[Billmanweh]

Let's say I have about a $300 budget and would like to pick up two rifles. I have my C&R, so that might be my best option. I'd like at least one to be a semi-auto, and availability of cheap ammo is a big plus. My first thought is an SKS and a K31. That might even leave room to go a little over budget for a 10/22.

Any other suggestions?

[Dave R]

I think an SKS is the only semi-auto you're going to find for under $300. So I think you're limited there.

For the other gun--too many options to select from. Enfield, Moisin-Nagant, Yugo Mauser, etc.

[yesterdaysyouth]

saiga and a k31....

[SoundWave]

You could pick up about 4 Mosin Nagants. :D

[Billmanweh]

saiga and a k31....

what does a Saiga go for?

[boofus]

The Yugo M48s are fairly cheap too. You could probably get 2 Mosins and a Yugo and still have some money left over for ammo.

I seen Saiga 12 shotguns for as little as $150, dunno about the rifles

[borderguy]

You would be hard pressed to beat the SKS/10-22 combo. There's plenty of plinking fun in those two rifles and I know people who hunt with the SKS. Buy a shooter's grade from Aim and you'll have money left over for a Nagant as well.

[Cosmoline]

Go with a Finnish M-39 for sure. You'll never see them at these prices again. Currently they're only a bit more expensive than the Soviet 91/30's yet they are one of the greatest rifles ever made.

Also grab a Swiss K-31. THese are absurdly inexpensive.

With a C&R you could get both those for just over $200 total, maybe less. The rest of the money for ammo. You will never regret buying either an M-39 Mosin or a K-31. Either one would be marketed for over $600 if made today. Indeed I've never seen a modern production rifle made to those quality control standards for less than $1,200.

[yesterdaysyouth]

saiga 762x39... $179

[Greg L]

and availability of cheap ammo is a big plus

I love my K-31s immensely, however if ammo cost is going to be an issue then go with the M39. Feeding it & the Yugo SKS are going to run you about $0.08/round while the Swiss is roughly $0.35/round (granted, it is essentially match quality ammo...).

Greg

[WhiteKnight]

How about an SKS and a Romanian Trainer .22LR?

A 7.62 semi and a .22LR bolt.

[JamisJockey]

A .223 semi and a .22LR bolt.
:scrutiny:
I think you meant 7.62....the sks is 7.62x39. Probably just a freudian slip.

[fistful]

Mauser and SKS - that easy.

Billmanweh apparently wants two centerfires and he didn't specify how much he had to spend on ammo.

The Mauser - the classic, the standard, THE RIFLE - not too expensive to customize: trigger job, cut down the stock some, maybe bob the barrel; good to go

The SKS - cheap, dependable - for a good sight, this aperture that replaces the rear takedown pin looks really solid. I'm a fixin' to try one on. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76693&highlight=SKS+peep

[Dionysusigma]

Finn M39... simple, rugged, accurate. Cheap ammo.

Yugo SKS... same as above but not as accurate. :p

Neither will be seen again for this cheap. :(

[WhoKnowsWho]

Did you want ammo in that too?

Yugo SKS, shooter grade $90

Mauser, Turk or other, less than $100 usually.

Mosin Nagant, any variant, less than $100 usually too.

All have cheap ammo available. All would be fun.

But since you don't have a 22 LR it sounds like, you should get one of those too. I have a Marlin 60 ($120 or so), who needs mags? 14 rounds in the tube feeder, and a Spee-D-Loader to carry extra ammo!

[lee n. field]

What do you want to do with these rifles?

10/22 and SKS.

[Billmanweh]

What do you want to do with these rifles?

well, I don't hunt, so just to have something to take to the range and plink

[Billmanweh]

it sounds like I can get an SKS for $100, and a Ruger 10/22 for around $125-140, and a C&R bolt action for around a $100. I just need to decide between the Mauser or the K31.

[cracked butt]

I would buy a Swedish M96, one importer has a decent supply of them for about $225. You'll never regret buying one of these. Then save up a few more $$s and get a Yugo SKS.

or

The K31 and Yugo SKS.

[Bwana John]

SKS / 10-22

[Billmanweh]

I like the SKS and 10/22 combo, but I'd still like to pick up a cheap bolt action C&R maybe. The idea of being able to shoot the same cheap ammo in the bolt action as the SKS sounds good too.

[Rupestris]

Here ya go:
http://www.aztecguns.com/Pricing.htm

A M-N 44 for $50!

[Cosmoline]

Aztec has great stuff, though they're running low on 91/30's and M38's.

I find the M-44's too heavy for a carbine, but they do absorb recoil better than the M38's. One side benefit of them is you can put marshmallows on the bayonet and they'll be toasted after you cook off a round. You can even cook chunks of meat out there if you fire off a box of Wolf. Smokeless powder seasoning--can't beat it :D

[Billmanweh]

would I have much trouble finding an M39?

they seem to have a great rep, just reading some past posts here. it'd also be nice to shoot the same cheapo ammo as the SKS.

[ReadyontheRight]

Yugo SKS, Swiss K31 and Mosin Nagant M1938

Three excellent rifles.

$250 plus shipping and ammo.

www.aimsurplus.com

:)

[Cosmoline]

The M-39's are getting spendier, but if you check Shotgun News you can usually find some outfit selling them for under $150.

I double checked Lapin and it turns out over SEVENTEEN MILLION 91/30's were made by the USSR, making them quite possibly the most produced military rifle after the AK-47. In contrast, only a few thousand M-39's were ever made in each sub-category. Get a Finn, even if you spend a bit more. They are better rifles and have more intrinsic historic value due to their rarity.

[albanian]

Yugo SKS and Yugo M-48A. These are two of my favs and two of the better guns for the money in the C&R market. The Yugo SKS is well worth the $100 they cost and the Yugo M-48A I got from AIM for $80 was almost new probably never fired. The only thing was the new bolt didn't match the rest of the new gun for some reason. I doubt it was ever used.