Surplus bolt gun for plinking?

[boltstop]

I have a Lee-Enfield Ishapore chambered in 7.62. I’ve only shot it a few times but it’s a ton of fun. A bit big and heavy though.

[ChuckDizzle]

CZ 527 in 7.62x39, reports are that it's exceptional with cheap surplus cartridges.

Or you can get one in 5.56 for more accuracy. The carbine has iron sights.

[Full Clip]

If you really just want an inexpensive bolt gun to play with, and aren't tied to a military history, the Ruger American in 7.62x39 would be one of my first choices...

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/16976.html

~$400-450 street price, takes Ruger Mini30 mags, shoots cheap 7.62x39 ( 20c/shot vs 60c and up ), just add a red dot or scope/rings and you are GTG.

Man, I wish this took AK mags...

[mj1]

What are you shooting for ? The noise or accuracy ? Try the Swiss K31. I do reload and you won't find anything in stock form more accurate. I use .308 SMK's, .308 load data and recycled GP11 brass. I just ran out of BERDAN primers so I will get some Swiss brass from Graf's.



Good luck.

[golfish]

Go with a Yugo M48 and reload. Best of both worlds. Solid rifle, and you can fine tune your loads for pretty accurate groupings. Or find somewhere with cheaper PPU 8mm. Sadly the Yugo/Romanian surplus is pretty much either stocked away by people, or outrageously priced.

This would be my choice, next to the Mosin. They used to have some nice examples at big5 but they stopped selling them, at least around here. I wish I would have got one.

[TMB 1]

03/03A3, Ishapore 2A1 and Mosin Nagant. I reload, but these are good if you don't reload, ammo is usually available for all three at WalMart.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I'll buck the collector trend and say I like Mitchell Mausers, as long as you know what you are buying. Any 8mm bolt gun would fit the OP's needs. I hoarded massive amounts of 8mm surplus to future proof my long term surplus shooting needs, but the truth is I may only shoot 200-300 rounds of 8mm surplus per year.

[jwfire25]

Plus one for the Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39. It's cheap to shoot and is fun. This 5 shot group is at 100 yards with steel case Tula I believe. I just have a Vortex Diamondback 3x9 on it. I'm currently working on reloads for it. I expect it to get even better with some quality loads. Not bad for a 16 inch barrel. [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[waygeekierthanu]

We have the Ruger American Ranch in 7.62 x39 for 409, for the price they are super hard to beat... They really are great guns

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[ar15barrels]

Man, I wish this took AK mags...

Why?
Do you have a bunch of 5 and 10 round AK mags you need a use for?
A 30 round AK mag sticking out of the bolt gun makes it only useful with a really tall bipod or standing/kneeling.

[jarhead714]

Another vote for the Ishapore Enfield.

[jwfire25]

Why?
Do you have a bunch of 5 and 10 round AK mags you need a use for?
A 30 round AK mag sticking out of the bolt gun makes it only useful with a really tall bipod or standing/kneeling.

I get it. I have short ten round AK mags laying around and had zero Mini 30 mags until I got the Ruger American Ranch.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[17+1]

If you really just want an inexpensive bolt gun to play with, and aren't tied to a military history, the Ruger American in 7.62x39 would be one of my first choices...

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/16976.html

~$400-450 street price, takes Ruger Mini30 mags, shoots cheap 7.62x39 ( 20c/shot vs 60c and up ), just add a red dot or scope/rings and you are GTG.

Surplus? Yugo mauser. $300-400. Though, the last time that I bought Prvi 8mm it was 75c/shot...

-- Michael

[17+1]

Plus one for the Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39. It's cheap to shoot and is fun. This 5 shot group is at 100 yards with steel case Tula I believe. I just have a Vortex Diamondback 3x9 on it. I'm currently working on reloads for it. I expect it to get even better with some quality loads. Not bad for a 16 inch barrel. [emoji106]

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[LynnJr]

The problem with the milsurp stuff is you don't know how many shots have been put down the barrel and with today's pricing they are no longer the bargain they used to be.

If your not in a hurry wait until Thanksgiving when they have the "Black Friday" sales and buy a package deal with the scope included.

You end up with a brand new gun at the lowest price of the year and you have a month to go so you can make sure what cartridge and rifle you prefer before purchasing.
Last year some of the bigger chain stores like Sportsman's Warehouse and Dicks had sales on the Ruger 10/22 for $145 and I missed them so this year I am ready for them.