My rifle collection

[phatcyclist]

I've got a few rifles.

First up is my Mosin 91/30. I have hunted deer with it, and it is one of my favorite rifles. It was very cheap, and the ammunition is everywhere. Mine is a 1939 made at the Tula arsenal. The bore is in very good condition.

Next up is a Swiss K-31 straight-pull rifle. Instead of a traditional bolt that you work by lifting the bolt and then bringing it back, this rifle operates by pulling the bolt-handle straight-back, then pushing it straight-forward. This rifle was produced in 1949. These rifles never saw actual military service, and never suffered from "wartime production" where loose tolerances and tooling marks were rampant on most military rifles. These rifles operate like fine Swiss watches, very smooth and well machined.

Next up is a Tikka T3 in .308 Winchester. I recently purchased this rifle for long-range shooting and a lightweight alternative to my other bolt-action rifles. These pictures show a Simmons scope mounted, but it failed while I was sighting it in. I currently have a 30 year old Tasco 4x40 on there, sighted in and ready to go.

I also have a Smith and Wesson M&P15 M4 clone and my first rifle, which is a Marlin bolt-action .22. I don't have pictures of these at the moment, but I will update this thread and post some.

 

[Texas1911]

I like the K31

 

[ReVrEnD_0341]

I'm liking the K31 as well. Those Tikka rifles are supposed to be awesome tack drivers. How does the action feel? I am down for a full blown review on it. I've read articles on them, but you know how gun writers are. They think every new thing they get to shoot is the "future of firearms"

 

[SIG_Fiend]

Nice collection Nolan! Man, I'm just itching for a good old bolt action now. I've always loved the Kar 98's but, what in your opinion is one of the best bolt actions out there from that era? I'm talking within a reasonable price range though as I would probably never want to shell out $3k+ for some uber-rare rifle that is too expensive to shoot. I've shot Alan's K98 a few times and like it a lot, though I must confess I don't have much experience with other rifles from the WWI and II era.

 

[phatcyclist]

I'm liking the K31 as well. Those Tikka rifles are supposed to be awesome tack drivers. How does the action feel? I am down for a full blown review on it. I've read articles on them, but you know how gun writers are. They think every new thing they get to shoot is the "future of firearms"

The Tikka rifle is great. The action is quite smooth, especially when you think of the price range the rifle is in. They blued models have cro-moly barrels, which definitely lends itself to the accuracy. The chamber is pillar bedded from the factory, and the barrels are free-floated.

I don't have much time with this rifle, but so far I have been incredibly impressed. The first two shots I put through it at 50 yards went through the exact same hole. The action is easy to work, and the fit and finish are really nice. The trigger is factory adjustable down to 2 lbs (where mine is set at). It breaks cleanly, without much travel at all. In .308, it doesn't make too much fuss, but it is a light rifle. at 6 1/2lbs, it would not be a good cadidate for some of the heavier-hitting calibers they offer them in, like .338 Winchester magnum.

I did a lot of comparison between this rifle and the venerable Remington 700. I also looked briefly at a Remington 798 (Mauser action with receiver-safety). But after the targets I was seeing made by Tikka owners, I took a chance on the "underdog". I have been really happy with my decision.

 

[phatcyclist]

Nice collection Nolan! Man, I'm just itching for a good old bolt action now. I've always loved the Kar 98's but, what in your opinion is one of the best bolt actions out there from that era? I'm talking within a reasonable price range though as I would probably never want to shell out $3k+ for some uber-rare rifle that is too expensive to shoot. I've shot Alan's K98 a few times and like it a lot, though I must confess I don't have much experience with other rifles from the WWI and II era.

I don't blame you for not wanting to drop a fortune. The Mauser K98 is a great rifle. They were very well made, and the actions are strong. There is only one small issue I have with the Mauser. 8mm Mauser is a fantastic caliber, really it is a shame that it didn't stick around longer. The problem is that you are basically limited to surplus, or the small pickens that is factory rounds. Surplus is also getting scarce, with only the really crappy stuff still available in small quantities most times. You could hand-load for it, but you will spend way more on the equipment than the rifle.

Personally, I would consider a late-production US 1903A3, or a US 1917. Both are .30-06, which is an incredibly popular caliber, and easy to come by. There was so much surplus made, that it is still available. Not to mention, the rifles are very well made, and are incredibly accurate. The action is a modified Mauser, so it would be familiar to you. I would have probably ended up with one of these if I hadn't already invested in .308.

I always recommend Mosin M91/30s to people, just because they are great rifles. A lot of people don't think they are any good because of their origins, but I have to disagree with them. The caliber is also easy enough to get. Not as plentiful as .30-06, but nowhere near as limited as 8mm Mauser. You can even find non-corrosive surplus for cheap locally. I think the 1903A3 or 1917 would be a better choice for someone who would like to walk into any sporting goods store and pickup rounds though.

 

[Texas1911]

Yeah for a wartime bolt-action the 1903 is a hot ticket. They've gone up in value lately too. I've been half-assed looking for one.

 

[phatcyclist]

Travis, I have another idea for your search. You could always spend less than what you would on a 1903A3, on a new production Remington 798. It's a mauser action with a few twists. It has the same feeding and bolt design as the original, but with a receiver-mounted safety (better for scope clearance). It has an adjustable trigger, and a gunsmith could get that down very light. They come in synthetic stock, or wood. They also run at about $500, which is maybe half of what you would spend on an 1903A3. Plus, you can still get it in .30-06, or a list of other calibers.

Just a thought. The only thing is, I don't think they make them in open sights, so you would be looking at purchasing a scope. That added on would still cost less than an original 1903A3.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

Here's what I've been considering: http://www.mauser.org/rifles/m63 tanker/index.htm

It's a reproduction M63 Tanker Mauser and you can get them in 8mm, .308, .30-06, .270, and .243. I was considering one of these in either .30-06 or .308 since they are common calibers. For what I want, this appears to be one of the best compromises. I have thought of newer Remingtons or various other brand bolt actions, though I really want to stick to something from the World War era as I like the classical appeal. Even though these M63's are reproduction guns and not "real" war era guns, at least it shares all of the Mauser characteristics and classical appeal plus being new they should be in perfect shape.

 

[Texas1911]

I would opt for a full length Mauser, you will have significant ballistic degradation with the shortened Tanker version. Keep in mind the K98 is already shortened from the original version.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

I'm not looking to shoot from 1500yds or anything.

 

[ReVrEnD_0341]

HK, if you are looking to start hunting, I would consider something in 30-06. If you were to get a newer Remington 1903 in 30-06, you will be able to fire lead from 113gr, all the way up to 210gr. That will pretty much cover you in anything you plan to hunt in North America. The lighter rounds in 30-06 also shoot flatter than the .308 does. .308 is great, but the most accurate round it is not. consistant yeppers, but in all fairness most shooters will never be able to make hits much past 600m, not that you want to shoot that far though.

 

[phatcyclist]

HK, if you are looking to start hunting, I would consider something in 30-06. If you were to get a newer Remington 1903 in 30-06, you will be able to fire lead from 113gr, all the way up to 210gr. That will pretty much cover you in anything you plan to hunt in North America. The lighter rounds in 30-06 also shoot flatter than the .308 does. .308 is great, but the most accurate round it is not. consistant yeppers, but in all fairness most shooters will never be able to make hits much past 600m, not that you want to shoot that far though.

I agree to some extent. Many more people use .308 in competitions than .30-06. Of course, any round can be tailored with hand-loading.

.30-06 surplus is more common on the civilian market. Honestly though, either caliber would be great in a rifle. More mil-surp bolt-actions rifles are chambered in .30-06.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

After looking at the Springfield 1903's, I think I'll just stick to a Mauser of some sort. One thing I do not like for some reason is peep sights. I don't know why but, I just don't like them and especially on Ar15's. After shooting Alan's K98, I really like those V-notch sights so I might have to go that route. I'm not really planning on using one for hunting, mainly target shooting.

 

[JoeyZ]

I like that Swiss rifle. I've never seen that style of action before, looks funky. How is that to manipulate? Is it akward?

 

[phatcyclist]

I like that Swiss rifle. I've never seen that style of action before, looks funky. How is that to manipulate? Is it akward?

There are few rifles that use a push action. Steyr-Mannlicher made a rifle in 1895 that used this action, and the Swiss used it in their 1889 service rifle for the first time. The Swiss continued to use that action for many decades afterwards, in a few redesigns of their earliest rifle. Blaser made or still does make push-action rifles in various calibers.

It's actually the easiest manually cycled bolt. You tug the handle straight back until it stops, and then forward until it stops. Minding to keep your nose and eyes away from the bolt as it comes back, you really never have to lift up to cycle the bolt. One you shoot it a few times, you get used to it.

One of the best things about the K31, is that the Swiss never made corrosive ammunition for them. The bore on mine is mint. I need to get some more brass to load, and get a good load worked out. I don't plan on shooting it all that much, as parts are nearly impossible to find, but it is fun every now and then to take it out to the range.

 

[drricktx]

Tikka---Sightron Scope

A couple of years ago my NRA Edition Weatherby rifle was stolen out of my Tahoe. My insurance reimbursed me $1800 for it. Not a bad deal considering I won it at an NRA Fundraiser. I was going to replace it with another Weatherby and my brother, who shoots in competition, talked me into looking at the Tikka T3. His shooting club disassembled one of the Tikkas and compared it to a high dollar Seiko. They mic'ed everything and found out that the components of the T3 were identical to the Seiko and costs 1/3 less. So I bought the Tikka in the .270 WSM and it has been a tremendous rifle. It shoots tight groups...tighter than my eyes are able to hold....and the WSM has knocked down every deer I've ever shot with it. I'd love to have a nice wooden stock instead of the synthetic...but for the price...it's excellent.

BTW, I topped it off with a Sightron Scope and I'm also very impressed by this brand. Every bit as good as a Leoupold or Nikon for much, much less money. Has anyone else ever used a Sightron?

 

[phatcyclist]

A couple of years ago my NRA Edition Weatherby rifle was stolen out of my Tahoe. My insurance reimbursed me $1800 for it. Not a bad deal considering I won it at an NRA Fundraiser. I was going to replace it with another Weatherby and my brother, who shoots in competition, talked me into looking at the Tikka T3. His shooting club disassembled one of the Tikkas and compared it to a high dollar Seiko. They mic'ed everything and found out that the components of the T3 were identical to the Seiko and costs 1/3 less. So I bought the Tikka in the .270 WSM and it has been a tremendous rifle. It shoots tight groups...tighter than my eyes are able to hold....and the WSM has knocked down every deer I've ever shot with it. I'd love to have a nice wooden stock instead of the synthetic...but for the price...it's excellent.

BTW, I topped it off with a Sightron Scope and I'm also very impressed by this brand. Every bit as good as a Leoupold or Nikon for much, much less money. Has anyone else ever used a Sightron?

That's really good to hear. I've been astounded with it since I pulled it out of the box. I don't doubt yours is great. I'm limited by a 4x scope at the moment, but that is more than good enough for deer at 200 yards. At some point I will be looking to get something better, so I will check that scope brand out before I make any decisions.

 

[texaspartsman]

The cream in my collection is a Blaser LRS 338 Lapua. Runs almost $5 to pull the trigger with factory Lapua ammo. Ouch. Nice thing is that if you miss you know who to blame. Did a 3 shot 300 yard group one day that you could cover with a quarter- and it was in a blowing wind. My 308 was almost a 8 inches to the right at the same distance and I couldn't make it group (Steyr SSG). The first time I took it to the range I kept losing the second shot. I would walk down range only to find one hole. Then I realised it was stacking them so tight I couldn't tell there was two rounds in the same hole, even after the 100 yard walk. And I am just an average shot. A Blaser can turn anyone into a marksman. The 338 Lapua is the perfect round when something absolutely has to have a hole put in it, no matter the distance or cost. $5 Beats having to take a second shot.

 

[Texas1911]

The cream in my collection is a Blaser LRS 338 Lapua. Runs almost $5 to pull the trigger with factory Lapua ammo. Ouch. Nice thing is that if you miss you know who to blame. Did a 3 shot 300 yard group that you could cover with a quarter- and it was in a 20 mile and hour wind. My 308 was almost a 8 inches to the right at the same distance and I couldn't make it group (Steyr SSG). 338 Lapua is the perfect gun when it absolutely has to have a hole put in it, expecially at long range. I keep 3 of them. $5 Beats having to take a second shot at something running.

The Brits have used the caliber as a sniper round for a good while now. It certainly has power, and it certainly has good ballistics.