.22 Bolt or Mosin?

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rduchateau2954

rduchateau2954

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With my gun club application being accepted. I have an itch to add to my rifle collection.

I currently have my .270 and an SKS. Not looking to spend much, just want to pick up another gun to plink with. I was checking out what the local fleet farm had for .22s and noticed that they sell the mosin 91 for $99.

So what say you High Road? I always like the mosins but the cheap ammo for .22s is making the decision hard.
 
A good .22 can be used for hunting, home defense, or cheap target practice. Also good for new/young shooter so they don't get scared off by noise and recoil. :(
Even if you go with a semiautomatic (Ruger 10/22) instead of a bolt-action, you can put in single shells for kids (safety concerns). One point about the 10/22 vs. other autos - the 10 shot rotary clip does NOT stick out below the rifle making it easy to put on a sandbag, table, fencepost, etc. to brace it for shooting. Then, if you're in a SHTF situation, you can swap out the 10 shot for a banana holding between 25 and 50 rounds.
:D
Happy shooting!
 
Mosin. Admittedly, asides from a cheap plinker and maybe a training aid for very young shooters or those with health conditions or serious budget crises, I'd prefer a Mosin. I plan on trying to teach my friend to shoot on one, because his parents come from former Communist Hungary and may be a little freaked if I handed him a Kalashnikov. I also want to start him on a bolt action battle rifle in order to teach him to both take care with his shots and that control technique is absolutely vital. Since he's a bit of a braggart, I fear starting him on a "tactical" gun and then have him go off an boast about using a big tactical man's gun and being able to master it immediately.
 
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Since he's a bit of a braggart, I fear starting him on a "tactical" gun and then have him go off an boast about using a big tactical man's gun.
Click to expand...

Comrade Zaitsev would argue that a Mosin is as tactical as they come.:cool:

I would add that the x54 cartridge is definitely a big boy toy.:D
 
Get the .22. Every firearms enthusiast needs at least several .22's.

The Mosin isn't bad, but it's not that great either.
 
I would go for the 22. I hardly ever shoot my Mosin, I value my shoulder too much. I only found it fun for the first 25 or so big boomawhallops, I have 33's that are fun brick after brick after brick.....
 
The price of the 91/30 and the price of the ammo makes it pretty darn close to what it will cost the .22.

There are pluses to both, you can use the 91/30 for a deer rifle, or the .22 for rabbits and such.

The 91/30 does hit you pretty hard, I have to use a pad with mine, I have 5 bits of titinum holding my head on and I can shoot it with the pad all day, without, only 5 shots and I am done for about a week or more....they do hit pretty hard.

All that said I would say if you don't have a .22 get one....but get yourself a good one in whatever flavor you want (bolt, lever, semi, single shot) If you have a nice .22 you will find yourself going to it more and more often. Best and cheapest thing (next to a good pellet rifle) for tuning your skills.

I also suggest a good Pellet rifle, If you have a big bacement, garage or even good side back yard you can make up a pellet trap and shoot at home. More time to train, and it does make a big difference....and it is loads of fun.
 
Thanks guys, just to be clear I am not new to shooting, I am just new to being a member of a gun club and having access to a range. I grew up in a big hunting family and have been shooting ever since my old man could get me away from my mom long enough to get a gun in my hands. .22s 20ga and even the sks. I shoot a lot of sporting clays and trap I always had a pellet rifle.

Speaking of pellet rifles, I have this cheap Daisy pellet rifle that had this cheap 3x9 plastic scope on it.I got it when I was 6 or 7 years old. I could shoot out a bullseyes on a target and then shoot out the staples holding the target up at 25yrds. The crap scope eventually fell apart but I still have the rifle to this day.

At some point I will own both, I am going to check and see if the $99 for the mosin is a sale price or not.

The mosin is cheaper, the ammo is more expensive and it weighs a ton. I would pretty much shoot it as is unless I upgrade the sights. I don't need it for deer, and with a pad I think the recoil will be manageable.

A .22 is gonna cost more, plus I might put a scope on it, but the ammo is cheaper. Plus I can shoot the metal targets at the gun club.

fpgt72, The thought of a lever .22 had never even crossed my mind, but I might have to look into that. I could see that being a blast.

I think Fishslayer has the right idea.

Thanks for the input, I'm gonna look a little deeper into what's in the area for .22's.
 
One thing to check on is if your club's range allows steel core ammo. There is non magnetic (steel free) x54 ammo available but it's as pricey as any other commercial ammo. The steel free milsurp.... well... I call it "Not in Stock" ammo. :(

The cheap milsurp everybody has is steel case with steel core projectile. Many ranges don't allow it.

Black Friday is coming up. Everybody and his dog runs some kind of special on .22 rifles. ;)
Last year Turner's had Marlin 795 for $100. :eek: I'm still kicking myself...
 
I have a mosin and many .22lr. The mosin hasn't been shot in a few years and the .22lr's get shot most weekends. In the end it is your money. I found no enjoyment shooting the Mosin. Mine isn't accurate, it's loud, and it kicks a bit. I can deal with the last two if it has the first. Ammo is fairly hard to find as well, at least in most local stores. Most of it is mail order or expensive. I like the ability to walk into a store, pick up a box (or brick or case) of ammo and head to the range if need be. I've left it at home on accident one too many times and have come to appreciate easily available ammo.

I know many people love milsurps and especially the mosin. I happen to not be one of them. You already have an SKS for an inexpensive centerfire shooter. I think a .22lr is a better fit for a new rifle than to have another blaster centerfire rifle.
 
Either rifle is great for plinking, but if you're a lightweight guy then the mosin is not one to shoot all day. In my experience, it's not near as bad as people make it out to be, but that metal buttplate does provide a slight twinge. Actual recoil is about like a normal .30-06, but that buttplate does have a little bit of punch to it. The discomfort is very marginal, but not marginal enough to be an all day shooter without some soreness in the morning. My 91/30 is pretty fun to shoot in moderation, though.
If you don't have a .22, though, get one. A 500 round brick of .22 ammo is about the same price as a 20 round box of some better sporting 7.62x54 loads. You can't hunt deer with a .22, but you can shoot squirrels, rabbits, nutria, scaled quail, etc. with one all day long. I prefer the standard Henry lever action. Very swet gun. :D
 
Those polish .22's are neat but 250 for an old single shot rifle? There are more practical uses for the money. A real bolt .22 for around 150 and a normal mosin for around 100.
 
THE answer is very simple. Every shooter NEEDS a 22 rifle; they do not need a Mosin if you don't have the 22 niche filled.
 
The real question is if you were charged by an angry bear which would you rather have?
Click to expand...

If I were charged by an angry bear I'd hope the zoo fence keeps it contained. That's as much of a threat (other than the exotic animal farm that was let loose) as I have of a bear charging. Not everyone lives in an area where humans aren't the top of the food chain.
 
I like my Mosin but the .22's area a far more useful rifle.

Check into what sort of competition matches are held at your new club. Likely there's something that a .22 will fit into which you can use to challenge yourself and become a better shooter. Not to mention that it's always fun to shoot the breeze with the other folks at the event.
 
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