S&W 76 vs Swedish K

[nklf]

For those of you who own both or at least shot both, is there much difference between the two?

I have been looking for a Swedish K for some time, but now starting to think it may be a waste of funds.

I am a big S&W revolver fan so I had to have a true S&W 76 in my NFA collection. The problem is that now that I have one I am really not that impressed with it. To me, the ergonomics are not that great and it is not that controllable. Perhaps my expectations were too high.

As a collector I still want a Swedish K, but unless it is significantly better than similar guns, I doubt I would shoot it more than a couple of times. If I'm not going to shoot and enjoy it, there may be other things I want to pursue for my collection. I don't have the funds to buy one of everything in the registry.

So for those of you with experience with both platforms, I would like to hear your thoughts on the Swedish K.

 

[DINK]

Had a Smith for quite a few years and it's not a bad subgun, but finally got a Swedish K and there's a world of difference between them. The K is much softer shooting and the cyclic rate is slow enough to make single shots effortless, even for an old guy who doesn't have the best manual dexterity any more. As far as I'm concerned, the K is the sweetest-shooting subgun there is, and I also have a Sterling and an MP5. Just my opinion and worth exactly what you're paying for it, but there it is.

 

[Labanaktis]

I have shot them all... S&W, Sterling MK4&5, MP40, MPK/MPL, MP5SD...For me the Swedish K is hands down the winner. I use mine at SMG competitions and recreational shooting. It pulls up like a rifle and the style of iron sights work for me. Super smooth and stays on target. I would say there is a world of difference between the K and the S&W... DINK is spot on!

Matt

 

[Battering ram NIB]

I bought a s&w76 last year and still think about buying a K. The sw76 has a heavy trigger pull and is much faster. The K is larger and uses Suomi drums. The 2 guns look alike but I don’t think they are alike. For me I like the history on the 76 vs a tube gun k. Minty 76s aren’t hard to find either . The k runs $13-14k vs 76 $9-11k

Do you like fast or slow ?
Cost matter?
History matter?
Smaller better ?

The Madsen is a similar styled gun( at least the stock is ). It’s much more unique and costs less. I find the Madsen to be a great shooter. Quietest silenced subgun I own, its light, crazy unique design. Maybe a 3rd gun to toss into your decision

 

[Strangeranger]

The 76 has issues: the sights are barely adequate, the barrel does not index so point of aim can change slightly every time you disassemble it, the riveted trigger bar is a known failure point (which is readily repaired), the folding stock wobbles etc. S&W had no experience with subguns when they built the 76. They tried to make an inexpensive copy of the K and they came up a bit short.

The K is flawless. If you buy a 76 know what you're getting and it's not a K. If all you're looking for is a full-auto toy, you may want to look at the Burgess clones of the 76. They're a whole lot cheaper than the real thing and they work with unmodified Suomi M31 mags. http://www.jmbdistribution.com/class3_guns_forsale.htm

Another option: there are some Wilson tube guns that pop up from time to time built on a K clone tube with a Port Said parts kit. Way less expensive than a real K but functionally identical.

If you want something collectible, save your pennies till you find a real K

 

[sniperdoc]

Sweden refused to sell any more K's to the US because of involvement in Vietnam. S&W tried to make a quick, cheap subgun "inspired by" the K vs making direct copies. Like most rush jobs, it was inferior to the original.

 

[nklf]

Thanks for the input. I love this site because of the knowledge of the members. I'll keep the Swedish K on my watch list and perhaps one will come along. Good to know the Wilson tube guns are functionally the same as a real K. I have seen the tube guns come up once and a while.

As I said, I have a S&W 76 and I'm not impressed. I also have an early Stemple 76/45 and it is not very impressive either. In fact I actually shoot the 76 better than the 76/45. On the other hand I have a BRP Stemple STG76 (Stemple tube with Suomi kit) and it is one of the most controllable smoothest shooting subguns I've shot. Of course it is long and heavy so not really sure it is considered a subgun or light assault rifle (that is a joke don't bother sending me definitions).

I like the K gun because of its history and how often its been imitated. If it really shoots that much better than the copies, I definitely will need one eventually for the collection.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[ferndog1]

Article comparing the S&W 76 and the Swedish K

https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1887

Both guns are covered in detail here:

https://www.smallarmsreview.com/inventory/index.cfm

 

[Z06]

Another Swedish K fan. Shot one but never owned one. I asked Santa for one this year.


We'll see.

 

[chili17]

Swede K, hands down. They suppress really well too

 

[sniperdoc]

Thanks for the input. I love this site because of the knowledge of the members. I'll keep the Swedish K on my watch list and perhaps one will come along. Good to know the Wilson tube guns are functionally the same as a real K. I have seen the tube guns come up once and a while.

As I said, I have a S&W 76 and I'm not impressed. I also have an early Stemple 76/45 and it is not very impressive either. In fact I actually shoot the 76 better than the 76/45. On the other hand I have a BRP Stemple STG76 (Stemple tube with Suomi kit) and it is one of the most controllable smoothest shooting subguns I've shot. Of course it is long and heavy so not really sure it is considered a subgun or light assault rifle (that is a joke don't bother sending me definitions).

I like the K gun because of its history and how often its been imitated. If it really shoots that much better than the copies, I definitely will need one eventually for the collection.

Thanks again for your help.

Sounds like you are more interested in shooting than collecting. If I may be so bold; have you considered selling the 76 & 76/45 and putting that $ towards a Swede?

 

[BWE Firearms]

The S&W 76 is a decent subgun and I love mine but a Swedish K is by far a better subgun.

 

[MunsonMan]

FYI, there's an article on the Swedish K in the January American Rifleman.

 

[Marcus99]

I really like my S&W 76, but I've never shot a Swedish K, so the only thing I can attest to is the price difference when I was shopping around. A kit built K was about 50% more than a 76 at the time, a C&R K was about 100% more. Perhaps I should've tested both to determine whether the price jumps were worth it compared to the 76, but instead I spent $8.5k and haven't looked back. My 76 is smooth and suppresses very well. I also corrected the wobble in the stock that so many complain about.

 

[TheColtCollector]

I really like my S&W 76, but I've never shot a Swedish K, so the only thing I can attest to is the price difference when I was shopping around. A kit built K was about 50% more than a 76 at the time, a C&R K was about 100% more. Perhaps I should've tested both to determine whether the price jumps were worth it compared to the 76, but instead I spent $8.5k and haven't looked back. My 76 is smooth and suppresses very well. I also corrected the wobble in the stock that so many complain about.

Please describe how you fixed the wobble

 

[fortyfive1911a1]

For those of you who own both or at least shot both, is there much difference between the two?

I have been looking for a Swedish K for some time, but now starting to think it may be a waste of funds.

I am a big S&W revolver fan so I had to have a true S&W 76 in my NFA collection. The problem is that now that I have one I am really not that impressed with it. To me, the ergonomics are not that great and it is not that controllable. Perhaps my expectations were too high.

As a collector I still want a Swedish K, but unless it is significantly better than similar guns, I doubt I would shoot it more than a couple of times. If I'm not going to shoot and enjoy it, there may be other things I want to pursue for my collection. I don't have the funds to buy one of everything in the registry.

So for those of you with experience with both platforms, I would like to hear your thoughts on the Swedish K.

I see that you are in DFW. Defender Outdoors in Fort Worth has a Swedish K that you can rent. It’s one of the Full Auto Friday guns - $10 a mag on Friday’s.

It is probably the most pleasant/controllable SMG I have shot personally. Never shot a 76 to this point.

 

[Marcus99]

Please describe how you fixed the wobble

I’m in the office on my iphone so I won’t type out the whole proceed, but basically I used small squares of electrical tape strategically placed in gaps between the grip, stocking locking mechanism and stock to reduce or eliminate play. I explained it in greater detail in a past post.