Never Satisfied............and...........

[libertyman777]

..........it's time to face the facts.

I've done a lot of selling, buying and trading of rifles in the past couple of years. And in doing so, I've had the pleasure of owning, shooting and reloading for some mighty fine rifles and glass to go on them. Nothing at the very top end but as nice as I could afford, including but not limited to a Savage 10 VLP, Steyr SSG and a couple of Remington 5r rifles. Glass has been everything from Vortex Viper 6.5-20, Sightron SIII 6-24, NF 5.5-22x50, USO 3.2-17 Tpal, and a USO ST-10. Currently I'm running a 5R with a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 Mildot. The rifle has had some aftermarket work and is boringly accurate. It's printing .6-.7" with a middle of the road hunting load, Hornady 165 BTSP over 44 grains of Varget, Federal Brass and CCI 200 primers. I actually had some of these loaded up from another rifle and found they worked very well in this rifle. I just know it can be improved upon with a heavier projectile like the 175 SMK.

But this brings me to my epiphany. I started out several years ago buying Milsurp rifles. Loved the personality of each rifle, whether or not it had seen combat, the history of the design and bringing one to it's fullest potential. But eventually I sold most everything off to own one really nice, modern long range bolt gun. It was fun but having done so, I find myself missing the quality of ownership that comes with old military rifles.

So, I'm headed back to Milsurp land. I'm interested in German K98s, Finn M39s, M1 Garands, Swiss K31s, Swedish CG 63s, etc. I'll post sometime this weekend. Here's what will be available.

It's been threaded 5/8x24 and fitted with a APA Little Bastard brake, a NF 20 minute rail, the bolt handle and trigger work completed by Short Action Customs.

I'll snap some pics in it's current trim with the Viper later.

Paul

 

[mtechgunman]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

Sounds like your "epiphany" is more like you just getting tired of one thing and wanting to go back to another.

Why not just keep the 5R and save some money for the milsurp rifles? That is a nice 5R by the way.

 

[seta8967]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

have to agree with mtechgunman, the grass is always greener on the other side. I would keep your accurate rifle and save up for a nice k98 or garand. I find myself split between shooting my mp15 and m1a and pistol all the time back home. Shooting does get boring if you don't have a wrench to throw in it once in awhile.

 

[neeley205]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

I'm with mtech on this one. If you owned at least a couple good bolts, selling down to just one would make sense. But if you sell them all off, I'm willing to bet one day not too far away your going to be wishing you had a solid bolt just for the sake of having one really accurate rifle. I too share the love of military surp rifles that started with an heirloom 03-A3 passed to me by my grandfather. I now own many old toys of the bolt and semi variety. But while I do still go to the range and leave the SPR at home sometimes, I do have a need to shoot that can only be filled by a quality accurate bolt.

If you know what you want, you know what you want. But id put money on you regreting it. Good luck and have a great time with whichever path you choose.

Seta beat me to it. I'm too slow typing on my damn phone.

 

[vman]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

I like to buy a rifle and complete it... If at the end im not happy with it I will sell it.

I think taking your time at the start and chosing something that you will deffinately love is the most important part.

I have one friend that has over 15 rifles. Whats the point? Especially if you dont have a story to tell for each of them.

 

[mtechgunman]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

Having a lot of rifles may not be for everyone. But we're not talking about a lot of rifles. We're talking about one precision bolt action to compliment the milsurp rifles OP intends to buy.

 

[mtechgunman]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

OP,

I think if the 5R was something a little more basic I might sing a little different tune. But you've got a a rifle that is set up very well and it's not like you can walk in a gun shop and replace it.

If it was a basic SPS or something, that might be a little different, but in the end, I think a good solid modern bolt action will go along nicely with some of the rifles you want to buy.

 

[edward r homeyer]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

I understand, I found a K98 in Sammara. Must have come off the eastern front. It had a hooded front sight, winterized trigger guard and cleaning rod. With Chech 8mm ammo it would still hit a 12" plate at 400meters 3 out of 5 times. Fun gun to shoot. Gave it away before I left though. Oh well.

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

I can sympathize with wanting what you want as that is part of life. But, I have different type of rifles that fit my different tastes at different times. I went through an AR phase, a bolt gun phase, an assault rifle phase and now a custom bolt rifle phase. I kept all the rifles, or most of them, because I come back to the phases over time and go out and shoot what I am feeling at the time. I know there are lots of, "I will have one nice rifle and that will be it." That just doesn't fit my changing of my moods which happens often. I say keep what you have and buy the military stuff that you want. You will come back to the 5R in time and if you sell it you will wish you hadn't and probably buy another one later.

This site is full of changing directions people - just look at the for sale boards.

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mtechgunman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sounds like your "epiphany" is more like you just getting tired of one thing and wanting to go back to another.

Why not just keep the 5R and save some money for the milsurp rifles? That is a nice 5R by the way. </div></div>

Yes, there is some truth to that and for a while that's all I thought there was to it.

The part I left out (and what really made me realize this) was what happened the last few years with airguns. I got involved with adult air rifles. I started with piston powered rifles (HW 77, Air Arms TX200, etc.) and then moved into precharged rifles. My first was a .22 caliber hunting rifle. It was hard hitting, accurate but I thought I had to have more so off I went. I tried, the top of the line "everything". Air Arms EV2, Theoben MFR, Air Arms MPR FT, Theoben SLR 98, just to mention a few. Glass was all top of the like FT glass for air rifles but I found myself gravitating back to the hunting rifles in .22 with lower powered optics. Which lead me to the EDgun. While not cheap, it is an AWESOME hunting platform. I've also departed from normal "airgun" hunting/shooting glass in favor of a fixed 4x, non-AO scope, which is simply an IOR 4x24 LPS T2 that was taken off a PSL and modified to fit a picatinny rail. It took me a few years but I'm finally where I want to be.

EDgun

I've pick up another hard hitting hunter since then that I'm still working with, it's an Air Force Talon in .20. Not a bullpup but very versatile. I'm planning on a .25 barrel and 70 grain slugs. Should give me 140 fpe or so. Much fun.

Had I not done this with my airguns, I don't think I would be here with the rifle. I will consider all the advice.

Thanks guys and all input is much welcomed.

Paul

 

[Natty Bumpo]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

I don't know what the reg's are in Alabama, but in Missouri, you can hunt deer with air rifles. They have to be a minimum of .40 caliber. You can find such guns at www.quackenbushairguns.com. They cost about the same as a new, no frills 700.

p.s. - I have no experience with big airguns.

 

[mackdrvr]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

I kinda have one of each. 700 bolt gun, S&W AR15, Springfield M1A, Winchester 22, and a 870 shotgun. What ever mood I'm in I take that piece to the range. I like variety.

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Natty Bumpo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't know what the reg's are in Alabama, but in Missouri, you can hunt deer with air rifles. They have to be a minimum of .40 caliber. You can find such guns at www.quackenbushairguns.com. They cost about the same as a new, no frills 700.

p.s. - I have no experience with big airguns. </div></div>

I'd have one if I had a large enough air supply. You only get 3-5 shots per fill and that'll go through a tank of scuba air pretty quick. My rifles get 40-50 shots per fill.

The big bores are cool.

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mackdrvr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I kinda have one of each. 700 bolt gun, S&W AR15, Springfield M1A, Winchester 22, and a 870 shotgun. What ever mood I'm in I take that piece to the range. I like variety. </div></div>

I understand that. We have an AR, I have the shotgun my Dad hunted with when I was a kid and I picked up a Mossberg 500 with a rifled slug barrel that will shoot the lights out. I knew AR's from the service and everyone needs at least one IMO. Same with shotguns.

I went through 4 semi auto pistols before I settled on the Sig 226 in 9mm.

Did the same thing with .22 rifles. I've owned Ruger 10/22s, CZ 452s (which are great rifles) but the best I've found thus far that is the Izhmash Biathlon Basic. My daughter has a .22, I have the one from when I was a kid and I'll pick up one for my son soon.

So I guess I didn't include the whole story. But suffice to say that when something grabs me, I keep it. I've had my Dad's shotgun for 20 years, same with a shotgun my wife bought me when we married. Won't sell my son's AR or my daughter's .22. My Biathlon Basic is here as long as I'm breathing. I'm 90% on the Sig. The Mossberg is a keeper. It makes a transition from "simply something of value, i.e. wood and steel that is equal to some amount of money" to "something of value that I'm not selling".

I just haven't found this in a precision bolt gun yet. Perhaps I need to go up to an AIAW, I don't know. But I really enjoyed getting that M39 or K98 or K31 in the mail, cleaning it, reloading for it and tweaking it to it's potential.

 

[mackdrvr]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

You mentioned that you were in the service. Why not get the rifle that your branch uses? It'll be a military rifle that will be a precision rig at the same time. I was in the Corps, and want a GAP M40A3 real bad. I just gotta come up with the dough for a full spec build.

 

[JFComfort]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

That is a crazy ass air rifle, keep the 5R.

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mackdrvr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You mentioned that you were in the service. Why not get the rifle that your branch uses? It'll be a military rifle that will be a precision rig at the same time. I was in the Corps, and want a GAP M40A3 real bad. I just gotta come up with the dough for a full spec build. </div></div>

I be as you. Can't run a spec anything. Did my 4 in the Corps. Maybe a M40. I'd have to rebarrel, find a stock and repo scope.

But along those lines, a Garand would fit the bill. Stock would be like it was carried and a rebarrel with a M1D barrel and repo scope.........

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JFComfort</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is a crazy ass air rifle, keep the 5R. </div></div>

Hiya Mr. Comfort,

Thanks for the compliment. I pulled it out today. Me and the kids did some plinking out back at some stumps in the pond. I'm still learning how the BDC correlates to the airgun but we were able to make on call shot from 80-140 yards. The stumps were anything from oil can sized down to salt shaker size. Much fun.

I don't know about the 5R yet. It's definitely a machine.

 

[JFComfort]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

Great shooting! Some of my friends have nice air rifles but I have never seen a rifle like yours!

Screw air soft, an air rifle that can harvest a deer is the way to go!

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Never Satisfied............and...........

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JFComfort</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Great shooting! Some of my friends have nice air rifles but I have never seen a rifle like yours!

Screw air soft, an air rifle that can harvest a deer is the way to go! </div></div>

I know that's right. Do a search on Edgun. They are imported from Russian with a waiting list. I lucked out and found one used.

This rifle is accurate enough and powerful enough to take most anything behind the ear at bow hunting distances if pressed into service. Cheaper and safer to shoot in the backyard than a .22.