K31, M96, or newer Bolt-Action?

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pcoutu17

New member
I'm looking into buying a new rifle, mainly to be used for target shooting. I like the idea of owning one of the older military rifles like the Swiss K31 or Swedish M96 and they seem to get extremely favorable comments, but I'm wondering if choosing a newer, current production rifle might be a better choice.

Any insight from the TFL community would be greatly appreciated!
 
You need to narrow down your definition of "target shooting" for us.

Long range? Under 100yrds? Are you going to strictly shoot with iron sights? Going to scope it?


Both of those are fine rifles (I own a K31) but they will be more expensive to shoot than a .223 or a .22 and there are plenty of modern guns in those calibers that will outshoot the Swiss or the Swede.

There will always be the undeniable appeal of shooting a well built piece of history, but while they can be put to work in a variety of situations, you may eventually decide there are other guns that work better in a given situation.

My K31 comes out rarely these days. Maybe I'll put a few holes in a paper target, say, "Yup, she still works!", then rub my sore shoulder.
 
K31's are great guns but ammo is kind of tough to find. Preciously you could find surplus Swiss GP11 and it was pratically match ammo. That supply has apparently dried up and now you can find Fiochhi online but that is about it.
 
Thanks for the response WillieD!

I'll most likely be shooting out to 100 yards a vast majority of the time and most likely won't be going any further than 150 yards. Iron sights are the method of choice for now, but I may be interested in adding a scope in the future.

I've got the .22 covered, and this rifle will fill more of a "fun" niche. I wouldn't mind having the ability to take it out deer hunting every now and then though. It seems the K31 and M96 are rather long and heavy for really efficient hunting, but they would work and can be modified to fit the bill of a true hunting rifle. Although, I doubt I'd want to mess with them overly much to avoid ruining the historical appeal.
 
Well military surplus rifles are great fun and surprisingly accurate, but expensive to feed and expensive to scope, they can be a bit cumbersome for hunting without modification (which decreases their value). On the other hand new production rifles seldom come with iron sights, unless you take the "scout" or AR approach. Reloading allows you to take advantage of both, whichever way you decide to go, And the K-31 and M-96 are two of the most accurate mil-surps out there. Good luck and let us know how you decide. :D
 
Both the K31 and M96 are great target rifles with iron sights, and neither of them will need any modification for hunting, unless you want to put a scope on them, which you don't need for the woods at all, anyway.

For ammo, it's gotten expensive, but so has the standard .308 or similar centerfire cartridge. Get a reloading setup and make your own, your accuracy will only improve, and your cost will amortize out.

The prices of K31s and M96s are not going down.

You can get a modern production rifle anytime, a quality milsurp is something to snap up when you find it.
 
I was considering the same thing a few months ago. I ended up going with a new cz527 in 7.62x39. No regrets!
 
^+1 kilimanjaro

As to available ammo for K31's, current production Prvi Partizan (also known as PPU ammo) is quite reasonable for .308 class ammo and can be reloaded. K31s reload with standard .308 bullets, provided you have the brass to load them into. I still have quite a bit of GP11 and PPU hunting ammo, but made my Christmas gift this past year a reloading setup for my K31. I expect my grandkids will be able to reload and shoot this fine old rifle (if the 2nd A is still recognized).

If you're looking for the occasional plinker and not wanting to reload, I would say get a modern .308. Ammo is readily available and for what K31s are going for nowadays, you're bumping into the price of low end .308s.

As far as hunting and scoping, I have a scout scope setup on my K31 that can be easily removed and the rifle put back to 100% original condition at any time. I have hunted with this rifle and others with iron sights, but in twilight, when deer come out, I appreciate a good scope.
 
I'm going off the reservation here.

Suggesting a sporting rifle (AR-15), huge selection of (relatively) inexpensive and easy to obtain ammo- and infinitely adaptable as your needs/desires evolve.

You can go with the traditional A2 configuration with the carry-handle type open sights, or the more modern M4 with a picatinny rail where you can add your open sights, red dot, or scope.

Fun to shoot, accurate, and a great gun for trigger time- and fun to build with a minimum of tools required to get exactly what you want and can afford. You do need a free-float handguard, quality barrel, and aftermarket trigger for a target application.

I do have a personal C&R in addition to my FFL and have both the rifles (actually two K-31's) and while they're fun to shoot- and are very accurate if you get "good ones", they would not be my recommendation to a new shooter that's looking to hone his skills with open sights. But hey, if you're into learning on these old rifles, more power to ya- both are excellent choices, but the amm will be more expensive.
 
I've been pondering the same thing and have decided that a new entry level bolt action in .223 would be the way to go.
Less recoil to make a day shooting more fun and relatively low ammo prices.
One of the many choices from the major gun makers should be about right.
Judging from the reviews, they will be plenty accurate enough, too.

P.S.
"Yup, she still works!", then rub my sore shoulder.
Click to expand...
My opinion also of shooting them old WW2 rifles for fun.
Five rounds is plenty of fun.
Any more than that ain't.
They make good hunting rifles, but not so good for target shooting plinkers.
 
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If you are just going to use this as a recreational target shooting gun, I would buy a new rifle and not go with a misurp rifle.

10 to 15 years ago, milsurp rifles were dirt cheap and the ammo was likewise. Today, the rifles are a lot more money as is the ammo and the ammo is a lot harder to get.

Likewise, if you see yourself scoping the rifle, don't butcher a milsurp rifle. It is, what it is. If you want to scope the rifle, just buy a new one that is ready/willing/able to accept a scope. Yeah, I know all about the mounts that don't require butchering the rifle. My statement stands.

FWIW: I shot a K31 in a monthly match where I used to live for years. We used bone stock (as-issued) milsurp rifles. At our local club matches we shot out to 400 yards and at a semi-annual match in a neighboring state we shot out to 800 yards. Again, with the rifle as-issued. I have fired thousands and thousands of rounds out of a K31. The K31 and the Swiss surplus ammo is a terrific combo IF you are looking for a milsurp piece of history. If you want a rifle with all kinds of add-on/bubba stuff hung off of it, just buy a new modern rifle.

I agree with the guy that said, buy an AR15. That is the rifle I shoot 90% of the time these days. Terrific accuracy, endless configurations, rail to go from irons to all kinds of different optics, very easy to work on, very easy to modify, very easy to rebuild............................
 
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You run a couple magazines of full power 12ga slugs through a nice, light mossberg riot gun, and a k31 or kar 98k feels like a 22lr.
 
An AR has the advantage of decent iron sights and easy scope installation.
You would start with a flat top and detachable handle.

It is hard to put a scope on old surplus without either cutting up a collector's item or relying on an improvisation.
It is hard to get good iron sights on a modern sporter, they haven't come drilled and tapped for receiver sights for a long time.
 
Both the K31 and M96 are great rifles for shooting targets, but target rifles they ain't. Unless it's milsurp shoots. Still prefer shooting any milsurp to any commercial hunting rifle myself. Commercial hunting rifles are decidedly boring.
No scopes except for the '03A4. Bolt action battle rifles are/were never intended to have 'em and subsequently it's not easy to do for most of 'em. Some moreso than others. And, as mentioned, it'll drop the value by half.
"...rather long and heavy..." A K31 is 43.5" OAL and 8 lbs. 13 oz. A Win M70 Sporter with a 24" barrel is 44.75" OAL and 7 lbs. 4 oz. Not much difference.
 
I was just thinking the same thing. New guns are boring, with the exception of maybe an AR style rifle. You can pick up a basic AR and add all kinds of junk to play with. An old beat up military gun is a lot more fun. You can get into reloading if you are not already. You can repair /upgrade if you want, or try to find all the extra junk that goes with it to stay original. Do as you please, but my vote goes with an old military surplus or beat up civilian rifle.
 
I wrote the rules for our private shooting ranges monthly military rifle competition. Someone asks me for a surplus rifle to acquire to use in our competition.....generally recommend the K31, a Swede 38 or 96 or a 1903/1903-A03 Springfield to buy. Not listed in order of preference.

If you don't reload, do suggest a bolt action .223 rifle. Cheap to feed its ammo. Have a Marlin heavy barrel X rifle in .223....one of my more accurate rifles. Unfortunately, Marlin X rifles no longer made. Have noticed Savage Axis rifles with a heavy barrel in my local Wal-Mart.....if its in .223 I'd think about it. Lousy trigger and stock (my opinion), but should still shoot very respectable groups.
 
I have both k31 and swede96. I would say get the k31 the sights have a 100 meter setting unlike the 96 it has a 300 meter lowest setting. Unless you change the sights on the 96 it will shoot about a foot high at 100 yards. My k31 shoots slightly better the 96 also. Sights are a little better. The k31 does not work well for a hunting rifle due to weird safety. Lost a shoot at a nice buck with mine fiddling with the safety.The old milsurps are great fun enjoy them before your eyesight gets worse with age and you have to go to a scoped rifle. Its also great to have a "old ugly" rifle and out shoot the AR crowd at the range.
 
K31 made sense b/c GP11 was available cheaper than any equivalent match ammunition.
No GP11 surplus, then I wouldn't get one with any intent to shoot.
 
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