War Surplus or 30/06 ???

[Iron Glove]

Will be heading out to the Chilliwack Gun Show in less than 3 weeks and will be looking for a rifle for my adult aged son. He lives in the Okanagan-Similkameen and will be hunting deer, black bear (he's hoping to get a spring bear this year) and maybe Elk or Moose.
This will be his first year of "Big" game hunting, been birds and rabbits, etc. so far and he needs an appropriate rifle 'cause Dad ain't lending him my 700 BDL
Money is a concern, he's a struggling lad so I want to help him out a bit. Want to keep it in the $200 range. Iron sights, no scope. Availablity of ammo is important too so nothing too wierd.
I thought that either an older 30/06 or a 303 British or 308 would be a good first centre fire rifle. I know didly about 303 and 308 so looking for some suggestions / tips, etc. I like these calibres as they are readily available and have cheap rounds available for plinking too.
I see that there are Swedish M-96's available in 30/06 (my favourite calibre) in that price range but I know squat about them too !! Anyone here ever hunt with one?
All comments and help will be appreciated.
Thanks.
Dad

 

[MD]

Suggestions

Check out this discussion on the sporting rifle forum above:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135423

Some of those Parker Hale or Churchill converted 303 British rifles are darn nice for the price.


There will probably be some Swedish Mausers at the show too, but they come in 6.5x55 Mauser. A dandy calibre too, and the rifles come in a Model 96 with a 29 inch barrel and a Model 38 with a 24-inch barrel I think.

The original unaltered military models are attracting more and more interest to collectors though.

What you might find in your price range at the show is a "Bubba" example, with the top wood removed, forend cut back, bolt bent, reciever drilled, maybe even a scope mounted. Guys will ask too much at first so just walk away from ridiculous asking prices. Just because somebody took a $49.99 rifle, cut some wood off, drilled it, maybe had the bolt bent and put rings, bases and a $100 scope on it, it is not a $400 rifle. Think half that.

They have zero collector value, but are usually reputed to be good shooters.

I've also frequently seen bubbaed military rifles on the exchange forum for sale for the same price you'd pay for an "uncut" version when their actual value is about half that. Those are usually "back to the top" (btt) numerous times before price drops or they are withdrawn.

Then again, anything is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Look at the exhange forum and you'll see what sells for what price, and what doesn't.

 

[pharaoh2]

If I may be so bold, bump it up a bit. For $320, you can get a brand new stevens bot action. $120 will get you a very good bushnell Trophy scope and a caliber of your choosing. Right up to the 7mm Rem mag and .300 Win Mag. The .7mm-08 and .308, as well as the .270 and 30-06 are excellent choices as well. Split the cost, and you'll have a rifle that will probably out last him. Accurate too.

 

[H Wally]

You can pick up some sweet shooting bubba'd milsurps at gun shows. My first gun was a bubba'd and drilled and tapped enfield. Cost me $35 and is beautifully accurate. For ammo, there are cheaper to shoot guns though. I'm starting to get into mosin nagants, and I read more than a few times that you can do great things with a mosin nagant m38. If you can find an already bubba'd, or really messed up unrestorable one, they look amazing when modified for hunting. (milsurpers, please don't crucify me! I do not advocate permanent altering!!!!)