Got my brother hooked... he wants best value do it all rifle?

James1873

James1873

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so my brother came for a visit a while back. We spent a day at the range and he had so much fun he's going in to get his pal :cool:

he is in the middle of college and doesn't have much money, and was looking for a rifle for hunting big game and also target shoot. i was thinking a mosin nagant but i don't think you can easily mount a scope on them? any suggestions? he handled a 270 win alright but the 12 gauge was too much recoil for him
 
Scout scopes can easily be mounted on a mosin with a $30 mount that replaces the rear sight. They work pretty well if you install them right. Got one in my safe right now.

For a cheap multi-purpose rifle the mosin is a very good choice, along with a sporter Lee Enfield.

The Mosin benefits from $14 per box MFS 203 grain SP factory ammo. This stuff can also be pulled apart for .303 Brit reloading as well, BTW.

Some guys don't like milsurps, but I do. Millions of people went to war with these things and they just work. I don't see most entry level factory rifles lasting even a few days in the trenches, nevermind two world wars...
 
It's really hard to find better value in a real straight shooter than the Savage Axis#.308. My son who isn't hurting for money went that route when he could have gotten something much better had he wanted to but he hasd heard so many good things about the gun from other friends/hunters. The .308 is a very versatile calibre that you can shoot virtually anything with except the largest of game animals (grizz and bison). Factory ammo is cheap and is readily available in any hunting shop or even a Walmart for that matter. You can also buy cheaper milsurp at about 40-45 cents a round if you look closely on the classifieds for it so you can practice at the range with it.

These Axis rifles come up quite a bit in the classified ads for as little as $350-375 shipped as a rifle/scope combo. I'd be shocked if there weren't a few up for grabs right now. You can't really lose~
 
YES ,,,,,,,, I agree with most above , get a .22LR Rifle for cheap practice . Lots of used Cooeys around cheap.
For hunting there are lots of Lee Enfield Sporter's around with scopes already mounted.
 
If a 12 gauge is too much recoil for him, a centerfire rifle isn't going to be a good training/teaching rifle.

Get a .22 rifle and learn proper technique. He's not at the stage yet to move to CF, either in ability or budget.
 
I'd have him shoot a mosin. If 12 gauge recoil hurts then a mosin may be too much.

On that note 12 gauge recoil is more about the shell than the gauge. Try some target loads. There is no gun more do-it-all than the 12. U can get old Cooey 84s for $100

The 22 is a great suggestion. I've shot a lot of game with the one I grew up with and they are great cheap fun. Again I'm showing my bias but a cooey60 or 39 shouldnt run much more than $100. Savage mark2 in the simple f or g is also an outstanding deal. I'll add a marlin 60 or 795 if semi fire is preferred.

Rifle is expensive. Perhaps the lowly sks is a good idea. Easier on the shoulder than a mosin, cheap centrefire ammo and enough power to take most game, even large game at close range.
 
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His best bet is a cheap 22 and later an sks. He can make that work for anything you mention - except the targets should be pie plate sized for the sks.
 
James1873 said:
so my brother came for a visit a while back. We spent a day at the range and he had so much fun he's going in to get his pal :cool:

he is in the middle of college and doesn't have much money, and was looking for a rifle for hunting big game and also target shoot. i was thinking a mosin nagant but i don't think you can easily mount a scope on them? any suggestions? he handled a 270 win alright but the 12 gauge was too much recoil for him
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If your brother is looking for a target rifle with mild recoil , avoid the Mosin . The Mosin seems to have about the same recoil as a 30-06 and could easily teach a person to flinch if fired repeatedly...
 
A few things I have thought about not having cash for guns, a good rifle will be good for life. A cheep gun tends to be traded off. A hunting gun in mid caliber kills better than sub caliber. A bolt action repeater 22 is a must for fun shooting and practice. There was a thread about reactive targets ( ice, plastic bottles filed with coloured water, clays, stuffed animals,you name it) that make shooting a blast for new or old shooters. I would try to get him to get a 22 bolt first then try some good bolt in 25-06, 270,280,7x57,308,30-06. Any friends with rifles are good sources to try, he may have to buy a box of ammo but a cheep way to try.
 
I agree that going with a .22lr first is a great idea. I would add to the recommendation by suggesting he make sure it has irons to start. Every shooter should start with open sights and move up. While burning thru bricks at the range, he can still save some coin for a centerfire. My suggestion on that front is a weatherby vanguard s2 and,while I was going to suggest a .270 or .30/06, I think .308 win would be perfect due to the availability of ammo for both hunting and shooting paper.
 
Cole said:
For God's sake, dont let him buy a savage axis !! They are junk !! Get a Ruger American, they are excellent !!!
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The price difference between the American and Vanguard s2 these days can be minimal to nonexistent. I own both and while I like the American, in terms of quality for $$ spent, the s2 eats the Ruger for breakfast and chits it out it's ejection port. Lol
 
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