If you could only have one milsurp bolt action

If I had the choice from a genie, a mint Springfield 1903. I had one, but it was one of those garbage receiver ones from the 50's... but it was a shooter. I didn't trust it so I traded for parts value.

If I had to buy, it would be my favorite range and woods toy, my M44 Mosin. Fireballs and booms. Pretty handy for hunting too. With plenty of ammo availability.

Gewher 98.

I have two, a Yugo M48 and a JP Sauer from 1916 that was sporterized in the late 50s. Beautifully, I might add. However, I need to cast the chamber to see what caliber it is. IIRC its a 30 cal.

Swede Mauser carbine. The build quality on them is phenomenal and the length and weight aren't too onerous.

i'd be happy with any peacetime-built Mauser you gave me really. Every country built theirs a little differently, but as long as you get the action right, the rifle isn't going to suck.

If only one and it had to be bolt action....
I’d still get a Garand. Haha.

Ok lll play.

Enfield No 5 Mk 1 Jungle Carbine.

Yugo 48A. Because I bought so much dang 8MM at something like 6 cents a round delivered.

Criterion #1 would be a receiver-mounted rear sight. That narrows down the field considerably. The main contenders would be the M1903A3 Springfield, the Pattern 14 / M1917 Enfield, and the No. 4 Enfield.

Cons: For the M1903A3 Springfield, a very basic rear sight, and a 5-round magazine capacity. For the Pattern 14 / M1917 Enfield, heavy and clunky.

Pros: For the No. 4 Enfield, the Singer micrometer rear sight is the best of the bunch. Also, has a 10-round magazine capacity, and a fast action. But the .303 rimmed cartridge is inferior to the .30-06.

For these reasons I would pick the No. 4 Enfield, with the Singer sight and manufactured in one of the North American plants (Savage or Long Branch).

Schmidt-Rubin K-31 hands down, nothing else is even a close second. Built like a Swiss watch (or at least a Swiss rifle). Very accurate, even by sporting rifle standards, excellent two stage trigger, detachable mag, good sights, and a fast to work action.

This M-38 Husqvarna. Mojo adjustable peep sight. Seriously considering putting a no drill 2X red dot on it. Talk me out of it, or into it or whatever.

@JeeperCreeper that was a real honest thing to do. My dad had a Mauser with a 30-06 barrel and it had a receiver peep sight. I like 8mm Mauser just the right amount of recoil. I like bp maulers and kropatschek too if they would just shoot straight. Bp is the funnest to reload and shoot and when you hit something even a barn... joy!

Chinese T53.

I have it, and its perfection in my eyes. I spent years looking for one ever since as a kid reading about it in the 1993 Gun Digest.
It may not be perfect, but its perfect for me.

If carrying it any distance is a possibility, FR8.

(Gunnys pic, I cant seem to take a decent one of mine.)

Great sights, accurate, handy, common ammo. Whats not to like? I actually think the straight bolt handle makes for quicker follow up shots. I dont find the recoil objectionable at all, certainly better than a short Mosin.
Runner up would be 03A3, a little more accurate thanks to the longer sight base, but alot heavier.

This is one of those 'which of your children is your favorite' questions. I have nine rifles that would qualify and honestly could not choose between them.



The one I'm having the most fun with at the moment is a Yugo M48 K98k doppelganger with a ZF-41 scope, which I acquried just this week (and will do a posting in due course), but I wouldn't choose it over any of the others.

This is a tough one. I have to go with my Swedish Mauser, made in 1905. The build is just superb and it is accurate beyond my ability to shoot it. But the Enfield No. 4 is a close second.

The only reason I don't include the '03 Springfield is because I have a Garand for the 30-06.

Jeff

I would want to keep my Swedish Mauser. I really like shooting that rifle. That rifle is is the primary reason I decided to take up reloading.

I am stuck on my M48 Yugo Scout rifle. I have the no-drill S &K mount and a Leupold 2.5x intermediate eye relief scope. I have a couple of NOE 8 mm molds that shoot very well out to 150 yards. My Grandson loves to bang the metal plates off hand with it. I have taken 2 deer with it and my own cast bullets. I have 2 sets of jacketed ladder loads that are 4 years old and never seem to shoot them, cast is just so much fun! Tom

03A3....a lot of hours with it....HS and College ROTC....

and I do own one

A butterknife-bolt Mannlicher-Schoenauer in 6.5 M-S, double set trigger, and S&B or Zeiss clawmount. You didn't say it had to be as issued. I've always wanted one.

As issued, I'll stay with my 1930 Tula M91/30.

K31 - Swiss precision and craftsmanship

A Swede Mauser............hands down great action; the one I had was dated 1907 and was accurate even with a shortened "sporterized" barrel length of 18

My FN Model 30 98 Mauser in 30-'06. Built hell for stout and handles like a champ

I love my much more well heeled Swiss, Swedish American guns, but if I could have only one, it would be my "Siege of Leningrad " M39. This rifle looks like it was there, and the dated parts would be appropriate. It simply shoots where I point it, the bore is good, and who doesn't like a rifle you can abuse a bit? As a bonus, I've won vintage matches with it shooting military ball after I Finn shimmed the hand guard with a couple match sticks. This is one that has an intangible connection to it. I was drawn to it at a gun show despite deplorable exterior condition and took a closer look at the rifling. It would have followed me home even at collectable pricing, and the price was significantly less. On my never sell list.

I'd be pretty happy with a M40A5.

I'd take a Enfield Jungle Carbine, MKIV, or Springfield 03A3 and be tickled pink though.

I had a love affair with a 1895 pattern mauser, ran a mad minute with an smle#1 mk3, and have shot several 03's, but the one that has my heart is the 1917. Heavy, big, and overbuilt as the day is long, I just love them. Long strings of fire are a delight instead of a chore, the sights are phenomenal, and the dog leg bolt is perfect for ripping on.