Indians For Guns

Hi friends,
I have my NP Bore Rifle Licence, and was planning to buy either a foreign 0.22LR if available or IOF 3006. Yesterday, I met a friend of mine who said I could buy a 7mm rifle.
I want to know if the 7mm Rifle is PB or NPB. Also, if the same is available in our country, and could ammo be procured for the same easily.
Please let me know your thoughts on the same.
Also, I have been searching for foreign 0.22 LRs in my surrounding locality. The price that people quote is way too high for me. My budget is 1.5 to 1.75 Lakh INR. If possible, please point me to some of the arms dealers who might have the same within my budget.
Thanks & Regards
Vivek

Dear Vivek,

Congratulations on getting a licence.

The 7x57 mm Mauser, also known as the .275 Rigby, is not a prohibited bore. It is a popular calibre for which cartridges are easily available. Rifles in this bore are available in good condition for Rs. 3,00,000 plus.

You should be able to get a .22 Long Rifle well within your budget like a BSA sporting bolt action magazine rifle.

All the best.

Hi miroflex,
Is the 0.275 readily available at your place? And if it is in a good condition, I can travel there to buy it.
Also, is the ammo (for the 0.275 Rigby) available in South India? (Any of the Bangalore guys, please let me know your thoughts on this)
The doubt is because in my place, I can get only 0.22, 30-06 and 12 gauge cartridges. Apart from the aforementioned, everything else is almost impossible to get in my city.
But I can travel anywhere in the South to buy my cartridges if they are available.
Thank you.

Hi Vivek,

I have recently seen two 7 mm (.275 Rigby) rifles in Kanpur, U.P. recently. Both were made by Mauser, one in a light weight and the other in a heavy weight category. They were in a very good to excellent category for their age. They were priced at Rs. 3,25,000 and Rs. 3,50,000 respectively, if I remember rightly.

I vaguely remember reading in these columns that weapons are cheaper in the South. Are you not being able to see rifles of your choice there? Do you find that prices are higher there? Which .22 rifles have you been able to see and at what prices?

Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

All the best.

Depends on what you want to do with a rifle. If target shooting and plinking is a primary use, get an IOF .22LR and accurise it and have loads of fun. If self-defence and some long range target shooting fun is on cards, get an IOF .30-06 and again get some work done.I would take a .30-06 over a 7X57 any day.Saves a lot of money too. JMHO.

Best-
Vikram

Vivek, I think the first question you should ask yourself is : What will I do with the rifle? i.e. the purpose

If you want to pursue shooting as a hobby or enjoy some plinking during weekend trips then don't think beyond a 22. A good .22 rifle is like a friend for a lifetime. And no caliber comes in so many varieties.

If you are concerned about safety of home or property then go for the 30 06 or any other caliber because with a ban on hunting, this rifle will have very little use.

Once you have the answer, choosing the caliber will not be difficult.

One more advice : Whenever you are buying a firearm in India make sure its cartridges are easily available. I know many people who had to sell excellent rifles for the price of fancy walking sticks because cartridges for their weapons were not available in the market.

TC

Thank you guys for your valuable advice! I Think i will stick to the 0.22LR!

If it is your first rifle and you are about to possess your first firearm, go for the .22lr. Just about everything else has been said already.

Hi Vivek,

I am curious about which make and model of .22 rifle you are planning to buy and at what price.

Regards.

I have saved 1.5 Lakhs, and I can stretch a bit till 1.75.

I dont have any specific brand, but I am definitely not going for a BSA.

vivekpeter wrote:I have saved 1.5 Lakhs, and I can stretch a bit till 1.75.

I dont have any specific brand, but I am definitely not going for a BSA.

Vivek, let me share my opinion with you. I guess what you are essentially looking for is a good .22 sporter rifle - not a casual plinker nor a competition grade match rifle.

So, avoid tube fed rifles no matter what the action is -- pump or underlever. Standard .22 lead cartridges, specially old KF, often jams at the breech because the cartridge heads often bend. Every time there is a jammed breech, before or after firing, you have to a run a cleaning rod down the muzzle.

Avoid under lever rifles for the same reason because most of them come with tube magazines. Except for one model made by Ruger which used to come with box magazine. But I don't think you will come across one easily.

So, the best option for all times is a bolt action. Try to locate old CZ Brno Mark 1 or Mark 2 models that are most popular among members of rifle clubs and gun enthusiasts across India. They come with scope base, 45 degree bolt throw, good safety and great barrels. Brno rifles are tough like tanks.
Other good bolt action rifles that are usually found in the second hand market are (in my order of preference):
Krico, Anshutz and Winchester.

Visit some gun dealers in your region to get a feel of the market i.e. availability. price etc. You could also put up an advertisement in newspapers that carry Guns and Sporting Goods in their buy/sell classified columns.
In my opinion, 1.5 lakh should be good enough and you may not have to stretch your budget. If you do not get a good foreign make then you could try the IOF .22 it is a near copy of the Brno and is a good rifle.

Last, but not the least, get hold a real expert who understands firearms from the INSIDE and can accompany you when you check you weapons.

All the best

TC

PS: Feel free to seek opinions of forum members

vivekpeter wrote:I have saved 1.5 Lakhs, and I can stretch a bit till 1.75.

I dont have any specific brand, but I am definitely not going for a BSA.

Hi Vivek,

Why the aversion to BSAs? Their sporting rifles are very well made and balance well in one's hands I find. Do you have any any specific reasons for avoiding them?

Regards.

Vivek

The 22lr bolt action is the way to go. I don't have any idea what Indian market is like but with a 22 you will shoot more frequently.

Good luck

@miroflex - The feel of the BSA is not that suave (at least the ones I saw locally), and I also gathered opinions from friends, and most of them were against BSAs.

@TC - Thank you for your opinion, I will definitely consider it and search for a Brno.

Vivek, I agree with what your friends have said about BSA. Most BSA models are casual plinkers (except the old Martini action single shots which are heavy match rifles) and do not endure the torture over decades, a factor that needs to be considered first when buying second hands firearms in India. I am saying this from my experience, and after having used at least ten BSAs. The only BSA model that I have liked is the Supersport 5. It is built on the lines of Brno. If you find a BSA Supersport 5 in good condition then you can go for one.

Hope this helps

TC