Trade-Ex has a couple of barreled receivers cheap.
You could start with one of those, build a bitsa and then bed it, do the trigger, really make it SHOOT. Friend and myself got 1 - 1.5 MOA out of a wartime rifle, summer or winter. He did the rifle the way he thought it ought to be, then we shot the same 5x7 card target at 325 for the next 4 years. Holes were ALL in an area 3 inches high and 5 wide. That was factory irons on her. Pretty hard to argue with, even though the rifle was no longer 'collector grade'.
There are zillions of Moisins around right now. When I started, Werndls were $12 and CF Vetterlis the same. When's the last time you saw either.... and how much was it? I remember racks and racks of leftover unfired Kar 98k rifles at $27.50, racks of Kar-43s at $60, Long Lees starting at $12.50 and none higher than $25. My SMLE Mark I*** Navy rifle cost me $12 to build but I'm pretty sure it's 'worth' more today. Not for sale, though.
Those zillions of MNs won't last forever. They are the last big NATIONAL inventory of original bolt rifles that we are 'allowed' to have. After these, no deluge..... just a trickle.... and it will be a very high-priced trickle.
Build a bitsa and have lotsa fun, really learn about them from getting your hands dirty. You will appreciate them more than most guys and you will have the satisfaction of making something out of someone else's junk..... something GOOD.
Have fun!
Hope this helps.
.
You could start with one of those, build a bitsa and then bed it, do the trigger, really make it SHOOT. Friend and myself got 1 - 1.5 MOA out of a wartime rifle, summer or winter. He did the rifle the way he thought it ought to be, then we shot the same 5x7 card target at 325 for the next 4 years. Holes were ALL in an area 3 inches high and 5 wide. That was factory irons on her. Pretty hard to argue with, even though the rifle was no longer 'collector grade'.
There are zillions of Moisins around right now. When I started, Werndls were $12 and CF Vetterlis the same. When's the last time you saw either.... and how much was it? I remember racks and racks of leftover unfired Kar 98k rifles at $27.50, racks of Kar-43s at $60, Long Lees starting at $12.50 and none higher than $25. My SMLE Mark I*** Navy rifle cost me $12 to build but I'm pretty sure it's 'worth' more today. Not for sale, though.
Those zillions of MNs won't last forever. They are the last big NATIONAL inventory of original bolt rifles that we are 'allowed' to have. After these, no deluge..... just a trickle.... and it will be a very high-priced trickle.
Build a bitsa and have lotsa fun, really learn about them from getting your hands dirty. You will appreciate them more than most guys and you will have the satisfaction of making something out of someone else's junk..... something GOOD.
Have fun!
Hope this helps.
.
