Cheap centerfire for fun

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Funguns5

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Looking for my first Centerfire rifle and all I want is to go out and hit targets and have fun. Was thinking and Lee enfield but ammo cost is too high. So now I'm trying to decide on an SKS or Mosin. Which one and why? Both look easy to use and clean. Both seem to be about the same price.

Thanks for the help
 
Mosin Nagant would be easier to clean and less to worry about. Sks has a shorter stack than a Mosin, both have great upgrades you can choose from. In my area the surplus rounds for the Mosin are cheaper than the sks rounds.
Even the soft points are cheaper per box than sks soft points, Both rifles would be a great choice I have got both in my collection an it's hard to pick a favourite.
 
Yea, wait for a sale and get both, you should be able to get an SKS for $200 or less and a mosin for $160- ish, although prices are a bit higher out west for rifles, the ammo is a bit cheaper! If you get the SKS, ammo is a bit cheaper, but you will tend to shoot more due to it being a semi auto,, the mosin is a literal blast to shoot and can blow a hole through 3/16 mild steel at 100 yards. The SKS, has less recoil, super fun to shoot, great looking rifle! Both will last a long time!
 
I have an SKS. Reliable and easy to maintain. Cheaper more plentiful ammo available. If you are in to it you can bubba the rifle with aftermarket accessories. Attention to cleaning is a must with the surplus ammo for SKS and Mosin rifles.
 
Not much else cheaper or more "bang" for the buck than an SKS. The rifles are the among the lowest priced centerfires available and there is still a lot of surplus ammo available for reasonable prices. Not the greatest trigger in the world but will hit torso targets at 100+ yards. A cheap but accurate rimfire, like a marlin 795 is the only other one that can compare from a cost perspective.
 
SKS and Mosin are both TOTALLY different shooting experiences.
Both are cheap enough that you should get one of each and enjoy them.
 
Funguns5 said:
Looking for my first Centerfire rifle and all I want is to go out and hit targets and have fun.

Thanks for the help
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You have to decide if you want to actually work on marksmanship skills or just spray lead. If the former then the Mosin is the way to go. I have a '27 upgraded Dragoon (= M91/30) that cost me the whopping sum of $225 and is among my most accurate milsurps. Lots of fun shooting groups with cheap surplus ammo.

milsurpo
 
I have an lee enfield for plinking and you are right the ammo is outrageous. I reload for it and it still costs me .70 cents a shot. I only seem to see 7.62x54r for .70 cents a shot as well so there is that choice to make. Like others have already 54r does comes on sale and I have seen it as low as 50 cents a shot. x39 ammo seems to be .30cents or .25 cents on sale.

I owned an sks for the purposes of plinking and I kinda grew tired of it. Ended up selling it an bought a marlin 795. Yet to regret it. I do want a mosin now.
 
Both need to be properly cleaned after shooting especially if you use surplus ammo. So with that said they are both fun, the MN will likely give you more opportunities to improve your skills if accuracy and consistency are what you want. Clean up time maybe 15 minutes as it is a bolt. The sks is easier on the shoulder yet will suffer if you are going for tight groups. Clean up time expect to spend min 45 minutes as there are more bits a pieces to take care of. So if you enjoy shooting and are inclined to spend time after shooting to clean get the sks. If you want to spend minimal effort cleaning get the MN. The sks isn't hard to strip for cleaning but you do need to scrub everything with solvents like Hoppes #9 to remove the corrosive salts. The MN has fewer parts and no gas system.

You could also get both and depending on what you want to accomplish that day you could shoot one or the other. Take a friend and shoot both.
 
Thanks for the fast replies everyone. It sounds like everyone is saying get one for the strengths and the other for the fun. I'm also planning on getting a little .22 for some plinking fun. So it really sounds like I should just get whatever comes on sale first and get the ammo when it's cheap. Anyone know what places to watch for this in Central Alberta. Live in Edmonton area and work more near central alberta so driving all around there isn't a big deal.
 
Op, 2 questions:

How recoil-sensitive are you, and are you looking for semi-auto or bolt-action?

If you're recoil sensitive, a Mosin probably isn't a good choice for you. The 7.62x54R round it fires is NOT known for light recoil. Of course, the 7.62x39 round the SKS fires has very little recoil in comparison to the Mosin round.

The Mosin can be quite accurate, the SKS not so much. Both are very easy to strip and clean - a necessity when shooting surplus ammo (most of which has corrosive primers).

If you can afford it, get both and a crate of ammo for each. That should cost about a grand depending on where you buy. You can usually find SKS' and ammo on sale - often in rifle/ammo combos, and the Mosin and ammo combos are out there too.

Have fun!!
 
Funguns5 said:
Thanks for the fast replies everyone. It sounds like everyone is saying get one for the strengths and the other for the fun. I'm also planning on getting a little .22 for some plinking fun. So it really sounds like I should just get whatever comes on sale first and get the ammo when it's cheap. Anyone know what places to watch for this in Central Alberta. Live in Edmonton area and work more near central alberta so driving all around there isn't a big deal.
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Crapy tire should have one of each for ya
 
Funguns5 said:
Thanks for the fast replies everyone. It sounds like everyone is saying get one for the strengths and the other for the fun. I'm also planning on getting a little .22 for some plinking fun. So it really sounds like I should just get whatever comes on sale first and get the ammo when it's cheap. Anyone know what places to watch for this in Central Alberta. Live in Edmonton area and work more near central alberta so driving all around there isn't a big deal.
Click to expand...

P and D enterprises is by far the best gun shop I have ever been too. Have not bought much for guns there but they always have the best deals on ammo. Milarms has had issues but they carry more of the milsurps then any one else.

If you are planning on getting a 22lr I highly suggest the marlin 795. Cabela's had good sale for them once upon a time. But then go to P and D for your ammo. Seriously bigger selection and price
 
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