Sounds like fun!

My BR is a Sako L579 action with a Schneider heavy barrel with a 1:7.5 twist rate to handle the heavy rounds. Pair it up with the canjar trigger (4 oz when set! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />) and a NightForce 8-32BR scope and we are talking!

Unfortunately I haven't done much work with it this year. However my starting varmint load last year was a .39MOA group at 200 meters (0.78" center to center). Still need to work with the real VLD rounds with the amazing BCs. Plans for next year involve a gopher expedition! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Shooting a .22lr and shooting a high power rifle are very different experiences. The basics are the same but the muzzle blast and kick make high power more challenging. I'm of the "start small" and move up mindset. Trying to learn the precision trigger squeeze on a high power rifle with a big muzzle blast and kick is probably not the fastest way to learn good riflemanship. Just try finding a decent $300 high power rifle with a great trigger for that matter.

$300 will buy you a very decent .22 but not a terrific high power rifle/scope combo. Although classically folks are taught to shoot iron sights first and then move to a peep or scope I strongly recommend that you start with a scoped rifle. It's important to get it on the paper quickly and learn to control your groups. You can always pull the scope off later. Contrary to popular opinion, iron sights do not make you a better shooter. Breathing, hold, and trigger control make you a better shooter. What you'll find is that shooting with a scope really makes you SEE bad technique. And calling the shot is an invaluable teaching tool.

Anyway, a few odd thoughts from an old rifleman who has taught a few kids to shoot <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

My thought would be a 98k mauser, in .308. I have a WWII era cz made mauser, that was converted to .308 post war. It only ran a couple hundred bucks or so.
I know that mitchell arms is currently selling practically brand new mausers. I am reading their ad right now.
service grade mauser for 250 bucks. good service condition cleaned and inspected.
collector grade for 399 smackers.
then again, how about an enfield? 10 round detachable box mag, very powerful, very cheap. They float around the shops here in the $200 range.

I am in much the same boat as you. The difference is that I am after a precision rifle. My best friend the rifleman says that most rifles can shoot within 1.5" at 100 yards but to shoot consistantly .5-.75" at 100 yds you need a good trigger primarily and then good optics, then at least a decent weatherproof stock that won't move with humidity changes. I have found his first to be true as I can definately tell that I am pulling shots because the trigger pull on one of my rifles is too stout. It seems like most military rifle triggers as they come are too heavy for precision shooting (UNDER 1 MOA) to me but they are probably perfectly accurate for fun shooting. I also am hesitant to buy a rifle like the Nagant reguardless of price when there is no cheap ammo made in the US, a lot of people disagree with me but just some thoughts.

If you are new to the rifle game I would think hard about the 17HMR, great precision, low recoil, made in America Marlin for not too much $.

FWIW I have two friends that love their inexpensive rifles 1 has a Stevens (Savage) 200 in .308 and one has an H&R Handi Rifle in .223.

Messer454,
If you have a Dicks sporting goods near you, they have some Savage and Remington rifles on sale, right now, in assorted calibers. We were looking at them monday night.
Synthetic stocks, which would help with acccuracy, a bit.

I was looking at there site last night rooikat. I think the mosin is nice but a mauser is just way sexy. I realy like the tanker mauser mite have to get that later on

I have two of the Mosin Nagants, a 1939 and a 1928 Tula Hex receiver. For the money they can't be beat. My father is a gun dealer so we only paid from $60.00 to $80.00 for the rifles a few years ago and both rifles have full matching numbers. Of couse we got the quantity price as we bought 6-8 rifles each time. And we got to pick among the rifles the ones we wanted.

Alot of the rifles that are left have forced match numbers(meaning they replaced parts at the armory with parts that were already numbered). If you can pick thru and get a matching rifle, great. If not, no big deal really, I just don't care for how they remarked them, with an electric engraver by hand, looks a little sloppy. The other piece of advice is to try to find one that is not a war time rifle. The machining used thru say, 1942-45, was a little worse for wear and these rifles sport some serious machine marks. Granted its only cosmetic and doesn't affect the shooting, it just looks very rough. But they are great shooters, very stout rifles, and you can get period and replica mounts and scopes if so inclined.

The other nice thing is, as Unsub has said, ammo is dirt cheap and you do have a choice in different countries of origin, Polish, Russian and Czech is what I currently have. Winchester does offer it in the white box if you can find it, plus numerous European ammo manufacturers make it also, Norma included, but the Norma runs like $30.00 plus for a box of twenty.

If you want to step up to something better, take a good look at the Stevens (Savage made) bolt guns. Just a basic Savage action sans the Accutrigger, but they are Savages thru and thru. My family, both immediate and in-laws are all Savage fans and even some of my Dad's friends, both whom are Drs. with more money than they should have, have bought Savage and Stevens rifles due to their reputation and excellent customer service. You should be able to easily find a Stevens for under $300.00. Hope this helps.

I have a few mosin myself.....


I would recommend a Finnish M39.....best all around performance. If Your mind is set on the shorter M44 or M38...go with the M38, no bayonet to contend with. Most M44s are supposed to be fired with the bayonet extended....If you leave it closed, you won't be hitting your point of impact.....If you want to shoot the m44 with the bayonet closed, you will have to adjust the front sight.

Of all my Mosin nagants My favorite are the M27 and my 2 M39's, followed closely by my M38......all the rest are filler. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

They are great plinkers.

Buy an AK47. You can't beat an AK. They will work when all others fail. Mags are cheap and they are easy to take care of.

for an affordable,accurate bolt action i would recommend a savage ..or you could get a swedish mauser

I don't want to scare you, bramel, but the floating head of king tut's ghost has appeared in the right hand corner of your picture.

I have a friend who is a dealer so it is a blessing and a curse. I am leaning towards a Remington Model 700 Varmint Synthetic Fluted in .22-250 and eventually .308 with a Leupold 4.5x14. Then perhaps I will move up to the Armalite in .300 Win mag. or .338 Lapua...........A guy has to dream right? I went the Swedish Mauser and then custom Mauser route in college and found that for me I need something that is easily scoped to become the bolt action rifle that I want.