Danus ex
Member
As an unemployed man, I've been able to use some of my free time to shoot the rifles and ammo I bought while working. I enjoy shooting while everyone else is at work.
I'm rapidly finding that rifles I'd shot only casually before are proving or failing to prove themselves in my hands. Normally, I bring a couple to the range so I can shoot them comparatively if I want. I've been shooting from 200, 300, and 600 yards in prone, sitting, and standing positions.
If all of my rifles are on a list ranking their overall fit and shootability for me, some are moving up the list and others are moving down. Some rifles that have moved up the list:
1. Finnish M39--While I had always felt this rifle was comfortable, I'm finding that it fits me much better than I thought. It's my only rifle that feels extremely natural in prone, sitting, and standing. The sights are good enough and it shoots like a laser beam. The downsides: it's sling isn't the greatest to use for support, and its action is awkward to work in prone position. It also required a tallsight.
2. US M1 Garand--Has it all as far as milsurps go. Fully adjustable aperture sights, a sling meant to be shot with, easy clip loading, and its semi-automatic action means you can maintain your strongly-supported shooting position. With my 57 year old USGI rifle and 38 year old Greek ammo I was competitive with other shooters of my experience level using rebuilt M1s, new ARs, M1As, and handloads. Not the best-fitting rifle for me in any position, but always near the top. If I had to pick one milsurp, it's the M1 without hesitation.
3. Swedish M96--My favorite rifle from prone position. I never really "got" this rifle until I shot it from prone. Its action is one of the few that's easy to manipulate while maintaining your shooting position. Of course it's accurate and precise. Mine even has one of the micrometer sights.
Some rifles that have fallen from the pedestal I'd put them on:
1. Swiss K31--My favorite rifle off the bench. Extremely accurate and precise as everyone already knows--if a grasshopper lands near your target, you can shoot it. That said, I can't find any position that feels right with this rifle. Prone, sitting, standing, hunting-style standing, with sling support, without sling support--none work for me.
2. US 1903-A3--This rifle somehow manages to feel like a superb target rifle and a flimsy POS at the same time. It shoots well from the three high-power positions. I'd like to put a scant stock on it. My rifle is probably a candidate for counterboring--the muzzle is pitted, but the rest of the bore is incredibly bright, sharp, and the throat is fine. I still think it has big potential for me (but equally big potential to be a letdown).
3. German K98k--Love this rifle when shooting from a hunting-style position. In other positions it's just so mediocre in my hands.
4. Soviet Mosin-Nagant 91/30--This one was new to my collection. It took my spotter and I nearly 25 shots to get a rough zero. Once we moved to a much closer range we saw it was hitting way high and to the right. I drifted the front sight nearly a quarter inch to get the windage correct. This rifle is precise, however, and it's fairly comfortable. I have a Tikka 91/30 which might have set my expectations a bit too high.
Other rifles have also been in the mix, but my opinion of them hasn't really changed.
So, which military surplus rifle or rifles fit you best, THR? I'm interested to hear not just the make and model, but the reasoning behind your choices.
I'm rapidly finding that rifles I'd shot only casually before are proving or failing to prove themselves in my hands. Normally, I bring a couple to the range so I can shoot them comparatively if I want. I've been shooting from 200, 300, and 600 yards in prone, sitting, and standing positions.
If all of my rifles are on a list ranking their overall fit and shootability for me, some are moving up the list and others are moving down. Some rifles that have moved up the list:
1. Finnish M39--While I had always felt this rifle was comfortable, I'm finding that it fits me much better than I thought. It's my only rifle that feels extremely natural in prone, sitting, and standing. The sights are good enough and it shoots like a laser beam. The downsides: it's sling isn't the greatest to use for support, and its action is awkward to work in prone position. It also required a tallsight.
2. US M1 Garand--Has it all as far as milsurps go. Fully adjustable aperture sights, a sling meant to be shot with, easy clip loading, and its semi-automatic action means you can maintain your strongly-supported shooting position. With my 57 year old USGI rifle and 38 year old Greek ammo I was competitive with other shooters of my experience level using rebuilt M1s, new ARs, M1As, and handloads. Not the best-fitting rifle for me in any position, but always near the top. If I had to pick one milsurp, it's the M1 without hesitation.
3. Swedish M96--My favorite rifle from prone position. I never really "got" this rifle until I shot it from prone. Its action is one of the few that's easy to manipulate while maintaining your shooting position. Of course it's accurate and precise. Mine even has one of the micrometer sights.
Some rifles that have fallen from the pedestal I'd put them on:
1. Swiss K31--My favorite rifle off the bench. Extremely accurate and precise as everyone already knows--if a grasshopper lands near your target, you can shoot it. That said, I can't find any position that feels right with this rifle. Prone, sitting, standing, hunting-style standing, with sling support, without sling support--none work for me.
2. US 1903-A3--This rifle somehow manages to feel like a superb target rifle and a flimsy POS at the same time. It shoots well from the three high-power positions. I'd like to put a scant stock on it. My rifle is probably a candidate for counterboring--the muzzle is pitted, but the rest of the bore is incredibly bright, sharp, and the throat is fine. I still think it has big potential for me (but equally big potential to be a letdown).
3. German K98k--Love this rifle when shooting from a hunting-style position. In other positions it's just so mediocre in my hands.
4. Soviet Mosin-Nagant 91/30--This one was new to my collection. It took my spotter and I nearly 25 shots to get a rough zero. Once we moved to a much closer range we saw it was hitting way high and to the right. I drifted the front sight nearly a quarter inch to get the windage correct. This rifle is precise, however, and it's fairly comfortable. I have a Tikka 91/30 which might have set my expectations a bit too high.
Other rifles have also been in the mix, but my opinion of them hasn't really changed.
So, which military surplus rifle or rifles fit you best, THR? I'm interested to hear not just the make and model, but the reasoning behind your choices.
