Not into AR/AK/FAL Rifles, Battle Rifle alternatives?

Nobody ever says

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Winchester-Model-1895-Rifles.cfm?cat_id=511

The Winchester 1895!

Let us not forget the lever guns were the 1800's version of the M-4

In response to your ammo question, yes and no.

Here's a breakdown of what I know of that's out there by caliber in commercial loadings:

6.5x55 (Swedish Mauser) - Wolf Gold, Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester, Norma, Lapua, Sellier and Bellot, Federal, Hornady, Nosler, Fiocchi

7x57 (Mauser) - Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester, Sellier and Bellot, Federal, Hornady

8x57 (Mauser) - Wolf Gold, Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester, Sellier and Bellot, Federal, Nosler, Hornady

7.5x55 Swiss - Wolf Gold, Prvi Partizan

.303 British - Wolf Gold, Prvi Partizan, Remington, Winchester, Sellier and Bellot, Federal, Hornady

I can't help you on the Steyr ammunition. I don't know of anyone making it commercially. Most are in 8x56R, but a few were rechambered for 8x57 Mauser. That would be the one you want if you choose to go that route. I'd much rather have the K-31 if you want a straightpull though.

Keep in mind that for the Mauser loadings (7x57, 8x57, and 6.5x55), Remington and Winchester load them pretty anemically due to the older small rings and commission rifles out there that aren't built for the higher pressure loads. Modern European spec loads can be fired just fine out of any Model 98 Mauser, and are significantly more powerful.

Prvi makes 8x56R.

Hello Kick down doors: I am surprised that no one mentioned the Spanish FR-8 rifle. it has the reliable mauser action and is a joy to shoot. Bolt action. Looks like a gas piston but the lower tube is a storage compartment. Feeds from a clip, the 7.62x59 NATO (308) round. I believe 5 or 6-shot clip.

They were rebarreled (from 8mm to 7.62 NATO) from the 1943 Mauser Rifle.

They have a 17 inch barrel with a birdcage flash hider. The overall length is a little less than 39 inches including the flash hider. The rear sight has a machined receiver sight with an adjustible wheel with peeps and V. The front sight is much like the AR, an adjustible - elevation only - cone-shaped post. As I said, a joy to shoot with a reliable action.

Merrill

Rifle ammo is ALL pretty expensive unless you reload your own. Then it drops to somewhere around 40 to 60 cents per round. Less if you get into casting your own bullets.

What we all like is so highly subjective that to ask US what YOU should buy is really a stretch.

The fact that you enjoy your Mosin suggests that you enjoy designs with some history to them and don't mind the challenge of shooting with plain iron sights. And likely that you enjoy the action of cycling a new round into the gun manually.

If I'm on the nail with this then you will surely enjoy the 336 or a Win 94. Or if you expect to shoot them a LOT and want to really control the cost then consider a Rossi Winchester 92 clone in .357mag, .44Mag or .45Colt. When you reload these rounds you can do so for well under 20 cents each for the .357Mag and around 20 cents each for the .44 and .45. And that makes for some reasonably inexpensive range days with a lot of shooting.

Another option if you enjoy the "basics" is to consider a single shot rifle of an older style. Or a new style done in an old classic look. Budget wise the H&R Buffalo Classic is finding a lot of fans and they shoot amazingly well by all accounts. Alternately if you can find a reasonably priced Springfield trapdoor, Remington rolling block or similar they can be a lower cost option to the popular Sharpes at a far lower cost. Set one of these classics up with a set of target peep sights or a replica of the old scopes and you have yourself a fun to shoot single shot.

You already have a Mosin, An M-44 shoots the same ammo and is battle proven, and is more modern than the 91. Otherwise a Winchester 94 in 30-30 is classic and practical, light weight, slim, fast and good for 200 yards or more. If you are looking new, there are several options in tactical style bolt actions. Both near stock Winchester 70 and Remington 700's have been sniper rifles. Even my Winchester 74, .22lr has been used as a commando rifle.
That's in addition to all the nice rifles already posted.

For what you're describing, go 30-30 lever action all the way. It's wood and steel. Compact, handy, light and fast. The turdy-turdy hits hard, relatively inexpensive, and common. Put an aperture sight on it and you're good to 300 yards+ for minute of oil drum.

There are three milsurps that fit your requirements neatly:

The M1917 "Enfield," the No. 4 MK I and II Enfield and the M1903A3 Springfield. These rifles, unlike other battle rifles, have aperture (peep) sights ready-to-go for hunting purposes and are head and shoulders above the typical V-notch and barleycorn sights found on other surplus bolt rigles

Look, I know you said no semiauto's, but I suspect you don't have any experience with the Garand.

It truly is an amazing firearm and a joy to shoot. Recoil is actually less than a mosin or 336 (yes, I have experience). As a bonus they can be had for about $550 from the CMP.

Lets be completely honest about the Garand though, it's not for someone on a budget, and those prices likely don't exist anymore.

I've had a service grade CMP Garand for about five years now, and I love the thing. That being said, I wouldn't recommend a field grade Garand unless you're prepared to do some work on it. In reality, to get a nice example, expect to pay $650 for a Service Grade + shipping.

That being said, I imagine CMP has so many orders already in line by this point that their current inventory will sell out long before an order placed today gets to the top. There's no telling when or if they'll actually be able to catch back up, and prices are likely going to go up as a result. Once CMP runs out of Garands, they're going to go way up in price on the open market as well.

Also, don't forget that they need to be shot with surplus ammunition to protect the gas system. Commercial rounds are too powerful and can damage the operating rod. M1 Garand specific ammunition isn't nearly as easy to find now as it was a few years ago, and it's not that cheap anymore either. There are solutions, such as adjustable gas plugs, but they take money and experience to make work correctly. Reloading is also an option, but not something the OP seemed interested in.

My final gripe against the Garand is that its big and heavy. It really cuts down on the recoil and makes it fun to shoot, but it also makes it a pain to haul around all day. I'm sure any G.I. that carried one would tell you the same.

They're wonderful rifles, and perhaps some of the best battle rifles of all time, but without a steady supply of ammunition, it's going to be very hard to feed in the near future. I'd stick with a bolt action that will fire anything off the shelf and cost much less getting there.

M1A, M1 Garand, FN Scar, or Anything with wood furniture.

OP, just out of curiosity, what's your spending limit here? You said you were on a budget, but we've had a lot of suggestions thrown out in the $1000-2000 range. I'm assuming you're working for a lot less than that, correct?

Remington pumps are a great choice for speed, power, and accuracy, I was actually thinking of that just a minute ago. However, of all the commercial rifles you can get ahold of, they are some of the most fragile under field conditions. You hear a lot more stories of failures with the Remington autoloaders, but the pumps aren't built much stronger. I wouldn't want one for a "battle rifle" type duty.

Considering the OP asking for a bolt-action recommendation, there are some odd choices being floated here

I'll suggest a bolt-gun I haven't seen mentioned: Steyr M95

WWI straight-pull bolt action rifle of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (I think) in 8X56R (not Mauser), the hottest milsurp main rifle ammunition ever fielded in quantity. Most rifles you find now are under 200$ (still), many have decent bores, and all have strong actions if checked (as all used rifles should be) and given the clear. The mechanism is supposedly a bit stronger than the K31 (in terms of how forcefully the bolt head is rotated closed by cams) but much more crude (you have to forcefully cycle the action, like a lever gun). The rifles you find are typically cut-down long rifles, and recoil is very stiff because of the missing weight (a bit worse than a short Mosin). They are far better made than any Mosin I've seen. The unique 8x56R ammo is being made by PRVI and Hornady, and more will likely follow as Mosins appreciate over these rifles. Hornady is making bullets that fit this caliber (not the same as 8mm Mauser) so it is suitable for hunting. They do require 5 round Mannlicher clips to load properly, but those are available from Numrich for 6$ each. I am working on getting mine rechambered to 50 Alaskan, but the stock config is no slouch (factory cartridge bolt-thrust is identical to the 50 ).

For a lever gun capable of laying down suppressing fire, the Evans Repeating Rifle, with its 28-34 helical mag capacity

For a beautiful and functional milsurp semi-auto that's as good as a FAL (basically is a FAL internally) but looks as pretty as a Garand, check out the FN49. They are available in several calibers, the cheapest being Egyptian-Contract guns in 8mm Mauser for under 600$ these days. You can occaisionally find one in a caliber like 30-06 or 308 for a steal (I did ). All models but the 308 have an internal 10rnd mag, the 308 was modified for a 20rnd detachable mag.

TCB

I handled a Mini-14 the other day and actually like the way they feel. They point very naturally for me. Not sure that is what you're looking for, but it's a thought. I'd like to pick one up after magazines become available for them again. Having said that, there is a lot to be said for the tried and true 30-30 lever action.

How about an Enfield?

What WAS I thinking? I left out an obvious choice.

K31.

Nothing wrong with a .30-30, but if you ever need to buttstroke your enemy, you're in for some trouble

no offense to m1 garand, but i think the fn-49 is probably the best looking battle rifle that fills your blued/wood requirment

Yes, as others have mentioned, the Enfield is an excellent choice as well. For home defense, keep in mind the .303 British will tear through building materials like it's Papier-mâché (but then, so will the .30-30Win).

I would feel quite comfortable with an Enfield to save my hide if things got rough. 10 rounds of a potent cartridge from a smooth, quick action. It's going to be hard to beat if you prefer a bolt action over a lever gun.

Kick-Down-Doors said:

Hey folks!

So I've tried and tried to make myself like the AR-15's, AK's, And Etc.

Just can't do it. I've heard they're beautiful weapons. Just not my thing.

I'm into traditional rifles (wood, blueing, etc.). So to satisfy my curiosity I wanted to know what my options were.

I don't really like most commercial hunting rifles though.

I love MilSurps. My MN 91/30, although the cheapest rifle I own, I adore it the most.

It does leave alot to be desired since it's my only "OMG ZOMBIES!" gun along with my Glock.

So what are my options THR? I love milsurps, but I'm open to some Commercial alternatives. EX: The Marlin's 336 at my LGS looks and feels good, where as Ruger's GunSite Scout just doesn't do it for me. Looks like a mutated Springfield M1903 to me anyway.....

The gun's gotta be a bolt/lever action (just not semi auto), and have an internal magazine of some sort.

Cost is also a factor since I'm young and don't make a ton. Luckily the rifle will only be chewing through ammo when the Commie-Zombies invade and will see some use to maintain familiarity with the weapon., So I'm okay with the ammo being a little pricey.

Thanks THR!

Click to expand...

Have you ever considered one of the MAS`s, you can find them in .308 or the traditional 7.5 French, here is a pic of one of mine

I haven't seen this, brand stinking new Henry in .45 long Colt..
An heirloom that feels great, and looks better.

KKKKFL