Deer rifles
I know a lot of CGN members hunt with milsurps and I'd like to add a deer rifle and milsurp to my inventory at the same time. Currently I can only think of a few rifles that I can get for less than $300 taxes + shipping in, thats the budget I've set for myself
Go to the TradEx website, check the hunting and sporting rifle section.
Since you reload, there are lots of options. There are a lot of 6.5x55 rifles, a nice medium recoil and quite accurate calibre. Also, you might consider the 8x57 rifles, a cartridge that runs close to the 30-06.
There are a few things you should consider.......if you buy a Milsurp to hunt with, and want to mount a scope, you then have a couple of hundred dollars in gunsmith costs, for drilling and tapping, and bending the bolt. The Mosin Nagant safety is not the handiest one.
For well under $300, you can buy a Husqvarna Sporter, usually drilled and tapped, and bolt handle bent. These are good quality actions, and perfectly adequate for the deer, elk and even moose that you might come across.
A couple of things to consider......when Anthony describes a rifle as a Sporter, it is usually a gunsmith job, and he gives a full description of his rifles. A conservative description, and every one I have ordered from him has been a lot better than I expected.
If he says "Husqvarna Sporter", it is usually a factory rifle, and "Husqvarna Commercial Sporter" is a later action without the thumb cut in the left receiver wall. These are usually the 96 action, and are very well made.
By being a bit choosy, you can even find ones with a side safety, a very worthwhile addition. Buy one that is drilled and tapped, and a lot have the bases already installed. I would not buy one with a side mount, but that is a personal preference. Although some of these rifles are available in 30-06 or similar calibre, it is possible that feeding problems may occur due to the longer length of these cartridges if you choose a 96 action.
With the above criteria, I will give you a couple of examples. My 1930 Husqvarna 9.3x57 with Weaver bases mounted, excellent shiny barrel, and trim sporter stock cost me $240. ( This is my fun gun, and I would not recommend it because of the ammo scarcity ). The Husqvarna 1944 Commercial 8x57 with factory bent bolt, side safety, large winter bolt knob and a Tasco post and cross hair 4x scope cost me $250. A 1943 Husqvarna 6.5x55 drilled and tapped with bases, bent bolt, low swing safety and Mannlicher type stock cost $195. A Carl Gustav CG-63 target rifle, rebarreled, with bent bolt and Weaver mounts cost $185, in a slightly modified CG-63 stock. It shoots like a dream, and trigger pull is absolutely superb.
I have another 6.5x55 target rifle, and a 6.5x55 hunting rifle on the way.
That is SIX fine rifles bought from Trade Ex, and NONE of them cost me more than $250. I get fine, old world craftsmanship, finely fitted wood stocks, and classic hunting and target rifles for about 1/3 the cost of the average "new" rifle out there today. How can anyone go wrong?
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