A Shopping Plan for Surplus Rifles, Varmint Rifles and Big-Bore Oddities

Author : zab nabs | Published On : 26 Oct 2026

Three kinds of shooters buy this shelf: owners of surplus rifles, varmint and deer hunters, and people with an unusual rifle. Each needs a different plan.

Surplus rifles

For an SKS or an AK, steel-case 7.62x39, at steel case 7.62x39 ammo, is the usual practice round. Check range rules and clean after shooting if the primers are corrosive.

For a Mosin-Nagant, anyone who wants to buy 7.62x54r ammo should match the bullet diameter to the bore and read the primer type. A rifle chambered for the 8mm Mauser takes loads such as Hornady's at hornady 8mm mauser ammo.

The Hungarian 8x56R has its loads at 8x56r ammo.

Have a gunsmith check the headspace and bore of any surplus rifle before you shoot it. Surplus rifles are often in good condition, but they are old and their histories are unknown.

Varmint and deer rifles

The 22 Hornet is a small-game cartridge, and Winchester's loads, at winchester 22 hornet ammo, are the original. The 22-250, at 22-250 ammo for sale, is the faster varmint round.

The 25-06, at 25-06 ammo, is the deer-and-antelope choice.

Odd rifles

A 9.3x62 hunting rifle takes soft points such as those at 9.3x62 soft point ammo. The 8.6 Blackout's 285-grain loads, at 8.6 blackout 285 grain ammo, suit an AR-style rifle built for it.

The 7.5 FK's 95-grain loads are at 7.5 fk 95 grain ammo.

Buy and test

Buy two or three loads in single boxes, shoot them from your own rifle, and keep notes on groups and point of impact. When one stands out, buy it in the quantity you need, ideally from a single lot, and keep the lot number.

Keep a short log of date, load, lot number and conditions. A season later it will tell you more than memory does.

Plans like this are general guidance. Match the name on your barrel to the box, store ammunition cool and dry, and confirm current stock and state shipping restrictions before ordering.