Looking for milsurp rifle with smooth (bolt, or not) action

[Esoteria]

I know it's kind of a generic topic.

I have a Mosin, which is in good shape overall, shoots very well, but has a below average action, and I say that with the understanding that Mosin actions in general are pretty rough. It's hard to open (cock), heck it's even a little hard to open when already cocked. Any slight sideways pressure causes it to catch a bit on closing, etc. I can run it pretty fast 80% of the time by just putting a little extra muscle into it but... yeah.

My other bolt actions are a 22LR and a 22 Hornet, the former of which is OK but you don't expect much from a $230 Savage, so no harm done. The other is a CZ 527 which, as I've said in another thread, I was disappointed by its action (otherwise a great gun, though).

Anyway, last weekend I went out with a friend who had a 1920 G98 Mauser, and I was instantly very jealous. The action is super smooth. Loading rounds is almost more fun than shooting it for how nice the magazine is.

So I stopped myself from my previous plan of getting into 7.62x54R reloading due to this realization that bolt actions can indeed be really nice.

I have a budget of about $500. What should I get? Enfield? Yugo Mauser? What's guaranteed (or as close to guaranteed as you'll get with mil surp) to have a smooth action and magazine? Can I reliably slick up the Mosin action enough to make such a major difference for $100~150? Probably not..., and it wouldn't fix the fiddly magazine.

I also need to consider the ability to reload for it. I'm willing to spend the extra dough on .311" bullets for an Enfield or Mosin if that's what it takes. I guess a Mauser is just as difficult to reload for. Casting isn't an option for me right now due to where I live (although I hear group buys are a thing. Might need to look into that). Loading down to new-shooter-friendly recoil would be an important consideration as well.

Major Side-bar question: It doesn't even have to be bolt action as long as I can turn it into one (i.e. an "off" gas setting) for bench shooting and brass recovery. Going this route boosts my budget since it would fill a semi-auto role as well. Any good rifles out there with this option? I realize some ARs can do this but I'm not really into that platform right now. Wasn't there some version of the Ljungman rifle that had gas adjustment? That'd be pretty slick. But probably expensive.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

K31 fits the bill.

so does the Swedish Mauser.

 

[FiveStrings]

Based on what you've said I'm thinking an Enfield No. 4 rifle would be the ticket. A decent specimen is in your budget. The Enfield is regarded as having the fastest of all the WWII generation bolt actions. It also is fed by a 10-rd detachable box mag. The .303 cartridge is easily reloadable, however I've only been able to locate Sierra 150 grain Spitzers in .311 from my regular sources. These are plentiful, but I've had trouble locating other .311 bullet options. Plus, .303 British is still a commonly sold (ie. Walmart-available) commercial round. So the .303 is highly "shootable."

The other bolt rifle you'd probably dig is the Swiss K31. CHeck out Hickock45's Youtube video on it. The action looks like it would be a ton of fun, and they are supposedly wicked accurate, but access to ammunition (ie. "shootability) is not great. OK, but not great.

 

[Esoteria]

I've heard and been told that the K31 is still the "best deal" out there as far as rifle for the money, as they're extremely accurate and consistently extremely well made. I'm a fan of all of that, but... something about that straight pull just seems weird to me. I need to handle one in a gun show before I write it off, though. Everything else about it screams "buy me."

The Swedish Mauser! I had forgotten about it. 6.5 bullets are more readily available, so if the action is at least comparable to the G98 I used this weekend then this is probably a front runner. Plus if I get a Ljungman later I'll already have the loads built up for it.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm kind of leaning away from the Enfields just because I've heard inconsistent reports in terms of accuracy and fit/finish, but I do like the cock-on-close action. Actually, in theory it just seems like it would be smoother -- easier to add extra "force" on the forward stroke than pulling up on the bolt handle, especially since you're cocking and extracting the case at the same time on the Mosin/Mauser action. I haven't shot an Enfield nor handled them next to a Mauser enough to compare, though.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

Swedish Mauser is cock-on-close.

I wouldn't let ammo availability turn me away from the K31 if you reload. Good commercial brass is reasonably priced and isn't too hard to find. You have all the regular .308" options for bullets from cheap FMJs for plinking to the finest match bullets and everything in between.

 

[entropy]

Shoot a K31, your decision will be made. Swedish Mauser is a close second.

 

[chris in va]

If you can spring for another $130, the CMP is selling Field Grade Garands for $630. For another $100 you get an awesome Service Grade with new wood and barrel.

If you want a single shot, just remove the gas plug.

 

[Esoteria]

Glad to hear a consensus starting. It's a good point about the K31 using .308" bullets. I'll have to take that into serious consideration. As I said the straight pull is kind of a turn off for me but I have not actually handled one, so I'll need to do that. Shouldn't be hard to find at all at the next gun show.

The Swedish Mauser being cock-on-close is new information, and is definitely a point in its favor (in my theory, anyway). I think I like the look of it better than the K31, too. Hmm.

 

[Esoteria]

@chris
Thanks -- hadn't really considered a Garand because I figured it was out of my price range and didn't consider that it could be set up to manually cycle.

I know the manually cycling thing may seem really weird to some, but it's a huge help on the bench or for any slow firing, and I'm going to slow fire a lot more often than I'm going to rapid fire .30-06, that's for sure.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

K31, Swede Mauser, 1891 Argentine Mauser, in that order for smoothness of the action. For ease of the stock sights I would rate them K31, 1891 Argentine, and Swede. For ammo availability it would be Swede, K31, and Argie. They are all pretty equally accurate out to 300 yards in my hands.

 

[Edarnold]

If you are used to cycling a bolt action rifle from the shoulder, the K31 will be no problem. Too many shooters today never learned the technique of raising your head as the bolt comes back, then dropping back onto the stock as it goes forward. Taking the rifle off your shoulder to cycle the bolt is dumb with a conventional turn-bolt action, and downright clumsy with a straight-pull action like the K31. Use the rifle as it was intended, and you will find a new definition of fast and smooth.

And yes, the cartridge is easy to reload and cases will last for many reloadings, since the working pressure is substantionally below rounds like the .308 Winchester and the like.

 

[Esoteria]

Running the bolt from my shoulder varies from highly impractical to outright impossible with my Mosin, but I'll certainly give it a shot with whatever else I have the opportunity to try.

 

[eastbank]

you can never go wrong with a 303 brit enfield. try a finn 39, they are what a russia 91 should have been. and the swede 6.5x55 is a sweet shooter with very good bullets. a yugo 98 in 8mm is also a good choice. eastbank.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

My Turk Mauser's bolt is slicker than snot after I polished it a bit and greased it. It's a little hard to cock though, I had to install a heavy firing pin spring to ignite surplus ammo. But it's a very nice action, and you're right, punching rounds into the magazine is a joy unto itself

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

30-40 Krag

303 Enfield is the smoothest of what has been mentioned, K31 is good just not as smooth. The enfield were the fastest shooting bolt gun of WW2. However if you want the smoothest bolt out there then the 30-40 Krag is it hands down.

 

[caribou]

Finn Mosin, M-39.

Get one in mint shape.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I have to reiterate what's already been said:

K31 and Swedish Mauser, with the Enfield coming in close third.

 

[Whiskey11]

The answer is Mauser, and really you can pick any of them...

Insert any European Mauser
Insert 1903 Springfield
Insert Winchester M70's
Insert Ruger M77

For a real treat, the 1903 Springfield is a heck of a rifle and you can get ones with remanned drill rifle actions (safer than low serial number ones) with new Criterion barrel, new wood, and new ref for ~$800 to ~$900 and they are shooters. I love my Rockridge Machine Tool 1903A4 clone!

 

[agtman]

I have a budget of about $500. What should I get? Enfield? Yugo Mauser? What's guaranteed (or as close to guaranteed as you'll get with mil surp) to have a smooth action and magazine? * * *.

Bolt: the U.S. 30-40 Krag rifle (or carbine).

Semi-auto: the U.S. M1 Garand. (Might have to bump-up your budget for an M1 by a few hundred though).

Nothing smoother on the planet than those two, not to mention the history embedded in them.

 

[eastbank]

if you reload or are going to, any of the rifles mentioned will fill the bill. i reload for all the milsurp that i own and by roaming gun shows, flea markets and yard sales i have amassed all the dies i have needed and then some for that task. you can taylor your loads for each rifle, for example i have a chinese t-53 carbine i load to 30-30 power levels that is a joy to shoot over factory ammo. if you turn to the milsurp side you will be lost as one is never enough. eastbank.

 

[bang_bang]

Im very fond of either of my SKS rifles. You can still find good ones for a reasonable price. I also like the 303 round and love the action on my SMLE. Your options are very open, might as well sample a few now rather than wait another ten years.

 

[morcey2]

Mannlicher-Schoenauer (sp?) is the smoothest action I've ever handled. It felt like the bolt was on roller bearings.

The smoothest operating rifles I have are a 1909 Argentine, VZ-24, and a 1903 Springfield. I have a yugo-captured K98k that's right behind those.

Matt

 

[justin22885]

umm, mosins arent hard to open, and when already cocked i can open mine with my pinky finger.. most people when they buy mosins do not take apart the bolt and completely clean out all the cosmoline from the inner workings of the bolt and as a result they get hard to operate

 

[joem1945]

Yugo VZ 24 in 8mm is a good choice. Looks like a K98 and mine is smooth, but a true K98 is a bit better. K98s prices are too high IMO.

 

[fireman 9731]

Many others have said it, and I'll say it again: Swiss K31.

I have a Turk Mauser that is buttery smooth though too, and couple of Spanish Mausers that are fairly smooth but cock on close has always just been a little different for me.

Now the real issue is that you aren't happy with your CZ 527. From the factory they can be a little stiff or grabby, but a good cleaning and lube, along with working the action by hand for an evening or putting about 100 rounds through it should really slick it up. Also make sure that the bolt isn't binding on the magazine. Mine was a little stiff at first but it really slicked up.