Look what came w/ my K-31

[RaySendero]

Bought a Swiss K-31 off Auction Arms.  Took a while to get paid, shipped and received.  Here's a link to an earlier thread showing how it was advertised:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=59290&sid=de7a2a03d01568d8bc8eeee6f81df823

Turns out it was all that plus!!!

The rifle, upper & lower stock, clip and name tag all have the same serial number.  Looking it up on Jim's date chart shows it was in deed made in 1945.

The rifle also came with an original leather sling, 3 stripper clips, cleaning kit and a muzzle cap/cover!

[RaySendero]

The muzzle cap fits over the muzzle and clips over the sight.  I assume they were suspose to keep dirt, rain, snow and ice out of the barrel.  No wonder they are scarce - Bet most were shot off the rifles.  However it does interupt the sight picture enough that you know its there.

[RaySendero]

That rifle cleaning kit.  Think its all there.  Has a handle, a five piece rod, a jag, 2 bore brushes, a chamber brush, and two other pieces that I can't figure what they do.  Sure smells musky like its been wrapped up for 50 years?!  Assume those bottom two un-used loops were for rags - but did not find rags in the kit.

[jh45gun]

Congrats Ray it looks like a good one let us know how she shoots.
 The cleaning kit is not for the Swiss bolt actions but for the Autos that came afterwards. More about that in my main post. The black cylinder thing with the split in it was used to clean the chambers of the Sig auto's it is a chamber cleaning tool.  the mirror looking thing was exactly that a mirror to check the chamber of the Sig auto's The two loops that are empty in the kit each held a plastic black oil and or grease bottle which was a round plastic about a inch in diameter tube with a cap on it for grease and oil.


It makes sense these cleaning kits were for the Sig Autos  as why would you need a chamber mirror for a bolt action? Still it is a neat kit to have even though it is not origional to the K31's and earlier rifles.  I had bought two of these cleaning rods when they were cheap at Cheaper than Dirt ect. While they are OK I really did not care for them and would rather use my Dewey cleaning rod on my guns. More sturdy and easier on the bore IMHO.  Getting the muzzle cap, Stripper clips and the sling was a plus. What do you think of the bore and trigger pretty nice eh?  Well I have 20 Pieces of new Grafs Brass I got from Pierre on the Swiss boards on a deal for folks who did not have any brass yet and was left wanting as Grafs is out until midsummer. ( the deal is over with I was lucky to get some while the offer stood)  I have dies on order so as soon as I get them I will load these cases and some 284 ( 20)  cases I will buy to resize to 7.5x55 and see what my rifle does at the range. I am only trying out 20 of the 284 brass to make sure my gun will eject these fine though I have heard most folks have had no problems. Wolf is supposed to have reloadable brass cased Boxer primed ammo out this summer also so the future of ammo for the gun is looking good.  Again congrats on your new rifle Let us know how she shoots.  The Next gun show is the end of June I may check that for some GP11 and may buy some just to shoot. I will save the brass but really do not plan to reload it unless I find a great deal on some berdan primers and want the hassle of trying to reload them. I guess the verdict is out on that one as long as other brass options are or will be available.  Here is a pic of the sig with the cleaning kit

[RaySendero]

Thanks Jim For the INFO.

Am disappointed about the cleaning kit not being part of the K-31 accessories.  Oh well, really wasn't planning on using it just keeping it along with the sling, muzzle cap and stripper clips separately stored.  I had an old rifle soft case that fit it.  Will probably find a military surplus sling and not use that leather one as this rifle is slated to be one of my  deer rifles.

The bore is shinny, no pitting and grooves look sharp.  Can't find any cracks or ice damage in either stock.  The butt stock has an arsenal repair.  Its very good - they even matched most of the wood grain!
 
Got all I need to the reload the 7.5x55 from Midsouth Shooters supply but the cases.  They even had the best prices overall.  I passed on the Norma cases even with the "best pricing".

Tried to order cases from Grafs and found they were out.  Thought I found some from Huntingtons but they were out too.  I'm still looking for cases.  Left the order back-ordered with Grafs so I'll get some sooner or later.   If you run across some please let me know.

Hey - and what about that trigger pull on the K-31s!  Mine is 3 pounds with absolutely no creap!  I can see this is going to be a fun project.  Figure I'll refinish the stock first - It has quite a bit of extra wood at all the wood to metal fits.  Also was susprised that the wood stocks were not sealed on the inside??  How you going to setup the sights on yours? Iron or Scope? I could use some ideas here.

[jh45gun]

Ray for now buy some 284 cases and resize them in the Swiss Resizing die. Set your press so the bottom of the die  and shell case holder is touching with the case in the die. To get this set up normal where you touch the die  with the shell holder and turn One  half a turn more if you can see daylight between the die and the shell holder with the case in it you still have to turn the die down some more. Here is a Pic thanks to Parashooter at the Swiss forum. You  should be able to find some 284 brass to use and while the rim is a bit smaller than the 7.5 x55 it will still work fine. For a scope set up I think I will get a Darrels Scout mount but I have heard the clamp on reciever style from ST Marie work darn good also and that you can use a regular scope. The mount clamps on the the side rail for the bolt. Here is Para shooters info on sizing the 284 brass to 7.5x55 Jim

What is necessary with the tough .284 brass is good lube and adjusting the die to compensate for press spring under load. If there is any gap between shellholder and sizer when actually sizing a case, the die must be screwed farther in until there is no gap under load.

Most folks never look at the junction of shellholder and die. Cases formed with a gap like this aren't going to chamber.

[RaySendero]

Hey Jim,

Got some 284 Win cases from a friend at work.  Working on them now while I'm switching between this thread and AmmoGuide.com.  Got'em where they will chamber and work thru the action.  If you breeze thru while I'm on line speak-up.

Have some IMR-4350 and some 180 SGKs.  Need a minimum/starting  powder charge for the them.



PS: Settled on 40 grains IMR-4350.  Will see how they shoot tomorrow.

[jh45gun]

Let me know how she shoots.

[RaySendero]

Let me know how she shoots.

Iron sights at 50 yards are about 1.5"

[RaySendero]

I switch my pics to url addresses to speed up the thread.

Your pic of the die really helped.  But I still had all kind of trouble at the range!  Took 10 round to get that 5 shot group!  First round at 25 hit close to POA so when target to 50 yards.  So far everything was OK!?

Next put five rounds in clip.  Noticed something odd about how the first round chambered from the magazine.  So decide to eject an unfired round.  When I did the bullet stuck in the throat and all the powder fell out of the case as it was ejected!  Did not start cuss'n yet.

Removed the clip, rodded out the bullet and cleaned in all up (I thought).  When to chamber another round and it would not go far enough in to lock the bolt.  Pulled the bolt to eject this round and guess what - Bullet stuck again and powder everywhere!  Still not cuss'n.

Removed the clip, rodded out the bullet and cleaned in all up again (I thought).  Figured that maybe a round or two did not get completely resized so looked over all the remaining rounds side by side to pick one with the best shoulder.  Now I only had 10 rounds to start with so I'm wondering if I'll ever get a group!?  Chambered the picked round and again the bolt would not lock!  Now I'm cuss'n cause I know I must open that action with another unfired round.  Open it - Same results!

Removed the clip, rodded out the bullet and cleaned in all up again.  This time I found a small amount of powder crushed into the chamber at the six o'clock position at the neck.  Cleaned it up - Was problem all along.  Bet somehow I missed it on the first cleaning and the next round push/crushed it to the neck of the chamber.

Loaded the last rounds one at a time to the chamber and finally got that group.  Pretty good group "under stress"!!!  Half the size of the first group from that 8mm I was working on all last year.  Got chrono readings from the five shots to average 2,070 with CV=1.31%.  So I'm feeling good on the accuracy potential of the rifle.  1st group is good and I can usually get the CV down to half that optimizing reloads.

But to keep others from sticking their finger in the electric socket:

1) This should remind all to start out low on the powder!  This load was more than 15% below listed max.  If it had not been could have had some real high pressures with that bullet touching rifling.

2) I should have checked the chamber length but I didn't because I did not want to "waste" one of my 10 cases to produce a dummy.  You know I've  never had an issue with bullet touching rifling at or below listed max!

3) I loaded that 180 SGK to listed maximum OAL of 3.051" - It’s too long for that bullet in my rifle!  Will need to shorten the OAL.

4) I did check and the bullets were held tight so I did not put a crimp on that round.  Next time I will.

[jh45gun]

Thanks for the info Ray. I am still waiting for my dies will not get them until this week the gun shop is not ordering them until tomorrow :evil:  I told the guy come on I would like to shoot the rifle some time in my life. He was waiting to get a larger order to send in which I under stand but patience is not one of my big virtues when I want something. Good group for a first time shooting the gun and first time reloads for it.  Jim

[jh45gun]

Ray, Well I finally got my Lee dies today for the 7.5 Swiss and decided to try resizing some 286 WIn to 7.5 Swiss with my Lee Hand press I have two and are the only presses I own. Well like every thing else I have tried with this press it worked flawlessly. I followed the directions I got about going a half a turn more or a bit more on the sizing die and it worked like a charm. I only bought 5 cases to see how it would work and it was not a problem. I used a lube pad and the normal Hornady lube and it worked fine. I just put a dab on lube inside the neck with a pipcleaner and they sized with out a hitch. I tried one in my K31 and they chamber fine and eject fine also. First loads will be with cast bullets and 16 grains of 2400 as that is what I happen to have on hand at the moment. Jim

[RaySendero]

Jim,

What OAL are your reloads?

I just fininshed that dummy round I should have made first and these 180
SGKs only fit at 2.96" or less!!!!

THAT'S 0.090" (90 Thousanths) BELOW MAX OAL???

Do I have the wrong Maximum OAL or what?

[jh45gun]

You know I find that all my reloads fall short of  that max OAL number. I normally go with, so the bullet base is even with  the bottom of the neck or if it has a crimp groove I use that. These cast loads were some bullets I bought allready cast lubed and gas checked and weighed around 164 grains and were spitzer shaped.  My OAl for these is 2.77 so I am shorter than you even but I think these bullets are shorter than some. My Hornady book says COL is 3.025  and My Lee Dies say Maximum Overall Lengh is 3.051 so my reloads for this cal using these bullets is considerably shorter. I think they get those OAL numbers but the using the longest bullet possible and seated out as far as possible yet these may not fit the magazine so they would have to be used single shot.