OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Firearms, Bows, and Ammunition > Firearms
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - proud owner of Swiss K31
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

proud owner of Swiss K31

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
mlv2k5 View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman
Avatar

Joined: September/18/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 313
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mlv2k5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: proud owner of Swiss K31
    Posted: June/02/2009 at 17:35
So I'm excited to say that I am now the owner of a Swiss K31 circa 1944. This is my first milsurp firearm and I've gotta say I have become pretty enamored with it. I should be receiving the rifle sometime towards the end of next week so I will give yall a range report then. In the mean time, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for where and what brands of ammunition to look for? I'm not set up for reloading...although I'd like to get into it someday, so whether the ammunition is reloadable or not doesn't make much of a difference at this point. I would like to stay away from corrosive stuff if thats possible. Thanks guys!
-Michael
Back to Top
BeltFed View Drop Down
Optics Retard
Optics Retard
Avatar

Joined: February/12/2008
Location: Ky
Status: Offline
Points: 22287
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/02/2009 at 17:42
Don't have the time now, but I have a good source. I'll get back asap.
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
Back to Top
RONK View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: April/05/2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3199
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/02/2009 at 20:19
 Conratulations! You will love this rifle, (until you take the bolt apart and try to put it back together the first time without help!)  Stare      Big Grin
 
I don't think the 7.5x55 cartridge was ever loaded corrosive.
 Surplus Swiss GP11 Military ammo is great stuff, but not real cheap, and it is not easily reloadable because it has Berdan Primers. Save the brass anyway; it CAN be reloaded in a pinch, but it is a bit of a pain. 
 I think Hornady is now loading up new Boxer-primed factory ammo , but I haven't shot mine in so long, I'm really not up to speed on the ammo situation. 
 I mostly sized and loaded .284 Winchester brass for mine.
Back to Top
mlv2k5 View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman
Avatar

Joined: September/18/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 313
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mlv2k5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/02/2009 at 20:27
Haha, yeah that bolt assembly looks a bit daunting as I've never had any experience with a straight pull. I did go online and gather a lot of information regarding maintenance, disassembly of the rifle and action, and other odds and ends in hopes of being slightly informed about my rifle and how it works by the time it ships to me next week. 
-Michael
Back to Top
300S&W View Drop Down
Optics God
Optics God
Avatar

Joined: January/27/2008
Location: Burlington,WV
Status: Offline
Points: 10592
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 300S&W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/02/2009 at 20:30
 Will this the ammo work?
"I ain't got time to bleed!"
Back to Top
RONK View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: April/05/2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3199
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/02/2009 at 20:36
 It's just kind of wierd the way you have to turn a bolt-within-a-bolt together and hold everything together when you slide the whole works back into the receiver. It's not hard to do once you know how, but it doesn't work the way one would expect it to.  It's not an intuitive thing.
 Edited to add:
  300 S&W-  I had forgotten about Privi ammo. I've heard that it is a pretty good stuff.
 I think my cousin used it in Old Military Rifle Matches with good results. 


Edited by RONK - June/02/2009 at 20:44
Back to Top
mlv2k5 View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman
Avatar

Joined: September/18/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 313
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mlv2k5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/02/2009 at 21:08
300 S&W, that looks like it would work just fine, thanks. I also found some stuff loaded by Hornady that has soft points for hunting. I think I might just pick up a couple boxes of hunting ammunition and then buy something cheaper to plink with...like that Prvi Partizan. I assume there is some other FMJ type stuff out there that would be pretty cheap too?
-Michael
Back to Top
RONK View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: April/05/2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3199
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/02/2009 at 21:34

 GP11 is surplus FMJ, but it isn't really cheap compared to other military surplus ammo in different calibers. It is almost Match grade quality, though.

 I think Wolf also makes new-manufactured 7.5x55  now also, in FMJ and Softpoints.

Back to Top
BeltFed View Drop Down
Optics Retard
Optics Retard
Avatar

Joined: February/12/2008
Location: Ky
Status: Offline
Points: 22287
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/03/2009 at 14:22
Well this is embarassing. Gary Cole carries FMC ammo (also produced in Yugo), and it's brass and boxer primed. He usually has an ad in Shotgun News, but the last three issues I have don't have his ads. I'll have to do some more checking, and get back with you.
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
Back to Top
koshkin View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Dark Lord of Optics

Joined: June/15/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 13182
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/07/2009 at 13:53
I have a few K31s and they are a blast to shoot.  They have the best trigger ever put on a military rifle.

As far as ammo goes, GP11 is not reloadable, but it is very accurate.  It is essentially match ammo.

Hornady makes a couple of loads that are good.  The 168gr Amax load is very acurate.

The cheapest new ammo is made in Serbia by Privi Partizan.  They have two loads: soft point and FMJ, both 174gr.  FMJ is fairly accurate in my rifles and the brass is reloadable.  It is not the most consistent brass in the world, but it is not bad and once I sorted it by weight, it worked exceptionally well.

ILya
Back to Top
jonoMT View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: November/13/2008
Location: Montana
Status: Offline
Points: 4853
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/08/2009 at 09:54
I used to own one of these but got too involved with my LTR. They're great rifles. Have you looked under the buttplate yet to see if there's a Swiss soldier's name and address?

Prvi Partisan shoots great. I got the same groups with it as I did with GP11 - just 1.5" higher and 2" right. It's boxer so at least you can save it and someone can reload it. Grafs sometimes has unprimed Prvi brass too.

The bolt is not that hard to disassemble, clean and put back together. It looks more like a surgical instrument than a rifle part. Just don't grease up the firing pin or spring. A very light touch of lubricant at most is all that is needed there.

Some people don't like to touch the finish on a mil-surp rifle, but my stock was dinged and water damaged. Those rifles apparently spent some time with the butt stuck in snow in a tripod with other rifles. (I wonder if the Swiss hang a pot from them to boil their stew). I stripped the finish, steamed out the dents and used oxalic acid to remove the gray weathering from the butt. Then I refinished it with true tung oil and an occasional coat of gunny paste. Here's the one I had:




Edited by jonoMT - June/08/2009 at 09:55
Back to Top
mlv2k5 View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman
Avatar

Joined: September/18/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 313
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mlv2k5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/18/2009 at 15:19
Looks great! Mine is circa '44 and has a walnut stock- any tips on refinishing??? I think I have the idea down, but this will be my first attempt so any help would be awesome.
-Michael
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.594 seconds.