Swiss K31/42 Rifle

mikerock

mikerock

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An example of the first Swiss attempt at manufacturing a scoped rifle. The loading and ejection of cartridges on the K31 rifle is done from directly above the action, which prevents a scope from being mounted along the centerline of the rifle. (This problem would later be solved with the ZfK-55 by canting the action 15 degrees to the right.) The Swiss attempted to solve this by mounting a 1.8x power scope offset to the left of the action. Elevation is adjusted by a unique "rear sight" style mechanism mounted on top of the scope, calibrated for 100m increments out to an optimistic 1000m. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this rifle was that the objective periscope lens was folded down when not in use.

The rifle was slightly modernised by installing a 2.8x scope, and a more realistic 700m sight calibration. It is known as the K31/43 and was almost identical to this model.

Roughly 2250 of both types of these rifles were made, with this particular example being manufactured in October of 1944.

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Full Gallery:
http://imgur.com/gallery/91UMx/new
 
Yes, but the scope reticle is impossible to take a photo of - at least with my setup. It looks something like this:

-W-

The glass is unfortunately somewhat cloudy, which I knew getting into the rifle, but it is still serviceable.
 
Hey, don't be dissin' shooting any Swiss rifle or carbine at 1000 yards - it's less than the 1000m that we often shoot at. Ask Diopter. The latest version of the S/P diopter sight set, made in Kallispel MT by Swiss Products, will actually take you the distance, as it was designed to.

Also, watch the gentlemen with the Spanish name on Youtube shooting HIS K31 at 1000 yards, and then at a mile.

tac
 
I'm not dissing anything except using a 1.8x offset scope with basically a 10mm objective lens to shoot reliably at 1000m. The swiss recognised that this was unrealistic as well.
 
Thanks for sharing.

I remember watching some videos on the 42 and 43 on Forgotten Weapons. I can understand why they weren't exactly successful.

Looks like the ZfK-55 had problems as well. Such as a bad muzzle brake for precision, a subpar bipod and extraordinary rifle weight.

Rare misses by the Swiss but if you consider that this action wasn't designed for scope use, it makes sense. If they had just accepted the loss of stripper clips like Germany and Russia did I think they would have ended up with much better rifles.
 
I agree, we need a scope mount that isn't offset, but doesn't have a huge tilt or be really high up.

I would like to have one that is easily mountable and removable, but works well all the time.

My eyes are good, but they used to be really great and its annoying.

my K31 with my handloads shoots more accurately than me, but only because I cannot see the target well enough at distance. With a scoped rifle, I don't have that issue.
 
I had it out to the range today, along with my ZfK-55. It shoots very well, but shoots about 4-6" to the right at 100m. Elevation is fine but there is nothing I can do about that except hold over to the left of the target. The ZfK-55 is much easier to shoot with.
 
My k31 kitted with bipod, muzzle brake, and scope weight over 10 lbs, closer to 11 lbs with ammo. It will weight some more if czechmauseritis would hurry up and send me my cheek rest... It has been assign to be my bench Queen.
 
Nice. Looks like another one to add to you collection.

It shoots very well, but shoots about 4-6" to the right at 100m. Elevation is fine but there is nothing I can do about that except hold over to the left of the target.
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't you adjust the front sight?
 
mikerock said:
I had it out to the range today, along with my ZfK-55. It shoots very well, but shoots about 4-6" to the right at 100m. Elevation is fine but there is nothing I can do about that except hold over to the left of the target. The ZfK-55 is much easier to shoot with.
Click to expand...

Read this for zero adjusting the K31/42 scope:
http://theswissriflesdotcommessageboard.yuku.com/topic/1807/Scope-adjustments-to-the-K3142-and-43

English translation of manual
http://stevespages.com/pdf/swiss_11-31-3142-3143-55-(english).pdf
 
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