What's a fun military surplus type rifle for plinking?

I'm not much for plinkin with bolt actions so that leaves out a good many milsurp guns for me. If I was to go that route it would hands down be a "jungleized" Enfield. I also don't have any love for the russian and chinese semi's so strike #2.

First and really the only choice left for me would be M1 carbine. Wish I hadn't let my cousin talk me outta one when they were $100-$150 back in the 80's. Maybe a Garand or M14 but big and slow handling does not make a fun plinkin gun. But on the front of close but not quite.......

- older Mini 14.
- Iver Johnson .22 M1 clone
- M1 Carbine 10/22 kits.

If not stuck on the history and just want the look, feel, etc.

CB
 
Like you I am not into ruskie/chicom AKs/SKS. Can you post a pic of a "jungleized" Enfield? I searched, didn't see any pictures.
 
When you think Jungle Carbine just picture a scout rifle without the scope:
https://www.google.com/search?q=enfield+...280&bih=597
Most of those pics are of actual No. 5 Jungle carbines which are hard to come by today and a little pricey. "Jungleized" Enfields are No. 4's, 2A1's, etc. converted to look like the No. 5 carbines but the price is substantially cheaper. Personally, I'll save the money and go for the modified No. 4 or buy one myself and convert it. But watch out for the unscrupulous dealers trying to pass off fakes for originals.

CB

BTW, looked over on gunbroker and there was some .308 converts and maybe some originals in the $300-$500 range. Stand corrected, The ones that appeared to be original weren't priced all that much higher than the copies. Just search for "enfield jungle".

 
Call me crazy but I like the M1 30 cal Carbine. I reload so ammo isn't a big concern for me.

Another one is the M1 Garande.
 
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Originally Posted By: tactical assaultIts the perfect gun for 100 yards. If you run out of ammo, brake out the bayonet. Its long enough that you will only need to take 3 steps and you can finish off your target.
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I just used my bayonet last night working on my truck
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Had a buddy use it as a pry bar to manualy change gears from underneath the truck.
 
Originally Posted By: Rock KnockerOriginally Posted By: tactical assaultIts the perfect gun for 100 yards. If you run out of ammo, brake out the bayonet. Its long enough that you will only need to take 3 steps and you can finish off your target.
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I just used my bayonet last night working on my truck
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Had a buddy use it as a pry bar to manualy change gears from underneath the truck.


Touching store. You made some Russian proud.
 
Ive got a Norinco Type 56 SKS with a bell and carlson stock and a fixed 4x scope mounted and its a blast to shoot. Its pretty accurate for what it is too. Longest confirmed kill was 225 yards at a coyote. Never really shot it off the bench much but while out plinking it very rarely misses.
 
SKS is the cheap, fun for the grandchildren, way to go. Plus, it saves your barrels from wear and tear by those little ammo eaters. A couple of aftermarket Mags and a 500 rd pack of Tula for $120 and away they go. The best part is I can buy another for less than the cost of a new barrel on one of MY guns. Just one thing. They don't think it will shoot unless the bayonet is extended.


Tom
 
Those SKS's are fun. I talked a bunch of my buddies to pick them up for only $150 at Fleet Farm. A year later and the same guns were selling for $350, I harrased myself for waiting.

Cant beat the price of the ammo ether.
 
"They don't think it will shoot unless the bayonet is extended." I thought mine were the only ones like that.The youngest calls it a bannananet thing.
 
Originally Posted By: tactical assaultIts the perfect gun for 100 yards. If you run out of ammo, brake out the bayonet. Its long enough that you will only need to take 3 steps and you can finish off your target.
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Hilarious!
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Originally Posted By: tactical assaultTouching store. You made some Russian proud.

And another kicker.
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Well done sir. LMAO!!
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I have a battery of four Swiss K31's. These are like Swiss watches. They are extremely well made and shot like target rifle. Unlike the Mauser 98, which is expensive to mount scope and once it is drilled and tapped for scope mount it loses its collector value, the K31 is a breeze to mount scope and it requires no bolt bending, drilling/tapping or a new safety. They used to be $70 each about eight years ago. At the time ammo was very difficult to find. But once reloadable ammo/brass were available and shooters found out how accurate it was, price went up faster than gasoline. It is now running around $300.
The Swedish M96 and M38 Mausers are also in same category.
These two are the best bolt guns of WWII.
 
Deep down I'd like M1 Carbine, but am realizing decent ones not beat all to heck are going to be close to a grand. I was at a gunshow today and beat up ones were $800, a real nice one was $1100.

Kinda like the idea of the Ruger Mini-30 in 7.62x39. Cheap ammo. The Ruger will give me the carbine handling I'm looking for, but a new one of these is kinda pricey too ~ $700. I guess I initially thought there'd be a bunch of surplus M1's out there for a few hundred bucks. Now I know.
 
i have an smle no3 mk1, (2) 48 yugo mausers, k98 mauser, mosin nagant 44 (little gun),chinese sks. all are fun plinkers with the sks being the least accurate. my nagant is a short one, shorter than my 3030 with a lot more punch, and holy loud!!!!
 
I've narrowed my preferences down to carbine size rifle in 7.62x39 given the availability and pricing of bulk ammo. Anything out there similar to the Ruger Mini-30 carbine?
 
Originally Posted By: ChupathingyHow about a CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39?

Chupa

Interesting looking rifle! I'll keep it in mind but think I'm looking for a semi auto.
 
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