Swiss K31 problems

[Armistice]

Reassembled my K31 and now have some problems

I disassembled it last month so I could clean it. Well, never got around to cleaning it, so reassembled it just now

First, putting the trigger guard plate back in was very difficult. It's almost like the wood has shrunk. The plate cutout seemed like it was just too small

Next it was a devil trying to get the tang screw back in. It seems that the angle of that screw hole had changed just enough to make it very difficult to get in. After some careful fanagling, I got it back in

Then I tried to rack the bolt, and it takes a decent jerk to get it to rotate (extract) and then it's fine. Go to close it and it's hard to finish it's cycle (getting a round set into battery). If that's confusing, imagine a normal bolt. Ok, it's having trouble with lifting the bolt or closing the bolt (best example I can give) Upon quicker cycling, it seems to be fine. If I try to do it slow, it almost doesn't want to open unless I try to cycle it quickly

I have no ammo to even see what would happen then, but w/e

Lastly, the trigger has 3/8" slop in in Was told this is a normal 2 stage trigger feel

When I first got it, I'm pretty sure the bolt was smooth throughout (maybe a bit of normal tightness upon open or closing, I actually can't recall), and I don't remember having slop in the trigger

Being so hard to put back together, could having it out disassembled for a month have jacked it up? Allowed the stock to warp? Maybe just let it sit for a few days and see if it gets better?

Are the mechanics fine/ normal sounding? Maybe get y'all a vid of the bolt and sloppy trigger?

I didn't disassemble any mechanics, just took the receiver out of the stock is all, so there's no way I assembled the trigger group wrong as I never took it apart

Ideas?

[Ritchie8719]

Entirely possible the stock as shrunk or turned without the stability of the metal within.

[1-M-42]

Swiss triggers feel like a two stage, substantial take up then a clean break. Never had one not go together as you are describing and I've had them apart fir much longer than that....I'm at a loss

[stephewc]

I took apart two K31s to clean/inspect not long ago and never ran across any of the problems you are describing. Everything fit perfectly in place.

Perhaps the barreled action was not sitting in the stock perfectly when you were putting it together?

I doubt a month of sitting around would allow the stock to shrink that much. Unless of course it was in a super humid place.

I would take it apart again and try again.

[Armistice]

Updated as with cycling the bolt quicker seems to make the problem with hanging up go away

With the trigger, it's not like there's any pressure with the take up. It's 3/8" of nothing, then it gets to the back and there may be a 1/16" of pull before it breaks

I've never shot a 2 stage, so maybe that's how it is?

It's def not like a Mosin where you have 3/4" of pull travel before it breaks

I took apart two K31s to clean/inspect not long ago and never ran across any of the problems you are describing. Everything fit perfectly in place.

Perhaps the barreled action was not sitting in the stock perfectly when you were putting it together?

I doubt a month of sitting around would allow the stock to shrink that much. Unless of course it was in a super humid place.

I would take it apart again and try again.

[OniKoroshi]

That's the correct 2 stage trigger feel.

[Armistice]

That's the correct 2 stage trigger feel.

Interesting. I'm going to have to fix that

I guess my only problem is the tight fitting of the metal back into the stock then

[Enfield47]

It sounds like something got misaligned when you put it back together and that's causing your problem. It should fit together very easily.

My bolt was a little stiff at first too. I put a very light bit of grease (Mobil 1 synthetic on a Qtip) on the receiver where the lugs lock and where the bolt rides, it's been fine ever since. If you do this keep the grease very light, you shouldn't really see it once your done.

[kouye]

I have 2 K31's. Both trigger guards take some effort to remove. One of them has to be lightly tapped out from above to shake it loose. The same one the action also needs to be tapped out. However, never had any issues with the tang bolt.

If I tighten the action bolts too much, my bolt might catch a little.

When you have the tang bolt out, if you shine a light through the hole is it round or oval? Maybe someone munged the hole a bit at some point.

[Discogodfather]

The bolt is not smooth for the rotation part of the cycle, it's quite stiff on mine. One trick I do at the range is to cock the bolt before cycling it (always make sure the rifle is safe and pointed down range when doing this). It's a cock on open so your working at 1) cocking the firing pin and 2) rotating the bolt.

Cocking before cycling removes alot of the stress and makes it way smoother.

[MackMan]

Only one answer, get it out to the range with another K31 and fire away.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OniKoroshi]

Interesting. I'm going to have to fix that

I guess my only problem is the tight fitting of the metal back into the stock then

I have a trigger bubba did to make it a 2-3lb pull if youre interested. It's a loooong pull and breaks at 2-3 lbs. doesn't break clean so I swapped it out.

[mj1]

I was told by a good friend and shooting partner before he passed that the individual solider did not remove the action from the stock ever. This was a higher level depot action done only by second level armorer skilled at bedding/fitting the action. He was Swiss and a master marksman and advanced collector. His book collection on Swiss arms and shooting skills covered a whole wall and his father was a Swiss trained marksman and served in the USA in the 10th Mountain Division in WW2. Be careful and good luck.

RIP Kari Prager.

[Armistice]

I have 2 K31's. Both trigger guards take some effort to remove. One of them has to be lightly tapped out from above to shake it loose. The same one the action also needs to be tapped out. However, never had any issues with the tang bolt.

If I tighten the action bolts too much, my bolt might catch a little.

When you have the tang bolt out, if you shine a light through the hole is it round or oval? Maybe someone munged the hole a bit at some point.

The hole did not appear to be ovaled

I'll try loosening the bolts and see if that cures the tight bolt problem

[Mutant]

You are certainly the only person I have ever heard that wanted to "fix" a Swiss trigger pull so it felt more like a Mosin's.