K31 out of battery?

[Happy_Garand]

I recently got a prett nice K31 and it is my first straight pull. I have been fiddling with it while I wait for some ammo to arrive in the mail and noticed that sometimes when I throw the bolt forward, it doesn't go all the way in, so when the trigger is pulled, it still rotates some more, but when looking at it with the bolt out of the rifle, the firing pin doesn't seem to go all the way forward until the bolt is all the way locked. So does this mean it puts itself into battery before the firing pin hits the primer? Or will it explode in my face if I don't have the bolt completely closed when I pull the trigger?

[Ovidio]

I never pulled the trigger in that condition, but I notice that with my reloads the rifle tends to close until you have still a few millimetres (1-2) left. I rap the handle and complete the closing of the action.
Can't remember how it is with commercial ammo, but I have a full box, so I might try during the week-end.
In my opinion, you don't really risk if you're missing a couple mm, but I still do not like the idea at all. So I don't do it...

[Gil Boyd]

Take it to a professional firearms expert/dealer if you are unsure about the action. NEVER take a chance!

[Ovidio]

Yep...Gil is right...

[Eaglelord17]

A K31 cannot be fired out of battery. If the bolt is not fully closed when the trigger is pulled, the firing pin moves the locking lugs to the locked position. This usually means that the firing pin doesn't have enough energy to detonate the primer as well. Just re-cock the firing pin manually and it will be good to go.

Not putting the bolt fully into battery with a K31 is a about twice a range trip thing for me because I am left handed and sometimes you just don't move it far enough forward. No safety issue there at all, if there was such a obvious safety issue there would be tons of reports of blown up rifles.

[Happy_Garand]

Thanks a bunch, Eaglelord. Since I've never owned or shot a rifle anything like the K31, it helps put my mind at ease for just in case it does happen

[Eaglelord17]

Even most turn bolt rifles do the same thing, if you try leaving the bolt not fully locked in position and pull the trigger, many designs will draw the bolt into the locked position, its just a bit more obvious the bolt is out of battery in a turn bolt.

[Ovidio]

I shot my commercial S&B rounds today. They chamber as smoothly as butter.
Definitely different compared with my reloads.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

With reloads, there are a couple of things to watch, apart from how much powder you are shoveling in.

Firstly, overall case length. Within a couple of sizings and reloadings, the cases will "stretch" a few thou. due to brass flow. The hotter your loads AND the looser the chamber and the "tighter" your FLS die, the faster this will occur.

Don't panic: I have been using PPU brass in my K-11 for years. Cases are gauged and measured at each reloading session and neck-annealed about every fourth reload to stop the necks and shoulders from cracking. It's just something that goes with the territory of reloading in general.

ALWAYS gauge for length and trim accordingly before re-filling your cases.

Secondly, the K-31 has a short leade / throat for optimum performance with the mighty GP-11 cartridge. The correct, original Swiss GP-11 bullet has a unique profile which includes a SECANT ogive. TANGENT ogive bullets, especially SMKs from 155 upwards, if seated out to match GP-11 OAL, WILL have "issues" with the short throat. If you try to seat them deeper, the case neck may not get a good grip on the bullet and things may get messy during the feed stroke.

[Ovidio]

I always check the length and, when necessary, trim.
Usually I make a neck sizing, but also the full length doesn’t really change that in my rifle.
Most rounds, when I chamber them, just need a little rapping for getting the bolt completely closed.
I haven’t reloaded much for the K31 yet, and have decided to elect it as my 200 meters pet, so I’ll soon have more personal info.
I’ll check again the free bore I have on my current loads, because I shamefully didn’t write it down...
But I guess I left some 0.5-1.0 mm.