OT: Best bolt action rifle

Bobwhite, there's nothing wrong with the 8 mauser. I wouldn't go to the expense of rebarreling or even rechambering. Yeah, you can do it pretty cheap, see Midway and others, but for the hassle and not much more I'd do what Rusty thought nice and get a CZ. I guess we all read the same article in Rifleman. October 2001

munk
 
I like my JC Higgins Mod 50 30-06, Bolt
My Win Ranger 30-30 lever
My Win 88 .308 lever
My
My
My
My Well, I don't want to disclose them all:D
 
Well if we are going to talk about Curio and Relic rifles, that's a whole 'nuther ball game!

Looking at what is available from Aim right now: http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/index.html I see several nice things. The absolute best value in surplus rifles right now is the Swiss K-31. And AIM is selling them for $89 including shipping. You buy some Lee 7.5 Swiss dies, some brass, standard large rifle primers, and standard .308" bullets. It is an easy caliber to reload and you have access to a vast number of different bullets to try in it. (That's the same diameter as a .308 or 30/06.) Powerwise, it is in between those two American calibers. And either one of my K-31's will outshoot any other surplus rifle I own including a 1903 and a beautiful M-1 Garand. Great deer rifle and an amazing example of Swiss metalurgy and craftsmanship. Here's a review of one: http://www.cruffler.com/Features/NOV-01/review-November-01.html

I like all the Russian rifles as well and 7.62x54R is certainly inexpensive. I shoot a 91/30, a Finnish Model 39, and a couple different M44's as well. They are the most _blast_ for the buck! The M44's are the cheapest but the M39's are the best shooters. http://www.gunsnammo.com/index_files/m39.htm

Allan is starting to be a full time dealer now and he is a great guy to work with. http://www.allans-armory.com/

The usual place to buy great guns is Empire Arms but they have closed for a little while and taken their web sit down. http://www.empirearms.com/

I've never tried to reload 8mm. Surplus ammo is so cheap that I use it. If I was going to hunt with it, I would have to give it a try.

I love C&R stuff so fire away with any questions!
 
The CZ in .30-06 with Mannlicher stock is just what I am looking for I think. Good call Rusty and Munk. Thanks all for the info.
 
I've observed once you go down into the surplus world it's like being underwater, and many of you never come up for air.
OK tulsamal, who makes brass for the 7.5 swiss?
also- just saw in Sierra number 3; caution because of weakness of early model Schmidt Rubin rifles and differences in chamber size.

Might be better to stick to a good old mauser 98. can you advise?
edit; just found the model 31 SR is the most modern and strong.

munk
 
I would say the 30-06 Springfield in the Rem M700 or Winchester M70.

Best all around rife round bar none, extremely accurate.:)

Handloading you can take just about anything in the world except the African big 5..(It will take them too, but there are better rounds for that)
 
Wow! That AimSurplus site is fascinating.

Being very naive about that sort of thing, I was bummed that you need a license to buy from them.
 
Being very naive about that sort of thing, I was bummed that you need a license to buy from them.
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Any firearm that is over 50 years old or which has been put on a special list by ATF is defined as being a Curio and Relic (C&R). (Notice that includes WWII now!) In order to buy C&R guns, you only need a C&R FFL. That's an FFL 03. It only costs you $30 for three years and the ATF can't come out to your house for unannounced visits. Any inspection will be scheduled and take place at their office if you like. It is meant to be a collector license and not actually for dealers. Although Midway and others let's you buy their stuff for dealer prices with a C&R FFL! Go here and read the "sticky post" at the top that tells how to get your license: http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33083

OK tulsamal, who makes brass for the 7.5 swiss?
Click to expand...

When I got my first K31, I bought a couple boxes of factory ammo from INDEP. It is low powered but you end up with reloadable brass. Then Midway was selling Normas 7.5 Swiss for a while and I bought 100 pieces. It is all gone now. But Hornady is making it. It comes in, sells out, back orders, and then more comes in. You should just buy a couple hundred when they have it: http://www.grafs.com/index.cfm

You can also reform .284 Winchester brass into 7.5 Swiss. I've never done it but it is supposed to be painless.

Looks like they are out right now. They have 7.5 French though for one of my other favorites: the MAS 49/56! $28 for 100 pieces.

The "right now" alternative would be to go to the swiss rifle board and ask when the next group purchase of brass from Switzerland is going to happen. These guys have brought in a whole bunch of brass in the past and probably know where to get more: http://pub125.ezboard.com/fcollectorguns35625frm1

While searching over there for brass, I found the thread where the guy went caribou hunting with his K31. I'm not seeing the pictures right now (probably offline) but the story and information is still there: http://pub125.ezboard.com/fcollectorguns35625frm1.showMessage?topicID=4329.topic

And here's one recent thread about brass: http://pub125.ezboard.com/fcollectorguns35625frm1.showMessage?topicID=5244.topic
 
Just what I need, another love affair where I have to beg for...er supplies!

I wonder how many of us have a few orphan calibres in our collections? Try this on, Dan Wesson chambered in 375 Supermag


munk
 
Gregg,

Thanks for the complete and very helpful information.

Or maybe I shouldn't thank you. This has all of the earmarks of a VERY expensive hobby. Or love affair, as Munk says.
 
DO NOT worry about the Empire Arms site.

They do this periodically when out of town to hit the shows and buy stuff.

It's a mom and pop shop and his wife had some health problems last year. But this is normal. He has to shut down and hit the shows to buy stuff because he sells only stuff he's hand picked.

Good deal for you cause he's got his reputation on the line. If he says a gun's in very good condition, it's probably excellent except in one small area which brings it down to v.g.
 
PS: 2 No4's in 303, factory thorough repair, in cosmoline. An SAFN 49 in 7x57 in perfect shape except butt replaced with recoil pad. In way better shape than a new remchester. I won't talk about the other stuff except to say the only thing I've got anything near a deer rifle is a Win 94 in 44 mag.
 
Bobwhite,
If I may add my two cents? If I were going to hunt brush as you discribed, for the critters you mentioned, you might want to look at a Remington Number 7 in .308. It's a real handy size, bolt action,it shoots a fairly good cartridge and you can put a scope on it or use open sights which ever you choose.
Mike
 
Thank you very much Plinker! I've been wanting a Garand or 1903 and the CMP is looking like a great place to get one. I just can't get over the prices, I was looking at the Fulton Armory which charges $1099 for a service grade Garand.
 
I'll mention one more direction you could go and then I'll shut up unless somebody asks me something!

The next _non C&R rifle_ that I buy will probably by a T/C Encore. The deciding factor for me is the fact that the same rifle can be fitted with a .50 cal black powder barrel that uses shotgun primers. I really need to start doing black powder here in Okie land so I can pack a couple more deer into the freezer every year. I've loved the T/C Contender for years but the Encore adds the strength to handle any and all centerfire rounds. If you want a .300 or .375 Magnum, etc, you can get the Encore that way. And like the Contender, it has easily swapped barrels so you can just spend another $200 and you've got another gun. The sights stay with the removed barrel so everything stays zeroed. And I really like the idea of hunting deer with a single shot. I've never taken more than one shot anyway and the whole concept feels right to my idea of hunting. And the removal of the action means than the rifle will be 4" shorter for the same length barrel. So a 24" barreled rifle is only as long as a 20" barreled bolt action. And lighter. And probably has a better trigger. I really like these guns. Heck, you can buy a pistol grip and shorter barrels and have a hunting handgun as well! (I like the looks of it with a camo stock as well.) http://www.tcarms.com/encrifle/index.html

And look at all the "standard calibers" you can get barrels for: http://www.tcarms.com/encrifle/calibers.html

Or how about all the calibers you can get from T/C Custom shop? http://www.foxridgeoutfitters.com/customshop/customencore/encorerifle/encorebblcal.htm

Or you can go to a custom shop like E. Arthur Brown and order stuff from them: http://www.eabco.com./encore.html

It's amazing! The accuracy and the versatility are unmatched. Not that I don't like the looks of the custom rifle you can get from Brown, the M97D. What a sweetie! http://www.eabco.com./9702.html
 
re: CMP

I just can't get over the prices, I was looking at the Fulton Armory which charges $1099 for a service grade Garand.
Click to expand...

They aren't really selling the same thing.

I agree that CMP is a great deal though. And they used to be even better when they were DCM. I paid a total of $160 for my beautiful Springfield Armory delivered to my quarters on post back in 1988. I could sell it for a lot more money than that now but then I wouldn't have a nice DCM Garand!
 
One of the guys at work bought a T/C Encore for hunting this last season. Brought it to work so I could take a look at it. That rifle has the best feel of any rifle I have ever held. Fits like a glove. He took two deer with it. One with a .50 cal. black powder barrel on it and the other set up as a regular rifle (don't remember which caliber, probably .30-06). If you want to go single shot this is the rifle to get.
 
Bob - according to Mapquest, you and I are just a coupla hours apart. If you ever need a huntin' buddy, give me a holler - I'm good to go.

Dan
 
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