In time i would like to expand my 'arsenal' to Lee Enfield SMLE Springfield 1903 Kar98k Mosin Nagant (with PU scope) Although, i am unsure as to which one would be the best to buy. So, im asking the shooters amongst you, which would be the 'best' to buy for a newcomer? NOTE: I dont intend on getting any smaller calibre, iv been shooting shotguns for a while now, and being a 6ft3in rugby player i think im capable of withstanding the recoil So yeah, which would be best? Things like easiest to use, easiest to strip/maintain and clean, general price and abundance of ammunition, and just in general the best one to get used to owning and using bolt action rifles Regards Rob
If cost would be a concern, the Mosin-Nagent would probably be the least expensive. You can find them for under $200. In the United States, if you are not a reloader, 30-06 ammo for the Springfield 1903 would be easiest to obtain (and would also be the least expensive). Plus, you can get 30-06 ammo in bullet weights ranging from 100 grains up to 220 grains. The ammo for the other rifles would probably be a little more expensive, a little harder to find, and limited in bullet weights.
Also if you are in the US there are still some ex military rifles available if you join a gun club. Not sure how much but they used to be a pretty good deal. Some were reworked I believe so that they are good shooters. Others here probably know more about this than I do. Many of the Kar98 available are not German made. If this makes a difference to you then make sure you find out ahead of time. Some of the other manufactures have pretty good reps some don't if I recall correctly. Get a copy of Shotgun news. This will give you an idea what things are going for. Gun shows are also useful if anywhere close to you. If you find it in shotgun news you can generally get a dealer to order it for you for a reasonable fee.
Check on online auction service like gunbroker.com too. You can get an idea of what price range these rifles are going for. I would throw another rifle of this era out to you to consider. That would be the 1896 Swedish Mauser in 6.5 mm X 55. Well made and finished, accurate, and very pleasant to shoot
If you are going to reload your ammo, be aware that the 303 has a reputation of streatching the cases which requires trimming them to size and considerably shortens the case life. The last time I looked there were only two .311 diameter bullet weights available. A 150 gr and a round nose 180 designed for brush shooting. Finding any surplus ammo for the gun is rather hard now a days. I've had mine for almost 50 years and still shoot it on occasion.
As you may see there is a wealth of good rifles described. So I will take advantage of the chance to tell you about one that I have from your selection. I have a low serial number 1903 Springfield and it is a great deal different from later springfields that followed that became rushed in production for war efforts. The early Springfield is not unlike the appearance of an earlier Krag rifle (that is color of steel and bluing) which our military used. There are statements it may not have as fine a quality of metal as the later Springfields but the one I have has shot factory loads for a long time and still works well. The most noticeable difference for me is that it is dead on accurate and the bolt is good and tight and actually feels like it is on ball bearings when you slide it like later fine quality rifles that have been made in later years.I was told once that the steel used in the Krags and early Springfields was a mix that enabled some natural lubrication for the moving parts and I tend to believe that having used this bolt for so many years. I don't know about others but this type rifle as described is becoming very hard to find these days on the market. They can be found but never very reasonably by my standards.
If you aren't a hand loader, the .06 and Mauser "8"x57mm rounds will always be around and easily found. The Mosin-Nagant 7.62x54R (rimmed) and Lee-Enfield .303 are not as easy to find, even though the ballistics of each would be a "push" as to which was better. If the actions are tight and clean, the barrels not worn out, and you like the action of each itself, then it is a personal choice. The Lee-Enfield is the fastest "bolt action" of the bunch, but because of it's locking lug placement is easier to cycle rounds through. The system doesn't seem to interfere with accuracy in most normal ranges. It is really a choice between ammo supply, your "wallet", and your decision as to which you want to have in your "group".
Oh I forgot to mention I also found a "Turkish" mauser that is said to be of much lesser quality than the most popular K98 mausers. It shoots the same ammo and some are available in like new condition for example I bought mine for about $50.00 and it does shoot well but had to have sights adjusted to get on target. After sight adjustment it is a very good shooter and I enjoy shooting it very much. This possibly would be the absolute cheapest way to get into a military 8 MM that is fun and shoots the standard ammo well. I do warn you on all old guns it pays to look them over well and take an experienced gun owner with you to look them over if you do not have experience with these old guns. Two heads when purchasing older guns are always better than one.
Stay away from the LE's they are nothing but trouble, here is a picture of the some of the last milsurps I bought. I bought the Polish only because it was near perfect, LEs because I wanted some more. Where do you live? KTK
I would take the Lee Enfield first. It isnt problematic to reload, good components are at Huntingsport in Luxembourg. I have two of them and use my PRVI cases since 4 years. Stretching is only after the first time and then you need only to necksize them and after 5 or 6 times set the shoulder back with a special die. The next one would be the Springfield. But if you want to start cheap take the MN over here you can have them from 130 Euros up to 250 Euros for extremly good ones. Scoped ones are expensive, its easier to by the scope and the mount extra. But beware of cheap alloy faked scopes! Regards Ulrich
M1903 A3 Springfield would be my first choice; but, that's because I live in the States and 30-'06 ammo is cheap and plentiful. I would advise you to start hand loading for which ever rifle you get. It doesn't do you much good to have a great rifle if you can't afford to shoot it. Reloading for bolt action rifles is very simple and inexpensive.
Like anything, "it depends." I would offer the following opinion from a US-based owner/shooter: (I did not address the Kar as I have no direct experience shooting one.) Rating: Best Quality: 1903, closely followed by SMLE; then MN a distant third Cost of the Ammo: MN Cheap; 1903 so-so; SMLE ($pricey$) Cost of weapon acquisition: MN Cheap; SMLE (med); 1903 ($pricey$) Parts Availability: MN (it's disposable - get a new one); SMLE; then 1903 "Fun Factor": Making lots of noise with a WWI/II surplus rifle?!? - it's a TIE!! I would also offer up for consideration a P17 bolt action as an alternative to the 1903; there were more of them made, and I believe that you can get them chambered in .303 Brit if that ammo is cheaper where you reside. There was a glut of surplus Pakistani .303 circulating a couple of years back but it seems to be gone.
