Bush Rifle?

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Rohann

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Hi there.
I'm going up to the Yukon in the spring with my college class, and am possibly going to be doing some hunting up there (or just shooting). I'm looking for a rifle I can bring along without worrying about careful maintenance, but that can still shoot at least 2MOA-ish (if I do my part). I have a Mosin Nagant, but ammo's hard to find for cheap (especially hunting stuff) and it's factory sighted with the bayonet so I can't shoot very well without it. What would you recommend? I was thinking an Enfield or something along those lines (bolt action, no semis). Something with not too expensive (under $1 a round preferably), easily available ammo.

Thanks!
 
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When you say bush rifle, do you mean a carbine? Something small thats easy to carry through the bush. If so than how about a Enfield Jungle Carbine? .303 easy to find and cheap enough.
 
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Make the commitment,don't cheap out.Any gun you buy you will probably keep a lifetime.I added a Browning A-Bolt to my hunting rifles about 5yrs.ago.
Stainless with composite stock.Use it for a paddle one minute,rinse the muck out,load and go.
 
Rohann said:
Hi there.
I'm going up to the Yukon in the spring with my college class, and am possibly going to be doing some hunting up there (or just shooting). I'm looking for a rifle I can bring along without worrying about careful maintenance, but that can still shoot at least 2MOA-ish (if I do my part). I have a Mosin Nagant, but ammo's hard to find for cheap (especially hunting stuff) and it's factory sighted with the bayonet so I can't shoot very well without it. What would you recommend? I was thinking an Enfield or something along those lines (bolt action, no semis). Something with not too expensive (under $1 a round preferably), easily available ammo.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I will second the Jungle Carbine,lots of places carry 303 British ammo.
 
Choose by caliber, Alot of small shops don't carry a whole lot of ammo.

.303 British
30-06
308 win
30-30
32 win spl
270 win
Maybe a few others. Ask yourself, do you want to run out of ammo?

Ever consider 12 gauge, buckshot or slug??

Pete
 
Sks

It's semi, I know, but...

the Chinese Type 56 Carbine.
 
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Thing is, especially in a 7.62x39 semi (assuming I'm using corrosive ammo which I normally do), cleaning is a way larger pain than would be convenient.
I don't necessarily mean a "short" rifle, just the kind of thing you'd have sitting in your truck. I'd take my 700 up there but I don't want to have to take care of a $4000 rifle on a trip that's primary purpose isn't shooting or hunting.
I was thinking .308 (seeing as I already have one) or maybe .303. I was thinking an Enfield, but I'm not sure which model to go with or how well they shoot.

G W H: Problem is, I don't have $500+ to spend on a rifle.

-Rohann
 
I think there's an Ishapore with a synthetic stock and forend for sale in the EE right now. It's 308 and a SMLE but I have no idea how it would shoot, I guess you would have to try it and see. Marstar is selling the AIA enfield #4 mk 4's in 308, a lot of people seem very happy with them, and they are already parkerized nicely, but again I have no experience with them. Best regards Tony.
 
A simple sportered No1 Mk3 should be ok. I have no idea what moa you'd be shooting, as their quality varies widely, but they definitely stand the test of time. Ammo seems to vary depending on where you're buying it, but igman always seems to end up around $13-$15 a box for me, unless I'm going somewhere remote, in which case I've seen it hit $30 a box!!!
 
Any old sportered Lee Enfield can be had for around the $150 mark. They pop up in the EE all the time. If one isn't there, put up a WTB, you won't wait long.

I'd suggest a No4. Mk1, as aftermarket parts like synthetic stocks and scope mounts fit better with less tweaking needed than the old No1 MkIII's out there. The No.4 also has a heavier barrel, and better iron sights, if you plan on using them.

You can't go wrong with .303
 
If cost is a serious concern, then don't think about going to a military surplus rifle today, unless the price is unbelievable. (I once paid $40 for a sporterized P-14 that shoots better than most rifles, especially since I re-chambered it. You can't count on this kind of deal, however.)

Just pick up a Stevens Model 200 for about $320 or the Mossberg for $299. Both of these rifles will outshoot an old Enfield without effort, and they are built with the best modern steels and tolerances. Pick one up in .30-06 and you're done. If you're set on .308, pick up the Stevens. You might find you like it so much that it becomes your all-purpose hunting rifle.
 
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fat tony: The AIA's look really nice, only problem is they're $800 which is nearly what I paid for my 700P (factory).

Tyler: Thanks! Sounds like a plan. I'll put up a WTB. I've always wanted an Enfield.

P-17: No? How come? Aren't Enfields usually pretty cheap? I'll have a look at the Stevens rifles though; I'm not a fan of Mossberg personally, based on my short experience with their low-end shotguns.

How would you expect a sporterized Enfield to shoot?

Oh and what about 8mm Mauser? What's the ammo like in terms of cost, availability, etc.?

Thanks!
 
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If cost is a concern, then how is spending $320 for a Stevens better than spending $150 for a sportered No4.?

The Enfield is as reliable as any other action, and most will shoot well under 2 moa, even old bubbas.

Spare parts aren't a concern with Enfields, as there are millions of them still laying around for cheap. Any gun shop will have them, you can even order them online.

As for accuracy, that all depends on the barrel condition. However, a matching Enfield with a good bore will shoot well under 2 moa with factory ammo, and most will do much better with handloads. 1 inch groups are very common from my No4. with regular Sellier & Bellot ammo.

Also, if you want to scope your rifle, I suggest getting a rifle that has been previously (properly) drilled and tapped for a mount. The 'no-gunsmith' mounts will work well, but they tend to mount the scope a little high for my liking.

Hope that helped, and have fun!

.
 
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Sounds good!
What exactly is the definition of "sportered"? I'd like the original stock if possible; the short ones don't look that great if they're not original.
 
Rohann said:
Sounds good!
What exactly is the definition of "sportered"? I'd like the original stock if possible; the short ones don't look that great if they're not original.
Click to expand...

Sportered = Any kind of modification that can't be undone: ie, drilled and tapped, stock cut back, barrel shortened, wood carved or engraved.

If you don't like the look, then you can always get an after-market synthetic stock for it.

Non-sportered Lee Enfields usually start around $300 on the EE for rifles in decent shape, so you'd be paying double just for a full-wood stock.
 
Here's the ugly truth, from several years of shooting a variety of Enfields: they were not made for accuracy. First, their bore diameters are all over the map. They range from .309 to .317. That is not a friend to accuracy.

Second, the barrels on most of them are on their last legs. Even if they have been well maintained, most barrels have seen some serious use and have some pitting. This makes them foul out quicker than newer rifles.

Third, here are the British specs for the sniper Lee-Enfields (No. 4T): able to hit a six-inch square at 200 metres. I know that many people have rifles that will shoot better than this (I'm one of them). The problem is that these rifles are relatively rare and they generally require some tweaking to get into that kind of condition. On the other hand, I've never heard of a Stevens (for example) that shot as BADLY as six inches at 200 metres...

The bottom line is that an old Enfield will be a gamble, at best. For $300 you can't beat one of these new rifles. Period.

As for the Mossberg, don't kid yourself. That is not some "cheap" rifle. It is, in fact, identical to the Weatherby Vanguard, except for the stock. It is, in reality, a Howa rifle (made by Howa of Japan) and there are a number of other companies over the years that have marketed this same rifle (Weatherby and Smith & Wesson being the most notable). Most people agree that this action has taken the best elements of Winchester, Remgington, Savage and Sako and created a very respectable product. Most test results I've read about the new Mossbergs put them as good (or better) than the new Savages. This means 1 inch or less at 100 yards.

I maintain that either the Stevens or the Mossberg is far superior to any military surplus rifle you can buy today. They will give you instant performance, out of the box, guaranteed, with no surprises or headaches. They will have an accurate life that lasts in decades, rather than being on their last legs now. They will have far more ammo and reloading options than a military action designed around the .303. They will be STRONGER and SAFER than just about any military action ever made (that probably includes even the mighty P-14) and have a trigger that is crisper and easier to adjust. Moreover, they will be ready to go with scope mounts. No gunsmithing required. Finally, when the time comes to re-barrel them, you will have more options. With a Lee-Enfield you'll basically be stuck with something based on the .303 case.
 
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Don't let P-17 scare you. You will never blow yourself up with an Enfield using factory ammo. I have yet to hear of someone having a blow-up with an Enfield that wasn't doing something rediculously unsafe with one. War time rifles were made with reliability and durability in mind. If quality of build worries you, buy a No4. made after the war, as there was no pressure on the manufacturers to crank them out.

Every Enfield I own has a shiney barrel with sharp rifling and they all shoot remarkably well. The key to milsurps is eyeing them over properly before buying. With the EE that can be hard to do, so you will have to trust the seller. Just be sure to ask the proper questions.

If you reload, there are plenty of options for .303 from a number of companies, everything from .311 to .312 bullets, 150grn, 174grn, 180grn, 200grn, soft points, FMJ, flat base, boat-tailed, etc, etc, etc.

The reason there is more .308 and .30-06 stuff on the market is because most of the companies are based in the U.S. and the Yanks never used .303 in a military application.

If you want a target rifle, stick to your 700, but if you want a reliable deer gun that won't let you down, wait for the right Enfield to come along. These rifles were accurate enough for two world wars.

Don't let the boogey man scare you, he keeps the gun makers in business. ;)
 
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