I'm looking for a milsurp rifle, no specific make, for hunting. It will be used primarily for deer but may be used for moose of elk as well. I would like something I can mount a scope on, has decent ballistics and reasonably availible ammo. What do you fellas recommend and what kind of prices am I looking at?
General milsurp rifle question
- Thread starter joe m
- Start date
You should be able to find a good condition sporter or bubba'd .303 for $75-200. Many will already have been drilled and tapped for mounts and may even come with the mount and scope for the top of the price range. Every place that sells ammo in Canada should have .303 in stock. Check the EE, there's probably a half dozen (or more) sporter Lee Enfields in there right now.
Here's a couple examples of the higher list price LE sporters in the EE right now:
Here's a couple examples of the higher list price LE sporters in the EE right now:
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Enfield - There is no other brand!
"Sportered" No4's are "everywhere"... Last one in my household was actually purchased by my wife, in order to save it from being crushed... Cost her $25 whole dollars (18 months ago). To be fair, it was in need of wood, and a magazine, but I was willing to trade for ###ual favours!
If .303 can't drop it, you're on the wrong continent!
Neal
"Sportered" No4's are "everywhere"... Last one in my household was actually purchased by my wife, in order to save it from being crushed... Cost her $25 whole dollars (18 months ago). To be fair, it was in need of wood, and a magazine, but I was willing to trade for ###ual favours!
If .303 can't drop it, you're on the wrong continent!
Neal
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Ammo supply should be your #1 priority when choosing one rifle from the wide selection. Commercial hunting ammo is widely available in .303, .30-06 and .308. Less available in 6.5x55 and 7.62x54. After that the selection drops right off (and I'm including most of the favourite Mauser cartridges). By widely available I mean such stellar sources as Canadian Tire. Gunstores are getting wider and wider apart, so don't pin your hopes on finding several varieties of 7.62x54 Russian at the drop of a hat.
For these reasons, I'd opt for a No.4 Lee Enfield (and not a No.1) in .303. After that, probably a Model 1917 - Pattern 14 in either .30-06 or .303, except the steel in the reciever is harder than Hades to drill.
For these reasons, I'd opt for a No.4 Lee Enfield (and not a No.1) in .303. After that, probably a Model 1917 - Pattern 14 in either .30-06 or .303, except the steel in the reciever is harder than Hades to drill.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Wonder why 8mm wasn't mentioned? There should be lots of bubba'd mousers out there and gunsmiths have a lot of experience fitting scope mounts to them
Gibbs505 said:
Canadian Tire and Wally World don't seem to carry it. I've only seen it in Gun Shops and from the Wholesale Sports type places. Everyone including corner stores has .303. (In Rural and SemiRural B.C. that is
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- Location
- Surrey, BC
I agree, bubba'd Enfield gets my vote Mosin Nagants are great rifles as well, cheap and easily scoped (they look damn cool with those Kalinka quick-detach mounts too), but the availability of 7.62x54R hunting ammo is an issue. You either hafta reload or buy mail-order SP ammo, which to me isn't all that bad. The sheer volume of practice (milsurp FMJ) ammo available is what attracted me to the Nagant, there's nothing finer than 800 rounds worth of trigger time at 25 cents a round
Mosin Nagants are great rifles as well, cheap and easily scoped (they look damn cool with those Kalinka quick-detach mounts too), but the availability of 7.62x54R hunting ammo is an issue. You either hafta reload or buy mail-order SP ammo, which to me isn't all that bad. The sheer volume of practice (milsurp FMJ) ammo available is what attracted me to the Nagant, there's nothing finer than 800 rounds worth of trigger time at 25 cents a round Thanks for all the replys. I'll keep my eyes open for a Enfield, probably in '06( that's what I've always used ). I'll look for a 6.5 55 too even though the ammo seems harder to get. I've done some searches on it recently and it looks like a good caliber for what I will use it for. I have heard most consider it light for moose but I'm always close for them .
). I'll look for a 6.5 55 too even though the ammo seems harder to get. I've done some searches on it recently and it looks like a good caliber for what I will use it for. I have heard most consider it light for moose but I'm always close for them .
joe m said:Thanks for all the replys. I'll keep my eyes open for a Enfield, probably in '06( that's what I've always used
You won't find a Lee Enfield in 30-06. The action is not strong enough to handle 30-06. Any Lee Enfield should be left in the original calbre .303 British. This is plenty of rifle for deer or moose.
The only "Enfield" you will find in 30-06 calibre if the Model 1917 rifle, sometimes called by the Americans the "Enfield". This looks nothing like the Lee Enfield. Hope this helps.
