If you need a good, reliable rifle then you need look nor farther than at surplus miliary rifles. Many types, sizes and shapes are available. All you need to do is a little research to find what suits your requirements.

Nowadays in the Navy Special Forces, the military rifle of choice is the M4. In earlier years, it used to be the AR-15. There aren't too many surplus rifles from the 90s and later available, due to high demand and needs of the current military. The AR-15 is probably a better choice than the M-16 since it suffers less jamming and has better durability, especially in the water.

A good military rifle should be clean, dust free, and have the same sharp qualities of an old trusty M-1 or AR-15 military rifle (depending on if and what branch of the miliary you served with).

Of course, some people are collectors rather than active shooters and building up a collection of militaria and weaponry is their hobby. Since the end of the Second World War a great many surplus military rifles have been imported and sold in the United States. Among the best known of these are the Argentine Mauser Model 1891; British SMLE Lee-Enfield rifle and Jungle Carbine; the German Mauser Model 1898; Italian Carcano Model 1891; Japanese Arisaka Type 38 and Type 99; Russian Mosin-Nagant Model 1891; Spanish Mauser Model 1893 and Model 1895; Swedish Mauser Model 1894, Model 1896 and Model 36; U.S. Model 1892 Krag, Model 1903 Springfield and Model 1917 Enfield and the U.S. M1 Carbine (.30 Carbine).

All of these except the U.S. M1 Carbine (an autoloader) are bolt action rifles. The supply of most of these rifles has long since dried up, but they are still seen on the used market. A few models are still being imported as various militaries around the world, particularly in the smaller nations, clean out their reserve stocks of obsolete rifles.

With few exceptions, just about any style of surplus military rifle for which ammunition is still available can prove ideal for hunting or target practice. That said, the AK-47 isn't a gun that is recommended for rural or backwoods use. It may be a defensive arm par excellence, but as a hunting, farmstead, or go-anywhere-do-anything rifle, the AK style rifle simply doesn't make the grade in accuracy, handiness or price.

Better Russian rifles to consider would be the SKS, Mosin-Nagent or Tokarev semi-auto models.