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so, I have 4 handguns. I want more but I cant justify buying anymore when I have what I need. I have been looking a purchasing a rifle to do some target shooting for accuracy. I own a savage .22LR so I dont want another. My only problem is, is that I really dont like the looks of most hunting rifles. I prefer the looks of M1903 or an M1 Garand. You know? Back in the day when rifles were all wooden almost to the tip of the muzzle and they were real heavy? Things of beauty. Well, I also want to put a nice scope and a bipod on it. Seems to me about the only choices I have are an M1A it seems. They are just a tad too expensive, and I want bolt action. So, does anyone know of any rifles like the M1's or the M14's that are modern but have the nostalgic look of the old WWII guns? Maybe I need to go into business building guns for people like me.!

Have you looked at the Mosin-Nagant? It certainly has the nostalgic look of a WWII gun, even a WWI gun! They are somewhat hard to put a bipod on, and a scope takes some work, too. Just an idea. Plus, they are dirt cheap, and the mil-surp ammo is even cheaper.

Or there's always H&H

With your criteria, I would order a CMP M1 Garand Service Grade ($595) or CMP Sprigfield Service Grade Special ($895)

If you want to scope it you can buy a scope mount made for a scout or pistol type mounting and with quick detachable leupold rings you can keep the scope on or of the rifle as you desire.

CMP has been delivering rifles in about 30 days of late. They received my order for two Service Grade specials on 5-27 and the rifles were delivered on 6-23

Here is a picture of a Garand with the type of scope base I recomend if you wish to scope it.

Im actually getting ready to order one. Look up the Socom 16 from Springfield Armory. Great gun with great reviews and its in 308 but weighs only 8.9 lbs. Has recoil like a 223 due too muzzle break. Its does def bark though noise wise. Its a good all around gun. I have a blk rifle 308 with a 18 inch barrel that I use for long distance but at 15 lbs with scope its heavy. I was looking for a close qrtrs to medium range rifle and this baby is it.

Springfield M1A SOCOM 16" Hard to copy a pic but here is one scroll down 2nd pic is actual gun

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=SOC ... /soc16.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He said he wants an inexpensive bolt rifle and you recommend the M1A socom?

OP - Have you looked at the Remington 700? It does not look old but you can get loads of parts for them and they are pretty inexpensive.

SKS?

This is my kind of thread. You really can't go wrong with any of the surplus WWII guns, and don't forget the K31 - probably the most accurate of the bunch. The Mosin will be the cheapest to shoot (aside from chiropractor visits).

bnc wrote:This is my kind of thread. You really can't go wrong with any of the surplus WWII guns, and don't forget the K31 - probably the most accurate of the bunch. The Mosin will be the cheapest to shoot (aside from chiropractor visits).

I had never really considered a K31, but you sure weren't kidding. I found this video on youtube - iron sights at 1,000 yards on an 18" circular target, and the guy actually connected on 2 out of 6 rounds fired. Yeah yeah yeah, I know. A modern scoped rifle would have beaten that... but iron sights with a 70 year old rifle? That's good shooting. Even his misses were very close, as you can see by the bullet tracks as they arc in on the target....
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=WZ-Lcvyrifw[/youtube]

AndyC wrote:

E150GT wrote: So, does anyone know of any rifles like the M1's or the M14's that are modern but have the nostalgic look of the old WWII guns?

Mauser K98, Springfield 1903, P14, Lee Enfield or Mosin Nagant perhaps? Those are probably the classic WW1 - WW2 bolt-guns.

Def need to give AndyC's recommendations a nod. Seems to me he has experience in this arena with these weapons that I only appreciate from playing COD2.

In all seriousness these rifles he recommends are exactly what you asked for...I just have no trigger time to compare them (shot a Nagant once).

I can give you my experiences with the Mosin-Nagant. I have two - an M44 and a 91/30. These were my first guns, and the 91/30 remains my favorite range shooter to this day. I've put around 2000 rounds through it, and learned my basic rifle shooting skills using this gun.

Some things to know about the Mosin-Nagant:

It was made for late 19th and early 20th Century Russian peasants, therefore it is very simple and very reliable.

There is no cushioning on the end of the buttstock, only a steel cover plate.

Recoil is quite pronounced, and takes some getting accustomed to.

Millions upon millions were built (around 37 million), so they are easy to find and very inexpensive. You can get one for $80.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?groupid=90" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheap surplus ammo abounds. When using surplus ammo, you will need to clean the bore after each session, as the primers contain corrosive compounds. Windex works well prior to normal gun oil.
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/ ... r-fmj-ammo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Mosin-Nagants are so cheap that you can try it and not be out much if you don't like it.


Another rifle mentioned was the Swiss K31. I've had opportunity to shoot this gun a couple of times, and it's a truly beautiful piece of precise engineering. It's got a beautiful straight-pull bolt mechanism, where the bolt requires no rotation to cycle. It's also magazine-fed.

If ammo costs are not an issue and you want a nice shooting bolt gun, then the K31 is for you.

The guns themselves run around $250.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?groupid=110" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ammo is quite expensive and a bit difficult to find. The ability to reload is an advantage, if you are able.
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/ ... 5x55-swiss" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyhow, I hope this helps you out.

M96 Swedish Mauser

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Mauser" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Annoyed Man wrote:

bnc wrote:This is my kind of thread. You really can't go wrong with any of the surplus WWII guns, and don't forget the K31 - probably the most accurate of the bunch. The Mosin will be the cheapest to shoot (aside from chiropractor visits).

I had never really considered a K31, but you sure weren't kidding. I found this video on youtube - iron sights at 1,000 yards on an 18" circular target, and the guy actually connected on 2 out of 6 rounds fired. Yeah yeah yeah, I know. A modern scoped rifle would have beaten that... but iron sights with a 70 year old rifle? That's good shooting. Even his misses were very close, as you can see by the bullet tracks as they arc in on the target....
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=WZ-Lcvyrifw[/youtube]

I wonder how long he was out there getting his table dialed in on that target before shooting the video. it was pretty obvious that he had the table set just right and layed the rifle flat on the table everytime. not trying to knock the guy or the rifle, there is no way i could ever pull that off, just simply an observation.

Thanks for the replies guys. I sure like the looks of the Mauser and the M1903. I wish I could find a nice shooter M1903 reasonable. I saw a couple at a LGS. One was $1500 and one was $2500!