C&R Purchase list, input wanted

[jotto]

Recently got my C&R in the mail and I'm ready to get started working on my collection. I have $500-$600 available to start out with. I'd like your suggestions for the following rifles. I'm looking for best places to purchase them from and any inside pointers on what to ask for or look for in these rifles.

Mauser 98k

Mosin-Nagant 91/30, M38, M44

Lee-Enfield (.308 version would be great, otherwise .303 is fine)

Swiss K-31

Any other nice bolt action C&R that might be of similiar type to those listed above.

Thank you very much for your input and I eagerly await your feedback to help get me started.

 

[cracked butt]

If you don't mind burning up a good chunk of that money, I'd reccomend getting a VG condition 98/29 Persian Mauser from http://samcoglobal.com/rifles.html Will probably be the finest mauser you'll ever see for under $300.

K-31 would be at the top of the list also.

 

[jonnyc]

I agree on the Persian, but my #2 would be the best Enfield 2A1 (in 7.62 NATO) that you can find. They are popular again and the prices are already rising.

 

[NateG]

Mauser 98k --- the mauser action, 'nuff said. If you can't find a good deal on a German 98k, a yugo M48 (or M48A) from Aim Surplus would make a nice place holder.

Mosin-Nagant 91/30, M38, M44 -- I've got a couple of 91/30s and an M1891 (US made, delivered to the czar, captured by the Finns). If you can find an M1891 for cheap, think about buying it. The extra couple of inches of barrel really soak up a bunch of recoil. Everyone and their brother sells mosins of some flavor.

Lee-Enfield (.308 version would be great, otherwise .303 is fine) Don't have one, want one. Badly. Aim has "fixer uppers" for $70

Swiss K-31 -- get one. now. And remember to look under the butt-plate to see if yours has a little card telling you whose rifle you have. Aim has them for $110.

 

[grimjaw]

K-31 and don't look back.

Mosin Nagants can still be had in great numbers, so unless you found a real significant one, I'd wait on that.

I had the opportunity to see a Persian Mauser the other day in the gun shop, in excellent condition. Very nice rifle, if you can find one that still has a good bore.

jmm

 

[kentucky_smith]

96 Swede

Savage US Property Enfield

Czech Mauser 98

I'm pretty much ordering exclusively from AIm these days, (I get it next day) but SOG or Classicarms work great as well.

 

[OldSchooler]

Try Century Arms as well as Samco. Always a goodie, I used to trade alot with them back in my FFL days.

You have a lot of good rifles in mind - I have always fancied the Enfield myself, although I havent seen any rechambered to .308 for sale. And if they were, I believe that would void the C&R status ~ AFAIK.
So, allow me to offer my single recommendation for a bolt rifle:

Swede Gustav Mauser in 6.5x55 MM. This bad-boy should be at the top of your list. Almost no pushback in the milsurp guns, little bark, the ammo has gotten downright plentiful these days and lo and behold, they make a bunch of modern rifles in this fine old caliber. You can't say that about the .303 Brit, 7.5 Swiss, 7.62x54R or even the venerable 8MM Mauser round, AFAIK

While any of the mentioned calibers (and more milsurp stuff) will take deer sized game, the 6.5 does so without blasting you out of your tree stand, AND any bona-fide hunting arm would also share the caliber with your C&R Mauser. Now that's value, brother!
CAUTION: I recently learned a bit about milsurp vs. commercial ammo. Let's see if I can summarize:
Due to variations in headspacing, powder and primer combinations and other factors affecting the interchangeablity of ammo and rifles on the battle field - milsurp ammo is generally loaded to lower pressures than commercial ammo. It is NOT recommended that you shoot commercial stuff in your surplus rifles. Handloads intended for surplus rifles should also be held to lower pressures.

As far as collectible old bolties go, the Swede I have is a piece of forgotten craftsmanship and is worthy of being taken out of the cabinet from time to time, just to admire. They really dont make them like that anymore.

Oh, and dont forget to add an SKS to your list. And one of the Nazi P-38's, a Czech CZ-52, one of the .32 PPK knockoffs, something in 9x18 Mak, a Nagant revolver......

 

[longhorngunman]

Definetly get the K31, every gun lover needs one. Oughta get a nice Yugo SKS too while their available and cheap. Like another poster said I'd pass on the Russian bolt guns for the time being. You can get one at anytime and they will probably be the last milsurp left after all the supplies dry up on the others. Persians are very nice and rare, don't think you'd find one with a bad bore, they were used as decorations not hardly shot. I'd also look into getting a Steyr carbine from Century and SOG. Nice little gun and is a blast to shoot. Better have a tough shoulder though, SOG has the best deal on 8*56 ammo.

 

[jotto]

Excellent advice gentlemen! Thank you. I will be making copies of my license today and mailing them out later this afternoon. As far as the SKS's go I am pretty well set on those. While I do not own a Yugo I am content for now with my pristine Russian and Chinese "stock" models and will soon be acquiring a "D" (or M) model Norinco.

Also (granted not C&R) I will be picking up a M1 Carbine in the near future as a step-up gun for my son. His bolt action .22 just isn't as fun for him as it used to be.

Now if only I could hit the powerball I'd be able to buy all the weapons I want!

Any additional advice/suggestions are always welcome.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Also (granted not C&R) I will be picking up a M1 Carbine in the near future as a step-up gun for my son.

I am not sure what you mean by this. The M1 Carbine is C&R.

 

[Technosavant]

I'd start with the K31 and a full case of GP11; the supply of K31s is beginning to dwindle, and the GP11, while more plentiful, will one day run out.

Looks like a good list though, even if it is missing an SKS. Not bolt action, but they sure are fun.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Start putting your money away-

And buy a Garand as soon as you can. They won't be as available as they are now forever.

 

[Route 66]

What about the M39s?

No one has mentioned the Model 39 which are basically what the Finns made on MN 91/30 receivers. Very well made, birch stocks, accurate and collectible. They were made by Sako, VKT and Tikka plus others. I've used Wholesale Guns at: http://www.gunsnammo.com

Good Luck and congrats on the C&R license, it can be addictive!!

 

[DMK]

+1 on the M39.

Don't forget the CMP Garands and 1903 Springfields.

Grab a few of the above and a K31 or two, they won't be around forever.

 

[1 old 0311]

www.classicarms.us

 

[longhorngunman]

Gotta add in, If at all possible get a M1 Garand while you still can. The CMP is a great organization and the Garand is a true symbol of American determination and resolve. And a great rifle in it's own right! Good accuracy and reliability, semiauto 30-06, what's not to like!

 

[Titus]

Anyone know how the No.4 Enfields at J&G are looking?

 

[jotto]

Well thanks to some of your input here I have sent off my license to a couple of places. My first batch of purchases looks like its going to be a German 98k, Yugo M48, Swiss K-31 and still deciding on the Mosins. I already have a M38 but will probably get another along with a 91/30 and a M44 to round them out.

My SKS-D (or M) is on its way so the SKS family is nicely rounded out. And since I landed one of these I can scratch the AK-47 off the list.

Next batch when i get some more funds saved up will be a M1 and a M1 Carbine. Have to find me a nice 03A3 as well sometime as well as a Lee-Enfield.

Now all I have to do is hit the powerball so I can build my own range out back and not have to spend an hour loading up to hit the range!

Thanks again for all your input and suggestions.

 

[OldSchooler]

CAUTION: I recently learned a bit about milsurp vs. commercial ammo. Let's see if I can summarize:
Due to variations in headspacing, powder and primer combinations and other factors affecting the interchangeablity of ammo and rifles on the battle field - milsurp ammo is generally loaded to lower pressures than commercial ammo. Therefore, it is NOT recommended that you shoot commercial stuff in your surplus rifles. Handloads intended for surplus rifles should also be held to lower pressures.

 

[Niner]

buy the best values...now

The Nagants are relatively cheap now and in better than good condition. Get 91/30 in round and hex receiver... particularly the hex. Get the M44 as well as any other variation in the less than $100 price range. Get an SKS while they are plentiful and cheap. .....it's all about what's available now. It all changes one year to the next. Todays bargain is tomorrows investment.

The CZ auto pistols are in great numbers and cheap now. Get one.... it will change in value.

 

[CZ 75 BD]

See this thread,

It's happening now.
AIM may accept a faxed copy of your C&R.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=210456

 

[chrisTx]

i just got an $80 yugo mauser from AIM and it's one of the better rifles i've purchased; particularly for a shooter grade. the K31 is nice and cheap. can't leave out a mosin. the german russian captures are good and cheap too. and you should be able to get a no4 mk1 for a little more than a c-note.