The previous owner of my M38 had fitted a Bad Ace, no drill scout scope mount on it as his eyes were failing. He had kept the sight parts he removed and I was able to reinstall the irons. He had a Bushnell Scout scope mounted. on it. Pretty good system I think; I never shot it with the scope.
Swiss K31 vs Sweden M38 or M96
- Thread starter georgeski
- Start date
For the price of them, if hunting, I would get a sporterized one from one of the dealers like Intersurplus. They are not all that heavy once the stock is replace lighter trimmer sporter stock. The ones we would buy to put on them in the 80's were birch, and looked great for a utility rifle and handled nice, and weighed much less. The sporterized ones available are usually drilled for mounts as well and pricing starts around $300.00; best value for a hunting rifle IMO.
Both the M38 and K31 are original. I use the iron sights, but only under good lighting conditions when walking the bush patches around my home. If I want to hunt first light to last light I need a scope these days. My old eyes do not work well with the irons and low light any longer.
I have a Bad Ace scout mount for my Yugo M48 but haven't installed it yet. I plan to use it for hunting next season. There are a number of threads around here on the Bad Ace mounts and they seem to be well regarded. Mine certainly feels like a quality piece. You do have to get used to the scout scope setup, it is quite different than using a scope mounted on the receiver.
You guys need to start working out or something. I've carried plenty of milsurps and never had issues with the weight. My M38 is somewhere around 8lbs and feels light and handy in hand. I've hunted with a Garand as well and never thought the weight was that bad. As always, YMMV...
Mark
Eaglelord17
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For the value in a milsurp I don’t really care to carry it around in the woods. Carried around a lot heavier than a military rifle in the woods, used to carry MGs. Better to just get a hunting rifle set up then to hunt with a milsurp but to each their own.
I have owned a total of 6 M1896, M96/38 or M38's in the last 35 years. It is an excellent long range, low recoil shooter. In the last 12 years I have put more than 5,000 cast lead, gas checked 6.5x55mm bullets down range for use in pre WW1 shooting competitions out to 300 yds. After much perseverance I came up with an excellent load. Using cast lead bullets also minimizes the wear on the guns steel barrel.
For general shooting you can't go wrong with either, but hopefully you reload your own.
6.5 and 30 cal bullets are ample and you've got endless variety to play around with there. Same thing applies to powders.
I've got an M96 and a K31, and I think you should get both. I haven't bothered with an M38 as 6.5 Swede prefers a long barrel, a heavier bullet, and a slow powder (and I have other carbines). I shoot 147gn ELD's over IMR 4831 in my M96 and the accuracy has been fantastic. It has been great with other combos, mind you, but that just happens to be my favourite.
6.5 and 30 cal bullets are ample and you've got endless variety to play around with there. Same thing applies to powders.
I've got an M96 and a K31, and I think you should get both. I haven't bothered with an M38 as 6.5 Swede prefers a long barrel, a heavier bullet, and a slow powder (and I have other carbines). I shoot 147gn ELD's over IMR 4831 in my M96 and the accuracy has been fantastic. It has been great with other combos, mind you, but that just happens to be my favourite.
Is it a league game?
Sellier & Bellot as well as PRVI (PPU) still make it. Bought a load from SFRC for less than empty brass from PRVI.
For spare parts availability, the 96 wins that competition, no shortage of anything from butt to muzzle.
Not much for K31 parts or pieces, even mags can be tough to source.
96 is a very simple design, K31 is quite a bit more complex. You won't find any aftermarket barrels, or any gunsmith willing to fit a blank to a K31.
I load for both mine, they are both equally accurate with issue sights.
There is some factory ammo for both, hunting and target versions.
They are both nice rifles.
Not much for K31 parts or pieces, even mags can be tough to source.
96 is a very simple design, K31 is quite a bit more complex. You won't find any aftermarket barrels, or any gunsmith willing to fit a blank to a K31.
I load for both mine, they are both equally accurate with issue sights.
There is some factory ammo for both, hunting and target versions.
They are both nice rifles.
If there was a negative to the K31 it is chunky in the hands
That's my only complaint....others might not mind the feel/handling of it at all...but something like a Mauser 98k etc just feels so much more nimble.
EDIT: For reloaders out there, I'd turned 284 Win brass into 7.5x55 brass in a pinch. Just took some Imperial wax and elbow grease
But theres lots of PPU ammo etc out thereYou've been around long enough to know, it's not a "common" cartridge on LGS or big box stores, and when things go awry, the loaded cartridges and brass become "unobtainable."
You also know you got "lucky" picking up loaded ammo cheaper than brass.
I'm not knocking either cartridge, and if the OP can afford it, he should get both. But, if he insists on limiting himself to one, and doesn't hand load?????????????
