Schmidt Rubin K31

[andy]

Went out to the National Forest today and shot my new K31 for the first time. My gawd what a sweet shooting rifle! It is my first milsurp rifle and I honestly wasn't expecting much from it but what a pleasant surprise. Accuracy was excellent, the action slick, and I couldn't ask for better trigger pull. This rifles a keeper. The only downside was that the sights are a bit smaller than they need to be and it has pretty stout recoil. I had read about the recoil here and on other boards so I put a slip on recoil pad on the rifle before I shot it. I'm glad I did! Saved my shoulder. Even with the pad after about thirty rounds my shoulder told me to call it a day. This is the first high powered rifle I've fired and was wondering how the 7.5 Swiss round compares to other cartridges in terms of recoil. To be more specific, how does it compare to the 7.62 Nato or the 30.06 fired from similar weapons.

 

[natedog]

I like mine. I'm thinking of replacing the rear with a set of Mojo peep sights.

 

[Drue]

The recoil of the 7.5 Swiss, the 7.62N and the .30-06 are very similar. The exact numbers would vary a little depending on the bullet, weight of the powder charge and the weight of the gun, of course. Subjectively, I don't think that most people could notice a difference.

In terms of the quality received for money spent, I believe that the K31 is the best buy in military surplus rifles these days. The Swiss GP11 ammo is great but pretty expensive. Grafs has new boxer brass in stock and you can use .308 diiameter bullets for reloading. The K31s are great!

Drue

 

[Jspy]

I agree about the recoil being a little stout. I hadn't read too much regarding the recoil and wasn't quite ready for what it was dishing out. I had to quit after around 20 rounds myself. Picked up my Garand to finish out the day, and passed on shooting my K-98 Mauser. I guess I'm going to have to come up with something to help my shoulder (besides extra clothing) now that its getting warmer weather. The K-31 seems to be an awsome rifle tho.

 

[albanian]

It is a good thing that you want to quit shooting after 20rds. If it was nice to shoot, it could get very expensive! I wish there was some cheap surplus ammo out for this gun. I think it would be fun to see how fast I could shoot this one but I don't want to waste the expensive match ammo I bought. I am a cheapskate I guess.

 

[Langenator]

If you want to test your speed, and put your match grade GP11 to good use, find a High-Power match that'll let you use your K-31.

If you're in/near Columbia, SC, MCRC will let you. I shot mine last month. 10 aimed shots in 55 seconds sitting, 10 aimed shots in 45 seconds prone. This includes a reload. Oh yeah, you need an extra magazine or a charger to do this.

But it is fun. Although my shoulder was sore for a couple of days-fired 60 rounds total.

 

[aerod1]

I don't like my K-31. I love it! The K-31 is a fantastic piece of engineering for ithat era. Mine is a beautiful gun. The blueing, bore,reciever and wood are great.
Did you get the name of the Swiss soldier that was under the butt stock?
A soldier named Hans Kamber carried my rifle. I have located him or his relatives and am going to write a letter.
Enjoy your Schmidt Rubin, for it is a masterpiece!

Jim

 

[swingset]

The K-31 is a wonderful rifle.

As to the sights, the mojo tandem aperture sights are great. I have a set and they're very accurate. I think the blocky issue sights are the K-31's only weakness...but then it was a battle rifle. That gun really needs a peep sight, the inherent accuracy is somewhat wasted with tangeant sights.

My scoped 1934 K-31 shot a .637" 6 shot group with handloads, which tells you something about how good the K-31 is compared to other service rifles of it's day.

 

[Steel]

I just shot my newly acquired K-31 for the first time this last weekend. It was a nice experience. They are well designed and accurate. Thye do not kick any more than any 30-06 or 7.62X54 I have ever shot. Put a folded small towel behinf the butt to give shoulder relief.

Ammo is not as cheap as some of the other surplus military ammo. I used the GP11 Swiss ammo from Aimsurplus ($22 for 60 rounds). It is very accurate, plus Swiss ammo is not corrosive.

 

[andy]

Yep aerod, there was a tag under the butt plate. The guys name was also Hans. Must be popular name in those parts. There was also an abreviated word which I think means "heavy". Could that be heavy artillery or heavy weapons? Did a check on the serial number and found that the rifle was made in 1954. There was no home address for this guy on the tag and the K31 was taken out of service in 1958 so I think this rifle was only used by an active duty soldier. Blueing is about 90% and everything works like new. The beech stock is the usual beat up Schmidt Rubin stock. I was going to refinish it but its kind of grown on me. I think I'll just leave it as is.

 

[albanian]

Mine had a name tag under the butt plate also but I have not made it out yet. It is a little worn off but someone who knows what to look for can probably still make out the info. I put it back where I got it for safe keeping until I decide to look at it again.

It is a 1954 rifle I think, I forgot. It would just be the name of some guy in the Army so I am not really all that interested. It is neat but it is not like it was a WWII rifle I may be able to track down the original soldier who carried it.

Nice gun though! I am more and more impressed with it every time I look at it. High quality for a military surplus rifle, that is saying something because military surplus guns are not often poor quality. Mil surp guns are often well made but simple and rugged, the K-31 has extra workmanship that you don't see often. Compare a K-31 to a Mosin and you will see what I mean. Both are good solid reliable guns but the Mosin is more simply made. It is the little things but the K-31 is nice looking rifle. If I didn't have an original stock, I would be looking for a new one to make it prettier.

 

[Sam Adams]

Bump!

Any more comments on the K-31? My C&R should be arriving in about a week, and I've got a burning desire for one of these beauties (having just read Halbrook's "Target: Switzerland" has only added fuel to the fire).

BTW, if any of you reload, how is the Graf's brass? What are your most accurate loads?

 

[Cosmoline]

The K-31's are awesome, but don't neglect their older brothers the 1911's. I had one of these beauties a few months ago that would shoot simply amazing groups. Very long, lean profile. Beautiful wood. But sadly I had to send it to a better home as I needed the money and could not protect it's pure blue from the rough end of Alaska

A rough and ready K-31 is the next rifle on my list.