Impulse Buy

I went back out to the Merchant of Death to get some small rifle primers and a couple of cartridge boxes for reloaded .223 and, as is my wont, looked through the rifle rack they have there (mostly in a futile search for a Mosin Nagant M38).

I found a Mosin 91/30 for $179.99 (Reduced!) that I passed on, two Brit bolt actions in .303 (like I need another oddball military caliber that I can't find ammo for), some sort of Yugoslavian Mauser clone (?) a couple of Ruger Americans, one very pretty walnut stocked Mossberg 4x4, a Marlin X7, a Remington 770... and then I saw a Mossberg 100ATR in 30-06 for less than $300 that caught my eye.

The last few deer-slaying trips I've been on I have taken bolt action rifles, but they were both in calibers that you can't just walk down to the local MoD and buy ammo for. I was looking for something that wouldn't break the bank in a caliber that is carried by local gun shops and Marts of Walls, and this one seemed to fit the bill.

The bolt cycles nice and smooth, there is an easy usable safety right next to the bolt and it comes out with a simple press of the bolt release for easy cleaning. The trigger is adjustable (if I want to take the action out of the stock) and feels pretty good to me, but then again I'm no trigger snob; I think the one on the Mosin is just fine cause the bang happens and the lead slings out the far end ever time I activate it, so I probably wouldn't know the difference anyway. Plus, Boyds has a nice looking wood stock for it, if I want to go that route...and I'm thinking about it, I've always been a fan of blued steel and American walnut.

Topped with a Redfield Revenge 3-9x42 scope it cost me right at 500USD out the door, not a bad price considering. I have a play date range session scheduled next month so I'll put it through its paces then and see what I've got.

For what it's worth, I did an online review check of the rifle (after the fact, of course) and found mention of three lawsuits that were filed regarding the bolts on these rifles, but never did find any details except on the first one. Seems like Cletus took his bolt apart and put it together wrong, called his neighbor who said "It's put together wrong, don't shoot it" and in an alcohol induced rage installed the bolt anyway with the judicious application of hammer and nearby wall, and then was surprised when the bolt blew back in his face.

Of the other two I haven't been able to find anything except online exhortations on various gun forums to "Google Mossberg ATR lawsuits!" which results in return after return of various gun forums saying "Google Mossberg ATR lawsuits!" and precious little else.

So, going by the experience that happy people don't complain and the axiom that you get what you pay for, I'm expecting commensurate results out of my inexpensive 30-06 lead-slinger, IE I'm expecting to be able to consistently and decisively engage Bambi at ranges up to and maybe slightly exceeding 100 yards without being able to knock down Tally Beans at a mile plus...which is as much a function of skill set as equipment anyway, of which I have neither...but I do know people...

I did get the primers, too, by the way.