K31 versus Savage 110

[akolleth]

I am thinking of getting a longer range rifle than the typical milsurps that I have right now. I am looking at the K31 or a Savage 110 in 30-06 as choices. I am not looking for a rifle to compete with bench rest guys, but more to be able to hit the target consistantly at 400-600 yards.

These two are catching my eyes for thier price point (around $200 for either used) and both have a good reputation for accuracy.

Which of the two would you go with? Does eith have an edge for accuracy, reloading costs (I will be reloading), or the likes?

 

[Floppy_D]

7.5x55 brass is hard to come by. Optics are a pain for the K31. The 30-06 will be easy to find brass for. The K31 is a better made rifle, IMO (hold the two of them and make your own call here).

If you don't plan on using any sort of optics, look at the K31. Otherwise, I'd go with the Savage.

 

[elmerfudd]

If you're not a lefty, then I'd go for the K31. They really are some fantastic rifles. I get 5 shot groups that measure about 1.5" at 100 yards using the iron sights and surplus ammo. With a scope I'm sure it would shoot sub-MOA. They make a good mount for them too, but it's offset to the right side about an inch. So if you're a righty, you should get a good cheekweld with it. The K31 will also go up in value. They're great rifles and they're not making any more of them. I bought mine in great shape for $125 about 2 years ago. Now it's probably worth $225.

Since you're planning on reloading, the 7.5 Swiss cartridge shouldn't be a problem as it uses standard .308 bullets.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

and from what I hear from other reloaders,

284 Winchester brass resized will work for the casing. I may need corrected though, as I don't reload...yet.

 

[skinewmexico]

Get the Savage. And if you really get into it, you can re-barrel it to some 6.5 pretty cheap.

 

[hardwarehacker]

Grafs has 7.5x55 brass from PRVI at 500 for $190. AIM sells PRVI loaded ammo, 200 for $108 (FMJ) or $113 (SP). If you buy a K-31, probably a good idea to lay in one or the other at the same time since the supply is not very reliable.

 

[mgregg85]

I deer hunt with a savage 110 .30-06 and it works great but in your case I would get the K31. It is accurate and collectable, who knows how much longer they will be easily available, savage will most likely be cranking out 110s for the next 20 to 30 years.

Get the K31, if it turns out that you still want the savage, wait a little bit and get it too.

 

[aubie515]

I don't know if I could compare a K31 to a Savage. Both shoot well, but the K31's action is the selling point. K31's have a lot of great history and makes them unique. All of the Savages I've ever owned were good shooters, but I sold every one of them. The action on the Savages are sub par at best.

It's your money, so spend it wisely. If it was my money, I'd go K31 because they are drying up. You can always buy a Savage down the road.

 

[HM2PAC]

I'm a big Savage fan, but if you reload, get the K31.

It's on my short list for MilSurps.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I say get the K31. There were only 500K made. It's a finely-crafted rifle that will make you smile everytime you shoot it.

Of course, you will likely also wince on the cost of ammo, but you will be reloading, so you should be fine once you've tracked down the right brass.

Nothing wrong with a Savage, but there are a lot more of them out there...and they are making more.

 

[MAKster]

If you want to hit targets at 400-600 yards you are definately going to need a scope to see anything. There is a scope mount for the K31 that doesn't require permanently altering the rifle but it's more expensive than your standard mount that would go on a Savage. Also, 30-06 ammo can be bought anywhere in a great selection. 7.5x55 ammo would have to be ordered over the internet or bought at a gunshow. I would only buy the K31 if your main desire is to buy a milsurp.

 

[556A2]

A well built rifle that isn't made anymore that is chambered in a hard-to-find oddball caliber, and requires a separate scope mount.

or

A well built rifle that has an easily adjustable trigger, chambered in the most common sporting cartridge, with tons of aftermarket support, and is scope ready out of the box.

As a former K-31 owner, I would highly recommend the Savage.

 

[PotatoJudge]

The K31 has some pretty decent accessories in the $70 range like a scope mount, muzzle break, and bipod adapter. You might be better off buying an extra stock (there's a guy online selling them for $30 or so) and cutting it to fit you, adding a recoil pad, sling swivels (especially for a bipod) and topping it off with a scope mount. Ammo is available at gunshows, mail order, and a sometimes the local gun store. It's not all that hard to find right now. You'd probably spend more on the K31 in the end, but it'd make a fun and easy project that will give you a nice and unique package in the end.

 

[Soybomb]

I just don't think the caliber of the rifles needs to come into play. Prvi makes 7.5 rounds now so availability and price is quite decent and the brass is reloadable. They reload with .308 bullets. Sure you won't be getting it at the local walmart but I would think most of us have a stash of ammo anyway and don't buy it a box at a time from the store.

 

[marktx]

I have no experience with the Savage....

Bought my K31 on a whim for $225 at a gunshop, it wasn't a particularly good looking example (wood pretty beat up) but it already had an S&K scope mount attached to the rear sight block which made it a decent value. Mounted a cheap Simmons 2x pistol scope on it and have loved it ever since. The K31 is one of my favorite rifles to shoot, no complaints at all. The action is smooth and easy to use. The trigger is outstanding, the best of any rifle I own. Swiss surplus ammo is cheap (50 cents a round, noncorrosive) and in my experience is very high quality. Bought a box of Hornady 7.5 just to have a box of something other than FMJ but have never felt a need to shoot any of it.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Marktx,

You paid as much as I did for a factory original, all matching numbers rifle. Since then, I've restained it and steamed all the dents I could out of it.

 

[marktx]

You paid as much as I did for a factory original, all matching numbers rifle. Since then, I've restained it and steamed all the dents I could out of it.

Yeah, for the rifle alone it wasn't any bargain at first glance. It is a matching rifle, just not a cosmetically perfect one. The S&K scope mount runs around $70 and once the cost of shipping ($20) and a transfer ($20) for is factored in it the purchase made a lot of sense to me.

 

[tbs]

If your interested in a K-31 and your left handed there are options available.

View attachment 381457

They shoot pretty well also with a little tuning.

View attachment 381458

 

[ReadyontheRight]

TBS -- Welcome to THR!

Where did you find a left-handed K31?

 

[mainmech48]

The only real problem with the Ste. Marie Graphics NG receiver mount is that it's, by necessity, offset in relation to the bore axis. This gives it the same problem as the M1-C and D sniper rifles: at any range other than the "zero" point, POI will shift both horizontally and vertically.

While for plinking or target shooting at a fixed distance this would be less of an issue, it sure takes a lot more skill and practice to learn to use effectively when the exact range is unknown, as it most often is in most other situations.

IMO, the B-Square-type "Scout" mount would be a more practical choice for all around shooting. FWIW, the Swiss military "sniper" version of the K-31 had several substantive change from the standard issue model in order to mount a scope over the bore and facilitate loading and ejection.

Still, the K-31 action is unique, fascinating and it's quite possible that the entire supply of them are already in the surplus market. While the supplies of surplus GP-11 ammo are finite and rapidly dwindling, the supply of new reloadable boxer primed cases and factory ammo is better than it ever has been, and more likely to remain that way than not for a goodly while yet.

Dies and data are readily available and the cartridge uses standard sized primers, 0.308" dia. bullets and does very nicely with a variety of canister powders.

IMO, you won't see another opportunity to own such a finely made rifle as the K-31 for such a small price again in our lifetime, if ideed ever.

As has been mentioned, a Savage 110 will be able to be had inexpensively for a long, long while.

Unless you can only foresee being able to own one rifle for the rest of your life, get the nicest K-31 you can find now and a 110 of whatever sort you prefer at a later date. In 5-10 years (maybe less), you'll very likely be able to trade a nice K-31 even for a brand new Savage, IMO.


PS: tbs, I may be the most envious and depressed southpaw on the planet at the moment. The only other K-31 I ever saw with a set of diopter sights like that was a dedicated competition target rifle in .308 Win. at a big show in St. Louis several years ago. Righthanded, the asking price was almost $2000 and it was gone a couple of hours later when I went back to drool over it some more. It's gotta be five o'clock somewhere...

 

[SP Shop Foreman]

Good taste, TBS.
This is my boss's full dress k31, but of course she has access to all the cool stuff being the owner's daughter.



This is the Left Hand Op System that's coming out soon.



Allen
SP

 

[tbs]

Wow, thanks for the replies. The lefty oprod is made by Burgin who is a gunsmith in switzerland. St. Marie products is working on a lefty oprod that is soon to be released. The one from switzerland is very expensive but for me its worth it. I use this particular K-31 for the NRA national match course. I have 3 other K's in various states of modifications. The St. Marie diopter sights are a god send for competitive shooters and worth every penny. So, if you a facination for a really old well built rifle that is capable of shooting good scores the K-31 is worth consideration.

 

[elmerfudd]

The only real problem with the Ste. Marie Graphics NG receiver mount is that it's, by necessity, offset in relation to the bore axis. This gives it the same problem as the M1-C and D sniper rifles: at any range other than the "zero" point, POI will shift both horizontally and vertically.

Actually, all you have to do is sight in with your POI about 3/4" to the left and your POI will keep that horizontal offset out as far as you want to shoot. Not a big deal for the kind of game you would be hunting with a K31. There are some positive aspects to the offset mount too. First, you can still easily use the iron sights and second, you have a good cheekweld with either one.

 

[SP Shop Foreman]

Thanks, TBS. We're just waiting for the big boss's ok for the LHO run. He should be back soon now. I'm more excited about a prototype we have here in the shop. Its an elevation adjustable front sight for the Diopter.
As for the offset on the scope mount, if you sight it in at 1/2" (or 3/4" too) left at 100 yards you'll be fine out to 300 yards. I know this for an experience fact.

Allen
SP

 

[Titus]

mainmech, you can buy the Swiss Products diopter set shown at Brownells and Grafs, maybe elsewhere also. I have a set on one of my K-31s.