I'm in the market for an older rifle to take to range and plink targets at couple hundred yards. I was thinking of going for a svt 40 but was wondering if any other good choices. I'm new to the older rifles other than the sks. Any info or suggestions appreciated! PS I know There better newer rifles but I really enjoy the older ww1 and 2 rifles.
decent shooter?
- Thread starter Chairs
- Start date
Most folks tend to shoot better with aperture sights so that is a good way to go. Along those lines the No4 Lee-Enfield is a good choice. Depending on budget, all of a M1 Garand, Ross MkIII, 03-A3 Springfield, M1917 Enfield or P14 Enfield feature aperture sights. If an open/vee rear sight sight is an option, then any of the Mausers , a No1 MkIII Enfield or a Mosin-Nagant could be considered. Barrel condition, proper stock bedding, tight sights, a good trigger and quality ammo are a must for accurate shooting.
"...really enjoy the..." They tend to do that.
There ain't no rifle that's quite like an M1 Rifle(Garand). I've shot all kinds of milsurps and modern battle rifles, but none of 'em are close to an M1. Much prefer it to my real semi'd M14 too.
"...other than the sks..." It's not that old. Not very accurate either. With milsurps, you need to decide on your budget first. There's a huge variation in price. A good No. 4 Lee-Enfield can run $350ish. While an M1 Rifle can run $800ish to close to a grand for a good one.
No matter which one you end up with, get into reloading. There is no surplus ammo any more and reloading will let you tailor the ammo to your rifle. Even one of those boring "better newer rifles".
There ain't no rifle that's quite like an M1 Rifle(Garand). I've shot all kinds of milsurps and modern battle rifles, but none of 'em are close to an M1. Much prefer it to my real semi'd M14 too.
"...other than the sks..." It's not that old. Not very accurate either. With milsurps, you need to decide on your budget first. There's a huge variation in price. A good No. 4 Lee-Enfield can run $350ish. While an M1 Rifle can run $800ish to close to a grand for a good one.
No matter which one you end up with, get into reloading. There is no surplus ammo any more and reloading will let you tailor the ammo to your rifle. Even one of those boring "better newer rifles".
Garand prices these days have gone crazy.
I don't know if money is problem for you or not. It sure is for me!
You can pick up half a dozen sporterised P-14s and Number 4s for the price of one good Garand. If you want to, you can restore them slowly, buying parts at gun shows over time.
MOST P-14s were not shot lot although they did get bashed-about. Often you can find a beat-up one with an excellent bore. Put some time in, steaming out dents and rebedding and you can have an excellent target rifle out to 600 or so........ for $400.
Pick the one you feel best with, then MAKE it shoot. Lotsa help here with MAKING it shoot.
Have fun!
I don't know if money is problem for you or not. It sure is for me!
You can pick up half a dozen sporterised P-14s and Number 4s for the price of one good Garand. If you want to, you can restore them slowly, buying parts at gun shows over time.
MOST P-14s were not shot lot although they did get bashed-about. Often you can find a beat-up one with an excellent bore. Put some time in, steaming out dents and rebedding and you can have an excellent target rifle out to 600 or so........ for $400.
Pick the one you feel best with, then MAKE it shoot. Lotsa help here with MAKING it shoot.
Have fun!
- Location
- West Quebec
great info.. thanks guys
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
Get an SVT-40.
They are accurate for a milsurp.
Shoot a caliber that can drop anything in the woods in North America. Commercial soft point is readily available as well as reloading suplies.
Are cheap (aprox $250 before tax these days) Surplus ammo is dirt cheap and plentiful.
They are reliable, rugged and good to go. Just pick one with a solid bore. Mine has a mirror finish bore and can put 10 rounds into an 8" groups with the irons at 100 meters easy.
Garands are stupid overpriced, even for a half decent shooter they run into the $1K area. The "en bloc" magazine system is a pain in the ass in my opinion. It's a deeply flawed design compared to a removable magazine with top load stripper clip capability .30-06 for plinking will require selling a kidney before hitting the store.....
Garands are good rifles, I've fired a few of them. But they really don't live up to the massive amount of American propaganda that has been published about them every week for the last 70 years in my opinion. There is a reason they found a need to modify the M1 into the M14.
Get an SVT Sir, you won't regret it.
They are accurate for a milsurp.
Shoot a caliber that can drop anything in the woods in North America. Commercial soft point is readily available as well as reloading suplies.
Are cheap (aprox $250 before tax these days) Surplus ammo is dirt cheap and plentiful.
They are reliable, rugged and good to go. Just pick one with a solid bore. Mine has a mirror finish bore and can put 10 rounds into an 8" groups with the irons at 100 meters easy.
Garands are stupid overpriced, even for a half decent shooter they run into the $1K area. The "en bloc" magazine system is a pain in the ass in my opinion. It's a deeply flawed design compared to a removable magazine with top load stripper clip capability .30-06 for plinking will require selling a kidney before hitting the store.....
Garands are good rifles, I've fired a few of them. But they really don't live up to the massive amount of American propaganda that has been published about them every week for the last 70 years in my opinion. There is a reason they found a need to modify the M1 into the M14.
Get an SVT Sir, you won't regret it.
Good advice. Got most my milsurps from TradeEx. Big bonus, they're cosmo-free.
OP, get which ever gun you like the best. I've yet to sample a bolt action milsurp that isn't a good shooter as long as the bore is in ok shape.
I started with a no1 mk3 sporter lee enfield. Got it from a guy at work for almost nothing! It is a great rifle and is really what started my interest in military rifles.
If you are on a budget maybe look for a 91/30 mosin, they can still be had for under $200, and you can buy 880 round cases of surplus for them still.
I started with a no1 mk3 sporter lee enfield. Got it from a guy at work for almost nothing! It is a great rifle and is really what started my interest in military rifles.
If you are on a budget maybe look for a 91/30 mosin, they can still be had for under $200, and you can buy 880 round cases of surplus for them still.
