[Ed]

The range that I shoot at is really nice, but only shooting at the paper targets on mounts for rifles. I want a new C&R rifle but something that I can shoot at paper and be happy with. I have wanted/not wanted a yugo sks for a while and lots of others. I know most people say the sks is a great plinker. My problem with that is I don't wanna just plink I want something I can shoot a target and be satisfied with. I have a M48 and Turk M38 . What should I get that will be accurate and won't cost a fortune to shoot?I'm debating M44,SKS,Finnish M39 etc. Any hints or ideas?

[No4Mk1]

My reccomendation would be to follow this link:

http://pub176.ezboard.com/bcurioandrelicfirearmsforum

Lurk around for a while, and you will likely find your answer. You can also ask this same question at the General Discussion forum and I guarantee a warm reception and lots of good suggestions.

Edited to add: Not that you won't get that here, but just another source....

[Okiecruffler]

Of those three my choice would be the M44, I have several that will shoot under 2 inches at 100yrds. I hear the M39's are the most accurate, but I've never played with one. My current hankerin' is for one of those russian captured K98's.

[DMK]

I suggest either (or both!) a Finnish M/39 Mosin-Nagant or a Swiss Schmidt Rubin K31. Both rifles are the Cadillacs of the C&R world. MOA accuracy is not uncommon with these rifles in completely stock form.

If you like Carbines, try the Mosin-Nagant 91/59 from www.aimsurplus.com. These are generally more accurate than either the M44 or M38.

You can get a nice M/39 from WG&A www.gunsnammo.com. The late 60's/Early 70's "Sneak" version has the highest probability of being very accurate. These were carefully assembled by Finnish armorers specifically for marksmanship training. They also were put together without the pressure of a war going on. With handloads these rifles are extremely accurate! However, mine does very well with surplus Czech Silvertip which is about ten cents a round.

Swiss K-31s are also regarded as highly accurate. I don't own one of these, but I've seen what they can do. The 7.5 Swiss Ammo these shoot is a bit pricier, but is of a high quality not always so common with surplus.

THese folks sell them (Southern Ohio Gun has the ammo also):

www.fgsinc.8m.com/custom4.html

http://www.southernohiogun.com/surplus_rifles.html

[DMK]

It's one of 3 M/39s that I bought from WG&A.
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/17971Sneak-r1.jpg

[Ed]

What is a "sneak" I don't have a copy of SGN in front of me but I know there are 5 or 6 different M39s.

[DMK]

M/39s are usually known by the factories that produced them. Those are long Finnish names, but are abbreviated to "VTK","Sako", and "Tikka"(which are very rare). There are also some special varients: "Sk.Y." is an abbreviation for Civil Guard, "B-Barrel" indicates those M/39s that were built with Belgian made 91/30 barrels that were cut down. All of those were made during WWII except the so called "Sneak" rifles. These were make in the late 60's and early 70's basically out of spare parts.

You can learn about these interesting rifles here:
http://www.mosin-nagant.net/finnish_mosin_nagantm39-Part1.htm

The rifles will usually be listed using those names by most vendors. WG&A sometimes does not list all the variations they have in stock. I'd call them and ask if they have what you want. I got a beautiful unissued condition Sk.Y from them by calling and asking. It wasn't listed in any of their ads at the time.

If WG&A doesn't have one, you could also try the gun auction sites. I've seen them now and then on www.gunbroker.com and www.gunsamerica.com.

Edit: WG&A does currently list Sneaks on their site, they just don't call them that:
1967 UNISSUED.........................$249.99
1969 UNISSUED.........................$399.99Yea, pretty pricy, but these should be in brand new condition. If that's too rich for you, I'm sure one of the $150 "excellent condition " VTK or "B Barrel" rifles would shoot very well also. My B barrel is the second most accurate centerfire rifle I have, only beat by the Sneak.

BTW: You guys without C&R licences need not be left out. On the bottom of their M/39 page, they list a few of these rifles that are considered "ANTIQUES BY THE GUN CONTROL ACT OF 1968". These are made on late 1800's recievers so you may purchase these without a licence and have them delivered to your home, assuming that is OK with your local law. Pretty cool huh? Just do me a favor and don't sporterize them! These rifles deserve much better than that.

Here's the link again. Keep an eye on this page, the inventory changes often:
http://www.gunsnammo.com/index_files/m39.htm

[cwalker3]

For accuracy, you can't go wrong with an M-39. I shot a 2.5", 10 shot group at 100 yards with my 1970 Sneak, and I'm not that good of a shot. But, don't discount the Yugo SKS. Mine are surprisingly accurate. I won a postal match last year with a 1.5" group at 50 yards with one.