Rifles I'm glad I bought when I had the chance...

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I have three that I am especially glad I bought when I could.

My .458 Zastava. I draw filed, stained and refinished the stock. Otherwise it's pure 98 Mauser.
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My 1878 Pedersoli Lyman Sharps 45/70. It's a target gun, and sweet to shoot.

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And My Springfield M1a Scout Squad. I very much enjoyed my M14 in the Marines, and now I have one to call my own.

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11 years ago whilst walking around a gun show I came upon a Mosin Nagant that was not quite a 91/30. I didn't know exactly what it was but I didn't want to put it back on the table as there were a few people behind me wanting a look. My gut told me to just buy it and I did for $160. It's a 1923 Tula Dragoon, first year of production.

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This has become by far one of my favorite guns. Not the most sentimental per se but one I'm definitely glad I got ahold of. I have had a wingmaster in the past and I bought it cheap and sold it cheap, and not long ago they could be found pretty cheap, but the Remington of old is gone and will probably stay that way so I'm just glad I at least have an 870 of an excellent vintage and quality. 1969 Remington 870TB

I may yet find another and if I do, will probably buy it. I love this gun and want another at some point. IMG_20210427_151242.jpg
 
1. My CZ-527 in 7.62x39. Grabagun had them for something over $500 a few years ago and I jumped on it. It’s a really nice rifle, and sadly now discontinued.

2. A sporterized German Mauser. This one was done very nicely and only set me back like $215 if I recall. Rebarreled in .30-06 with a Nikon scope and some really nice wood.
 
Obturation said:
During the shortages following sandy hook I had a guy trade me a super clean 1957 marlin 39a for 500 rounds of 22lr. And he was happy as could be with the deal. Now that's a deal I doubt I'll find again.
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That’s a steal! I bought a 1970’s perfect 39A in May of 2020 for $500, almost didn’t buy it since I already had a few different versions of the 39, very glad I bought it now.
 
someguy2800
I got this Krag from a local pawn shop after watching it languish on the shelf for a couple years. Its probably my favorite rifle I own now.

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Man, I love that sporterized Krag! I can tell you if I had seen that languishing around a pawn shop I would have snapped it that same day! Thanks for sharing!
 
bannockburn said:
someguy2800


Man, I love that sporterized Krag! I can tell you if I had seen that languishing around a pawn shop I would have snapped it that same day! Thanks for sharing!
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I didn’t have much money at the time. They were originally asking like $800 for it and kept dropping it down. I think I finally offered them $450 and he took it begrudgingly. This is how it came to me. The forend was flopping around because there was no front attachment point and the bolt handle was acting as the recoil lug. I soldered a lug to the bottom of the barrel to act as a recoil lug and give a stock attachment point. Then I refinished the stock in tru oil and filled all the grain and made the scope mount since none exist.

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If I had to pick one...

My Browning 71 .348WCF carbine.

At the time, the dealers couldn't hardly give them away, and I think I paid $550 for mine, off the shelf... which is a pittance for what they are paying for them on GB and the like, now. Money aside, it's still one of my favorite rifles... as light and handy as a 1886 action can be, in a fun and challenging cartridge to load for, that's a little out of the ordinary. I shoot it regularly.

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Honorable mentions would be...

Savage 99F in .308... another fun rifle, bought on a whim. It's about as much fun as the Browning 71 to shoot, and just a classy rifle.
Springfield M1 Garand... a crappy FedOrd rebuild I bought for $360, still shooting it 30 years later.
Springfield Armory M1a 'Socom16' We have had our moments, but it remains a rewarding rifle to load for and shoot.

...and my latest...

H&R Classic Hunter in .45 Colt. This is such a stupid rifle... a single-shot .45 Colt... but it is sooooo much fun to shoot. I also have a H&R .410 single, essentially the same thing, that I like to shoot as much... but it's a shotgun, and I don't shoot shotgun very much, anymore. Lobbing those big .45 bullets downrange in a rifle that makes you work for it... puts that stupid smile on my face everytime.
 
someguy2800
This is how it came to me. The forend was flopping around because there was no front attachment point and the bolt handle was acting as the recoil lug. I soldered a lug to the bottom of the barrel to act as a recoil lug and give a stock attachment point. Then I refinished the stock in tru oil and filled all the grain and made the scope mount since none exist.
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Well you did a fine job of rehabbing the Krag, especially with the your custom made scope mount!
 
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Odd Job said:
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T/C R55 Benchmark.
I have two: one was bought brand new for £450 in 2007 and the other was second hand, already £650 in 2012. Here in the UK those are sought after, since they are no longer made.
I had both rifles threaded for my suppressors. The above gun has a prototype adapter I am testing where the reflex tube of one suppressor is mated to another suppressor.
That gun gets a smile from whoever shoots it!
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Hopefully you stocked up on magazines when they were available from T/C. They were $15 for 5rd and $20for 10rd IIRC. I've broken or lost a half dozen over the years and only have 2 each for my Classics.

Which are probably the 2 rifles I'm most thankful I acquired. First was the first one I ever saw, brand new, circa 2002. Twice the price of of a 10/22 but felt like a real rifle.

2nd I got via straight trade for a "stainless" 10/22 receiver. That was mid-2010 after they'd been discontinued. Picked it up a few days after the ultrasound said "you're having a boy in a couple months" and it's still in my dad's safe waiting for the day my son decides he'd like to try it out. No interest in rifles yet, but he enjoys his Ruger MKIV...so hopefully we're getting close.

Sadly I never picked up a Benchmark when they were somewhat readily available.
 
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In no particular order:

CZ 550 Ebony Edition, 308 Winchester
CZ 527 Varmint, several chambers
Bergara Approach, early version with AICS magazines. The new version with hinged floor plate is very similar to the Highlander. I prefer a detachable magazine.
 
Howland937 said:
Hopefully you stocked up on magazines when they were available from T/C. They were $15 for 5rd and $20for 10rd IIRC. I've broken or lost a half dozen over the years and only have 2 each for my Classics.
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I have several magazines, luckily.
Only had issues with one: it split open like a clam. Glued it back together with loctite 380 and it has been fine ever since.
 
Ruger GSR sold to me by a co-worker for a steal. He had done a rough rattle can on it and had the trigger worked on by a very competent gunsmith. I’ve since replaced the Burris with a traditional mounted Vortex 1-6 strike eagle. It shoots great and managed to kill two bucks during the ‘20 season here in VA. She’s not pretty but man does she shoot. 2E8B3050-CECE-4773-9F6F-EA7AF213959C.jpeg
 
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