Best MilSurp rifle for Newbie

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hansolo

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Howdy! I've been admiring the samples of older Military Rifles lately -- M1 Garand-Carbine, Mauser, Enfield, Mosin Nagant, SKS, etc.

I am looking to aquire one of these for under $200.00

Of the ones mentioned, which would be a good choice for someone not all that familiar with these long guns? IE: ease of cleaning, minimal problems, low-cost ammo that's easy to find?

Thanks a lot!
 
hansolo:

In my opinion the Mausers are the best bet, and probably of those the 1898, As the 1898 mauser can be found in 8mm 7,57mm and 30-06 calibers and more readily found.

JM
 
Considering the price you quoted, I don't think you'll find an M1 Garand or carbine in decent shape for that price. My advice would be to check out the surplus Mausers or Enfields. Both are excellent rifles for the price and can be found in very good shape.

My personal preference is the Mauser.
 
For the $$$ you're willing to spend you've got a fair number of options. Mausers, Mosins, Enfields. M38 Turkish Mausers can be found in shootable condition for less than $50 just about anywhere and 8MM ammo is cheap. For my money, a "B" barrel Finnish M39 Mosin-Nagant is not only a superb shooter but a nice piece of history as well. And let's not forget that there was only 7 to 10 thousand of them made so they're pretty scarce to start with. Whatever you decide to buy I'm pretty sure that you won't be satisfied with just one. I wasn't. Collect the whole set. :D

Stay safe.
 
Thanks for advice on oldies-but-goodies! I am not a hunter, but everytime I visit a gunshop, I am drawn to the beautiful wood stocks and am just starting to get excited to add some long guns to my small, but growing firearm collection! I realize a nice M1 Garand/carbine would start at $400-$500, so that's a ways down the line....unless I meet someone who just has to unload one!

There is a CA-legal SKS at a local gunshop...they're asking $199.00....it has a muzzle brake/flash hider to apease the Big Brother in Sacramento. The thing is a little worse for wear, and had the name "Ivan" carved into the stock....kind of cool if it was carved by a real soldier....


:cool: If I knew how much fun firearms were, I wouldn't have wasted so many years partying:neener:
 
If you want diversity (see, I learned a new word today) and are not too concerned with condition, you can buy two or maybe three surplus rifles for $200 or so. But if you want those beautiful wood stocks, you are going to pay for them.

If you can read that carving as "IVAN", it was sure not carved by a Russian!

Jim
 
The thing is a little worse for wear, and had the name "Ivan" carved into the stock....kind of cool if it was carved by a real soldier....
Click to expand...

Not hardly.

1) It would be in cyrilic instead of english lettering

2) Would probably say "Vanya" instead of Ivan

Probably put on by somebody looking to up the price on the gun or some previous owner that decided to name his gun.
 
Check out the French MAS 36 also. Have one in like new shape for $90. They come in 7.5 french and also .308. Cant beat that for under $100. Can get two for the price of one.
 
Moisin, Mauser (I have a nice Persian), Enfield... all very nice. Don't forget the Swiss K-31s. I was also able to find a beautiful '99 Krag-Jorgenson carbine, though it cost a bit more than $200.

-0-
 
I don't have a vast amount of experience in this field however, my vote would have to be a No.4 Lee- Enfield. Various bayonets to choose from (spike and bowie blade types). Fairly decent flip up site and problems such as head spacing are far easier to resolve with the Enfield than some of it's period counterparts.

hope this helps

StuckintheUK
 
If ammo cost is a factor go with a 8mm or a 308.7.5 french is expensive. A CZ mauser is a good gun.Or a India made enfiels in 308. 303 brit is not cheap either.
Bob
 
As Mike suggested -- a Swedish Mauser. Ammo, while not cheap, is available.

Beautiful guns -- all matching number and nice wood -- can be had in your price range.

They are very accurate guns.

(The Yugo mausers are cheaper, but the wood generally isn't that nice, and they not the same quality. But a good way to start shooting at a reasonable price. Ammo is cheaper, too.)
 
Swiss K31 for less than $100. You can get FMJ ammo from AIM or others. These rifles have become very popular and there will be more 7.5 Swiss ammo available.

Other options:

A Swedish Mauser if you can find one.

OR

Finn Moisin Nagant M39 made by Sako for less than $150. Cheap ammo.

The above rifles would be good if you're looking for an accurate shooter and maybe some hunting or a little high power match shooting.

An SKS would be fun for plinking and cheap ammo launching. Also good as a homeland defense rifle. It all depends what you're looking for. Lots of the online sites have CA legal SKSs.
 
I have Enfields, a Mosin, and a SKS. The SKS has a really high fun factor..well I guess any semi-auto rifle has a high fun factor for me. Ammo is dirt cheap. A store here in Sac just advertised the Yugo SKS for $239. Enfields are excellent rifles, but the quality is going down and the good ammo seems harder to find. Mosins are a blast to shoot. I have a M38 that doubles as a flamethrower when I shoot it. 7.62X54R isn't too hard to come by. I'd recommend the SKS.
 
I love the Mosin Nagants. You can get both a Finn M39 (extremely accurate) and an M44 (range blaster) for under $200 total.

bE
 
I vote for either:
Enfield [No.4 w/ micrometer sight] and cheap ammo
or
Mosin [M91 or 91/30] and cheap ammo

AND,

Blast away!
 
I would try and find a Finnish Mosin-Nagant. I have one and I love it. Ammo is about $100 for 500 rds of Wolf non-corrosive.
I also plan on getting a Yugo M-48 Mauser 8mm. They can be had for about $150 and ammo is dirt cheap if you shoot corrosive stuff. I would pay a little more for NC ammo.
Then you got the Enfields. I want a couple of those.
I want one each of the Ishapores in 308, a SMLE and a No4.
Bottom line is that you would be able to get any of those in very good to excellent/unissued condition in that range.
American made rifles will run alot higher than that.
I would suggest that if you get one and decide that you are going to get into them, you should get a C&R license. They go $30 for three years and all the rifles that you can afford.
 
You could get a Polish Mosin Nagant M-44 at big five for about $60.00, and a Turk Mauser for about $50.00 (also from big five). With the remaining $90.00 you could buy a fair ammount of 7.62X54R, and 8mm ammo.
 
You may not find decent examples...

of Lee-Enfields and Swedish Mausers anymore for less than $200.00. They've started, again, to dry up in the import scene. :(
 
The Mosin-Nagants and SKS are probably the ones that best fit the requirements.

Turner's has had the SKS on sale for $180 for the last few weeks.
 
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