bubba'd hunting rifle

[ratherbefishin]

assuming you weren't going to alter a collector military rifle,but looking  for one that someone had already chopped-what would your choice be-the criteria being a reliable,well built, accurate hunting rifle that had ammunition readily available?Bubba'd military rifles generally sell for a fraction of collector rifles-sometimes for around $100-$150 and it seems to be represent good value-and an opportunity for the amateur to do some work and end up with a practical and functionable rifle[my first was a Lee Enfield no1 mk3]Not everybody has the funds to shell out for production rifles-I currently own a Parker Hale converted 303,a swede 6.5x55 and the latest-a Husqvarna 9.3x57

[bscman]

The Mosin Nagants are cheap, and surplus ammo is cheap and plentiful. S&B, Winchester, and others make both FMJ's and SP's.

If it were me, I'd buy an 8mm mauser...probably even a bit cheaper and easier to find ammo for. Mausers are common in the 100-200 range.
You can always true up the action and get it rebarreled later and make a SWEET shooter in just about any caliber you want.

[ratherbefishin]

Which model MOSIN NAGANT would you choose-aren't there both  Russians and Finns?And where do the Yugo's fit in?

[Aardvark]

You probably won't get a Finn very cheap..You can buy M44s all day for less than $100.They have short barrels so are easier to carry...SKS are usually around $150-...Turk Mausers are around $100 but you have a 29" barrel there.

[ratherbefishin]

if you were looking at mausers-what variation would you look for-Swede,Spanish, Turk, Argentine,Chilean,Yugo?

[single action]

My favorite is a #4 enfield. about 125.00 to 150.00 in my area. Has killed everything on the north american continent. ( or so Ive read, Ive only killed deer and coyotes with one myself.)
The M44's KICK!  Im not a expert, but the safety looks to me like it could be a bit unsafe in cold weather, though I must admit I have never personally had a problem with one, the thought of pulling back against that strong spring and twisting the safety with cold, numb, possibly gloved hands makes me kinda nervous. But other than that I think they are great guns, and I dont think there is much you could do to harm one with the exception of throwing one out of a plane onto solid rock. That MIGHT dent the stock or something. LOL

[Aardvark]

if you were looking at mausers-what variation would you look for-Swede,Spanish, Turk, Argentine,Chilean,Yugo?

Of course the Swedes are my top choice--I have 4.
The model 38 would suit your needs as it has a 23.6" barrel or a bubbaed M94 which has a 17" barrel...Price is usually $275-$300 on these...
Next would be the VZ24 Czech 8x57--24" barrel--Price around $150-$200..The Czechs made guns for almost all countries prior to 1939 when the Germans took over...Full length Model 98 action...Very good guns.
Then would come the intermediate length action M98's like the Yugo's and such commonly referred to as M48's...Price usually around $100..8x57...24" barrel...
When you start getting into the Spanish group there are some good deals out there like the M1916 which is usually converted to 7.62NATO or .308Win..Same cartridge, but keep in mind that the .308Win is a much more potent round than the 7.62 NATO..Chamber pressures on a .308Win can go up to 60,000...The M98 variety can handle it but there are some M93's that may be a bit iffy...Some of the nicer old Spanish,Argentines, etc..ar in 7x57 which is a fine round and some carbines can be found...Of this type I have 3.Dollarwise they are generally more spendy but the M1916 canbe found for around $150.

[jh45gun]

The Swede Mausers are great I have one built into a scout rifle. My other choice would be a Swiss K31. Ammo is becoming available and it is easy to scope both at the receiver and the scout set ups. Now I have had Mosins and Turks and they are a crap shoot as far as accuracy goes. It if was me I would get a Swede Mauser or a K31 Swiss. Both of them are accurate as they were taken care of. Oh some of the Swiss stocks are beat up but the bores and metal work are perfect as are the Swedes. Even a Swede number 3 will shoot rings off of most other milsurps you will encounter like the Mosins and the Turks and the Enfields.

[ratherbefishin]

the fact is-I get a lot of pleasure out of taking something discarded or  beat up,and with some inginuity and a few hours of work cleaning, sanding, filing,and refinishing, turning it into something functional and nice looking-messing around with old military rifles is something I've done since I was a kid.way back, there were full wood miltary rifles to be had for under $25,but today I would look for one someone had already ''altered''as long as the rifle itself was of good quality and bore was in good shape it is worth looking at

[EVOC ONE]

the fact is-I get a lot of pleasure out of taking something discarded or  beat up,and with some inginuity and a few hours of work cleaning, sanding, filing,and refinishing, turning it into something functional and nice looking-messing around with old military rifles is something I've done since I was a kid.way back, there were full wood miltary rifles to be had for under $25,but today I would look for one someone had already ''altered''as long as the rifle itself was of good quality and bore was in good shape it is worth looking at

I couldn't agree more.   Sporterizing military surplus rifles is a great hobby.  I've spent many enjoyable hours in the hobby room "creating" my own sporter. 

The tinkering goes the other way, as well.  I have purchase sporterized examples that were not butchered during the conversion process and have returned them to their original configuration.  The wood may not be original to the particular rifle, but the parts will most likely have matching numbers.  Something that is not always found on many of the surplus rifles on the current market.