Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

[samnev]

My favorite vintage sniper rifle in my collection of snipers is the Swiss ZFK/55 aka K31/55. Swiss quality with a fantastic muzzle break that reduces recoil to the 223 level. Outstanding accuracy with GP 11 or 168 grain SMK's

 

[shankster..]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Santo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My favorite sniper rifle in my collection of snipers is the Swiss ZFK/55 aka K31/55. Swiss quality with a fantastic muzzle break that reduces. Outstanding accuracy recoil to the 223 level. Outstanding accuracy with GP 11 or 168 grain SMK's </div></div>

 

[FlightRN]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

The swiss really know how to build a great rifle.

 

[shankster..]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

FlightRN, that is an amazing set. Thanks for posting pictures of it. I've never seen the maintenance pouch with the tools, etc. Very cool.

 

[slowkota]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

That looks interestingly beautiful!

Never seen anything like that!

 

[samnev]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

FlightRN,
Thanks for posting the photos. Saves me some heart ache trying to get photos with my lousy camera. Nice rig by the way.

 

[BasraBoy]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Santo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">FlightRN,
Thanks for posting the photos. <span style="color: #CC0000">Saves me some heart ache trying to get photos with my lousy camera</span>. Nice rig by the way. </div></div>

C'mon mate....let's see it. Or you know what they'll be saying:

 

[USMC mustang]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FlightRN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The swiss really know how to build a great rifle.
</div></div>

Thanks for sharing those pictures, very cool. Do you know how many of those rifles were imported? I've had a C&R for years but have never seen one for sale.

 

[samnev]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMC mustang</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FlightRN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The swiss really know how to build a great rifle.
</div></div>

Thanks for sharing those pictures, very cool. Do you know how many of those rifles were imported? I've had a C&R for years but have never seen one for sale. </div></div>
FGS has some for sale right now.Some photos of my my ZFK/55 and a friend shooting my ZFK/55

 

[USMC mustang]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Thanks for the heads-up Santo, I checked them out. Wow, those things aren't cheap. I'd love to have one though, my standard K31 is extremely accurate and I can only imagine how a ZFK/55 would shoot.

 

[BasraBoy]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Santo - thanks for posting the pics...looks like a great rifle.

Tell us about the scope....Swiss made? x4?

What distances have you taken it out to?

 

[samnev]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BasraBoy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Santo - thanks for posting the pics...looks like a great rifle.

Tell us about the scope....Swiss made? x4?

What distances have you taken it out to? </div></div>
The scope is a Swiss made 4X Kern scope and it and the scope can are numbered to the rifle. I shoot 168 Sierra Match Kings in it an have only papered it out to 200 yards. It will shoot well under and inch at 100 yards a little larger at 200 yards. I shot at 12" metal plates out to 500 yards and am able to hit them 8 out of 10 times. I suspect that with a scope of higher magnification I could do a lot better. The best thing about the rifle other than the outstanding quality of the build is the muzzle break. It is so effective you think you are shooting a 223 rather than a 7.5x55.
By the way the gentlemen shooting my ZFK is the Legendary Bob Faris who just recently past away. He is an icon in the US gun community. Bob was on of my mentors in all aspects of collecting and one of the reasons I started collecting Class III weapons. He first introduced me to the upscale weapons I now collect. That is my RP 46 a rare bird in the US on the ground to Bob's left

 

[samnev]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: USMC mustang</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FlightRN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The swiss really know how to build a great rifle.
</div></div>

Thanks for sharing those pictures, very cool. Do you know how many of those rifles were imported? I've had a C&R for years but have never seen one for sale. </div></div>

There were only a little over 4000 made but I don't know how many were ever imported.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

I had the chance of shooting one of those rare birds about 5 years ago, a local range guy made a trip to Switzerland and bought 5 of them trouhg a gunstore and had them brought back.
With GP11 ammo, this thing kicks as much as a regularr K31, that brake doesn't work worth a crap, the bipod is useless better off taping a plastic spoon to the stock, trigger was awefull but the most interesting part is that the receiver is turned to the right so the ejection doesn't interfere with the scope.
my 2 cents is this a very interesting piece and pretty rare in the states but not worth the money for a shooter.
Cheers.

 

[samnev]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: attherange</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had the chance of shooting one of those rare birds about 5 years ago, a local range guy made a trip to Switzerland and bought 5 of them trouhg a gunstore and had them brought back.
With GP11 ammo, this thing kicks as much as a regularr K31, that brake doesn't work worth a crap, the bipod is useless better off taping a plastic spoon to the stock, trigger was awefull but the most interesting part is that the receiver is turned to the right so the ejection doesn't interfere with the scope my 2 cents is this a very interesting piece and pretty rare in the states but not worth the money for a shooter.
Cheers. </div></div>

Every body has a right to their opinion but I can say you are categorically wrong when you say the muzzle break is worthless. Every single person that has shot my ZFK/55 and there are many marveled at how low the recoil impluse was. I have shoot hundreds of rounds of GP 11 and when I ran out of that I loaded 168 grain SMK's to the same velocity as the GP 11 and have shot several hundred more rounds.
Even if I didn't have one of these rifles I would find it hard to believe anything Swiss made would be as ineffective as you claim the muzzle break is on the ZFK/55 or that the Swiss would continue producing the rifle with the muzzle break if the muzzle break was so ineffective as you say it is. Additionally The trigger pull on my rifle is very crisp and about 1/2 of that of my K31's or K 11's.
I don't know if your friend actually bought 5 of these rifles or how he brought them back with him back to the states without first filing a Form 6 to import them which usually takes months to approve so I strongly doubt that part of your story unless he somehow smuggled them in.
I shot several of these weapons that some of my friends owned before I bought mine 15 years ago and they performed the same as mine does which is why I bought it. The only criticism that I find partially valid is about the bipod although I think you comparison to tapping plastic spoons is asinine at best. So what is the big deal about changing the geometry of the action so ejected rounds would clear the scope?

Perhaps FlightRN will chime in with his observations on his ZFK/55

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Santo,
not opinions facts, the one I shot had a little different brake than yours but looked the same only smaller and in worse shape too, the guy filed all the paperwork and it didn't take months but a couple of years, IRRC
I am glad your is working better than the one i got to put a few shots through, it i was too bad because I am a huge fan of the K3's
cheers.

 

[samnev]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: attherange</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Santo,
not opinions facts, the one I shot had a little different brake than yours but looked the same only smaller and in worse shape too, the guy filed all the paperwork and it didn't take months but a couple of years, IRRC
I am glad your is working better than the one i got to put a few shots through, it i was too bad because I am a huge fan of the K3's
cheers. </div></div>

The ZFK/55 I own is the only legitimate version I have ever seen in 30+ years of collecting Swiss weapons and I have seen a large number of them in hand and on the internet on Simpson LTD's site and FGS's site as well. I have never seen any ZFK/55 that had a different muzzle break than mine. It wouldn't surprise me if your friend had been sold some knock off version of the ZFK. I have been collecting Swiss weapons for over 30+ years and while I have never personally seen humped Swiss weapons nothing would surprise me these days especially if your friend was not intimately aware of what a legitimate ZFK looked like and the markings and cartouche's that would be on a correct one. I have 2 ZFK's in my collection and both are identical.

 

[Hlavinka]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Thanks Santo, I haven't seen the tool kit either, really nice stuff.

 

[FlightRN]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Good Day,
The ZfK-55 muzzle break/flash hider went through a number of variations in the prototype stage. I have seen (darn if I can find it right now) a picture of different styles and configurations. Is it the best? Probably not, but because the Swiss take such pride in their shooting capabilities that the final one was the most effective all-around design. If the brake isn't on tight, I can easily see how accuracy was would be affected. It would not take much to cause flyers/poor accuracy. As for the trigger, it too is a very good 'combat' trigger. Smooth all the way with a nice break at the end of its travel.

The spare parts kits was a lucky find. There are two different variations. Same parts just a different layout. I haven't opened up the sealed parts bag full of extra pins and springs. It's such a solid rifle, I don't think I'll have to any time soon.

Regards,
Michael

 

[samnev]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Thanks for the insight Michael. That's a great collection of sniper rifles on your wall. is that a TRG22 i see lurking in the back?

 

[FlightRN]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Good Day Santo,
I actually posted the wrong picture. What you see is a part of a display put on by the Lovat Society in the UK. It’s a group of sniper collectors that decided to pool from our collections various rifles from different countries and puts on a yearly exhibit to raise funds for "Help for Heros" (a British Charity for wounded servicemen and women since 2003) at the big Sporting show in Newark. It a small group (by invitation only) of individuals with very extensive knowledge regarding the 'tools of the trade' They are a blast (no pun intended) to talk with and learn from. Here are a few more pics from the 2010 display. The gentleman in the pictures is the organizations senior member (i.e. President). These were taken during the setting up.
For an extra quid in the jar (Help for Heros), we would pull the rifles down and let you take a close look
Regards,
Michael

 

[BasraBoy]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Are the other pics you have posted in other threads also from the Lovat Society?

Are the rifles owned by the Lovat or on loan by the owners for charitable events?

The description plates look a lot like those I saw at the Lithgow collection last year.

Whatever, a great collection and not a bad way to spend a weekend in Newark!!

 

[FlightRN]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Good Day,
Only the 4 pics from Newark (above) are Lovat related. The rifles belong to its individual members and normally only come out for the once a year event. I'm not sure who printed up the plates but it was one of the memebers.

You are absolutely correct. The group spent two fantstic days there and shared some facinating information.

 

[samnev]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FlightRN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Good Day,
Only the 4 pics from Newark (above) are Lovat related. The rifles belong to its individual members and normally only come out for the once a year event. I'm not sure who printed up the plates but it was one of the memebers.

You are absolutely correct. The group spent two fantstic days there and shared some facinating information. </div></div>

That is a fantastic display but even more fantastic is the work you are doing for your wounded warriors. We here in the states have a similar country wide program called "Wounded Worriers" that helps our returning wounded. God Bless them all.

 

[lambdapro]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

I noticed that you are missing a couple of extractors in the armorer's kit. As the extractors for the ZFK55 are identical to the extractors on the K31, they are still available. They are on sale right now at Grafs for $12 each. I was missing a couple out of one of my armorers kits as well. They go into the loops just above the springs.
David

 

[Minarix]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

Thanks for the photos, I enjoyed seeing the collections.

 

[Deej]

Re: Swiss ZFK /55 Sniper

awesome, thanks for sharing. i got a self made one and i love it but would love to get an original some day.

 

[Schester1]

Hey Swiss shooters! Just wanted to add I'm
A ZFK/55 owner also. Matching can and rifle. I've had mine for about 3 years and shoot it once a year.
I agree 100% that they shoot. My understanding with my Kern Scope is its a 3 power. I can shoot 1-1.5 inch groups at 200 yards. It's pure Swiss machinery. And the GP-11 ammo is the best! I also have a repair kit with all the replacement parts.
The muzzle break is a great piece of history a felt recoil is reduced without a doubt.
I just wanted to throw my 0.02 cents into the pool.
If someone could help with posting pics ill throw my stuff up.
Cheers, Steve