[mamelukesabre]

I think you can still get moisin-nagants for around 50 bucks.

The SKS is a semi-auto that shoots the old AK-47 round, right? That round was a short-brassed 30 caliber round, I beleive...quite a bit shorter than the .308 winchester round and only slightly more powerful than our 223 remington. The old bolt action nagants shoot the old rimmed 30 caliber rounds that are almost like the old british 303 rounds except a tad longer and maybe a tad wider. It is way more powerful than that old AK-47 round.

[Cloud William]

I think you can still get moisin-nagants for around 50 bucks....that are almost like the old british 303 rounds except a tad longer and maybe a tad wider. It is way more powerful than that old AK-47 round.

You bet, those are seriously powerful rifles at fantastic prices. The 7.62x54R is *not* a pleasant caliber to shoot in the later carbine versions of the Mosin-Nagant, though. Muzzle flash verges on thermonuclear and recoil is more than substantial (not unlike the .303 Enfield "Jungle Carbine" of the same period). Lighter carry weight comes at a price, unfortunately.