Plan on getting new rifle in 7.62x54, get the ammo now?

[Monkeybear]

So I want a Romak III, should I get the ammo first? I already have 1040 rounds coming to my house and once I get paid I'll have another $500 or so to spend on toys and then a week later I'll get a $300 bonus. I figure that would make enough to get a Romak III online but at the same time I wonder if it wouldn't be prudent to spend more on ammo. After that it would be a while before I have extra money. On the other hand surplus ammo seems to be getting scarce.

What should I do? Spend it all on ammo and get the rilfe later? Split the money and put the rilfe on lay-a-way? or Get the rifle?

 

[PMATULEW]

Hardware Or Software?

The great prices on surplus ammo have already expired and you've got a case on the way to get started with.

Availability of these rifles is spotty.

I vote for getting the rifle now and getting more ammo later. You may find that the rifle you purchase may or may not like the particular ammo you've already bought and you may want to purchase a different flavor.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Get the ammo ASAP. Surplus price is going up and up, either due to market forces or perceived market forces.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

I would get the rifle first. Personally I would only use non-corrosive ammunition in a gas gun, which would rule out combloc surplus.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I think I read somewhere on this board that the 7N1 stuff was going for a good rate. The 7N1 ammo was high quality ammo produced by the Russians for use in the SVD rifles. I guess it could be considered "match" ammo.

Yeah, so you might want to get some of that.

 

[ROMAK IV]

I don't know... The supply of both the rifle and the ammunition has been off and on. I realized that I wanted a ROMAK some time ago, and have already had one for about a year and a half. I had an SVT-40 already so already had ammunition as well. But still technically, I bought the rifle first, since I was afraid i wouldn't be able to get one. The 7N1 on the market is already about twice the price that it was earlier. I would get a good quantity, but get plenty of good quality light ball, like Czech. And don't worry about corrosive ammunition, it's ALL corrosive other than the Russian commercial ammunition. A ROMAK III disassembles just like an AK, since it IS an AK. You can remove every componant and easily get every bit of corrosive residue. If you use Windex, it's even easier. I was also worried about corrosive ammuntion in my SVT-40, but in practice, it's also easy to clean. You should probably get the rifle first since it is more easily prevented from being imported. People have been telling me about the end of surplus 7.62 x 54R for several years, and I can still get it. I happen to think it will run out soon, so you need to hurry. Once you have the rifle, you can buy the surplus ammunition without a major expenditure, something like $40 for a 2 or 300 round can. Get light ball, as several people have waned against using heavy ball in ROMAK's. Light ball usually, but not always has a painted siver tip. In a couple of months you will have a decent supply.

There is also a good guide and evaluation of the various types of surplus ammo on http://www.7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmo.htm

he ROMAK III makes a very good SHTF rifle and the availability of steel core ammunition is a plus.

 

[MisterPX]

I'd go with ammo first. You'll have an easier time getting teh rifle later.

 

[Monkeybear]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. What do you all think would be a good starter amount of ammo? I can get a bit over 3000 rounds for under $500. Is that overkill?

 

[chris in va]

Overkill, hard to say. I still have about 700 rounds just collecting dust in my closet for my Mosin. It just beats me up too bad for more than 20 rounds at a time.

Now a gas gun would be a lot softer shooting, so if you plan to use a lot, I'd say that's reasonable.

 

[ROMAK IV]

No!!

 

[MisterPX]

3K for $500, my, prices have definately gone up.
May as well grab it now though, it may be more than that in a few months.