[Will Learn]

Milsurp rifles have really been catching my eye lately and I was looking for some advice. I've been looking at the M91/30 and also the No4 MkI. I like the whole WW2 sniper setups and wouldn't mind getting one of those PU 4x scopes for the M91(or someting similar). I need to keep my budget under $500(Saiga project) and wouldn't mind having a more available caliber. Any suggestions/recommendations would be appreiciate it, thanks.

[MachIVshooter]

The only Milsurps with widely available ammo are going to be the US made rifles, and they're not really surplus. You will pay around $650 for an '03A3 or 1917 Enfield, about $800 for a decent Garand and over $1,000 for a clean '03A1.

The next most available milsurp cartridge is going to be 7.62x54
Rmm (also 7.62x53Rmm) for the M91/31, M38 and M44 Mosin-Nagant's.

.303 British, 8x57mm JS and 6.5mm Swede are far from mainstream, but there are a number of ammo companies producing them, and brass and bullets are readily available.

7.5 Swede, 7.7 Arisaka, 6.5 Carcano, etc. are all far less common and proportionately expensive.

Of all the Milsurps I own, the Lee-Enfield's are definitely some of the the best-built of the Non-U.S. variety.

[jesse485]

.303 British, 8x57mm JS and 6.5mm Swede are far from mainstream, but there are a number of ammo companies producing them, and brass and bullets are readily available.

7.5 Swede, 7.7 Arisaka, 6.5 Carcano, etc. are all far less common and proportionately expensive.

I would certainly consider 8mm to be at least as common as 7.62x54. And .303? That stuff seems to be harder to find now than 7.5 Swiss. One of the reasons I got a 2A Ishapore instead of a "regular" Enfield.

[kfranz]

8mm is 5 cents a round. Where's '06 for that price?

[armoredman]

I can find 303 all day long...I just don't want to PAY $1 a round. Therefore, I reload!:cool: Love my Canadian Built Kraut Killer.

[silverlance]

I'm still rather new to this C&R bit, but I do have the 03 and have spent a silly amount on these things.

** M91/30 "Sniper" Rifles: Places like SOG an www.classicarms.us sells them for about 350 to 400. They are NOT real sniper rifles. They are hex reciever, quality pre-war rifles drilled and stock inletted to allow for the addition of a side mount and replica PU scope.

They are however very good shooters, lots of fun, and in my opinion well worth the price. They are also C&R.

** Enfields aren't bad either. From what people say the Ishapore 308s are also good. 303 surplus is around again, but you have to jump on it quick. I personally can't afford too many calibers so I opted out of 303. I am seriously considering the .308, however, and soon.

** Mausers are also IMHO excellent milsurps and right now classicarms has them (the other guys don't seem to have them at the moment) for $219 for the bent bolt Gewehr K98s with war eagles. 8mm is REALLY REALLY cheap and currently sportsmansguide will sell you crates of the stuff for really low prices.

if you don't live in Cali, might I also suggest handguns?
** CZ52
** east german makarovs
** sistema colts

[DWARREN123]

I like the Mauser's. The 8mm is a kicker, it and the 7.62X54R are in the same class as the 30-06.

[MachIVshooter]

8mm is 5 cents a round. Where's '06 for that price?

Not making a price point. Availability is the issue. You can find '06 anywhere. 8x57 might be in every 5th gunshop. I was in four different gunstores this week, and none of them had 8mm mauser ammo, though one of them normally carries it. One shop had .303. 3 had 7.62x54R, but only one had any real quantity. All of them had tons of '06, ranging from foreign made milsurp to premium domestic hunting ammo.

Not knocking any of the rounds; I love my milsurps. But one has to realize that when you decide to go shooting one Sunday and don't have any .303, 7.5, 8x57, etc., it's not like you can run down to Wal-mart and get it.

[MudPuppy]

I see 303 at walmart and academy--it'st $16 or so for a box of 20.

That 7.62x54r is cheap enough online to stock up on, but you're probably right about the one that's sure to be everywhere and that's the 30.06.

I really, really like my savage No4Mk1.

[kfranz]

I love my milsurps. But one has to realize that when you decide to go shooting one Sunday and don't have any .303, 7.5, 8x57, etc., it's not like you can run down to Wal-mart and get it.

I understand your point, but just don't really see it as a problem I guess. You mention being in 5 gunshops in a week. I haven't been in 5 gunshops in the last 5 years. As for deciding to go shooting and not having any ammo, that's just poor planning I guess. I honestly don't know anyone that buys ammo other than .22 at retail outlets anymore.