Oh man I want this gun

[nirvana]

Some of my old squaddies (I call them my old squaddies since I haven't played since december) Are ex-military and have access to an acronym that escapes me at the moment.

It's basically a stockpile of Garands, and many other different service rifles that can be bought by the "now civilian/ex- military". Sure someone will chime in with what that particular place is. Only a few located throughout the nation if my memory serves me. Ex-Military types have better access to it than that civilian population, but there are a few ways in as a civilian. Might be a lotta work, but to see some of the Garands these guys bought...man...beautiful pieces of work.

Rstel, Balls, where are you?!?! 

I almost want to say it's called the CMP....Civilian Marksmanship Program....someone correct me on this please.

You're correct sir, http://www.thecmp.org/

[1pLUs44]

Why, if you want a hunting rifle where you will be making long shots... Get a 1903.

Was reading this book called "doughboys" about the Americans in WWII, talks about how some American soldier saw a German Machinegun unit of 7, shot 3 in the head at 700 yards, and the rest turned tail.

 

[Maverick]

So you suggest I get a .308 then? The only reason I was going to get a 270 was because my dad has 2 270s and that way we can have ammo for each.

The idea of common ammo is nice but so is a bit of variety. That doesn't mean each rifle will shoot as well with the same ammo either. Besides the .270 wasn't listed as available in that rifle list you had. The .308 is very common caliber ammo itself and has tons of options for loads.

[RipChord929]

I believe the Savage 111, is the short action version of the 110.. So you won't find it chambered for any "full length cartridges"...
Good choice Spike, the Savage actions are smooth, and quick.. A little loose as compared to others, but thats where the quickness
comes from.. Accuracy is good as well.... .308winnie is your best choice, IMO.... Because of the easy availability of match grade
bullets and ammo... And you are only giving up approx 100 or 200 fps to a .30/06.. Damn good cartridge overall...

I wouldn't hunt Elk or Moose with it, but it'll do anything else very well...

Good shootin
Be safe

RC

[mtnman]

I've got a .270, and can't imagine a better "general" rifle caliber for deer or antelope, and it's great on elk too if you take reasonable range shots on a broadside animal.  The .270 is a very common caliber, and is readily available anywhere ammo is sold.  I can buy ammo here in Wisconsin, and buy identical replacement ammo anywhere when I head out west for antelope, mule deer, or elk.  It's arguably a bit light for elk and moose by today's standards, but it wasn't so long ago that it was considered perfectly adequate for anything that walked in North America.  I've never tried moose with mine, but wouldn't feel under-gunned if I did.  Poke a hole through their lungs, and they die...

If you want to load your own ammo, the 270 has a huge variety of possibilities, right up there with the 30-06.

Ballistically, the 270 shoots a bit "flatter" than the 30-06, with a bit more speed, and with a bit less energy.  At 400 yds, the 270 has about 6" less drop than a 308 or 30-06, and has a definate energy advantage over the 308.

I've always been a die-hard bolt action rifle shooter as well.  It's reliable, and accurate.  I've seen too many auto's get stuck when used in dusty conditions, or when oiled too much.  The bolt may be a bit slower to fire the second shot, but with a bolt the second shot generally isn't needed anyway.
For the money, I like the Winchester Model 70.  Bought mine new for less than 400, and dropped a 200 dollar scope on it.  It'll shoot 2-2.5" groups at 200yds all day long with factory ammo, and I shoot at the range with it out to 500yds.  In my younger days, I've used it for single-shot kills on antelope at 450yds, and on deer at slightly over 600yds (those were with very accurate hand-loads).  I don't really view hunting the same as I did back then, and have shifted to hunting with raptors and flintlock rifles for the challenge.  I still drag the 270 out each year for some "grocery shopping" hunts (we eat a ton of venison each year), but I don't really enjoy the ease with which it harvests game anymore.  I use the 270 for "shooting" stuff, and the flintlock for "hunting" stuff.  

That said, my kids and wife love shooting the 270 as well, since the recoil is so reasonable.  Come deer season, it's the caliber they'll be using... (at least until they switch to muzzleloaders, hehe!)

[Spikes]

The idea of common ammo is nice but so is a bit of variety. That doesn't mean each rifle will shoot as well with the same ammo either. Besides the .270 wasn't listed as available in that rifle list you had. The .308 is very common caliber ammo itself and has tons of options for loads.

.270 win is available.

I believe the Savage 111, is the short action version of the 110.. So you won't find it chambered for any "full length cartridges"...
Good choice Spike, the Savage actions are smooth, and quick.. A little loose as compared to others, but thats where the quickness
comes from.. Accuracy is good as well.... .308winnie is your best choice, IMO.... Because of the easy availability of match grade
bullets and ammo... And you are only giving up approx 100 or 200 fps to a .30/06.. Damn good cartridge overall...

I wouldn't hunt Elk or Moose with it, but it'll do anything else very well...

Good shootin
Be safe

RC

Yeah the .270 or 308 is something I'll go with for sure.

mtnman, thanks for the info. I haven't been much of a bolt person till I shot one/read about them. My dads got a muzzleloader but I haven't shot it. I was talking to someone and he suggested I wait and go to the local gun show around here, as it's huge and I might be able to find a dirt cheap gun (maybe even that R-15/R25) but I'llstill look for bolt's. He said to go on the last day later in the day since gun dealers tend to get rid of them cheaper.

I love venison too, also duck and goose and we tend to do a lot with the meat that we get.

[PFactorDave]

I picked up a Russian surplus Nagant rifle at a gun show a few years ago for $50.  Shoots straight as an arrow, if memory serves (which admittedly it may not), it shoots the same 7.62x59 that the Dragunov rifle shoots (from the OP).

If you're looking for a cheap rifle for some long range shooting, might be something to consider.

[RipChord929]

Yeah they shoot the same cartridge, but its 7.62x54R   rimmed...
LOL, I know how it is, sometimes the #'s gobbledegook mixes me up too!!

RC

[PFactorDave]

7.62x54R 

That's it, knew the x59 didn't sound right.

Thing kicks like a mule though.  When I bought it, the metal butt plate was screwed on with a single round head screw that stuck out from the very center of the rifle butt.  I got the cosmoline cleaned off of it etc and took it out to put a few rounds through it.  Probably fired it eight or ten times then had to go in the house to change clothes for some function my wife was dragging me to...  Well when I took my shirt off I discover a bunch of little slotted round screw head shaped bruises on my right shoulder. 

Needless to say I replaced the round head screw with an inset screw before taking the rifle out shooting again.

One of these days I'm going to pick up a WW2 Russian sniper scope to put on it.

[Nefarious]

I loves me some Commie Surplus... From Right to Left...

Hyman (1981)  Cool
Mosin Nagant 91/30 Izhevsk (1941)
/26\ T-53 (1955)
/26\ Sino-Soviet SKS (1956)
/26\ (1968)
/326\ (14 Million Serial)
WASR-10 (1964)
WASR-10 (1975)

[Masherbrum]

I hunt deer with a Sigarms SHR-970 (Swiss Hunting Rifle) in 30-06.   I paid $450 for it new in 1999.   The only "action" smoother than the Sig, was an $800 Weatherby.   Even then, it wasn't "that much better".   

http://www.sigsauer.com/upFiles/CmsContent/documents/OwnerManual/SHR970OM.pdf

I'd go either .308 or 30-06.    Ammo is more openly available, 7mm Mag is getting tougher.   

[Spikes]

I figured I'd just get a .308, like you said 7mm is "retired" or whatever from what I read. It may be more expensive to shoot off at nothing but it'll still have take down power. Depending on what I find at the gun show in april, I may get a semi, bolt, pump, have no idea.

[Rich46yo]

Last time I went Elk hunting I hit an Elk from about 325 away with a 225 grn Speer out of a .338 mag. The shot drifted just a tad to much to the rear. It was fatal but he was going to run for awhile, "which we didnt want cause it was near a property border".

Well off this thing goes farther and farther away and I had to wait for him to slow or stop before trying another shot. When he slowed he was so far away I had to aim about a foot and 1/2 over his shoulder compensating for the wind. That bullet from that big magnum hit him right where the neck meets the shoulder and just crumpled him down that mountain. He was so far away I had time to put my eye back on the scope after the shot to watch. And the funny thing was nobody even saw it. My guide had already left to grab a 4 wheeler.

I know the .270s and 3006s, and the like, are more then adequate but Ive seen some spectacular knock downs with the big mags.

[RipChord929]

LOL Spike, all the choices are kinda bewildering huh? It doesn't get any easier at a gun show!!!
Gun shopping is always fun?  Get whatever makes ya happy man!!! I guarantee, that you'll
get more over time... Happens every time... 1 AIN'T ENOUGH!!!

Where I live, sometimes the Elk hunker down next to my cows in the pasture, there are a few big
bulls that are hand fed, you can walk right up to them.. Wouldn't do that during the Rutt tho!!!
Herds pass thru the area regularly, along with Blacktail, Mulees, bear and cougar too... And its
open season on Coyote all year... The hunting is as good as the fishing out here!!!

Mash, I've never tried one of those rifles, but its a Sig, so It's a safe bet that its a good shooter!!
I like .338mag too, just don't own one... Don't really know why, just don't...

I'm a .30 caliber guy, always have been... But I have lots of guns, in many styles and calibers...
Its kinda necessary around here, lots of variations of terrain... On my property, on the coast,
butted right up against Oly National park, the bush is THICK, vis is very limited... So I have a
Henry Replica, in .45LC, and a Ruger .44mag semiauto, that I use for deer... A Ruger 77 stainless/
synthetic, in .300winmag, 20inch Barrel, Lyman receiver peepsight for Elk in the bush...
If I go up into the high country, I have a Rem700BDL .30/06, 3x9x44mm Burris scope for Highbuck..
And a German made Weatherby MK V Deluxe .300MAG, 4x12x50 Swarovski For Elk or Sheep..
And one I bought, just for Chits and Giggles, a .300warrior, it definitely don't make ya giggle tho!!!
Has a lazer etched buttplate, that will leave a Lazzeroni imprinted bruise in your shoulder...
Too much gun.. I've shot it a total of ten times in 5yrs.. Still have the original box of 180's, LOL!!
Its the only one I have that makes me cringe when I pull the trigger.. It destroys scopes too!!!
No matter how $good$ they are, one shot, reticle is MISSING!!! LOL!! Waste of money on that one!!!

Also a whole crowd of the black guns, military style Shotguns, AK/AR15s etc.. And Handguns comin
out my Butt!!!   My M1's and my Pops guns, family hairloom stuff...

I'm one of those guys the gungrabbers love to hate, LOL!!!

  RC

[Toof]

Not keep harping on Nagants, but they are one of the most fun to shoot "readily availble" rifle around, at least in SC. I've hit clay pigeons at 100 yards with one my buddy bought from a pawn shop for $100...using Wolf ammo, ironsights. Those steel buttplates will get you though

Wolf softpoint ammo will also tear a 3 inch wide hole into a license plate at 50 yards....hooray for new plates! 

Something about a bolt action just makes me like them even more. Especially in a heavy caliber, in an accurate rifle.