can think of and a few I haven't heard of, like Baur Arms just out Side of Ottawa. Gerry was great to help out and the folks at Marstar were great too, even doing some searching around for me on other websites. As it seems most of the imports out of Europe are done as far as milsurps are concerned. Russia still has some but that is about the only exception. Gerry did mention that Yeppers in various calibers are coming in though.

I did see a Schmidt Rubin carbine in a 30-30 that looked like fun but I'd rather the K-31.

Still open to suggestions though!
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You can always look online south of the border and ask / pay forum sponsor I Run Guns to import one for you from the US.
 
I bought mine when the buying was good. Think I paid around 300 bucks. Mine came from Joe Salter when nobody else had them. In all honesty I haven't shot it much. Only reloads through mine. Couldn't get brass at that time and I think I fire formed 284 win to get something to work. Dies were from Lee and worked fine. My rifle has a very short throat and even 150's had to be seated deeply. Put a few cast through it as well. For what ever reason I can shoot a M38 and my 03A3 more accurately then my K31. Maybe one of the reasons it hasn't been to the range in years.
 
Chas59 said:
K31's are great rifles, well made, easy to operate, excellent accuracy. I have only used Swiss GP11 ammo which is fantastic stuff and relatively cheap in today's world. Try to find one with the piece of paper under the butt plate giving the name of the Swiss soldier it was issued to, interesting history.
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From the address on the slip under the butt plate, and using Google Street View, I was able to find/view the exact apartment house of the Swiss soldier that my K31 was issued to. Kind of interesting!

Love my K31. From a rest, but not in a sled, shoots 3" groups at 200 yrds with GP11.
 
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Casitanha said:
From the address on the slip under the butt plate, and using Google Street View, I was able to find/view the exact apartment house of the Swiss soldier that my K31 was issued to. Kind of interesting!
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Wow now that is cool! There is story's of people actually acquiring these rifles and giving them back to their Swiss Military users after finding a peice of paper with the name or address on it. Really cool stuff!
 
K31 is a great shooting rifle without any add-ons. For now, GP11 ammunition is quite available, but I've never really found any commercial loads with reloadable brass.
 
Old Ranger said:
I bought mine when the buying was good. Think I paid around 300 bucks. Mine came from Joe Salter when nobody else had them. In all honesty I haven't shot it much. Only reloads through mine. Couldn't get brass at that time and I think I fire formed 284 win to get something to work. Dies were from Lee and worked fine. My rifle has a very short throat and even 150's had to be seated deeply. Put a few cast through it as well. For what ever reason I can shoot a M38 and my 03A3 more accurately then my K31. Maybe one of the reasons it hasn't been to the range in years.
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As far as shooting your M38 and 03A3 better, I find the sights on the K31 very fine and certainly not my favorite on a milsurp.
 
fiddler said:
K31 is a great shooting rifle without any add-ons. For now, GP11 ammunition is quite available, but I've never really found any commercial loads with reloadable brass.
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Norma 7.5x55mm ammo is top notch, especially for hunting use and was in stock at Trade-Ex last time I bought some. Prvi is also regularly available in both FMJ and SP hunting ammo, is also reloadable like the Norma ammo and also available from Trade-Ex.
 
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