First centerfire rifle

[benzy2]

Buy what you want. You seem set on buying the Mosin so just do it. If we all say don't and you keep saying you want to why ask in the first place? The problem with the Mosin is that it has terrible iron sights, it shoots a loud full power load, very few have been treated even close to well and those that have often carry a premium price, and most of the ammo you run across is junk. Again do what you want, I have two of them, but it would be the last rifle from the ones I own to be my only rifle. Yeah ammo is fairly cheap but anymore its right there with 7.62x39 prices. The trigger on the Mosin is quite possibly the worst I have felt on a rifle.

If you take anything other than price into consideration it falls quickly behind everything else mentioned as a primary rifle. It fits well into the 4th rifle spot where you already have most of your shooting needs filled and are just looking for something loud and cheap to blast at the range. And that's why I bought the two I did. They are nothing more than that and never will be. I wouldn't take them hunting and I wouldn't really trust I could hit a pie plate at 100 yards with one. They are loud and cheap to feed but mine sit while many other rifles get used. Look at an SKS. Fairly cheap rifles, fairly cheap ammo, less recoil and noise but still enough to have a good time, and a lot of fun to have a semi auto. Bolt rifles are fun if they are accurate. With the sights the Mosin comes with, the condition they are in, and the quality the surplus ammo runs mine have never been accurate. If I'm not putting the right where I want them I might as well be sending them down range as fast as possible.

I don't think I will really change your mind. You seem fairly set on the Mosin. It can be fun, especially when you hit something reactive, but outside of stuff that explodes when shot it gets pretty boring pretty quick. Not the rifle I would pick up if I had one to grab and was going either hunting or to the range. It will work for both and it will kill those hogs dead as dirt but just not my pick for either situation.

 

[Maverick223]

it will kill those hogs dead as dirt but just not my pick for either situation.

I agree, get a SKS for a bit more and you will have a much better shooter. If you want a bolt gun a Mauser (in any iteration) is a good gun and can be had pretty reasonably. Many of them have been sporterized (turned down bolt handle, safety upgrade, etc.) and I have found several that have been rechambered for .308 or .30-06. It will be a much better shooter than a Mosin, it still has quite a bit of recoil but not as severe as the MN.

 

[mcdonl]

My first deer gun was a 30/30 lever action, but my second was something you may consider...

A .270 savage. Low cost, good round... not as powerful as the 30.06 but it will get the job done.

Leroy

 

[gondorian]

I'm not set on getting a mosin. There are things about it I don't like; all the ones I've handled have actions as smooth as 80 grit sandpaper compared to a new bolt gun like a savage stevens, the sights are just ok, and all I've ever heard from anyone about the trigger is bad. What draws me to it is its low cost, both to purchase and to feed, and its ability to perform to my current requirements. I made this thread to gather input as to whether or not I would be better off getting it and saving some change or getting something that would be more expensive but would possible give me better long term performance. Right now I'm pretty evenly split on whether or not to get a mosin or a new better more expensive gun, but I definitely will not decide till I go to the range and shoot some bigger guns next weekend.

About a year ago I was considering getting an sks when they were below $200 but the cheapest I've seen them at shops and shows around me is over $300. At that price I'd rather get a nice new bolt gun, since I don't really need semi-auto for anything besides using up ammo faster.

 

[gondorian]

My list of new inexpensive bolt guns is:
Marlin XS7 (or XL7 if I want .270 or 30-06 possible but not too likely)
Savage Stevens 200
Mossberg 100 atr

Maybe Howa 1500 but they seem to be more expensive

I won't overlook the marlin 336 or other lever guns but previous to the thread I hadn't considered them.

Is there anything else that should really be on that list?

 

[Maverick223]

About a year ago I was considering getting an sks when they were below $200 but the cheapest I've seen them at shops and shows around me is over $300. At that price I'd rather get a nice new bolt gun, since I don't really need semi-auto for anything besides using up ammo faster.

I agree, a SKS is far from my favorite rifle (I own none), but a Mauser is a good quality gun with history, sights, and can be had pretty cheaply (about $200-250 for a decent one). Look into a Ishapore (Indian Enfield chambered in .308) or even a Japanese Type 99 Arisaka that has been sporterized and rechambered. All of these are good bolt actions that can be found rechambered to more "accessable" ammunition. Good luck and happy hunting, Mav.

Is there anything else that should really be on that list?

See the above, you were typin'...while I were thinkin'

 

[paintballdude902]

i think you are the perfect candidate for an xs7 its a great gun simple controls nice beefy recoil pad and its accurate

they are a tad hard to find right now since they are just outa the factory but worth it if i were you id get one in 7mm-08

 

[30mag]

30-30 and start reloading

Start reloading?
Our Wal-mart hasn't had primers in six months.
It is a bad time to start reloading IMHO.

 

[30mag]

Recoil from a military surplus rifle is stout. I have a friend who prefers his dumb .338 win mag over his Mosin because the Mosin kicks more.
His words, not mine. I didn't have a problem shooting his .338, but I also did not have a chance to shoot his MN. He doesn't take it to punch paper.

 

[Eb1]

Quote:
30-30 and start reloading
Start reloading?
Our Wal-mart hasn't had primers in six months.
It is a bad time to start reloading IMHO.

My Wal-Mart has never had primers. So don't feel to bad.


There is plenty of primers now in my neck of the woods.

 

[tactikel]

Most ammo readily found in 7.62x54R is fmj -no good for your hogs. I really would follow the widsom of the previous posters, get a medium cal (.243,30-30, .270) bolt or lever action =If money is a real problem buy a used one. A Marlin 30-30 that has sat in gun rack 51 weeks out if the year has seen far less abuse than any Mosin you snag. Ive shot them they feel cheap and are not that reilable IMHO.

 

[Uncle Mike]

You could also get the Marlin XLR in .308 Marlin.
Nice tube fed stainless steel lever gun hittin' like a .308 Winchester, accurate, compact, fast ect...

Marlin also makes the .338, .450 and .45-70 Marlin XLR.
Now these turds are going to be about twice the cost of your 336's in the venerable ol' 30-30 caliber.

If it's the money chips your concerned with... get yourself a Marlin XL7/XS7
or better yey get the Stevens 200!

 

[gondorian]

Hello again everybody I've gone to the range a couple times now and shot some guns but the most interesting in terms of this thread was the M1 Garand. I found that the recoil was not painful but was so significant that it distracted me from good shooting. I had a really hard time relaxing when I was shooting it and did really have good trigger pull with it or anything like that.

So basically I have decided that I need to get a rifle that has not too much recoil but enough oomph to put bambi and his friends in the freezer and have more boom than say .223. Right now I'm thinking about .243, .25-06 and maybe 7mm08. If y'all could give me some feedback from you experience about these that could be great.


P.S.
I know that .30-30 could be good but lever guns just can't call my me the same as a bolt. I just really like the feel of working a good bolt action.
I know that there are some other good fairly powerful cartridges with mild recoil like 6.5 swede and .260 remington but I want to stay on the low end of the rifle cost spectrum and I don't know of any low cost guns in these calibers.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I'm looking for preferably a bolt gun, because I like working bolts, much more than levers, following that is a single shot or lever gun. Budget is as much less than $400 as possible. Used is ok. Terrain is mostly woodsy probably 70%. I'm ok with using iron sights as my eyesight is very good when I wear my contacts. I don't reload, yet, and I probably won't for some time so ammo cost is a big issue. Accuracy is somewhat of an issue, I would be ok with minute of pie angle only if the gun cost around a hundred bucks. Thanks for all the info guys.

Well with that info, I'd still recommend a commercial turnbolt over a milsurp. I'd recommend one of these:

Marlin 336, .30-30 Win (you said you like bolts more, but still...)
Stevens 200, caliber of your choice (.270 win is an excellent choice)
Marlin XL-7, caliber of your choice (ditto)

That's what I'd do, and scope it. You said hogs; hogs are 90% nocturnal, so if you do see them it's gonna be during the last or first shreds of light. A scope adds 15-20 minutes on either end of the day over iron sights, during prime hunting time.

Right now I'm thinking about .243, .25-06 and maybe 7mm08

All excellent choices, but since hogs can get big & tough, I'd mark .243 off the list. .25-06 is great choice.

 

[cchris]

For the best for the budget, I'd go with a bubba'd milsurp. Basically a milsurp-turned-hunting rifle. Probably less than $200, and accurate. Maybe an Enfield (.303), Mauser (8mm), or Mosin (7.62x54R). Mauser you can get 8mm hunting ammo for, and get your practice in with FMJ ammo.

I paid $100 for a Mauser (didn't even know it was one when I bought it), got 300+ rounds of ammo for less than $100, and if I get good enough with it, just use the Winchester 170gr for hunting.

 

[murdoc rose]

can't go wrong with a good 30-30 or if want a change from rifles try a shotgun

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have a handi rifle in .280 rem and other than the trigger, it's fine. They offer a wide variety of calibers as well. As for only having one shot, if you put it where it matters that's all you need. Don't practice fast reloading, practice putting the first one where it'll do the most good.

 

[MrBackpack]

I'm new to this forum and pretty new to guns in general, and I'm looking for some advice on a good centerfire rifle for me to buy. I think that I've developed pretty good shooting techniques with .22's and air guns so now I'm looking to buy something that goes BOOM instead of boom or pffft.
It must be durable, reliable, and not too expensive to feed. I can't hunt deer with centerfire in my state, but I would probably eventually use it to hunt, maybe hogs, so it must have sufficient power for mid-sized game. It doesn't have to be too accurate because all the places I can think of that I would shoot or hunt with it are not more than 100yrds. And of course I want it to be inexpensive, while still meeting the above standards. I was thinking about getting a Mosin Nagant, would this be a good idea?

If you're looking for a good bolt-action gun, a Mosin-Nagant would be good and cheap, find a Finnish one, not to mention you can get some practise ammo, about 440 rounds for 89.95 at aimsurplus.com (7.62x54R).

IMHO, I prefer the 8mm mauser (German or other wise) or the M1917 Enfield in 30-06 over the Mosin Nagant.

If you're willing to spend a bit more and get something in semo-auto, I would look for a M1 Garand from the cmp or through the classifieds here or on another site ($600-800 for a good one).

good luck in your search

 

[dscottw88]

After my first rifle (a 10/22) I was at an airshow where they had demilled rifles on display, one of them was this old beat up AK. I picked it up and held it close and quickly realized I too needed one. So, as soon as a saw a good deal I went and picked up a Saiga. I paid $280 and walked out the door with it.

Looked like this only with a shorter barrel.


After a few months of admiring it I finally decided it was time to fix it up a little, now it's this:


EDIT: I read the thread OK, so a Bolt action eh? What I didn't mention was that a month after I picked up that Saiga, I bought a Beautiful Yugo M24/47 8mm Mauser! Anywhere between $100 to $200 at Big 5.