K31- Swiss rifle. EXCELENT accuracy.6 rounds of 7.5x55 mm straight pull action. words cannot express this rifle. wait one word can "Expensive"
Expensive? At between $90-$150 usually they are cheaper to buy than a Mosin and many Lee Enfields. Surplus rounds can be out there for $8 for a battle pack of 60, which is pretty good as its match grade quality and non corrosive. Sure its more than 7.62x54r for the Mosin and 8mm for the Mauser is, though thats some really old corrosive stuff that doesn't even compare to the accuracy. The K31 Swiss used to be expensive about 10 years ago but now they are relatively dirt cheap.
Mosins are probrobly your most economical firearm. You can find 91/30s and M44s for under $80 in places and in really good condition for not much more. Ammo is dirt cheap and they are built to last. Finnish Mosins are the best ones out there but will more than double the price.
Mausers will cost you a little over double the price going for around $150-250 depending on quality. You could get a Yugo Mauser M24 for a $100 of course, but WW2 stuff like proper K98s will cost more, but its hard to beat them for sheer neat factor. Again they have really cheap surplus ammo available and its once again corrosive and not the most accurate in the world. The best Mausers in my opinion are the Persians and they cost a tad more.
Lee Enfields can be seen in the $100-150 up to $200 or more if it has the lend lease stuff on it, In my opinion the finest bolt action battle rifle, with a smooth, quick bolt. Ammo is the most costly, with surplus being more rare. You can occasionally find it or else you have to pay for the more costly commercial ammo at about $8-25 a box of 20 depending on brands. There are Ishapore 2a and 2a1 rifles out there in 7.62mm nato. These cost more but are worth it for the cheaper ammo.
Springfield 1903s will see the price jumping to $400 and as high as $1000 in the US being as its a domestic rifle they gauge the price. A fair Mauser design in plentiful 30-06 ammo. Garands and M1 carbines add to the price even more.
Arisakis are nice Japanese rifles. Strong action being another Mauser, though the ammo is a little rarer and will cost you more. Bunch of others out there too like the Italian Carcano (probrobly most famous nowadays as being the weapon that shot JFK) but will cost you more to feed the system when at one time they were some of the cheapest out there with so many being bringbacks.
You could always also invest in an SKS for usually under a $150 and have a semi automatic, 10 shot Yugo in unissued condition. Ammo comes on about $2-$3 for a box of 20 of not the best stuff in the world but a number of its non corrosive I guess is the best thing you can say about it.
My recommendation would probrobly be start off with a Mosin however.
