Time To Buy A Rifle Soon...

N

Nightcrawler

New member
Well, folks, I'm in college here, and there's a range in the area, though I don't think I'll be doing much shooting this winter (you NEVER do much shooting in the winter in the UP).

At any rate, I am currently rifle-less. However, my financial aid money came through, and my semester is covered. I should be able to scrape together funds to purchase a good quality rifle, though I am unsure what I want to get.

Here are a few ideas:

Orion 7 Select Grade M1 Garand

Custom-Built (Randy Rock) HK91 or FAL

DS Arms Authentic Austrian FAL

Marlin 1895G (doubtful, due to ammo expense)



None of these rifles are inexpensive. Now, I may decide to be frugal and just get a Marlin .30-30. That would be a fine rifle, really. BUT, let us assume that I'm not going to be frugal and am going to get a "nice rifle". What do y'all think I ought to get? Just looking for opinions, here. There are things I'm not interested in, though.

-Ruger, Remington, Savage, etc. Bolt-Action Rifle (not my bag)
-AR-15 of any variety
-AK of any variety, unless it's .308
-SKS (may as well get an AK, they're easier to find nowadays)

And I'm going to say that in the MOST EXTREME circumstance, involving me saving up for months and maybe taking out a loan for the purpose, about $1,000 is the absolute maximum I can spend. Like I said, I'll most likely be frugal and go with the .30-30, but who knows...if my Air Force survivor benefit money ever comes through (who knows, what with what happened Tuesday) then I'll have some extra money in my pocket. Now, I do have other expenses, BUT...I am not going to wait until I'm all done with school to buy a rifle. For one, I'll probably be here at NMU for six years. After that, it's law school. I'm going to be in school for a long time, and a man needs a rifle, you know? I think my fellow TFLers will understand, even if most don't.

My taste in guns: Champagne taste, Kool-Aid budget. LOL *sigh*
 
I'd also recommend the FAL, since I'm shopping for one myself. If money's tight, you can get a CMP Garand for $500 I believe, but the FAL is arguably a superior battle rifle. Also, I believe parts and magazines for the FAL are less expensive than H&K 91 parts.

I'm planning to hit the local gun shows before going the FFL route. Maybe I'll find a good deal on a used rifle, and with a private transfer there's no paper trail. You never know when these weapons may be banned.
 
Here’s another vote for the FAL, with a strong honorable mention to the CMP Garand.
On a tight budget, the Garand is a fantastic deal.
For the price of a DSA FAL you can get a CMP Danish Garand, one hundred enbloc clips, a thousand rounds of surplus ’06 and a .22lr to shoot real cheap.
Right now the FAL magazines are incredibly inexpensive (DSA for Steyr $5.00 used in great condition), and surplus 762X51 is quite a bit less than 30-06.
The FAL is also easier to ‘scope than the HK and WAY easier than a Garand.
For sheer shootability, I’d rate them 1) Garand 2)FAL 3)HK.
 
I'd have to ditto on the FAL as well. On second thought, however, a Garand might be just the ticket for a solid American rifle.

If it's going to stay iron sighted, grab a Garand, bunch of clips and some good ol black tips.
 
The old M1 rifle can out shoot most H&K 91's and give any FAL a run for your money. If you buy a less expensive M1 you can later
upgrade your rifle with a little (video) know how and you can store loaded en-bloc clips indefinatly without loss of usefulness.
another point is that an M1 has no detatchable mag to loose or get banned.
 
You can get a good M1 Garand for $400 plus shipping from http://www.odcmp.com. These were returned from Denmark. Mine came with a new VAR barrel and shoots great. You'll have enough left over for some good thermal underwear, and shoot through the winter in Michigan. The FAL looks nice too, I just haven't shot one.

Regards.
 
I love my tack-driving FAL (although I have been having unwanted full-auto burst problems from it lately). I always thought I'd get my first love, an HK, first, but FALs are so cheap now how can one pass them up? In a couple years, you might kick yourself for not picking one up while they were cheap.

HK's have always been expensive, and I'm sure they'll stay that way. Plenty of time to save up my pennies for one later.
 
If you decide to go the FAL route, I would suggest that you lurk on the FAL files for 3 or 4 days, then contract a smith to assemble and refinish a kit rifle for you. Barring an act of god, you will end up with a truly fine rifle for the dealer price of a DSA kit gun.

Best of luck to you at NMU. How/where will the rifle reside, if I may be so bold? Campus storage?
 
rifle residence

Either campus weapons locker (can be accessed 24/7, and it's free) with my shotgun or at home. I only live two hours away, so I can go home on any weekend.
 
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