What is missing from my rifle collection? Opinions Needed.

[Phoenix_III]

Rifles I own and a short role description.

1) CZ 452 Scout [.22lr bolt] - Lightweight, short, very accurate. Good for iron shooting or to for the red dot projection laser. Short range [25 yards] for the gf or youths. Could put glass on it, but wouldn't be as fast unless I went with a red dot.

2) Winchester 69a [.22lr bolt] - full size [long barrle], irons on it, classic shooter in okay shape. Could put glass on it but... [see below]

3) Modified Ruger 10/22 [.22lr semi-auto] - 10/22 with custom barrel, Fajen thumbhole stock, Redfield German reticle [post] with 2 3/4x. Very fast for target acquisition and very accurate (like the CZ). Reliable, great trigger, good up to 50 yards depending on target (for high level accuracy, like tennis ball or less free-standing).

4) Bushmaster Varminter - [.223 semi-auto] - stock BM, 6.5-20x glass on it with risers. Very accurate, still breaking it in, two stage trigger, no back up irons or other rail options. Thinking of getting some sort of flip up back up iron sights [buis], would need something to clamp on gas block too I suppose (rail mount?) Would like recommendations for this regardless.

5) AKM Variant - [7.62x39 semi-auto] - Reliable WASR hi-cap with no trigger slap and straight sights, KVAR furniture, Ultimak rail, Tasco red dot and FGG[G]-1 folding forward grip, tri rail lower handguard (Forward grip is rail based). Was thinking of putting a Surefire 910AB and Eotech 550revF AA on it... Is this worth the expense? This gun would be the fantasy SHTF gun.

6,7) Mosin Nagant M44 and 38 - [7.62x54r bolt] - WW2 guns, great condition, might put a scope mount on one, but meh, I got them for the price and to have and enjoy, though I have not even fired them yet, I just cleaned them.

8) Yugo Mauser - [8mm - bolt] - Again, need to have a mauser action. Nice gun, never fired.

That's about it for rifles I think. Other caliber handguns I have = 45. No 9mm if you are going to recommend a conversion kit.

Ideas = really dressing up the AKM, not new upper for the Varminter (I do not have the funds to buy an upper and dress it up, + I am currently in NJ and cannot do a proper setup with fsupressor, etc), maybe good quick release irons system for the Variminter, and also what is a good quick disconnect system for the Varminter and its rail system.

Thank you for all of your input.
=)

 

[Fingolfin]

If you don't mind hard to find ammo and want something different that won't break the bank, check out a Swiss K31. That is next on my list, too cool and nice a rifle not to look at IMO.

And of course the obligatory CMP Garand suggestion. Maybe a WWII collection? Enfield would be another good one to look at, with milsurps you have a lot of choices.

 

[Father Knows Best]

You need a .30 cal battle rifle. A CMP M1 Garand would be a great start. After that you should get a detachable mag .308 autoloader like an M1A, FAL or HK 91.

 

[Phoenix_III]

Yeah I was thinking of the M1A (legal in NJ w/o bayo) instead of the BM, but the BM was available when the M1A was not.

I've read about the K31, but I am not interested in the ammo hunt and all of that. The garand I have fired and I do like... Though I would go M1A then garand, as I feel the M1A is more practical.

I was thinking of a .308 based 'battle rifle', like a CETME of sorts [some say the M1A is inferrior to say an H&K G3 variant or other], though the M14 seemed to do well for our boys on multiple occassions, but the AKM is light, lobs in a 7.62, and would stretch to fit the battle rifle role. The .223 with accurate, deliberate fire, can take out just about anything. if SHTF, I would not be engaging in firefights as my company would not be able to engage at the same ranges I could [espeically using my aux equipment].

=) Thank you for bring the K31 S&R to light. =)

 

[USSR]

Well, looks like you got a bunch of .22's and old battle rifles. I would be looking for a long range Tactical Rifle if I was you. Something that you could shoot out to 1,000 yards and hit a dinner plate with. Just MHO.

Don

 

[Phoenix_III]

What is the effective range of the 5.56 Varminter I have? Long barrel (24'' I believe), very accurate platform. I would think it would have minimal but some effect out to 600 meters. Maybe 7-8 max. Thoughts?

I've always wanted a PSL/Tigre/Dragunov in the 7.62x54R, but the ones I would spend for (The Romak IIIs) are 'accurate' but I would think 1.5 to 2 moa is 'very good' for that platform. At that point the shooter really needs to be doing their part to get close to dinner plate. Something that is a solid 1 to 1.2 moa the shooter has a little more tolerance for error (wind, etc), as most of us are not professionals who can account for wind, humidity, exact type of powder and loading, etc. [though practicising at that range can teach a lot quick, though I have no long range range available to myself].

I was also toying with a Remington 700 in an AICS 1.0 green... AICS no longer being made, but can be found here and there. That's 'only' a .308, but that would be effective to 800 I believe.

What about an obnoxious load, such as a .338 lapua magnum or similar?

=)

 

[pauli]

you don't own a levergun.

this must be remedied.

 

[Father Knows Best]

the AKM is light, lobs in a 7.62, and would stretch to fit the battle rifle role.

I disagree, and I love my AK. The AK is a short range weapon. While it is .30 caliber, it is an "intermediate" cartridge, more like a .30 M1 carbine round than a real rifle round. You need a high power, long range battle rifle in your collection. That means something like an M1, M1A, CETME/G3/HK91, AR10 or FAL. In that group, the M1 and M1A are very similar (the M1A is essentially just an M1 with a detachable magazine and a slightly shorter cartridge). Both are capable of excellent accuracy and can be fun to shoot (and quite effective) out to 1000 yards. The AR10 can be fairly accurate, also, but you already have an AR platform rifle so you should go with something else. The FAL and HK91 are very similar in terms of their roles. Both are classic battle rifles that are very rugged and dependable and pack full power .30 cal (7.62x51mm, to be precise) punch. High quality modern clones like the PTR-91 and SA58 will run from $700 to $1500 depending on configuration. They won't be as accurate as the M1/M1A, but they are generally lighter and have other advantages.

 

[Phoenix_III]

I really enjoy my AK too, don't get me wrong. I find it definitely more capable than the m1 carbine round... I think. The M1 carbine I shot was like shooting a paintball gun. My WASR is a very sweet/soft shooter too though. =)

I sold my father's pre-64 lever action .308. It was a fine hunting gun, but not for me, and I used the money well. It was a Winchester model 88, late 50's.

I have my friends Winchester 94 30-30 (newer, Angled Ejection) that I am babysitting. It is unfired and will remain that way. My Uncle has 2x 30-30s (winchesters again) that I know I will inherit sooner than I'd like to think, so those will come around eventually.

I was thinking though that were I live (wooded), that heavy duty .30cal rifle would not be better than really dressing the AK with the light and optic, but wanted some opinions on that. The money spent (say 1k) does not need to be for a new gun, it can be for accessorizing what I already have (becoming proficient with the tools I have, or rather, 'very good with'), over getting new tools to learn (and dress, feed, and store).

p3

 

[wally]

+1 on CMP Garand & Lever Gun

You also need :

CETME (or HK91 if you can find one at a price you are willing to pay) -- probably the first of the bunch to become hard to find

FAL

Heavy barrel bolt action Police/Tactial sniper rifle with quality scope and BiPod

AK-74 variant

M14 style rifle

Side Folder AK

Under Folder AK

CAR/M4gery AR with collapsable stock

The list will never get shorter

--wally.

 

[dakotasin]

you don't have a lever in either 30-30 or 35 remington- marlin 336.

you don't have a truly accurate bolt gun varminter- rem 700 vls in 22-250, leupold 6-18.

you don't have a dedicated hunting rig- rem 700 bdl in 308, leupold 3-9.

for the bushmaster... it is a varminter configuration (h-bar), so why mess around w/ irons?? it is an accurate, mid-range rifle... use it as such for small targets (eggs? prairie dogs?) to 600 yards. leave that exactly as is.

if you need a 'combat' ar, get a gov't profile/superlight upper, 16" barrel, a-2.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Wally said:

CETME (or HK91 if you can find one at a price you are willing to pay) -- probably the first of the bunch to become hard to find

Don't get either. The CETME's that are available aren't well made, meaning poor reliability and accuracy. The HK91's are far too expensive. A much better alternative is a PTR-91. It's a 91 clone made on HK tooling. Much like DSA bought Steyr's FN-licensed FAL tooling and moved it to the U.S., where DSA now uses it to produce top quality FAL clones, JLD Enterprises bought the HK-licensed tooling from a factory in Portugal and moved it to the U.S., where JLD uses it to produce top quality HK91 clones. DSA calls their U.S.-built FAL the "SA58." JLD calls their U.S.-built HK91 the "PTR-91." A new PTR-91 sells for about $700. That makes it about 1/3 or even 1/4 the cost of a 91 with "H&K" stamped on the side of it, and they are just as high (or higher) quality. http://www.jldenter.com

 

[Eightball]

you don't own a levergun.
this must be remedied.

I'll second that opinion. A levergun is a must-have in one's collection (something I'm working towards at the moment). I'm not the expert on them by any means, but they're sweet. If you didn't want to have to stock up on another calibre, you could get something like a Marlin 39 (.22 LR), and just have some fun with it. But, IMHO, get some kinda lever to round out your collection.

 

[Myself]

You may wish to consider a setup for the inevidable T-Rex or killer Rino stampede.

Something .375 or bigger should work. Maby a 45-70 or a .458 Win mag. Gotta have it!

 

[Father Knows Best]

Oh, yeah! I forgot about Rhino stampedes. You need a .50BMG rifle. I prefer the Cobb FA-50(T).

 

[Lonestar.45]

Eh, you need a lever gun of some sort, definitely.

Beyond that, I'd go milsurp, i.e., SKS (you can get a lot for your $, maybe one from each country of manufacturer if your adventurous), a few other Mauser varieties, 1903A3, Garand.....that's what I'd do.

Of course, a nice larger bore bolt action with good glass would be a nice addition to IHMO.

 

[RoyG]

+1 on the lever rifle and the CMP M1.

 

[Coronach]

CMP Garand.

 

[noonanda]

M-1 Garand, and a british enfield, either a #1 Mk 3 or a #4 Mk 1. as the british said after WW1 about the rifles used, "the Germans brought a hunting rifle(Mauser), the Americans a Target Rifle(1903), but we brought a battle rifle.

 

[Phoenix_III]

I really liked my fathers Winchester 94 in .22lr (had one in .22lr and .22mag). I did research before about the different offerings and benefits in .22lr lever.


I was thinking about something obnoxious in the .4s or even a 50BMG, but I held an AR-50 and eh... so forward/barrel heavy there is no way to shoulder it... though I assume it is meant to be shot prone anyway, but jeeeez! =)

Again, I would [presently] not have a place to discharge such a weapon, as my organic backstops are only good up to 7.62x54r and 8mm.

The Varminter has a fluted barrel, btw. =)

 

[iamkris]

What's missing? Tons -- several repeats from above

A full range of WWII rifles: Garand, Spring 03, Mauser 98K, Enfields (both No 1 and No 4), Ariska, Carcano, M-N 91/30, P17 Enfields, Swiss K31

19th century military: Krag 1898, Trapdoor, Martini Henry, Spring 1861, Enfield, Spencer carbine

Definitely some lever actions say one in rimfire, a pistol caliber, a thuty-thuty, a 45-70

Cold War military: FN-FAL, G3/HK91, M14/M1A, some form of AR, an SKS

Several hunting rifles (whether you hunt or not), say a 243, 270 308, 30-06, 338 WM

Maybe a nice Drilling, a fine double (600 Nitro class)

Buffalo rifles, a Sharps, Remmy rolling block, Hi wall, Low wall

Some guns you just ought to have -- Swedish Mauser M96 in 6.5x55, a Thompson 1927, Finnish M39

 

[GunGoBoom]

Oh, yeah! I forgot about Rhino stampedes.

Really, I don't see how one can accidentally forget the inevitable rhino stampede - get with the program.

 

[kennedy]

you are right you need a dragonuv tiger, I have one, thinking about selling it, I also am after a nice lever gun(pre 64 winn 30-30) and agree you need a fine old craftsman bolt gun like a swede M-96(mine the best shooting rifle I own). Also a rem 700 in 30-06 or 308 with scope and bi-pod is a must in every collection(I traded mine towards the tiger)

 

[JohnKSa]

Another vote for a lever gun. But make it a 45-70.

 

[MechAg94]

Since you already have some bolt action military rifles, you might consider the Springfield 1903 or '03A3 from CMP. Compare with your Mosin and Mauser. I love the Remington 03A3 I got earlier this year for CMP. Very accurate.

A Garand is always good also.

Lever guns are good if anything for a quick and handy home defense gun that has fewer complications. A cheap beat up lever in 30-30 or or pistol cartridge is great for that.