Which bolt rifle should I buy?

[chaim]

OK, I've been thinking about getting a bolt rifle for a while now. I am thinking about a few, pretty much completely different, options.

-Yugo Mauser for about $150 in pretty decent condition

-Mosin-Nagant in pretty much unissued condition with sling, cleaning kit, bayonet, for only $120.

-New Savage combo w/ cheap scope (I think it is the Savage 110 or 10) in .270 for only $300 (if it isn't sold yet, this is a good $100 less than the next cheapest I've seen these for here). This is a clearance rifle at a large discount store so it isn't a normal price. Most of these, even at the same store run a full $100 or greater more than this.

-New Howa in just about any caliber I wish with scope for about $450.


I know these are quite different. I would really like the Howa if I go new but if it isn't sold yet it is hard to beat $300 for a Savage. Also, I could always get two Yugos or two Nagants keeping one stock and putting a scope and maybe new stock on the second for about the price of one Savage or Howa (well, a little more than the cheap Savage). A slim possibility (again if it is still available) is to get the Savage for $300 and then for the price of the Howa I could get a Nagant or Yugo Mauser. However, I would much prefer the Howa to the Savage (it is just the price of that particular Savage makes it hard to pay an extra $150).

 

[PATH]

The choices are nice. Personally I would go with the Savage package deal. Savage does not make the prettiest rifles but they are priced well and they are accurate shooters. A Savage will give you good service for the money. Good luck and let us know what you choose.

 

[yzguy]

I just got a savage (well a few months ago) and love it.... (ok, well after I put another stock on it). Can't comment on the others.

 

[Mark Tyson]

The savage, for all the reasons already stated.

 

[GD]

It depends on what you are going to do with the rifle. If you just plain like to shoot the Mauser or the Mosin are good shooters and the surplus ammo is going for less than 10 cents per round. All that you mentioned would be good hunting rifles.

 

[El Rojo]

If you are going hunting for anything larger than a coyote, get the modern scoped rifle. Honestly, a modern bolt gun with scope is your best hunting gun. You can do it with any gun, but if you are going hunting for deer or larger, you really ought to do the best job possible. Don't waste good meat.

If you just want to plink around or maybe go after some pigs or coyotes, buy a surplus gun. With the right ammo you can do it.

My final recommendation, buy one and a few months later buy the other option!

 

[chaim]

OK, I guess I did leave out what I wanted to do, mainly because the two modern guns and the two surplus guns would have different uses. I do "need" to get both within the year.

First, the surplus gun will always be used for and the modern gun will mostly be used for shooting at paper at 100 and 200 yards. I don't hunt so hunting isn't a consideration. Eventually when I get good I'd probably like to take the gun (probably only with the modern gun) to longer range ranges a couple times a year (if I join one local gun club I'll be able to use the 600 yard range at a local military base one weekend a month). If I ever find a range that goes to 600-1000 yards I'd like to eventually (in a few years) get good enough to play at those ranges, and that would certainly call for the modern gun and a decent scope.

Anyway, for now it would be familiarization (right now my only bolt rifle is a .22lr) and skill development at shorter ranges which I could use either gun for, though it would be more effective with the gun I'd eventually (hopefully) use at longer ranges. If I really get good I'd probably like to look for some competitions that I could use a bolt rifle for.