looking for input.

[tahunua001]

hello all,
for my next gun related purchase I am looking at a couple different options.
1. buying a K31
or
2. scoping my M41B mauser.

on one hand it would be nice to have a sniper I could reach out to 500+ yards with again but then again who can say no to a new gun?(I don't own K31 yet). I restored a M1903A4 a couple years back and if there's one thing I hate is a money pit sniper repro but on the other hand I also hate stocking up on reloading supplies and ammo for new calibers.

decisions decisions...

given a $400 budget(including ammo and reloading components, or scope and rail) which would you go with?

oh and just as a side note, I would probably be going with a modern scope style, anyone use the accumounts repro mounts with the 1 inch inserts?

 

[ZGunner]

K31. But that's me. I don't have one, and it don't like modern anything on old rifles.

 

[barnbwt]

Why reload? GP11's 55 cents a round . Real easy to scope a K31, too.

TCB

 

[tahunua001]

well the M41 was originally designed as a sniper rifle, I like keeping them fairly original. I've tried mounting scopes on rifles that were never intended to have scopes and they just did not work out at all. as for reloading, surplus ammo is all fine and dandy but I like to hunt and often times the cheap PRVI hunting ammo that is available just doesn't cut it.

 

[barnbwt]

St. Marie (blessed art thy scope mounts) makes a non-marring clamp on mount that is universally beloved, as best I can tell. I plan on getting one the instant I get bored with shooting off the irons (I have two rifles, so I should really get one of them scoped anyway, though). For the occasional need of non FMJ, I don't know why you couldn't use a kinetic puller to replace the GP11 bullet with a 175gr Match King or similar.

A complete reloading setup would allow you to truly dial things in and have more flexibility, but GP11 is ~1MOA ammo as it is, and you are kinda presenting a false choice with the 400$ limit for a 350$ gun plus complete reloading setup, vs. some generic scope mounts and decent optic . FWIW, I hear some of the early 7.5x55 commercially-sold dies weren't made right (or were made to an old ammo spec) and result in sticky extraction in the K31's.

Can you play catch with your Mauser brass? There's your tie-breaker right there

TCB

 

[tahunua001]

I use one time use mauser brass. I bought a bunch of the berdan primed, brass cased wood projectiles and pulled the bullets and powder. all the fun and accuracy of handloads without having to worry about reusing the brass.
AIM has K31s for 290, shipped and in my hands would probably bring it to $320 leaving me $80 for brass and dies, I already have a plethora of 308 bullets and large rifle primers. as I said, given the price of scope mounts I would have to increase the total budget by 50-75 dollars which would give me more for ammo/brass.

 

[tahunua001]

man... apparently not much interest in old guns anymore.

 

[Ian]

The K31 will shoot at 500 yards fine with the iron sights - I've done it with mine. I would definitely get that rather than put a modern scope on an M41B. Besides just awesome, the K31 will hold its value, while a modern scope on the M41B will be worth nothing. Now if the choices were K31 or putting a correct original scope on the M41B, it would be a tougher choice...

 

[tahunua001]

yes but I can't see the target at 500 yards so the guns abilities are pretty pointless

 

[barnbwt]

man... apparently not much interest in old guns anymore.

Between this post and the one on The Firing Line, how in the heck are you not convinced of buying the K31, yet?!

Just dü it.

TCB

 

[fromtheplaines]

man... apparently not much interest in old guns anymore.

I think the issue is the older guns are not as cheap anymore. I love surplus rifles, but for me it's getting to the point for another hundred or so dollars I can buy a new gun

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Definitely a K-31. I have one with iron sights and one with a scope. Both are fun and accurate to shoot.

 

[tahunua001]

Between this post and the one on The Firing Line, how in the heck are you not convinced of buying the K31, yet?!

I'm getting there, patience is a virtue.

 

[js8588]

Buy the K31 while they're still available at reasonable prices. I don't have the itch for one but if you do, scratch it while it's less expensive to do so. Still kicking myself for not buying a VZ 29\98 from Samco when they were in stock.