Swiss K11 vs K31 Review - Part II: The Straight-Pull That Still Wins Matches
If the K11 is the gateway drug to Swiss straight-pulls, the K31 is the refinement that makes you wonder why anyone ever stopped building service rifles like this. Shorter action, excellent trigger, six-round detachable magazine, and the famously consistent 7.5×55 GP11 cartridge. It’s a milsurp that still feels purpose-built for the 300-meter line.
What it is and why it shoots so well
The K31 (Karabiner Modell 1931) was Switzerland’s standard rifle from 1933 into the late 1950s. It retains the straight-pull design but with a shortened bolt and receiver for faster lock time and better handling. Typical specs: ~4.0 kg unloaded, 1105 mm overall length, 6-round box magazine, iron sights with long, useful radius. Total production topped 528,000 rifles.
Chambering is 7.5×55 GP11, a non-corrosive service load with ballistics in the .308 neighborhood. It’s a huge part of why the K31 “just groups,” and why shooters still see near-MOA performance with good ammo and fundamentals.
Range notes from a shooter who actually runs his rifles
Recoil and rhythm: the straight-pull makes fast follow-ups easy, especially from prone or supported.
Sights: the tangent rear is honest and repeatable. For match work, clamp-on diopters exist and were traditionally approved in Swiss competition.
Ammo: GP11 remains the gold standard when available; modern commercial loads like PPU keep the K31 practical when surplus is scarce.
A quick history lesson
The K31 replaced the long 1911 rifle and the K11 carbine with a shortened, stiffer action that improved handling without sacrificing barrel length. It served through the Cold War transition until the Stgw 57 took over, though K31s lingered in reserve use into the 1970s.
Swiss doctrine was built around citizen-soldiers and 300-meter competence. That’s why many K31s you see today have terrific bores and crisp triggers: the rifle had to hit to the standard, and the standard was high.
The Swiss love of precision, by the numbers
This isn’t nostalgia. It’s a living culture. The Eidgenössisches Feldschiessen remains the world’s largest shooting festival, with 135,747 participants in 2024, and routinely draws well over 100,000 most years. That’s 300-meter service-rifle marksmanship as a national pastime, not a niche.
Does the K31 still win? Yes. Here are actual results.
National record with a K31: At the 2017 CMP National Matches (Camp Perry), Brian Williams set a National Vintage Military Rifle Match record with a 294-13X using a Swiss K-31.
Vintage Military Match overall win with a K31: At the 2023 CMP National Rifle Games, Sgt. Jonathan Wood won the Vintage Military Match using his own K31.
Local and regional vintage matches regularly show K31s on podiums as well; they’re a known quantity in the “as-issued” game for a reason.
K31 vs. rifles in the same price lane
Surplus markets move, but recent aggregates and live listings put clean K31s commonly in the $600-$800neighborhood, with condition and accessories pushing that up or down. That puts it shoulder-to-shoulder with other classic full-power bolts.
K31 (7.5×55 straight-pull)
Average used price around $615 over the past 12 months, with many retail/auction examples listing $600-$800+depending on condition and matching parts. Accuracy, trigger quality, and bolt speed are its calling cards.
Swedish Mauser M96/M38 (6.5×55, turn-bolt)
Typically ~$500-$900 depending on variant/condition; averages near $500 in broad datasets. Softer recoil and superb bores. The Swede is easier on the shoulder; the K31 is generally crisper on the trigger and quicker to cycle.
Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I/II (.303, turn-bolt)
Fastest traditional bolt around, great aperture sights. Broad data show average used prices ~$589-$630, though individual examples vary widely. Enfield wins speed and snap shooting; K31 usually wins on raw mechanical precision with GP11.
Finnish Mosin-Nagant M39 (7.62×54R, turn-bolt)
Well-regarded for accuracy; average used values cluster around $600-$650. The M39 is a terrific field rifle; the K31 typically offers a cleaner trigger, smoother cycling, and better match-grade ammunition consistency.
Buying tips that actually matter
Bore and crown first. Swiss bores are often excellent thanks to non-corrosive ammunition and proper grease, but verify.
Cycle the bolt hard-fast. The K31 rewards confident operation and should feel smooth through the camming stroke.
Look for troop tags. Many rifles retain the soldier’s paper tag under the buttplate. It adds provenance and is a uniquely Swiss touch.
Bottom line
If you want a service rifle that still punches above its weight on the scoreboard, not just at the bench, the K31 earns its reputation. Between the straight-pull speed, GP11 accuracy, and a century-deep culture of 300-meter precision, it’s no surprise you still see K31s breaking records and winning Vintage Military titles. That’s not a myth. That’s matches.
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Sources
K31 history, specs, production: K31 overview and technical details. Wikipedia
7.5×55 GP11 cartridge background: development and ballistic context. Wikipedia
Practical ammo alternatives: RifleShooter magazine on K31 and ammunition availability. rifleshootermag.com
Swiss competition culture: swissinfo explainer on the Field Shooting festival; SSV 2024 participation report. SWI swissinfo.ch+1
Match results with K31: CMP 2017 National Matches bulletin (Brian Williams K-31 national record); CMP 2023 news report (Sgt. Jonathan Wood wins Vintage Military with K31). Civilian Marksmanship Program+1
Market/pricing snapshots: TrueGunValue averages for K31, Swedish Mauser, Enfield No.4, Finnish M39; example retail/auction listings. gunbroker.com+5True Gun Value+5True Gun Value+5
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