The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

jsmaye · March 9, 2009, 07:38 AM

A $300 budget will get you a nice K31 Swiss straight pull, which is a match rifle disguised as a milsurp, with some money left over for ammo. The GP11 ammo is also match grade, but getting scarce.

The various Mausers will run from $170 - $300, based on country of origin and grade - classic WWII German K98's will pretty much eat that $300 with little left ever for ammo. Yugoslavian Mausers are everything the K98's are without the colorful history and are nearly half the price. Surplus 8mm ammo for the various Mausers is still fairly cheap and easy to find, but there are signs it may be drying up. The 6.5mm ammo for the Swedish Mauser is still harder to find.

Now to the Mosin Nagants - considering you can get one for around $100 and ammo is plentiful, they are a good choice. The 91/30's are easier to find and have less perceived recoil, though, as full-length battle rifle, can be unwieldy. The M38 and M44 carbines are getting harder to find and will cost a little more, and, of course, there are price grades based on quality, uniqueness, etc. There are also "boutique" Finnish Mosins, which are allegedly more accurate, but, again, there goes your budget.

As far as recoil, these are all full-figured battle cartridges hurling a 30 caliber 150+ grain bullet up to 600 meters. There will be some recoil. There will be a bunch of recoil. It really depends on how recoil-sensitive you turn out to be.

March 9, 2009, 07:38 AM	#3
jsmaye Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Location: Amarillo, Tx Posts: 616	A $300 budget will get you a nice K31 Swiss straight pull, which is a match rifle disguised as a milsurp, with some money left over for ammo. The GP11 ammo is also match grade, but getting scarce. The various Mausers will run from $170 - $300, based on country of origin and grade - classic WWII German K98's will pretty much eat that $300 with little left ever for ammo. Yugoslavian Mausers are everything the K98's are without the colorful history and are nearly half the price. Surplus 8mm ammo for the various Mausers is still fairly cheap and easy to find, but there are signs it may be drying up. The 6.5mm ammo for the Swedish Mauser is still harder to find. Now to the Mosin Nagants - considering you can get one for around $100 and ammo is plentiful, they are a good choice. The 91/30's are easier to find and have less perceived recoil, though, as full-length battle rifle, can be unwieldy. The M38 and M44 carbines are getting harder to find and will cost a little more, and, of course, there are price grades based on quality, uniqueness, etc. There are also "boutique" Finnish Mosins, which are allegedly more accurate, but, again, there goes your budget. As far as recoil, these are all full-figured battle cartridges hurling a 30 caliber 150+ grain bullet up to 600 meters. There will be some recoil. There will be a bunch of recoil. It really depends on how recoil-sensitive you turn out to be. __________________ No matter how big and tough you are, when a two-year-old hands you a toy phone you'll answer it.