Surplus bolt gun for plinking?

[AGGRO]

You can get a Savage Axis for about as cheap as a good Mosin anymore. I found a cherry M95 but it kicks like a donkey and even reloads are expensive.

[Ayacuchano]

Mosin Nagant M91/30.

Mosin Nagant M91/30: Long barreled rifle that points well and is not too heavy; fun to shoot; excellent caliber (7.62x54r); decent iron sights; very reliable; can shoot steel cased ammo as well as brass; easy to disassemble for cleaning; bolt can be easily disassembled for cleaning and lubrication; adjustable firing pin; ammunition is relatively inexpensive and plentiful; rifle can be purchased for less than $300.

[DueceMcGurk]

Ruger American Ranch. Enjoy the cheap ammo. When it drys up, reload is plan "B". Let us know what you buy.

[nic]

OP, I am not sure where you live but since you said you're close to LAX Ammo I assume SoCal. In that case you will have to be even more selective about ammo choice, particularly with milsurp ammo - much of that military surplus ammo has a steel jacket or steel core projectile and is therefore banned at many outdoor SoCal ranges.

[OmniNom]

Swiss K31, and reduced reloads, super fun.

[For54]

if you want surplus, then pick a good condition one. My pick is 03a3 because 30-06 is available, the sights are precise and many gunsmiths know how to replace barrels on those if you shoot yours out. Surplus are not cheap shooters anymore

[Colt.45ACP]

You folks reminded me of that old "Surplus Gun" magazine I have. Before the '68 Gun Control Act with lots of well priced rifles. Where's my time machine! There's always air rifles!

[yuccales]

Another vote for the Ishapore Enfield.

Yep, fun rifle.

[BarrettM99]

Get you a bolt action .22lr and have fun all day...$299 and milsurp/military trainer.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/m-1969-surplus-rifle-22lr-bolt-action-trainer/

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

I'd do a Mosin 91/30. They're common, relatively inexpensive, built like tanks, and the ammo is still fairly inexpensive (not like it was, though.)

They can also be surprisingly precise with a minimum amount of work.

Regards,
Josh

[thetruecheese]

Seriously, just surf the for-sale section and collectors exchange till you find a good deal. As long as its in readily available ammo.

above poster is right, the mosin is awesome if its a good specimen. Mine always rings the steel and is a blast to shoot. Ammo's affordable and honestly for plinking a few odd rounds every session its a great gun (no corrosive so ya dont even have to clean it)

Or any sort of off-brand mauser (turkish etc and stuff are often real cheap)

good luck!

[BrokerB]

yes..they are called Finnish Mosin Nagants.

You cna still find crates of ammo cheaper then any other large/ battle rifle sized round. So many folsk bought crates of 880 surplus that they will never..ever shoot.

I have crates that i will sell with rifle. I have some hex 1/30's and one finn m27 that I am selling.

Ammo you would need to be a local pickup. If you keep your eye out you woudl be bound to find some crated surplus ammo still for cheap. 7.62x54r is/was in far more supply then 8mm

[desertrider]

Get you a bolt action .22lr and have fun all day...$299 and milsurp/military trainer.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/m-196...ction-trainer/

Holy Smokes! $299.00 ?

I bought two of those at Big 5 for $59 ea. Then again, that was right about the turn of the century.

[Springfield45]

Look at used rifles also. You can find many used Sporter rifles for less or the same as a 91/30.

[kramynot]

For plinking, I'd say any of the "cheap" options (Mosin, Enfield, Mauser) would do, if you reload, and particularly if you reload with lead. You can load some really nice light rounds with a 150gr lead bullet on top of a fast powder (Bullseye, Unique, Green Dot, etc.) Very light recoil that you can shoot all day and your brass will last forever. My plinking load for my Mosin's and Enfields use the same bullet, powder charge and primer. Very, very cheap, reasonably accurate out to 100 yards, with no recoil.

I put "cheap" in quotes because I do have some Enfields and Mausers that I shoot that I purchased for $25... and it was shipped to my door! Can't believe the prices now!

P.S. If you are interested in reloading for some cheap plinking fun, I'd keep an eye out for a MAS36. Very accurate and while the Mosins and Enfields generally use a .311 bullet and the Mauser ad .323, the MAS36 uses good ol' 308. Very easy to load up some light plinking loads with lead bullets and then get some cheap jacketed 308 bullets for when you want to go out a little further.