Service rifles

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jayz

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I was at wildwood a couple of weekends ago and they were having a service rifle match. I shot a garand and now I want to get a wwII service rifle. I was looking at a garand or a k98k for a rifle. Out of those 2 which is the most cost efficient ie cost to fire and cost to buy. Also which is the most accurate and have the most spare parts out there.
 
I think that the amount of 8mm ammo isn't as copious as .30-06. I handload for my 98k, so don't complain about the supply of ammo. :)

Ballistically, 8mm Mauser and .30-06 are pretty much the same.

As for accuracy probably depends a lot on the rifle, and for course, your own skill level. Some 98k's were really good, accuracy wise, some not so much.

I'd say get what ever you think will provide you the most pleasure shooting, I don't think you could go wrong with either. I'm going to try to make it out to the next Wildwood shoot in August. If you'd like, I'll bring my 98k and you can check it out. If you ask Scott real nice, maybe he'll bring his Garand and you can take a peek at that. :)
 
If you reload, the K31's from P&S are a great buy and one of the most accurate service rifles ever issued. You can buy ammo but it's a bit pricey.
 
I don't reload so I was looking for something that has milsurp or is cheap to buy. I shoot a .223 for the sniper match and I was looking at getting a service rifle in that but there was nothing in WWII at that caliber.
 
Look for an Israeli Mauser in .308.
You can find milsurp ammo and even commercial is cheap.
The two I've had were good accurate shooters.
And they are usually cheap - under $300.
 
X2 on the Israeli K98. Very accurate once you get used to the Mauser irons and ammo is plentiful and cheap.
 
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steve1973 said:
X2 on the Israeli K98. Very accurate once you get used the Mauser irons and ammo is plentiful and cheap.
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Or the Spanish FR8 if you prefer peeps sights on a 7.62 Nato Mauser action. I've got one I could let go.;)
 
"...that has milsurp or is cheap to buy..." That'd rule out the Garand. In 30 years, I've never seen case lots of .30-06 surplus ball. Can't say as I've ever seen cases of 8mm Mauser either.
The .308 didn't exist in W.W. II either.
Get yourself into reloading and find an M-1 rifle (AKA Garand) in decent condition.(won't be cheap though) You won't be sorry. There's something about a Garand that no other rifle has. Feed it with carefully done handloads and forget the milsurp stuff. It's not accurate enough for match shooting anyway.
 
looked at a svt 40 today. I think its between the svt 40 and a garand for my service rifle. Which 1 is better in the long run?
 
Garand is far more accurate. Also, all the cheap 7.62x54 is corrosive, which means you will be cleaning your SVT more then you will be shooting it.:)
 
jayz said:
looked at a svt 40 today. I think its between the svt 40 and a garand for my service rifle. Which 1 is better in the long run?
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Definitely a Garand :D "The best battlefield implement ever invented". Then, get into the reloading game. My Garand shoots 1.5-2 MOA with the iron sights with the right handloads.
 
No-one mentionned a Lee Enfield? Good shooters show up for $200-350 all the time.

As for ammo, those constantly seeking "cheap milsurp ammo" need to come to grips with the fact that other than 7.62x54R, there isn't any available reliably in any quantity, and within a very few years there will be nothing available for WWII and earlier milsurp firearms.
 
Andy said:
No-one mentionned a Lee Enfield? Good shooters show up for $200-350 all the time.

As for ammo, those constantly seeking "cheap milsurp ammo" need to come to grips with the fact that other than 7.62x54R, there isn't any available reliably in any quantity, and within a very few years there will be nothing available for WWII and earlier milsurp firearms.
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That NOTHING sent shivers down my spine. :(

Good thing, I have 1500 .30 Carbine rounds to feed mine. :D

And I reload .45 ACP to feed the 1911's.

The Webley, Lee-Enfield and M1 on the other hand. Still haven't gotten around to reloading those. :eek:
 
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