TheGrimReaper
Member
K 31.
$300 to spend, K31 or M39 or ?
- Thread starter offthepaper
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MiddleAgedKen
Member
Hard to go wrong either way, but if it were me I'd go K31.
MaterDei
Member
Vaarok, that is a beautiful Mosin!
I've got Mosins but I don't have a K31. Therefore I'd go for the K31 unless I could find a Mosin like the one Vaarok found.
I've got Mosins but I don't have a K31. Therefore I'd go for the K31 unless I could find a Mosin like the one Vaarok found.
35 Whelen
Member
If it tells you anything, I've owned one M39 (sold it) and FIVE K-31's. The
K-31's are so, so sweet. Triggers are lovely, workmanship is beyond compare. Will shoot just about anything you feed it.
Check out the results of the CMP match:
http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_eventAward.cgi?matchID=2113&eventID=14&awardID=1
Mind boggling how many competitors used the K-31. BTW...<ahem>..I'm liquidating some of my K-31's!
35W
K-31's are so, so sweet. Triggers are lovely, workmanship is beyond compare. Will shoot just about anything you feed it.
Check out the results of the CMP match:
http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_eventAward.cgi?matchID=2113&eventID=14&awardID=1
Mind boggling how many competitors used the K-31. BTW...<ahem>..I'm liquidating some of my K-31's!
35W
cracked butt
Member
The K-31 is a far better rifle.
Garbage srplus ammo is easy and cheap to find for the M-39, but it won't last forever, and for the difference in price between the two rifles currently, you can get set up for reloading 7.5x55.
Garbage srplus ammo is easy and cheap to find for the M-39, but it won't last forever, and for the difference in price between the two rifles currently, you can get set up for reloading 7.5x55.
cracked butt
Member
That also makes a good case for getting a swedish mauser.
I am not sure what would make a K31 better than a M39. I own multiple copies of both and both are very accurate. The M39 has been tried in actual combat and was not found wanting. The K31 has never seen action in combat and thus has not been tested adequately in those conditions. I also do not know why one would classify military surplus ammo as junk when Czech silver tip and other 7.62x54 is very accurate in the M39. Yes, it is corrosive but I am paying 15 cents per round on 7.62x54 and 50 cents per round on GP11. When both ammo is getting me consistently under 1.5 MOA on both rifles, whats not to like in being cheap?
The bottom line is both rifles are excellent and you would not be making a bad decision in getting either (or be like me and get both). I only like accurate military surplus and that is why I only will buy accordingly. The only other rifles I have found to be equally, consistently, accurate has been the Swedish Mauser M1896, the Czech M98/22 mauser, and the Mosin M91/59. I have yet to buy any of these rifles and have it do worse than 1.5 MOA.
The bottom line is both rifles are excellent and you would not be making a bad decision in getting either (or be like me and get both). I only like accurate military surplus and that is why I only will buy accordingly. The only other rifles I have found to be equally, consistently, accurate has been the Swedish Mauser M1896, the Czech M98/22 mauser, and the Mosin M91/59. I have yet to buy any of these rifles and have it do worse than 1.5 MOA.
offthepaper
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Well, it looks athough a lot people would have a preference of a K31. Those who suggest the M39 seem to offer good valid arguments for their pick as well. As I stated in my original post, This rifle is destined to be a shooter, so cost of shooting could be a factor. I know 54R ammo is pretty cheap right now, and the GP is quality ammo, but pricey. It seems that getting set up for handloading is almost a nessesity when getting a K31. Can anyone tell me how much they are spending to produce 7.5 Swiss ammo by handloading? Is there any market for nonloadable swiss brass?
35 Whelen
Member
Regarding the x54r, yes there is lots of relatively inexpensive surplus ammo, but, at least for me, its quality is seriously wanting. I've never found any that came close to the accuracy I want. I've shot quite a bit of the GP-11 and even fired a High Power match with it and it'd be difficult (expensive...it'd take high quality bullets) to handload ammo as good as the GP-11. It would cost about the same to load for either caliber, were it not for the fact that the 7.62x54r requires the non-standard .310, .311 or .312 bullets. The 7.5x55 use the common .308" bullet which can be bought in surplus form. In fact, one of my most accurate loads in my K-31 uses the plain ol' Hornady 150 gr. FMJBT.
When I started loading the 7.5, I just bought 5 boxes of Prvi Partizan ammo and fired them, then I had 100 cases. Grafs sells 7.5x55 brass or you can use 284 Winchester brass. It just has to be necked up to .30 caliber and you're set.
Bottom line to me is this: If you're going to handlaod, get the K-31, if not and you just want to shoot and aren't concerned about really good accuracy, get an M-39.
With the price of ammo AND components these days, I'm proud that I'm set up to cast my own bullets!
35W
offthepaper
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Thanks everyone for the input and info. all opinions appreciated.
Well I just got off the phone from ordering Walnut K31 from Classic Arms. I asked for a handpick w/soldiers tag, but was told all the rifles with tags have been sold already. The woman did tell me these are running very thin and these could be the last seen on that site. I hope the handpick option will get me a decent example for the collection. I am also ordering a set of reloading dies on payday. Has anyone recently recieved a K31 from Classic that can tell of it's condition. I saw a few sites that had them a bit cheaper, but I've always been very satisfied with anything I ordered from them. Now the waiting game.
Well I just got off the phone from ordering Walnut K31 from Classic Arms. I asked for a handpick w/soldiers tag, but was told all the rifles with tags have been sold already. The woman did tell me these are running very thin and these could be the last seen on that site. I hope the handpick option will get me a decent example for the collection. I am also ordering a set of reloading dies on payday. Has anyone recently recieved a K31 from Classic that can tell of it's condition. I saw a few sites that had them a bit cheaper, but I've always been very satisfied with anything I ordered from them. Now the waiting game.
Congratulations! As I said in my original post, you were choosing between two excellent rifles and you really couldn't go wrong either way. K31's typically have very nice metal and pristine bores. The wood on them often is somewhat rough though and typically has most of it's wear on the underside of the buttstock right in front of the butt plate. The reason for this is said to be the Swiss soldiers kicking their boots or crampons against the stock in order to knock the snow off their feet. I'm a little dubious myself however. It's just my pet theory, but I kind of suspect it might be due to pushing the buttstock into the ground while assuming a prone firing position.
cracked butt
Member
Its close but not quite.
During their drills, the recruits had to slam their rifle butts on the ground either right next to their boots or against their boots which were hobnailed and damaged the stocks. Also 'stacking' rifles in the snow exposed the butt end of the rifle to moisture.
Danus ex
Member
I got a handpicked walnut stock K31 from Classic Arms in October. Its condition is different than what I typically see with K31s. Normally, I find K31s with a beech stock that's a bit beat up but excellent finish on the metal and a very good or excellent bore.
My K31 is all matching, has a very early serial number, and has a near excellent stock. However, the metal finish is very worn--down to maybe 20% bluing on the left side of the receiver. It's honest-looking wear, no scratches or anything. That said, the best part about this rifle is the bore--it looks almost unfired. Sharp rifling all the way to the muzzle, and metal so shiny it seems to generate its own light.
TimboKhan
Member
Hmm.... I am probably going to get my "Mosin Nagant Zealots Card" removed for saying this, but I would go with the K31. I love Mosins to death, but the K31 is a blast to shoot, generally pretty accurate, and they are starting to get harder and harder to find. The mosin... well, you need one of those too, but you can always live vicariously through a 91/30 until you save enough for your next purchase.....
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
I had a K31 first but when it got more expensive to shoot than any other rifle I owned I had to look at alternatives......
That's what pushed me to the M39, simply the cost of ammo. The K31 is a very very nice rifle.
TimboKhan
Member
True statement. I suppose if you reload, this is something of a moot point, but I am not in a situation where I can, so it is expensive. I buy small amounts of ammo for it when I can, and stockpile enough that I take it out every 6 months or so. Wolf or Sellier and Belliot, I can't remember which for some reason, now makes a load for it. I honestly don't think it is as good in terms of accuracy as GP11, but it works decently.
That being said, 7.62x54, while still cheap, is on the rise. Luckily for me I have about 10 battlepacks of the stuff sitting around, but it is getting more expensive.
col_tapiocca
Member
Congratulations! For you decision for the K31 it`s really a nice surplus rifle for the money. (Here in Switzerland you get it from $50 - $350.
But if I`ve to choose from both, I`ll rather get the finnish M39. I don`t know the US market, but we got enougth K31 but sinnish M39 are harder to find.
But with you K31, you get a well made and accurate rifle. Even the GP11 is a little expensive, you`ll enjoy it.
But if I`ve to choose from both, I`ll rather get the finnish M39. I don`t know the US market, but we got enougth K31 but sinnish M39 are harder to find.
But with you K31, you get a well made and accurate rifle. Even the GP11 is a little expensive, you`ll enjoy it.
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