What to look for when buying a swiss K 31
Hey Guys,
Looks like a pretty interesting shooter and I have heard good things about them. What would I be looking for to get the best model? Is there a specific year that stands out?
Looks like a pretty interesting shooter and I have heard good things about them. What would I be looking for to get the best model? Is there a specific year that stands out?
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They are all great shooters, as the Swiss: 1. Never used corrosive ammo; 2. Cleaned smartly, not wearing the crown. Usually just a patch of grease, removed before the next shooting.
A lot of folks favor the walnut variety, as I do myself. A lot of them do have ratty stocks though so really, cosmetics is all you need to look for. Wartime guns are perhaps less desireable than pre or post war guns for fit and finish, but even those are excellant.0 -
We have had several in the store. I had a bayonet with one and I wish I had kept it. 0 -
Brian
Matching serial numbers on bolt and magazine are a plus
for the K-31. Finding a handwritten tag under the butt plate
is IMHO a 'bit o' history' usually has original soldiers
name, town and outfit.
I started with one, I now have four, great shooters, and
you can reload for them!0 -
Feedback...............http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=77193791 0 -
Isn't there a metal disk with accuracy info attached to the stock? I never owned one so i don't know, i just remember reading something to the effect. 0 -
The metal disk is on Swedish mausers. 0 -
I would say pay extra for the walnut stock as they are rarer.
Also a lot of places will let you get one with a soldiers tag if you pay extra.
My k31 has almost doubled in value since I got it and it will probably go higher.0 -
What size round does it take and how available are they? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Raupleminze
What size round does it take and how available are they?
7.5x55 aka 7.5 Swiss
Available everywhere lately.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Msut77
My k31 has almost doubled in value since I got it and it will probably go higher.
This part sucks. I got one for under $100 (shipping included) couple of years ago and now same ones are at least $160-170.0 -
Second try.....what do you guys think of this one????????
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=771937910 -
quote:Originally posted by Raupleminze
Second try.....what do you guys think of this one????????
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=77193791
Take it or I will! I take it back. Look around before buying, you can probably find it a hundred bucks cheaper and then just restore the stock, though this one looks really nice.0 -
I like those guns (at least from looking at them) but I hate to reload so a mil-surp rifle has to have readily available and cheap ammo for me to buy one. The 7.5/S ammo I have seen is pretty pricey. Almost like new commercial ammo in cost. Makes me pass so far. 0 -
SP, Mil-surp was available at some point, but it's now even more expensive than commercial, I hope there'll be enough of these rifles for more manufacturers to start producing 7.5 Swiss. I believe Wolf started already too, so maybe it won't be all that bad. It is a great rifle, very accurate. 0 -
Try to get one with a walnut stock; those have the best chance of having the sought-after nametag hidden between the stock and buttplate. 0 -
Yeah the auction of the one I posted has the name tag. It just looked like a pretty cool WW2 era rifle. I should probably save my mony for a Garand so I can cross that off the list. 0 -
I wouldn't cross it off - just add it to your collection. It's a wonderful piece although as you have been told, the ammo isn't cheap. If you want to blast 100 rds, use your 22LR! It's very accurate and almost all are in great condition. Look into their history. All males were given one along with a can of ammo. That ammo can could never be opened unless there was an invasion! All the males went to summer camp and were given some ammo to practice with. Very few rounds no matter how old they are. The biggest problem is most stock butts are weathered from being stacked in the snow. I bought a Richard's laminated stock for one of the four that I own. I'll post a pic when I get it finished. The others, I'll keep original. 0 -
hard shooting, UGLY 600 meter tackdrivers. Check that SNs match on rile, bolt. Expect stock to look like it was rode hard and put up wet. Refinish it if it bothers you. Wholesalers still have milsurp ammo, which is basically match grade (hint- buy it NOW). About a .308, but bullet has better ballistic coefficent than .308. Never seen one with a bad bore. Go over to surplusrifle.com for discussion on scoping one. Mine shoots better than i do nowdays. 0 -
It is basically Match ammunition. The case capacity (65 gr.) is more like the 30-06 (68 gr.) than the .308 Win. (56 gr.) but the velocities are low due to the operating pressure (CIP and SAAMI) standardized for this cartridge. The cartridge is very similar to the American .284 Winchester if you were to neck it up to .30 caliber. The drawback to the surplus is the fact that it is Berdan primed.
From Swiss Rifle:
"The GP11 was load with a 174 grain spitzer bullet. The round could travel at 2640 fps. The diameter of the bullet was increase, and the length of the case was increased to 55m. The GP11 generates around 45,500 psi of pressure. Most older Schmidt-Rubins were converted to fire the GP11, and the round saw service with the 1911 series, the K31 series, and the Stgw 57 series, remaining in service until the mid-1980s. Due to the greater pressures produced by the GP11 round, it is not safe to fire GP11 rounds in Model 1889 Schmidt-Rubins!!!
In addition to the standard FMJ GP11 rounds, specialty rounds were produced as well. Armor-piercing Steel-cored rounds can be identified by their violet bases. These rounds can easily pierce .2" of steel plate at 550 yards. Tracer rounds burn out to 880 yards, and can be identified by their red bases. However, most Swiss match shooters use standard GP11 ammunition, a testament to the accuracy of the GP11 round."
http://www.swissrifles.com/ammo/#7.5
Best.0 -
I am seriously considering the one in the auction I mentioned. I sent the guy auctioning the rifle an email requesting more pics. Do you guys know of any other places where I might find a K31 in that good of shape for cheaper? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Raupleminze
I am seriously considering the one in the auction I mentioned. I sent the guy auctioning the rifle an email requesting more pics. Do you guys know of any other places where I might find a K31 in that good of shape for cheaper?
If you dont mind a beat-up stock, AIM surplus has them for $190. All K31s are in good shape; the only difference will be stock condition and bluing.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Swiss_1931_Carbin_Scmidt_Rubin_K31_7_5Swiss_Cal_.html0 -
Raupleminze,
Just use a search engine to locate others for sale:
Swiss K-31
They may not have any left but it's worth a look.
The one you posted the URL for is refinished so it is no longer original. If you don't care about that, it looks nice but is really overpriced in my opinion.
Best.0
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