7.5 Swiss Straight pull

[theperfessor]

A local gunshop has a 7.5 straight pull swiss military rifle fir sale for $150. Metal and wood (including crest on receiver) looks really good, almost brand new. Didn't get a chance to check bore.

Don't have much experience w/military rifles. If the bore is good would this be a good rifle at this price for shooting cast bullets at reasonable velocities? Any good or bad features to this?

Would appreciate advice from someone with experience. Thanks for any responses.

[725]

If it's the K-31, it's a cherry of a rifle. Very high reputation for accuracy. It's an ugly duckling until you get used to the odd straight pull thing. It would be one of the very last thigs I would get rid off if I had to. $150 is a good price. I would drive a few hundred miles to get one at that price.

[closey]

Check this link to identify which model it is....

http://www.swissrifles.com/sr/index.html

The price sounds good to me from a European point of view, as long as it is in good condition.

Closey

[EMC45]

That's a good price and I guarantee the bore is a mirror!

[beemer]

The bores are usually very good but check anyway, I have seen a bad one but the whole rifle looked like a used canoe paddle. The price is good, around here they are between $175 & $200 and going up. They are strange to look at and a little quirkey to load for but the craftsmanship and accuracy is unbelivable. I have two K31s and both,with a little tinkering, outshoot most any Remchester you can find.

The swissrifles site mentioned above is the place to go. I would check to make sure what model you have found as there are several different ones. The K31 is the last model and probably the most common.

beemer

[runfiverun]

if it is the 96/11 that is still a good price and for a98 a steal.
the only other mili rifle that will shoot as good is an argentine i have.
and maybe an 03.

[theperfessor]

Closey - Thanks for link to web site. Got some useful information.

Went back to gunstore and took closer look. Blued metal, Swiss crest in excellent shape. Bore shiny as a mirror with clean looking rifling and good crown. Action works smooth as Swiss watch. Sights in excellent shape.

Stock had light dings all over and one side (the side up against the wall in display) had some pretty heavy dings. I decided I could live with that, Will probably steam out dents and refinish as best as possible, and I'll probably add recoil pad or spacer to lengthen stock. (I'm 6'5" with long arms - most rifle stocks are too short for me.)

Plan to slug bore and buy some factory ammo to test it with then start reloading with cast. Apparently it was designed for 174 gr bullets and that is fine with me - something around 160 - 180 grs seems like a good place to start. Any suggestions on cast bullets/loads? There is nothing in my old Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook for the 7.5 x 55.

[Kraschenbirn]

Run a search for "7.5x55 Swiss" or "Schmidt-Rubin". There have been several threads discussing loads for these. I've had good results with both the Lyman 311041 (gotta single-load these 'cause they're FNs and won't feed from the mag) and the Lee 312-185-2R; both sized to .310.

Bill

[mto7464]

be carefull trying to refinish the stock. It is almost imposilbe to duplicate that swiss finish. Most that I have seen looked worse IMHO after they were done.

[runfiverun]

you can use 308 cast data to get you started h-322 works in mine at 1900 fps
the rcbs 165 silhouette is a fine boolit also.

[725]

There is a current group buy for a boolit mould specifically designed for the K-31. I think it's listed under "custom 165 silouete". Designed to keep the gas check inside the neck of the Swiss cartridge and all the other common dimensions. Go over to the group buy thread and check out all the effort that went into the design of the mould. Just the thing for you.

[jack19512]

Stock had light dings all over and one side (the side up against the wall in display) had some pretty heavy dings. I decided I could live with that, Will probably steam out dents and refinish as best as possible, and I'll probably add recoil pad or spacer to lengthen stock. (I'm 6'5" with long arms - most rifle stocks are too short for me.)






Don't be afraid to refinish the stock. all of the K31's I have seen have some pretty rough stocks and I don't think you can make them any worse. My K31's seem to like the 200 grain cast bullet. Here are my two K31's that I have refinished the stocks on.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/jack19512/K31s.jpg

Originally I had a scout type scope mount on my Beech stocked K31 but I didn't like it so here is the scope mount I have on it now and I like it a lot better.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a63/jack19512/K31ScopeMount.jpg

[theperfessor]

725 - Thanks for info on group buy. I'm in!

Jack - pretty rifles, nice job. Mine has walnut stock, plain but attractive. Hope it comes out as nice looking as yours. What did you use to refinish?

What brand/type of scope mount is that? Not sure I want to drill/tap receiver yet but will keep in mind for future consideration. I bought gun as shooter, not collector's item, but don't want to lower value by making too many alterations since it has all matching serial numbers on barrel, receiver, and bolt (which are in pristine condition).

Local gun club has iron sight military rifle matches at intervals, might be fun to compete in against boys and girls w/06s and 8x57s.

[Scrounger]

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8423448
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8434956

[Calamity Jake]

My K31 likes 311291 @ .309Ø and 18.5 Blue Dot, With my bad 58yo eyes and the issue sights I can keep them inside 2.75 inches @ 100

[theperfessor]

Scrounger - Thanks for link, bought $75 one w/1" rings. Have old 1" scope that I can try out.

Calamity Jake - Thanks, got a pound of Blue Dot, will try load as soon as I get rest of components.

Everybody is so helpful on this site, I appreciate it very much!

[jack19512]

What did you use to refinish?










I used a DA sander on the parts of the stock that were easy to get to, hand sanded the rest. Also steamed out all of the dents and dings I could. I used Formby's Tung Oil purchased from Walmart for the finish. Isn't hard at all to do, just take time and do a good prep job on the stock. If you are interested in the entire job send me a PM and would be glad to guide you through it when you are ready to do it. The pic of the rifles isn't that good, they really look a lot better in person.

[mto7464]

My best load to date was fired today.
Lee 180 .30 cast in Lino GC'ed lee tuble lube 34 grains 4064 sized .308 about 2100 fps 2" groups at 100. I was thinking about the group buy until I got this one to shoot.

[theperfessor]

What luck! Just got latest issue of AR. Nice article on disassembling a K31 carbine just like mine. Will come in real handy. Also explains why buttstock is so dented while rest of stock is just mildly dinged up.

[MtGun44]

Check out

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=30320

For some recent results that I had with one of my K31s.

These are really primo rifles. I also won a Swiss shooting medal
yesterday at a Swiss rifle match in Nebraska. Going back in two
weeks to try again.

Bill

[725]

It's not a cast load, but for giggles, one of my favorite loads (which is explosive on woodchucks) is as follows:
125 gr Sierra (product #2120), 44 grs of 3031, standard primer, COAL 2.745, with a light Lee Factory Crimp. Yesterday I was shooting 3 inch groups and 200 yards. Shocked me all to get out that they would remain stable that far out. Handed the rifle to a friend who had never shot it before and he put three into one hole at 25 yards. ....and a small hole at that. No wonder the Swiss never seem to be invaded.

[pumpguy]

Anyone here be willing to put up the article from AR? I get AH and it is obviously not in there.

[VintageRifle]

SurplusRifle.com has excellent rifle and bolt information on their website for the K31.

[EMC45]

Be warned thought that depending on how you hold the rifle when ejecting the brass it may toss the hot ones down your shirt back.

[Ricochet]

I haven't done that, but when shooting from the bench I can usually eject the brass upward and catch it on the way down.

[chuebner]

I usually have the mag out since I single load, so I just place my hand over the action and pull back the bolt. Ejected case hits my hand on the way out, then exits out the bottom of the mag well onto a towel I usually have on the bench. Saves chasing brass. Also I pull back the cocking ring prior to pulling the bolt back, makes opening the bolt a whole lot easier.

Happy and safe Memorial Weekend. I plan on shooting my U.S. warriors this weekend in honor of their service (M1888 trapdoor and 1903A3).

Charlie

[joel1847]

I bought a K-31 awhile back when they went on sale at Big 5. Can't remember how much it was I want to say it was around 125$. Picked up some surplus ammo locally and took it to a range and it was the most accurate rifle I've ever shot. Silver dollar groups at a shade past 300 yards with original sights. Thanks for the links on the scope mounts. Gonna pick up some more of that surplus ammo now as soon as I can.
Joel

[VintageRifle]

The GP11 Ammo is starting to go up in price. Several of the online retailers still have a box of 10 for around $5. Local it is $10 for 10. If I remember right, GP11 was last produced in the 90's. Wolf Gold and Prvi are also very nice and are boxer primed. I still think the GP11 shoots the best, but Wolf Gold and Prvi (Prvi makes the Wolf Gold) are darn close.

[jack19512]

Silver dollar groups at a shade past 300 yards with original sights.






Man, you are good. :holysheep

[jack19512]

The GP11 Ammo is starting to go up in price. Several of the online retailers still have a box of 10 for around $5. Local it is $10 for 10.






Back when I purchased my two K31's I also purchased two of the 480 round ammo packs and put them in storage. I paid $150.00 each which included shipping.

[teddyblu]

Theperfesser:

Did your K-31 have the paper under the butt plate with a name and the serial number,?
several came that way, mine had a name and number.

[theperfessor]

Haven't had a chance to do anything to the rifle. Did buy a no-drill scope mount w/1" rings and got it in mail today.

Spent most of the weekend smelting about 850 lbs of roof sheathing into corn-bread ingots so I've been kinda busy.

As soon as I get next paycheck I plan to order dies, ammo, and scope. Looking at and reading about various bullets molds and loads so that is on list also as well as gas checks.

Hope there is tag under butt plate. It would be interesting to trace back information.

By the way, my K-31's serial number puts the year of manufacture as 1954, which is also my year of birth. It reminds me of myself - beat up and dinged on both ends but still pretty good in the middle! But overall the rifle is in better shape I think. :wink:

[725]

I researched the tag under the butt and contacted the old guy in Switzerland. We exchanged photos and such. He kindly gave me a photo of him in uniform with his (my) rifle. Language was a minor impediment but we muttled through.

[theperfessor]

Is the GP11 surplus ammo you guys refer to reloadable? Or should I just buy commercial stuff?

[garandsrus]

Prefessor,

GP11 is Berdan primed. If you have Berdan primers, it's reloadable :)

Some folks have converted Berdan primed brass to Boxer primed, but I personally don't think it's worth the hassle. You can find 7.5x55 boxer primed brass or buy PMC (or other) ammo that is boxer primed and then reload them.

John

[runfiverun]

or just convert .284 win brass.

[Ricochet]

Or buy Graf's brass. Or Prvi Partizan loaded ammo. (Prvi makes Graf's brass, too.)