Got the K-31 Shooting Good

It was a struggle, but I have finally got it to shoot.

I don't know if its typical for a K-31, but I was doing 3 inches at best at 110 (longest I can get the target out).

I do have the clamp on scope mount (very solid though the small rimfire site base is an odd choice, had to get Warne Rimfire rings to mount it)

I have several spare scopes so can prove its not the scope.

I can shoot 1/2 MOA and under groups so I know its not me,

The gun was beautiful, barrel pristine and straight (bore sight and scope alignment are spot on - I have tested a hunting rifle for a friend and the bore points off to one side, ergh, shoots 3 shot groups ok cold, I would not want to see what it does warm! )

In the end it was two things that brought it in.

One was working with the rear receiver screw tension as noted here.

Accurizing Your Swiss Rifle by Pierre St

The other was a guy who like myself built a 7.5 x 55 Swiss on a Savage action sent me some GP11. I had done the first screw tension work and my loads while not consistent got one sub MOA group and one 1.25. The GP11 shot consistent 2 x 1.25.

The next improvement and more consistent was to redo the tension work starting at full turn out then back in and I measured up the GP11.

While the GP11 ogives were in the ball park as the Nossler and Sierra 175s, the overall length was a lot shorter.

So I deeper seated rounds in what looked like a good node and got 3 groups of sub 1 MOA.

It was getting dark so elected not to try the limited GP11.

The Sierra seems to do better than the Nossler, H4350 in NNY (PPU) that have been segregated from my PPU for just the K-31 shooting (again reports are that works better though the Savage is setup as a close chamber match)

If you use the following load, approach from low and work up, it is what I used, not what I am telling anyone is safe. 47.4 grains. IMR may work as well and I will try it when it gets warmer!

GP11 NOTE: That is indeed an odd shaped bullet, I may pull one just to see, the Ogive is far forward. I only have 10 left (it costs a lot to get GP11, had to send to a brothers place in the States and and he bought it up.

It seems a lot of the K-31 shoot without the work, but I had to pull all the stops out.

Also did the band gap to ensure no contact. Pulled it out of the stock and checked the fit which looked good (beautifully clean inside as well) - just amazed at how clean the whole gun was inside and out.

Lot of looks at the range. Good conversation starter.