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Posted: 12/3/2006 2:59:31 PM EDT
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I am interested in the straight pull action and I am planning on heading up to AIM surplus to pick up a Swiss Schmidt Rubin K31. I see that the walnut stocked models cost an extra 40 dollars, any thoughts on whether it is worth it? I know I should get both, but funds are tight. Now it may seem silly to worry about forty dollars for rifle when ammo is so expensive, but I am planning to shoot it slowly and savor each round. I am not a collector and will be using the rifle. It would also be my first bolt action. On another note, I also see that they are advertising the Indian .308 enfields. Does anyone have any thoughts on those? Thanks |
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I'm not really of the opinion that $40 more is worth it for the walnut stocked rifles. They'll all probably get to your door looking like a turd that was dragged behind a truck, but they clean up very well. I have two, one was a gunshow purchase and has a walnut stock. Nice striping and figure, but I have not stripped, steamed the dents and refinished it. The other was a later made beech stocked rifle. Looked pretty bad, but after stripping, steaming, and yes, a little sanding, she looks great. I've gotten complements on the finish job on the Swiss Rifle forums. Not bad for an $89 rifle. The stock might look like a turd, but it can be fixed. The bluing might be faded.... but the metal work and bore should be damn near flawless. My older rifle is 70 years old, and the bore looks like it was cut yesterday. Here's the newer one in the beech stock. (natural finish... I think I did a couple coats of tung oil finish)  BTW, it's worth it to put those $300 sights on it. The brake was about $60 shipped. Supposed to cut felt recoil by about 25%. |
Swiss soldiers put a tag under the butt plate with his name, address, unit, etc. Some collectors have been able to contact the original owners and exchange stories. It adds value for some collectors. |
Mine had two tags - apparently the guy moved while he owned the rifle and added another tag without tossing the first one. Same name on both, different addresses. Another one I got had a name on it that - coincidentally - matched the initials scratched all over the stock. Seems even the village idiot could get a rifle... 
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Cool. Thanks for the education... 
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| If you are going to use it for comp shooting or hunting and don't want to go the way of the diopter sights then there are also several mounts made for these things. Brownells, and Grafs offer them, BTW if your going to Aim to pick yours up also load up on their PP or Wolf Gold 7.5ammo, both are the same stuff and it is good ammo that is reloadable. |
Not yet, but I intend to use it in Highpower Rifle. As is in that pic, it would put me in Match Rifle class. Not bad, that rifle as it is there is still sub $500, and will probably own many custom ARs and M1As that cost much much more. |
| My K31 had a really rough stock when I got it. They were well taken care of though. The bore and action is very nice. They are accurate but have a hefty recoil. Mine has a beech stock but the next one I buy will have a walnut stock. Doesn't make in difference in function but looks nicer! |
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Well I'm a day late and a dollar short, at least for now. No K31s at aim, though they expect them back. Plenty of Enfields though. Am concerned about ammo supply (isn't everyone?) with NATO 7.62 being so dang hard to find right now. I don't imagine blowing through mountains of ammo, but I get the idea running commercial spec .308 is potentially problematic. Though there seems to be some debate as to how much. And of course I get that idea from the internet, I don't have any buddies who have much interest in old rifles... |
Do not load .308 Win ammo in these rifles! They shoot 7.5x55 Swiss. The Swiss ammo is ballistically similar to the .308 Win but at a much lower pressure. Jim |
| Yep, your right. While a few rounds of commercial .308 probably would be OK these things are designed for 7.62 Nato where depending on your sources is around 10,000psi lower than .308 commericial. If you reload, all this is mute. Go ahead and get yourself a K31 and some of their reloadable ammo, you won't be disappointed. Also heard their suppossed to get some more Swiss Gp11 in soon. |
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When you do handload for this round be aware that some bullets won't work. The K31 was designed around the cartridge. The bullet in the GP11 ammo has an unusual ogive, and the barrel has a relatively short throat. Some common .308 caliber bullets will jam into the rifling and may not allow the bolt to close. The K31 bolt does not have the camming power most bolt rifles have, so you probably not be able to fire it if the bullet is into the rifling. The Sierra Match Kings usually work well, and the Berger VLD bullets are a very close match for the original bullet. There are several other bullets that work also, and every rifle is a little different. A bullet that works in your rifle may not work in mine, etc. I know several K31 owners who have handloaded for decades. They have managed, after a lot of effort, to duplicate the accuracy of the GP11 surplus ammo- it's that good. Commercial hunting ammo is available. I bought some- $35.00 per box of 20 Norma SP ammo. I am not worthy of shooting it, but I have it. You will come to love this rifle. There is a very good clamp on mount for scope use that requires no permanent modifications. I usually do not like non-drilled and tapped mounts, but this one is different. You can remove the scope mount and re-mount it with little or no change in zero. The iron sights are getting smaller, or my eyes are getting older. The sights were dfinately made for younger eyes than mine. Jim |
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