wkdickinson
Gold $$ Contributor
I have been looking to purchase a K31, to shooting in our local "classic' Military matches, for a really long time. I've heard stories about 20-30 years ago you could buy them for $150 from discount sporting goods stores. Well, I started looking about 10-15 years ago and all of the ones I found were so 'ratty" I wouldn't have taken them home, let alone paid $350-$400 for them.
A week ago an ad came up in a local FB group (that is not a "selling" group, but it really is) for a K31. The pictures looked really good and the price was right too ($600). I contacted the guy and bought it, contingent on it being as nice as it appeared. Well it was, and more, this rifle looks like it came from the factory in 1950 (aged by SN). So of course I bought it. After getting it home I bore scoped it and found some dark areas toward the middle of the barrel, but very little pitting. I spent a week or so cleaning the barrel. Many cycle of solvent and bronze brush, then a few cycles of Iosso. The bore looks better, not pristine, but then again it is 73 years old.
I orders some new Prvi brass, 175 SMK bullets and I had some H4350 and Fed 210M primers. I put together 25 rounds with 45.8gr of powder and shot them today at 100 yds. It took about 10 shot to season the barrel, but after that it started to shoot pretty well, for what it is (15 shots, 11 - 10's and 4 - 9's) on the 100yd NRA Military target and I am not at all accomplished at shooting a post front sight.
I intend to try loading some 155gr Palma bullets and trying some other powders. I would really appreciate any guidance, anyone might have!
Thanks!
Wayne
A week ago an ad came up in a local FB group (that is not a "selling" group, but it really is) for a K31. The pictures looked really good and the price was right too ($600). I contacted the guy and bought it, contingent on it being as nice as it appeared. Well it was, and more, this rifle looks like it came from the factory in 1950 (aged by SN). So of course I bought it. After getting it home I bore scoped it and found some dark areas toward the middle of the barrel, but very little pitting. I spent a week or so cleaning the barrel. Many cycle of solvent and bronze brush, then a few cycles of Iosso. The bore looks better, not pristine, but then again it is 73 years old.
I orders some new Prvi brass, 175 SMK bullets and I had some H4350 and Fed 210M primers. I put together 25 rounds with 45.8gr of powder and shot them today at 100 yds. It took about 10 shot to season the barrel, but after that it started to shoot pretty well, for what it is (15 shots, 11 - 10's and 4 - 9's) on the 100yd NRA Military target and I am not at all accomplished at shooting a post front sight.
I intend to try loading some 155gr Palma bullets and trying some other powders. I would really appreciate any guidance, anyone might have!
Thanks!
Wayne