First centerfire rifle...Help!

I realize this is like asking your favorite ice cream flavor, but I would appreciate some advice: I have a couple of handguns -- S&W Model 10 and CZ 75B -- and have owned a few .22 rifles over the years. Here is my question; I'm on a budget, I want an inexpensive rifle for plinking/target. I want a caliber that is cheap to buy ammo for, doesn't break my shoulder with excessive recoil(I'm a med-big guy), has decent accuracy and a bit of panache; ex: my first choice would be an M1 Garand. Thanks for your opinions!

 

Well, your first choice is nice.

Since you like that kind of rifle, something else you might consider is an M1 .30 Carbine. They are light, short bbl'd, inexpensive semi-auto's. The ammo is cheap and plentiful and they are great fun to shoot! They also make a great offensive rifle.

I have one and have to say it is without a doubt my "go-to" rifle for a day out plinking and target shooting. I have a 30 round banana clip/magazine that makes it a tad more fun too. As said below, it is my SHTF rifle.

M1A .30 Carbine

Quoted from The Daily Rant


Marshall

 

I recommend Mosin Nagants, you can pick up an M-44 for $50 at your local sporting goods store. Ammo is very very cheap but corrosive, but thats no big deal just swab bore with ammonia/water mixture when done shooting.

Also Mausers are great, you can get a VZ-24 for $80 or M-48A for about $100 and again ammo is very very cheap but corrosive.

They are great guns for the money and lots of fun!

But an M1 Garand is an excellent choice too

 

validity of a choice

Re the M1 CarbineÑYou want it for plinking and TARGET workÑTherefore I cannot reccommend it, and I respectfully suggest that those who did reccommend it missed this word in your question.

Without a doubt, the M1 carbine is ultra-reliable. Its reputation in this area is peerless. As a SHTF gun it probably is w/o equal for close range work. And having said that, I must point out that its accuracy at any distance, even 100yd, is mediocre at best. The GI's who used it knew this and used it close in. The M1 rifle (the .30-'06 one) is far more accurate, and about as reliable, however it is also far from inexpensive. (For that matter, so is the carbine. Both have become desirable by collectors, which skyrockets the price of any item, not just firearms.) The M1 rifle is also quite heavy to lug around, if that is a consideration. It is also difficult to fit with a 'scope sight, if THAT is a consideration. It also is difficult to load except with a full clip of 8 rounds. (Fine for a battle rifle, where you'd be taking a lot more than 8 shots in a short time; a tad awkward for most civilian purposes.) So as fine a battle instrument as it is, I cannot reccommend the M1 rifle for target/plinking either.

For real accuracy in an American milsurp, I'd have to reccommend the same one used by our snipers in WWII: The '03-A3 Springfield. Sadly, this is also a desirable collector item in its original form, so unless you can find one that has been badly sporterized and fix it up to your specifications you'll pay too much for that, too.

So. What CAN a body get that is a) accurate, b) doesn't cost an arm and a leg, c)sturdy and well-made?? Answer: MAUSER. Any of the Mauser milsurp rifles will give good-to-excellent accuracy, at a far smaller price. Mausers can be retro-fitted with good iron sights and good triggers for a reasonable amout of $$, and are amenable to 'scopes as well. They're cheap enough that you can sporterize the stock and glass-bed them as a learning exerciseÑMuch to the horror of the collectors, but personally I prefer accuracy to museum quality. The ammo is easily available, but I would not use the milsurp ammo or the cheap commercial stuffÑit's an insult to a good firearm.

The heavily advertised Mitchell's Mausers are very nice quality, and very over-priced. You can do better on-line, or through Shotgun News or The Gun List.

There are Mausers in several calibers out there for cheap. The best (and most expensive) are the German models. They come in a European caliber that might be hard to buy ammo for locally, but it can be ordered. Perhaps the best for your purposes is the Israeli Mauser, which was converted to .308 win, which is available everywhere in the US. Again, on-line or SGN or TGL are your best sources.

There are other milsurps out there that would serve your purposes. There are also commerical centerfires that would suit your purposes fine. The Savage 110 comes to mind as a reasonably priced centerfire with excellent out-of-the-box accuracy for the $$.

Shop around, it's part of the fun. Get to know the inhabitants of your local gun shop and range, and get their opinions. Don't be in too much of a hurry; that is costly.

Good luck. Enjoy the journeyÑit's part of the fun.

 

.223 Ruger Mini 14. forget the .30 cal for plinking. a .223 is real sheap + a very fun gun!

 

I second the .223.

Mini 14 or AR-15 if the budget allows. Don't want semi-auto? There are a lot of fine bolt action .223 that can be had reasonably. Buy one, play with it, get proficient with it, then decide if you want a semi auto or not.

 

Another vote for the .223. It is the .22 of centerfires. Only thing cheaper is dirty Russian AK ammo. I have a Mini-14 and an AR-15, and I pine for a nice bolt action. You could probably get a Savage bolt action pretty cheap in .223, and it is a good rifle to boot.

 

Thanks for your advice!

I am making up for a lifetime of rummaging through gunshops, Shotgun News and face-to-face discussions! The first MilSurp that really got my "Attention" was/is the Garand...after all, this is the rifle my Dad carried around Bastogne and environs including the Battle of the Bulge. I frequent an outdoor gunclub with separate pistol bays and rifle range; when I hear the report of a large caliber rifle, especially semi-auto, I sometimes walk over and, if the shooters seem to be in the mood to chat, ask about their long guns. I will probably start collecting one of the "cheaper" Mosin Nagants or Mausers, and check out the .223 mentioned, as well; I hope to eventually aquire an M1 Garand, in part, to honor my Dad and all the G.I.s who gave their all for all of us. So many guns, so little time!

 

If you're looking for something cheap to plink with and have an interest in Milsurps, you might consider a Yugo Mauser M48 or M48A.

They're under $200, sometimes a lot under $200 depending on where you shop, can be had in excellent to like new condition, and 8mm is a serious round that's dirt cheap. While the surplus stuff is corrosive, just clean accordingly and enjoy.

 

I'd like to second the Mosin Nagant M-44 carbine. You can pick them up from Big 5 for fifty or sixty bucks. They are reliable. They are reasonably accurate. 7.62x54 is cheap. And the looks you get at the range when people hear the report of one of these little cabines are priceless

 

How about a good lever action .30-30? Used Marlin levers can be had for a buck and a half, maybe a few dings but good shape on the inside.

 

I doubt anyone will knock your idea of a Garand but they can be pricey. For light kickers, I'd recommend something in 223. The Savage rifles can be had for $350 range, plus a $100 scope and you'll have a pretty darn effective and accurate rifle for target use. For a heavier kicker, the Nagants are pretty hard to beat. Getting a scope on there will cost you if you're set on that but they can be pretty good with iron sights. Can't beat 'em for the price. Ammo is cheap too.

 

8 points in favor of a Garand
Get a Garand at www.odcmp.com

-It's a piece of American history and a fine example of American ingenuity - and you even have a connection to your Dad's proud history
-Can be used for plinking on up to serious competition
-Can be used for hunting large animals (be sure to use the right ammo, the pressures of modern factory softpoint hunting ammo can be too high for a Garand)
-Ammo – can be spendy, but you can still find deals on Danish military 30-06. 30-06 will always be available and reloadable.
-Once they're gone form CMP, they're gone and you'll pay more than $500 for one
-Matches - Works well for any high power match, and Garand-specific competitions have sprung up all over the country. The CMP Garand match is a great excuse to go to Camp Perry in August and shoot with thousands of the finest men and women in the world
-An accurate, long-range battle rifle with excellent, adjustable, bombproof sites
-blam-blam-blam-blam-blam-blam-blam-blam-PING!