Originally posted by Elysian
I'm gonna use the rifle for target shooting and as a collector's item of sorts.
There is something you should understand, there are a couple categories of firearms. Those that are shooters and those that are collectors. If you want a collectors item, don't shoot it when you get it assuming it's unfired, the value drops significantly as soon as you start to shoot it.
If you want a shooter just get something in a caliber you like that shoots well for you. If it's something that has some say historical value, get a battle rifle of some kind. Think Enfield, Springfield, Garand, Mauser or even a Nagant for high power. If it's medium then a M1 Carbine or clone will work. I would think that any of the bolt actions would be OK even in the peoples republik of kaliphornia.