The firearm thread

[The Pastor]

Anyone here into duck shooting?

I might be pretty keen to give it a go next season.

Do the bloody protesters get in the way much?

-Indy

we can go to that pond out side the stirks!

[Wolf]

Been doing a bit of thinking (yes, it does hurt) and come to the conclusion (largely based on a quick comparison of ammo prices) that, enamoured though I may be of the .243Win's flat trajectory and high velocity, the next rifle I get will probably be a .308.

The main reason being the old pro-9mm-pistol argument: even among the commercial brands, there is a plethora of cheap ammo to facilitate practising (and, as with the venerable 9mm, I dare say if I looked around I could probably locate military surplus ammo even cheaper).

The cheapest .243 ammo I located on the web was $29 per box of 20 - compared with (at the same place) $16 per box of 20 .308 - OK, doubtless it's crap ammo at that price (I've certainly never heard of the brand) but at $160 to put a couple of hundred rounds up the spout compared with $290 for the same amount of "cheap" .243, practice time just got a lot cheaper. (Hell, for $288, I could buy 360 rounds of the cheap 'n' crappy .308 ammo and really get some practice in, and that's assuming I don't find a supply of old military FMJ for $50 the hundred or whatever...)

I love .243, but fuck it costs a lot!

So the question then becomes: what's a good .308 to buy?

Ideally, I would like a bolt action, around 5 shots, preferably detachable-box mag and with iron sights (so I don't have to instantly shell out for some quality optics as well).

Many of the new rifles I've seen carry a heavy price tag and none seem to have iron sights so the price of the optics is either the reason for the astronomical price tag or in addition to it, depending on the rifle.

Any suggestions for make and model? Doesn't have to be a modern rifle - I owned a Mosin-Nagant and a couple of SMLEs, FFS, I don't care if it's an antique, so long as it's reliable. (A few hours with a boiling jug, some sandpaper, linseed oil and blueing compound and the "antique" would look factory-fresh anyway...)

[Indiana_Jones]

How much is ammo for a 6.5MM x 55?

Get a Swedish Mauser

-Indy

[Wolf]

How much is ammo for a 6.5MM x 55?

Get a Swedish Mauser

-Indy

I hadn't planned on buying military surplus ammo with Charlemagne's stamp on it

Seriously: what does the 6.5x55 shoot like compared with the .308 and .243? (I've fired both but not the 6.5)

[Delerium]

Recoil is between the two, shoots maybe slightly faltter than .308. Has a very high ballistic coefficient and sectional density, so it keeps on going at longer ranges and does major damage for the size of the projectile. I like 6.5x55, I also like .308. 308 is probably easier to get ammo off the shelf for.

[sAsLEX]

the next rifle I get will probably be a .308.

Dont buy one like mine....... not cheap and no iron sights


And bugger me why was there no ammo shops open on sunday that we could find! Had to practise with $100 a box ammo

[Indiana_Jones]

Here alot of good things about the .308 Mossberg 100 ATR

Cheap too.

http://www.guncity.co.nz/308-mossber...idp151552.html

-Indy

[Wolf]

And bugger me why was there no ammo shops open on sunday that we could find! Had to practise with $100 a box ammo

Ow! That's a helluvan expense for no kai in the pot!

[Indiana_Jones]

Ow! That's a helluvan expense for no kai in the pot!

I bet those bullets go where they're meant to unlike my $12 for 20 surplus ammo lol

-Indy

[Wolf]

Here alot of good things about the .308 Mossberg 100 ATR

Cheap too.

"Value-priced" is the term they used. They're sold in Wallymart in the US, going by the websites I've found.

That said, I've found Mossberg shotguns quite well made and they have a bloody good rep.

[Indiana_Jones]

"Value-priced" is the term they used. They're sold in Wallymart in the US, going by the websites I've found.

That said, I've found Mossberg shotguns quite well made and they have a bloody good rep.

Yep lol.

Like I said, I can't say from personal experience how well those rifles shoot, just been reading on some gun forums etc.

-Indy

[Wolf]

Really like the look of the Sako 85 - way out of my price range, but bloody nice.

Mr Merde. What're your range rules regarding "ankle-biters" coming along with parents and learning the fine art of "blowin' holes in stuff"? Yea? Nay? If "Yea", how old etc?

[Wolf]

Hmmm, just been reading up on the differences between 7.62x51NATO and .308Win cartridges and the firearms made for each.

Seems I'd be better suited getting a rifle chambered for .308Win which will accommodate the "cheap 'n' nasty" military surplus 7.62x51 ammo and commercial .308Win ammo safely rather than a rifle chambered for the 7.62x51NATO which will safely fire cheap 'n' nasty military surplus 7.62x51 ammo but may suffer from ruptured cartridges when firing the commercial .308Win ammo.

Been reading up on head spaces, chamber tolerances, brass thicknesses, pressures and such and it does give one pause to consider - especially since a mate of mine, back in those halcyon days before the putrid MSSA law, had a surplus L1A1 and a supply of modern .308 ammo - dunno if he ever fired any of the .308 with it though, I think he mainly blazed away a number of 7.62x51 FMJ rounds.

Edit: lovely explanations and diagrams here and here.

[Mr Merde]

"Value-priced" is the term they used. They're sold in Wallymart in the US, going by the websites I've found.

That said, I've found Mossberg shotguns quite well made and they have a bloody good rep.

I really like the fully suppressed version they have done for the NZ market, available in .243 and .308.

Supposedly cuts the sound down to approx that of the .22 mag

Integral suppressor looks much better than tacking an extra 6-12 inches on the end of your rifle barrel.

With carefull reloading you could probably lower the sound signature down below that of the .22 mag. and keep reasonable accuracy and distance.

Chris

[Mr Merde]

Really like the look of the Sako 85 - way out of my price range, but bloody nice.

Mr Merde. What're your range rules regarding "ankle-biters" coming along with parents and learning the fine art of "blowin' holes in stuff"? Yea? Nay? If "Yea", how old etc?

No problems.

Jrandom bought his son, my 9 year old nephew was learning with me the other day. If they dont want to shoot I have 2 acres around the house to play in and a kids house \slide etc.

Ankle bitters today, are the shooters of tomorrow. Its my duty to encourage them.