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budget LR rifle $350

sapper9

Private
Minuteman
Jun 24, 2012
9
0
34
oregon usa
Took the challenge from a friend. Said he couldn't built a accurate reliable long range gun for less than $700 set out to prove him wrong. For a total of just under $350 its well worth it.
1938 Mosin nagant.
Cp. 4-16x40 illuminated mil dot scope.
Bi pod.
Ati mount/ bolt kit
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sapper9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Cp. 4-16x40 illuminated mil dot scope.
</div></div>
Is that one of them walmart specials?
wink.gif
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

So where's the documentation that proves the whole "accurate and reliable" part?
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wfjames22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So where's the documentation that proves the whole "accurate and reliable" part? </div></div>

I buy that it's reliable.

Accurate, and with what ammo??

OP, post a ~1moa 5x5 target (a flier or two understandable), and a full-travel scope tracking test target... Then I'll buy it.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

How exactly is a mosin nagant long range accurate? Do they even make match grade 762x54? How close to being a smoothbore is it?
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

I wasnt questioning the reliability of the Mosin as much as the scope.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wfjames22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wasnt questioning the reliability of the Mosin as much as the scope. </div></div>Same here!
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

So you put one of the cheapest scopes on a $130 rifle and call it a budget long range rifle? Better lucky with a stevens 200.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

LOL, too funny to post , LOL
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

First, what is your friend considering "long range"? I know that might be a stupid question, but I used to think 500 yards was long range, now.....not so much.

I like Mosin's. They are definitely rugged, but the ones I've shot have never been overly accurate.....probably because they were surplus pieces of crap.

I would have sprung for a used SPS Varmint and bought an okay scope.
If you buy all used stuff, you would probably be surprised what you could end up with.

He said $700....I'd use every drop of it since he said "accurate" and "reliable" in the same sentence.


I like these challenges like this. It proves what CAN be done.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

I would start with a Swiss K31. Mine will shoot MOA with surplus GP11 ammo. This is common with these rifles if you get one with a good bore. And the 7.7x55mm round will certainly reach out past 500 yards with no problem.

I put a 2.5x Burris Scout scope on mine. Not really suitable for precision work at the 500 yard line...lol.

They make inexpensive mounts that let you put a standard optic on the rifle, but it mounts it off the bore axis. I chose to go with a Scout scope because I don't plan to need more than 2.5x (but man do I need that 2.5x - I simply can't see the front sight with these old eyes...
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

Yes its a cheap walmart scope and yes its a 80yr old surplus rifle. But after a bit of bedding and Mic the bore using .312 matchking sp bt 195's it will constantly hit on target @ 600 and probably farther. So accurate relative to price yes. And believe it or not the scope is very consistent and yet to loose zero. So in the grand scheme I believe its accurate enough. And reliable... it currently holds the record for longest service life for a reason. Own several and yet to have any failures at all
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

I love my mosin and have an over the reciever ATI mount with a cheap scope. At 300 yards (longest distance my range has) I'm getting just over MOA groups with match grade ammo.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sapper9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">it currently holds the record for longest service life </div></div>Are you talking about the scope or the mosin? I never doubted the mosin It's the POS scope I would worry about!
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

I would love to see some groups from that rifle. Mosins are far from accurate, reliable yes accurate no. They have had a long service life because any 3rd world dirt farmer could use one and they were cheap to acquire for 3rd world resistance groups that couldn't afford Ak's.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

Theres that word build again. Did you mean find? Putting a scope on a rifle ain't a build
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

1 moa @ 300 ? Not bad. Next chance I get for some trigger time ill post my target
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sapper9</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Next chance I get for some trigger time ill post my target </div></div>Pics or it didn't happen!
smile.gif
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

MOA at 300yds is damn fantastic for a stock Mosin, if you ask me. I'd like to see some groups. Please tell me there are more than 3 holes per target.

How did you attach the bipod?
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

seems to me that there are a bunch of cry babys here that a cheap walmart product actualy worked for some one. i wont put one on my mosin but if it works stop bashing the man. 2nd, if you put a price vs distance. mosin wins every time. for what you pay for it you get a long way out. no aint hitting 1000 yards on a dime. but it did cost under 300 bucks walmart scope and all.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

Mosins can be accurate. There are a couple companies making factory "match" 54r and a couple more that make dies so the ammunition isn't holding it back. I've seen bedded, sporterized mosins with quality optics and stock barrels shoot well but they had more than $350 invested.

I won't fall on one side of the fence or the other here but the weapon has it's place. It's certainly not something I'd shoot 1k precision matches with but it's a fun range gun and they hold their own in the vintage service matches.

Just shoot the thing and have fun. Who cares about the numbers?
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

Im not trying to say my $350 gun will out shoot a 338 lapua. There's just a lot if people out there that think it takes high dollar name brand parts to be effective at mid ranges. Don't know why everyone needs to argue. If
you don't like it don't comment. But thanks to those that do enjoy guns and not so much drama
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

Sure technically it wasn't a full build. But I made my own stock. Modified the bolt aswell as polished. Mounted scope and bipod. All I didn't do was bore work.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

The bipod was a swivle stud mount. I removed the stud clamps and wood screwed it to the stock..... budget install but its tight. Can someone tell me how to upload pics?
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sapper9</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Can someone tell me how to upload pics? </div></div>
tinypic.com Be sure to size it for the message boards so it's not to big. Then copy and paste the link for forums and message boards to the reply.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

I would love to see some pics of these accurate groups. Every time my local gun shop gets the shipment of Mossins in for $100 a piece I go check them out. I just can't let myself buy a rifle that looks like it was machined with a file. Even for $100 I would rather put it towards good ammo for my other guns.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sapper9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can someone tell me how to upload pics? </div></div>

Host them at tinypic or photobucket etc. etc.. Once you have them hosted, then come back here and choose the enter an image icon. It is the 4th one over from the left when posting a reply.

Or you can manually enter


I think that the Mosin is a great rifle to have in your collection. I keep a couple and have one as a truck gun. Looking forward to your pictures.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SCARbliss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How exactly is a mosin nagant long range accurate? Do they even make match grade 762x54? How close to being a smoothbore is it? </div></div>I believe either Hornady or Black Hills made a run of some 7.62x54r Match for the military a few years ago, but I don't know about now. I know Winchester loads for the Mosin, but I have no experience with their rounds. I believe they are 180 grainers.

I usually shoot Brown Bear 174 grain or Sellier & Bellot 180 grain stuff out of my Mosins. I still can't get any better than 2 MOA, and they have very good bores. A scope would probably help shrink those groups by 1/2" or so though.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hyoslvr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
2z9k6zb.jpg
</div></div>Nice. What do you have as a scope mount set up on that rifle?
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

Not my rifle, I was helping sapper with the pic. I never doubted his mosin, I just never have liked those CenterPoint scopes. But each to his own.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sapper9</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Im not trying to say my $350 gun will out shoot a 338 lapua. There's just a lot if people out there that think it takes high dollar name brand parts to be effective at mid ranges. Don't know why everyone needs to argue. If
you don't like it don't comment. But thanks to those that do enjoy guns and not so much drama </div></div>

It's hard to argue with a weapon that has the merit and track record the mosin does. I hate to bring up Vasily Zaitsev cuz his story has gone so Hollywood but what he was able to accomplish with a mosin and primitive scope can't be understated enough. Sure it's outmatched by modern equipment and technology but it still holds some validity today.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hyoslvr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not my rifle, I was helping sapper with the pic. I never doubted his mosin, I just never have liked those CenterPoint scopes. But each to his own. </div></div>Oh, OK. Thanks anyway.
 
Re: budget LR rifle $350

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THEBEARRRRRRJEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's hard to argue with a weapon that has the merit and track record the mosin does. I hate to bring up Vasily Zaitsev cuz his story has gone so Hollywood but what he was able to accomplish with a mosin and primitive scope can't be understated enough. Sure it's outmatched by modern equipment and technology but it still holds some validity today. </div></div>

Its really hard to argue that point. I've just always wondered what kind of accuracy the mosins are capable of getting. On Zaitsev's wiki page (not saying its accurate) he is credited with taking out 3 German soldiers at 800 meters in a window with 3 shots. While I am in now way saying that didn't occur I just wonder if it can be replicated. Shooting half of a man sized target with iron sights at 800 yards is more than impressive shooting. Its damn amazing IMHO.