Looking for a cast boolit rfle - need advice

[Deep Six]

I decided I want to try my hand at cast boolits rifles. So I need to pick up a dedicated rifle to shoot them with. I thought about a 30-30 lever, but it seems everyone already has one of those. I'm currently looking at two options:

1) A Yugo Mauser in 8x57 (either 24/47 or M48). From what I hear, these usually come with pristine bores because they were never really saw combat. I currently reload 8x57 jacketed for a Husqvarna sporter built on a commercial FN 98 action, so I already have brass and dies. I've also been wanting to get a WWII-era surplus bolt gun for some time now.

2) Just yesterday I became aware that my local dealer has a Remington 760 Gamemaster in .35 Rem for sale. It's in excellent condition and his price is only a few bucks more than I could get the Yugo Mauser for. I hear these are also really great, handy rifles. However, .35 Rem would be starting from scratch with reloading.

Help me make up my mind.

[EMC45]

I would personally go with the .35 Pump. That is on the short list if I can find one locally.

[dbosman]

Is there a reason not to slug the barrel of your Husqvarna sporter and size boolits to fit it?
That would be the lowest cost option.

If you're going for a new to you rifle, I'd get the Remington 760 Gamemaster. I expect it would be more fun.

[Char-Gar]

So what is everybody a 30-30? Is that a reason for you to avoid them?

Nothing wrong with your HVA for cast bullets. Remove the jacketed bullet fouling, get a good 8MM gas check mold and a .325 size die and have at it. No need to slug anything, just cast, sized and lube .325 and shoot over 16 to 18 grains of 2400 powder. You will be very pleased.

[Deep Six]

Despite being 60+ years old, the Husky is a 1/2 MOA gun at 300 yards (175 Sierra SP over 49 gr H4895). It's all dialed in and I don't want to mess with it.

[Blammer]

Get the 8x57 and shoot cast in it.

[Char-Gar]

A good 8X57 Mauser is an excellent cast bullet rifle. Here is mine. It is a CZ (Brno) made Persian 98/29 that I built in my shop. I shoot nothing but cast bullets in it and it is very accurate. Sun was overhead so we don't have a great pic that shows off the good walnut.

It is a 1/2 MOA rifle also, if you only count the occasional lucky three shot group. But an average of 4 ten shot groups will give you 1.5 MOA on any given day, which is how I rate this rifle.

[madsenshooter]

The 760 in 35 Rem is something of a collector's item you wouldn't want to add any wear and tear to. For an off the shelf milsurp the Swiss rifles are awfully accurate. I think my K31 is the most accurate rifle I have. I could pick which eye to shoot em in at 100yds.

[Deep Six]

So what is everybody a 30-30? Is that a reason for you to avoid them?

Nothing wrong with your HVA for cast bullets. Remove the jacketed bullet fouling, get a good 8MM gas check mold and a .325 size die and have at it. No need to slug anything, just cast, sized and lube .325 and shoot over 16 to 18 grains of 2400 powder. You will be very pleased.

Sorry, "everybody has a 30-30". No it is not a reason to avoid them, I just want something different. But a 30-30 is probably in my future too. The Yugo just seems like an unbeatable deal at about $250. Then I saw the 760 for not much more and now I am in a quandary...

[Deep Six]

A good 8X57 Mauser is an excellent cast bullet rifle. Here is mine. It is a CZ (Brno) made Persian 98/29 that I built in my shop. I shoot nothing but cast bullets in it and it is very accurate. Sun was overhead so we don't have a great pic that shows off the good walnut.

It is a 1/2 MOA rifle also, if you only count the occasional lucky three shot group. But an average of 4 ten shot groups will give you 1.5 MOA on any given day, which is how I rate this rifle.

I actually just finished a custom 6.5x55 on a BRNO VZ-24 action. Haven't shot it yet but I'm expecting great things! Given the long range capability of the 6.5x55 and the strong 98 action I built it on, this gun will get full power (actually +P 55,000 PSI) jacketed loads. I'm thinking the Berger VLD 140 Gr looks nice with it's .612 BC! I built it with a 1:8 barrel so it will stabilize the big pills.