Swiss K31 (2024)

FAQs

Is the Swiss K31 a good rifle? ›

If you have a source for 7.5 x 55 ammunition, the K31 is a most excellent rifle. The main drawback of course is the rarity of parts because only about half a million were produced, of which many have been destroyed. Compare that production to some rifle like the M1 Garand where over five million were produced.

The K31 was at the ready during WWII

While the Allied powers eventually defeated the enemy and the war came to a close, Switzerland needed to be prepared for anything, should its neutrality be compromised. As a result, officials equipped the country's citizenry with one of the best battle rifles of the time: the K31.

Swiss K31 Sniper - $4400 (K31/43-451810) - Edelweiss Arms.

Despite its nomenclature, the 7.5×55mm Swiss designed for 7.78 mm (0.306 in) bullets can use the same 7.62 mm (. 308 in) bullets as conventional 7.62 mm (. 308 in) cartridges that have slightly wider land and groove diameters. This allows for ease of handloading and custom competition or hunting loads, as nearly any .

It has a 6-round removable magazine, and is chambered for the 7.5×55mm Swiss Gewehrpatrone 1911 or GP 11, a cartridge with ballistic qualities similar to the 7.62×51mm NATO/. 308 Winchester cartridge. Each rifle included a 6-round detachable box magazine with matching stamped serial number.

More than 580,000 K31 rifles were made between 1933 and 1958, and many stayed in reserve store until the 1990s. Another fun, unique element found with some rifles is a piece of paper under the buttplate with the name and address of the last citizen/soldier issued the rifle.

Hetzenauer preferred a K98k Mauser rifle with a six-powered scope, while many German snipers preferred a four-powered scope on the Mauser.

In Warzone, the Swiss K31 can be used as a traditional sniper rifle, helping you scout out distant areas and cover your squadmates via a high-powered zoom, or it can be built out for fierce midrange fighting. Pair it with an assault rifle or SMG, your preference.

Well, with calipers and bullets, I was able to estimate that the bore diameter at the muzzle of my K31 is 0.296" or 7.52 mm.

Is 7x57 the same as 7mm mauser? ›

The 7×57mm Mauser (designated as the 7 mm Mauser or 7×57mm by the SAAMI and 7 × 57 by the C.I.P.) is a first-generation smokeless powder rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge. It was developed by Paul Mauser of the Mauser company in 1892 and adopted as a military cartridge by Spain in 1893.

The “7mm” is the caliber. If you convert that to the standard system, you will be at roughly . 280 or what some will refer to as a “28” or “280” caliber bullet.

Swiss Carbine Accuracy

From conception, the K31 designers envisioned it as a match rifle. Military surplus GP11 ammo is match ammo. These rifles are scary accurate. I have shot a group under 1/2 MOA with iron sights, a feat I've not been able to repeat.

K-31 gets my vote. Much prefer it over a 30-06 or 308. I've taken it mule deer and elk hunting as well as whitetail. Works absolutely perfect.