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Popped my vintage rifle cherry today...

Desert_Racer

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Minuteman
  • Dec 22, 2011
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    USA
    I ordered my first milsurp rifle today from Simpson Ltd (Swiss K-31). Unfortunately, I didn't hear about this rifle some years ago when fellas were apparently getting them for $100 a piece. If that were the case, I would've bought two! I haven't read a bad thing about these rifles yet and I find the straight pull bolt design to be interesting. I also think its pretty awesome to see such decent accuracy from a ~70 year old rifle. Very excited! Here's the rifle I ordered:

    SWISS K-31, Simpson Ltd

    I would have preferred to find one in a local gun shop and have a look-see in person prior to dropping the hammer but after reading from multiple sources that they are generally in great shape and speaking with Floyd from Simpson on the phone about the rifle, I felt fine with the route of purchase I chose. Besides, its a cheap rifle. What do I have to lose?

    Next item of discussion:
    I browsed the interwebs in search of some GP11 for sale and found it at multiple sites who claim they have it in stock, and at around $0.54 per round to boot! I decided to take a cruise around Albuquerque today (I am on TDY) and see if I could find any from the locals. I checked 3 different stores. One of them had some new stuff from Graf's loaded with 168 AMAX for $31 a box. I almost shit a brick. There's no way I'm paying that much for ammo that I'm going to shoot through a $400 rifle. Also, from what I have read about the GP11 ammo, it is really accurate stuff anyways. The last shop I walking into and inquired of the owner to see if he had any in stock and he literally laughed in my face, telling me that this ammo is extremely rare. I told him I had seen 480 round cases in stock on midway for around $250. He insisted that nobody ever has it and that I should jump all over it as its extremely rare. According to him, the ammo is corrosive and I should be careful using it (another piece of info I have yet to find anywhere)... I suppose that's the last time I ever step foot in that asshole's shop.

    At any rate, I am stoked and look forward to shooting it when I get back from TDY.
     
    Last edited:
    CSAR FE,

    Yes, it is in stock in numerous places and you can get it from $.50 to $.60 a round. You will also be glad you didn't buy the 7.5 PPE (Prvi) at that price. You could reload and save a ton.

    You will also note if you take the rifle long that the Prvi and anything YOU load is not going to do as well as the GP11. It was designed with a very high BC in mind from the get go.
     
    Thank you for the info Sandwarrior. That seemed to be the general consensus from my research on this particular rifle and the GP11 round. I think I may just stock up and pass on reloading this round for a while. I have too many other loads I am working on at the moment to add another to the list.

    I have read a lot of your posts and you seen to be very well versed in vintage rifles! Do you foresee these rifles continuing to climb in value?
     
    You won't be disappointed, the craftsmanship and machining put into these rifles is exceptional. Be sure to check underneath the buttplate for the "troop tag". You will be quite happy with surplus GP-11, it's non corrosive and pretty much match ammo. It is very similar to .308.
     
    I just picked up one of these last month. Awesome rifle.. such a smooth action.

    I've been shooting the privi stuff. The price is not bad and you get boxer brass for reloads.

    I did notice that the privi rounds had lighter recoil that I was expecting. Also they shot low. I'm assuming they are lower power than the gp11 rounds so that they can be used on the older schmidt rubin rifles (i.e. 1911s).
     
    I'm very excited to get mine and start shooting. I'm tempted to get some of the Swiss Products diopter sights for it, but I think I'll put that money towards a case and a half of GP11 and shoot with the irons first.