Bolt Rifle suggestions

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KAC1911

KAC1911

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I'm looking to get myself an inexpensive military bolt rifle that there is a abundance of inexpensive surplus ammo. The range where I shoot has a max of 200 yds, so would be shooting at 100 to 200 max. I already have a couple of sks's, ar15 too. Was thinking about a Mosin Nagant type, I like the shorter versions I've seen. The more I've read about them though it seems difficult to find one that isn't a fake or butchered.

Do you guys have any suggestions on rifles or calibers to look at? I do have the capability to reload but like the 7.62x39 ammo, I can usually but it cheaper than to reload. Any points or suggestions is appreaciated. Just trying to have some inexpensive fun shooting!

Kenny
 
The abundance of inexpensive surplus ammo is all but gone, and reloading is the way to go, the Mosin Nagant is a fine rifle & at a great price (right now) so if you are going to get one, you better do it.

Just My 2 cents............
 
I'd spend a little more and hunt down a nice Mauser 98 chambered in 7x57 or 8x57. They have more potential in case you ever decide to sporterize or similar.
 
Not fimilar with the mauser rounds, will look into that. Thanks for the suggestion.

Is the 98 the same as a K98?
 
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KAC1911 said:
I'm looking to get myself an inexpensive military bolt rifle that there is a abundance of inexpensive surplus ammo. The range where I shoot has a max of 200 yds, so would be shooting at 100 to 200 max. I already have a couple of sks's, ar15 too. Was thinking about a Mosin Nagant type, I like the shorter versions I've seen. The more I've read about them though it seems difficult to find one that isn't a fake or butchered.

Do you guys have any suggestions on rifles or calibers to look at? I do have the capability to reload but like the 7.62x39 ammo, I can usually but it cheaper than to reload. Any points or suggestions is appreaciated. Just trying to have some inexpensive fun shooting!

Kenny
Click to expand...
Hard to find a non-butchered or non-fake nagant? What do you mean? There are no "Fake" Nagants, and non-butchered ones are just $100 from most retailers.
 
I'm just beginning to learn about the Mosin Nagant. What I've been reading on the net when purchasing from an individual you can run into this. I am NO expert just trying to get some helpful infomation. Maybe you can suggest what to look for and what to avoid when looking to purchase one!
 
Anyone that would sporter an original 98k is an idiot. There are far too many out there that are already messed up, anyone that would kill that nice original BNZ mauser shold have his a$$ removed.

If you are looking to get your feet wet in the military surplus market a 91/30 is the best bang for the buck. In general terms the longer versions will shoot a little straighter, but the shape of the rifle is going to be the over riding factor in ANYTHING you look at.

There are a few rifles in the sub $200 range (I tossed that figure in there because you said inexpensive) that are worth taking a look at. But for the money you will not come close to the Mosin.....a few $ more will open a lot of options.

You are not going to get anything american under $200 so take those out. If you are intrested in the Mauser type rifle, look at Turk or any of the other flavors out there, they are available for under 200 easy, but the ammo cost is going to be a bit more.

Another thing to look at is the MAS 36, you are getting into a 308 class rifle and a little different shooting experence, but they are very good, strong and straight shooting rifles (again, look over the bore and general shape of the rifle).....ammo is going to get you here again....it is out there but not inexpensive.....if you reload again more Options.

But I would say if you want an inexpensive and cheap to shoot bolt military rifle the 91/30 is the way to go....and if you decide to destroy one do a quick check and see if that $89 crate rifle is not actually worth $300 to a collector before you take the hack saw to the rifle that helped make the world safe from the Nazi's and kept the population of slavs, jews, gipsy, black...and all the rest of us safe and able to post on sites like this.

When pulling that rifle out of the crate bring a light and shoot it down the bore, pick yourself a good one and the rifle will reward you.

I know not very "high road" but not feeling good today and I don't really care.
 
Thanks for that input. I guess I should explain what I meant about inexpensive. I'd be willing to probably go up to $300-350 for a rifle. My inexpensive term has more to do with getting surplus ammo, and it's availability. So regular shooting doesn't hurt$$$.
I like keeping my guns in their original condition. I've owned many Rem 700 BDL's from 222,243,30-06,22-250. I like the look of the older military rifles. I also enjoy shooting with iron sights too.
It's all about having fun with out breaking the bank.
 
Ignoring the price of the rifle, I only see quantities of inexpensive surplus 7.62x54r ammo out there. This is all corrosive of course.

If you want to step up a notch, pick up a Swiss K31 for under $350. They are fantastic rifles and surplus GP11 ammo is available. This is about the only surplus ammo that is NOT corrosive, but its also not dirt cheap either.

Getting away from expensive US surplus guns, like Springfields or Garands, my favorites are:

Swiss K31
Swedish Mauser 6.5x55 (m96 or m38)
Any 7x57 Mauser (Brazil or Venezuelan are great)
 
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Thanks Valnar for the input. I almost bought a swedish 6.5 a few years back, sorry now I didn't. Probably prices are a bit more. Not to concerned over the corrosive type because I always clean my guns after the range shoot.
 
I think you the answer for you is a mosin of some kind, again in general terms the long rifles are going to shoot a little better, the 54R ammo is THE deal out there...no one can dispute that. For your price range you can do a a finn for a bit of different history, or even a repro sniper (you can still use the iron sites) plus the repro scopes give another aspect to the historical shooting experence.

If your over riding factor is ammo cost, something that shoots the good ole 54R is the way to go....buy a spam can and have fun.
 
Gun show this weekend so gonna have my work cut out for me. Looks like your right, the 54R may be my best choice. Gonna have to find out more about that repo sniper too. Thanks for the advise.
 
fpgt72 said:
Anyone that would sporter an original 98k is an idiot. There are far too many out there that are already messed up, anyone that would kill that nice original BNZ mauser shold have his a$$ removed.
Click to expand...

I guess you need to try and remove my a$$ then. :confused:

There are so many M98 variants out there and have been for decades. There are plenty of collectors who have kept unmolested specimens. Besides, according to "French Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98a", there were approx. 5 million built. Who said anything about BNZ??

Regardless sporterizing was mentioned as an option that would give this particular type of rifle an advantage over the Nagants and Swedes that were already being discussed.

KAC1911 - If it were me, I would prefer a Mauser 98 in 7x57 or 8x57. The 98 actions are stronger than the previous models and they cock-on-open. The Mauser actions set the bar for the bolt-action rifle industry.
 
The repro sniper depending on your area may tickle the $400 mark, but they are a great deal of fun, the scope comes off easy as pie and lets you play two games for the price of one entry price.

Just don't cut them up.
 
The Mosin is a cheap, ugly, clunky, crude, pile of you know what, worst rifle I have ever shot bar none, but you can still hit a deer with it out to 200. I would personaly invest a few extra bucks to get a Savage 110 that will shoot circles around that Mosin all day every day, not to mention feed reliably and shoot quality hunting bullets, oh and it weighs 50% less, and you don't need to buy a special mount for modern scopes.
30-06 > 7.62x54R
 
Mosin can be beautiful and you can improve the accuracy of them


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Sorry but no Mosin is going to hang with a good 110 I don't care what you do to it. Loose fitting stamped steel mass produced in a county where quantity was vastly more important then quality has no chance. The best I ever got out of a Mosin was just under 2", my best group with my $125 Savage was four ONE HOLE groups back to back!
 
I have an old Polish M-44 Mosin that is my go to gun around the house, it kicks like a mule but is cheap ,cheap to shoot and more accurate then they are given credit for.I'd look into one, if not that an old Mauser, the next step would be the K-31 my absolute favorite milsurp rifle.
 
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