So ya got 2500 dollars to spend, and you want 3-4 rifles, plus a couple days ammo...

[mrcpu]

If you had say 2500 +- 10% to spend, and wanted 3-4 rifles total, at least 1 of them milsurp, what would *you* do? And figure enough ammo for say a good day of shooting at the range, so ballpark 100 rounds each.

I'm thinking someting like a good Ruger 10/22, mods to be determined, a M44 M-N carbine, maybe even a chromed one from classicarms, a saiga in .223, and then some kind of AR/AK type thingie, but that's where it gets hazy.

SOme of the saiga conversions look nice, and that might be a way to go, instead of a "real" AR.

But that's just me. No rifle can take up more than half the 2500, so no 2000 dollar target rifles, and 3 95 dollar M-N's...

 

[cslinger]

Wow lets see.

AR15 800ish
10 magazines at say 12 bucks a piece 120ish.

CZ452 300ish
4 extra magazines at say 30 bucks a piece 120ish

Remington 870 Marine Magnum $500ish

Takes me to about $1840. Lets use $800 to add a nice ACOG or equivilent to the AR.

That leaves $1000 for ammo. Should be enough to get a decent supply for each.

Chris

 

[g5reality]

M1A - $1,299 .308
Mini-14 - $400 .223
Remington 700 - $600 .308

200 rounds .308 147 grain Winchester NATO - $99
200 Rounds .223 50 grain Remington - $85


With enough for lunch left over

 

[blackhawk2000]

Dude, I can shoot 100 rds in like 5 minutes, taking my time. You need way more ammo than 100 rds per rifle. Get 3-4 WASR 10's, and spend the rest on ammo, and mags if wanted/needed.

 

[mrcpu]

ooh, mini-14. Forgot all about that. Well, gotta dump the saiga I think.

 

[grimjaw]

100 rounds is hardly enough to keep me entertained so I'm going to up that a bit.

1. Persian Mauser 98/29, plus at least 1000 rounds of 8mm surplus (~$700)
2. Romy-made PSL, with 1000 rounds of Wolf 148gr (~$1250)
3. Marlin 39A, and fill up on .22LR with what's left

jm

 

[GarandOwner]

1. SVT-40
2. M1A
3. Winchester 1940's M1 Garand


(but I think I might of gone over your price limit )

 

[mrcpu]

Sheesh, never even heard of an SVT. I may have underestimated the number of cool toys out there...

 

[1911 guy]

My top four.

I'd opt for the following:
Savage 10 in .308
Bolt action .22 to match manual of arms with the above
AR-15 and a .22LR conversion
Anything 7.62X39 or 7.62X54 that trips your trigger.

$500 for a Savage
$200 for a .22
$700 for an AR ($200 lower, $400 upper, $100 for bolt group)
$200 or less for the commie gun unless you get an AK variant.

That leaves you almost a grand for ammo and mags.

 

[ZeSpectre]

+1 on 1911 guy's list. I'd be going for an SKS for the "commie gun"

 

[Patriot-Brewer]

1. M1 Garand (a nice one)
2. Marlin 1895G Guide Gun .45-70
3. Mossberg 590 w/ghostring, barrel shroud, side saddle
4. 03' Springfield (a nice one)

leftover $ for ammo and a double-double at In-N-Out

 

[BADUNAME13]

M1A $1100
AK $350
91/30 $70
AR $700

$2220 TOT.

 

[000Buck]

Right on, let me live my fantasy out on here and maybe it will help me not spend money:

1. Bushmaster Varminter $1000
2. Wood stocked 308 Saiga 22" $400
3. MN or Mauser $100
4. Marlin 1895G 45/70 lever gun $500

And I would through one of the new Polish Tokarevs in there too because they are great fun. You should be right at $2500 after buying ammo.

 

[chaim]

My list might be a little different if we are going on the assumption that you are buying from scratch (no rifles) v. adding to what I currently own.

Anyway:
-Surplus: M1 Garand (~$600 in decent shooter condition)
-Navy Arms Winchester 1873 replica in .357mag or .45LC (~$700-800)
-CZ or Howa bolt rifle in 6.5x55, 7mm (probably 7mm-08 or 7mm Mauser), .260 or .270 ($300-600 depending upon the rifle)
-Marlin, either a .45-70 or .444Marlin (~$500-600)

Total: $2100-2600 (OK, that doesn't leave much for ammo so make one or two of them used and save a couple hundred more bucks before buying them all so I can have a few hundred bucks for ammo)


Hmm, actually, I guess my list would be exactly the same if I was starting from scratch or adding to what I currently have (though if I was starting from scratch I might add a $120-150 Marlin 60 in .22 since .22 is so cheap to shoot, and my Marlin 60 is so fun to shoot).

 

[mrcpu]

What is it about the Garand that gets people so hot and bothered?

Don't get me wrong, I am really liking the milsurp stuff, and thinking about picking up a few, but I just don't see why this one seems to inspire such passion specifically.

 

[fatelk]

What is it about the Garand that gets people so hot and bothered?

I just got one, $425 from the CMP (still have to think when I type CMP, where I work that stands for "Chemical Mechanical Planarization" not "Civilian Marksmanship Program") and now I understand why many people have a thing for the M1.

I've messed around with Mosin-Nagants, Enfields, and Mausers for years, even an old FN49. Now that I have an M1 I can see it was a generation ahead of it's contemporaries. Add to that the mystique of being the rifle that helped the good ol' U.S.A. save the world from the Nazis during the last "good" war, and it becomes clear. As a kid I remember my Grandpa talking about training with one during WWII. I always wanted one.

 

[Gator]

What is it about the Garand that gets people so hot and bothered?

The M1 Garand is the the Sistine Chapel of battle rifles; it is the epitome of industrial art; it was the rifle that won the Big One; it was designed by a genius and mass produced by the genius of American industry.

M-1
©By R.A.Gannon

Do you wonder why that rifle
Is hanging in my den?
You know I rarely take it down
But I touch it now and then.

It’s rather slow and heavy
By standards of today
But not too many years ago
It swept the rest away.

It’s held its own in battles
Through snow, or rain, or sun
And I had one just like it,
This treasured old M-1.

It went ashore at Bougainville
In Nineteen Forty-Three.
It stormed the beach at Tarawa
Through a bullet-riddled sea.

Saipan knew its strident bark,
Kwajelein, its sting.
The rocky caves of Peleliu
Resounded with its ring.

It climbed the hill on Iwo
With men who wouldn’t stop
And left our nation’s banner
Flying on the top.

It poked its nose in Pusan,
Screamed an angry roar
And took the First Division
From Chosin Reservoir.

Well, time moves on
And things improve
With rifles and with men,
And that is why the two of us
Are sitting in my den.

But sometimes on a winter night,
While thinking of my Corps,
I know that if the bugle blew
We’d be a team once more.​

 

[Neo-Luddite]

mrcpu

The Garand is that rare thing--a solid choice for just about all reasons.

First and foremost, it is a devistating and capable weapon. More ammo choices are out there in .06, including special purpose rounds and AP, than for any other shoulder weapon in North America. And .06 is cheap right now. So...why eat hamburger when steak is on sale; .30-06 has been a premier battle rifle cartridge for 100 years for very good reason. It has peers in 8mm, .303 Brit, 7.62 x 54 and others but they aren't part of our landscape as much today.
7.62 Nato is based on the .06; so much so tha an .06 m-1 can eat 7.62 or .308 Win with a cheap adapter insert.

It is rugged and calls little attention to itself--it is legal (for now) in all 50 and Canada. With practice, you get used to the enbloc clips (I was trained on the M-16a1/a2 but now MUCH prefer the clips to mags) and they are an expendable item unlike a 'good' magazine for other weapons. The sights are awesome and seldom bested even today. It works dirty. It also, in fact, is little larger and heavier than a full size m16-a2.

They are an acquired taste--but the thing to note is this; once people get the Garand bug they rarely lose it. Garand people are more of a cult than an interest group. The thing inspires 'brand' loyalty in the way that a Colt model P or 1911 does in the pistol world.

Best reason yet--your goverment will still furnish you with one via the CMP for less than $400, for a limited time...

 

[Gendaito]

bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-ping!

 

[wooderson]

Thompson Center R-55 Benchmark ($450) - .22lr
or
CZ 453 Varmint ($500) - .22lr
+scope $150-200

Saiga .308 with the Dragunov-y stock (pistol grip without being a pistol grip) - $300

Savage 12FV or CZ 527 - bolt-action .223Rem - ~$500
+scope $200-300+

some form of AR-15 in .223

 

[mrcpu]

Saiga .308 with the Dragunov-y stock (pistol grip without being a pistol grip) - $300

Can you post a link/pic? That sounds kind of cool. I had saiga on the list, but had dropped it off.

 

[quatin]

Saiga .308 with the Dragunov-y stock (pistol grip without being a pistol grip) - $300

If you really found a place that does this, I'd like one. The closest I've found so far is FBMG and it's $385.

 

[JWarren]

ooh, mini-14. Forgot all about that. Well, gotta dump the saiga I think.

OMG...please tell me that you aren't dropping a Saiga in favor of a Mini-14????


Seriously, I am kinda in the same boat as you. I got a number of firearms stolen in December in a bugulary. Now, I am paying the price for not having a gun safe at that time. I'm having to replace firearms that I lost.

Because I am having to toss out a considerable amount of money to recover, I have first identified the NEEDS I have for each firearm. I also need to get the most "bang" for my buck. I determine what firearms choices can meet multiple needs. That puts me in a position to build a collection that will adequately meet my needs for the firearms as soon as possible-- then move on to the firearms I simply WANT as the pressure is off.


In the next couple months, my collection will consist of:

-Ruger 10/22 (one I've had and wasn't stolen)
-Remington 870 12 gauge (replacing a Remington 1100 12 gauge that was stolen)
-Glock 19 9mm (one I've had and wasn't stolen)
-Glock 19 9mm (My wife uses mine so I need a spare)
-Vector AK-47 Underfolder: (My home defense/truck rifle I've had this one)
-Saiga 308 conversion: (Replaces both FAL and a Remington 700 30-06 that were stolen)
-Romanian "G" AK-47 home build: Replaces a SAR-1 that was stolen. Fulfills a good beat-around role.)
- Finnish Mosin Nagant M28/30 (oh why not... can't wait to shoot it.)


In my world of needs and wants, this list essentially meets all that I have currently. While there are other firearms I may WANT, this meets my needs. I'll probably stick to this list for a long time and spend any additional money towards ammunition for these firearms as well as putting together a good reloading station.

John

 

[wooderson]

I saw the Dragnuov-y Saigas for $299 at the last gun show in Ft. Worth, four or five weeks back. Didn't catch the dealer's name, for some reason none of the big setups had their usual banners. I was dead broke at the time or I would have jumped on one.

If I go this weekend, I'll find the dealer and see if the prices are the same.

Can you post a link/pic? That sounds kind of cool. I had saiga on the list, but had dropped it off.

this is the IZ-140 (.308) -

I saw a stack marked .223 as well, not sure if they make one that takes 7.62x39mm.

 

[gezzer]

Get 4 Mosin Nagants, 91, 91 sniper, 38, 44. Spend the rest on ammo and shoot 100 rnds a day for the next few years.