Military Bolt Action Rifle

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Uncle Alvah

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I'd like to acquire a bolt action military issue rifle, in original condition. A "shooter" type gun, not a hy-zute collectors piece.
I was thinking about a 1903 Springfield A1 or A3 but frankly I got wacked with a case of "sticker shock" when I started looking at prices!
That, in turn, got me to wondering about alternatives(read:cheaper) to the Springfield, specifically an Enfield or a German Mauser 98.
Might I have better/easier luck trying to find a decent example of either of these two guns as opposed to the Springfield?
Suggestions on sources besides GA and GB and the like appreciated!
 
Also consider Czech Mausers, Yugoslavian Mausers, and the ultimate cheap bolt-action military rifle, the Mosin Nagant. (Mosins are available for under $100 in decent shape.) The Swiss K31 would also be a good option if you reload.

I would check classifieds here and in your local area. Some companies like Classic Arms also have a fair bit of such rifles.
 
May I suggest the M1917. It is a US variation on a British design that was used by 3/4 to 4/5th of all US forces in WW1 and only didn't become the main service rifle due to not invented here syndrome. It be much cheaper than the Springfield but still in 30-06.

I prefer the Lee Enfield to the 98 Mauser. Has better sights and a smoother action in my opinion. You also find decent versions for cheaper than the Mauser. Either will do you really well.

The cheapest you find are going to be Mosin Nagants. There a little crude, but are excellent value for the money you put into them. They are still rather common. It a shame you missed out on the big surplus deals of the late 90s and early 00s.
 
Cabala's sale flyer in todays paper has Moin-Nagant 7.62x54R rifles in "Excellent" condition for $99.99.

Tula ammo for $9.99 a box.

A Mossy certainly ain't no 03 Springfield.
But they don't get much cheaper to buy or shoot.

rc
 
I think Classic Arms has a stash of Czech VZ24 Mausers. Been meaning to get one of those forever, but other stuff keeps coming up. :cool:

I would LOVE a 1903A3, but yowza, are they precious. Those 1903A4 repros look nice, too, but not at all cheap.
 
1903s are become harder and harder to come by and as such the prices are going up, even on decent shooters. K98s can be had for less for a Russian Capture. A numbers matching K98 will cost you. I picked up a No1 MkIII* for less than $300 that I love. I'd say get an Enfield, either a No1 or a No4. You will not be sorry. I am not a huge fan of the Ishapore rifles, but they can be had at a decent price.
 
Classic arms is out, so is AIM surplus. I snagged 2 Vz24s while AIM had 'em, scrubbed crests but other than that they were awesome rifles.
 
You might want to take a look at a 1909 Mauser, the DWM's made for Argentina or by Mauser for Peru are fantastic if you can locate one in top condition and they are out there. The workmanship and attention to detail is on a par with the finest custom guns made today. Another old style to look for is the Swedish Mauser. Most were made in Sweden but they did contract with Mauser and had some made to their specs in Germany.
 
My Yugo Mauser is an excellent value, although I'm not yet able to hit anything with those iron sights at 100 yards. The previous owner killed a deer at 200 with the sights. I learned this weeks After the gun show purchase.

The Lee Enfield #4 and #5 Carbine have much better iron sights. There will be tons of MN 91/30s around for quite a while.

Surplus ammo for LEs is available again (almost at the price of commercial .303), but surplus Yugo 8mm is only .25/rd. (also 8mm Czech on Gunbroker).
Another shipload of Yugo might have arrived recently, as it is advertised on a few more websites than was the case months ago.
 
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Mosin Nagant, if you like 50inch over all get 91/30 if you like a little karbine with a big ol-kick then get a m44 or m38 ;) $100-$200 is price range. Ammo surplus is $99 almost everywhere and you get 440/rds
 
The most accurate bolt action military rifles are the Swedish Mausers and the Straight Pull Swiss K-31s.

The 1903s follow and then the 1903-A3s and Lee Enfield #4s.
 
Yes, the 03A3 will run you lots of $. As suggested above, the M1917 Enfield could be a cheaper alternative, and you will still have an American military rifle. The Mosin-Nagant would probably be the cheapest and most economical to shoot with surplus ammuniton. They are also widely avaliable in most areas. There is always all the other European ones too: British Enfield, K98, French MAS36, or even the Japanese Arisakas.
 
+ 1 on a Swedish Mauser

I still see very nice examples for under $400 at local shows, and the 6.5 swede is a sweetheart caliber
 
Enfields are cheap rifles, but you'll have to sell your car to buy the ammo. I would recommend a mosin nagant for all around cheapo military bolt action rifle.
 
Gona throw a curve ball for you but if you can find a FR-8 they make great shooters and i havent seen one for more than $350
 
BillyDa59:

They might have to sell their cars for the ammo, and suddenly there is surplus .303 available again, but costing about .45-.50/round, people can be better off buying new Prvi Partizan at about .60/round for reloading. Prvi :) has Boxer primers and thicker brass than Remington.

In April '09 surplus British-made and Pakistani (POF) had been .22/round at SAMCO, but suddenly sold out.

SOG, Classicarms (NC) and JGsales have either surplus (British-made) RG with Berdan primers, the new shipment of Greek .303 with Boxer, or both types.
 
ive handled most of them and think the arisaki is pretty cool
light weight , and i love the peep rear with pyramid front sight
 
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