Almost any Swiss shooter owns a K31. And almost any K31 owner has an opinion as to the “perfect” bore diameter ensuring best precision.
We have an opinion too: it does not matter. We conducted systematic tests of many K31s with Waffenfabrik barrels gauging between 7.51 and 7.54, and found no noticeable correlation between bore diameter and group size.
Furthermore, the diameter is not necessarily an indicator of how used the barrel is; we have measured bore diameters of several brand new carbines of different production lots and years, and found anything between 7.51 and 7.53 — factory new. The official specs are even more generous; according to the Waffenfabrik K31 blueprints, the nominal calibre is 7.51, but production tolerances are ok up to 7.56.
This being said, gauging is useful: barrels which did not have the same diameter over the whole length (one side larger than the other) showed inferior precision compared to fully uniform barrels. Also, barrels gauging 7.55 or above were usually “tired”, and precision started to suffer.
This last remark is only valid for K31s only with Waffenfabrik barrels. Hämmerli barrels (rare, recognisable by the “hammer” marking) gauge larger from factory, and at 7.55 usually show totally convincing precision. Also, standard and free ISSF/CISM 300m carbines (which are usually very precise) chambered for 7.55×55 as a rule are built on .30 cal barrels (the same as for .308 Win or .300 Win Mag), and gauge significantly larger — 7.55 or 7.56 factory new.
In summary: for a Waffenfabrik-barrelled K31, make sure the diameter is below 7.55 and is uniform across the length (same on both the chamber and the business ends). Beyond that — only the target can tell the ultimate truth.
[link]