Being a collector, I'm also curious as to how rare the "sniper" variant of this rifle is. From my understanding, they're not very common and usually fetch a premium price tag (provided they sport the original optics)
I have no idea how rare the sniper version, because I have never seen one.
From what I've read here, the K31 is a pleasent gun to shoot, and most who own one are very pleased with them. However, compared to other Milsurp rifles, how does the K31 stack up in terms of accuracy to the more common bolt actions out there? I'm not expecting a tack driver out of these, seeing as they were designed for mass production first accuracy second.
I have not scanned any of my K31 targets, but this rifle is exceptionally accurate
for a service rifle. I have shot the things in local 100 yard walk up NM courses. It is very quick to cycle, just grab the bolt and pull. Even though I have Swiss slings, I shoot prone without any sling tension. The sling attachments are for side carry and are of little use in supporting the rifle in shooting positions. Also, I believe, pulling on the sling changes the point of impact. Still, going from standing, sitting, to prone, I can see the point of impact change, which is fairly typical of all service rifles.
I recently paid for an Furter adjustable rear sight, see image (
http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=87572) so maybe I will be able to make sight adjustments during the match. I sighted the rifle in last week with the new sight, and off the bench, with my 174 FMJBT reloads, I was able to shoot two five shot groups that stayed within the 2" 10 ring of the 100 yard small bore target. That was using a bench rest. That is exceptional accuracy for a service rifle. You will run into posters who claim consistent MOA or sub MOA from their rack grade Garand, and I don’t know what planet they got their rifle, but service rifles are not target rifles. Read what Hummer70 says about the accuracy requirements of M1903’s though the M16:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5424409
The M14 in issue condition is known as the worst performing rifle we ever fielded. I worked product engineering for the Army Small Cal Lab at Picatinny Arsenal and I had engineering responsibility for the M14 until the Chief transferred me to the Dover Devil MG project. While there my board was adjacent to Julio Savioli who was the draftsman for the M14 rifle and his name is on all the drawings for it. Al Cole was engineer in charge of the M14 and he was also a friend. Savy (as we called him) was a wealth of information on the M14 and had all kinds of stories about it as he not only did the drawings, he was in on the field testing.
First off consider the requirement facts from the engineering files from the government weapons production efforts.
1. acceptance accuracy for 1903 Springfield was 3" at 100 yards.
2. acceptance accuracy for M1 Garand was 5" at 100 yards.
3. acceptance accuracy for M14 was 5.5" at 100 yards and was waivered continually as it could not meet that.
4. acceptance accuracy for M16 series is 4.5" at 100 yards.
From SAAMI we have a recommendation of 3" at 100 yards and it is up to the vendor whether he wants to meet this or not.
I consider any military bolt rifle that shoots within 3” at 100 yards a very accurate service rifle. For those who claim sub MOA for their Lee Enfield, Mauser, etc, show me your 20 shot MR31 target. This is the 600 yard reduced target used in a NRA 100 yard walk up match. Last year, with my 2 MOA K31 rifle, I shot a 178-1X on the target, big points lost because I was having to use “Kentucky” windage to center the group, this year, I should be able to use a consistent aimpoint instead of aiming in the white. I have never shot higher than a 188 with a M1903A3 as the barrel is simply not accurate enough.
Even though this is just a 198, (I have shot 200's) I just love the looks of that big damn hole in the center of the target. And this is out of a match M98 Mauser. Don't expect a service rifle to shoot like this.
Is the recoil from these rifles as punishing as the M91/30 Mosin Nagant?
As for recoil , Newtonian physics has not changed, this rifle pushes a 174 grain bullet at 2550 fps, which is just a little less than a 308, and it kicks similar to a 308. The stock is somewhat better shaped than a Mosin. I really dislike the recoil from 200 grain bullets in 8 mm K98’s, this recoil is not so bad.
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In regards to said ammunition, I was wondering what you would say is the average cost for ammunition these days and how hard would it be to reload for this rifle (I hope to get into reloading later on)
The round is easy to reload. The case loves IMR 4350. The problem will be finding reloadable brass. I have no idea the current price, just check the spot market daily. Prices change radically every day. Lets just say, ammunition is not getting any cheaper.
Code:
[SIZE="3"]
168 gr Nosler Match 51.0 gr AA4350 INDEP brass and primer OAL 2.850
22 Dec 01 T = 58 ° F
Ave Vel = 2536
Std Dev = 17
ES = 45
Low = 2510
High = 2555
N= 9
AP11 Swiss Ball headstamp DA 78
24 Mar 04 T = 70 ° F
Ave Vel = 2565
Std Dev = 11
ES = 23
Low = 2551
High = 2574
N = 4[/SIZE]
Since the supply of K31's has dried up, prices will climb. I remember being happy to buy one for $350.00. Then you could buy one for $125.00, one with a cracked stock for $79.00. I was upset that I over paid, but now, I guess I did not do that badly because prices have gone back up. If you like precision machinery, you will like the K31. It is too expensive to build as no one but a Nation State could afford it.
