What are the hot C&R items right now?

There are a number of dealers that have decent guns in and out of stock all the time. You just have to check their sites regularly and be ready to pounce. A bit of research will help prevent getting a dog or less desirable weapon as will a thorough understanding of grading terms.
SOG seems to have some of the best stock right now and they've never done me wrong. If dansammo.com has anything in stock you can bet it will be the cream of the crop. I've gotten some sweet deals on incredibly nice firearms from him. You might pay a little more but you won't be disappointed. AIM used to be good but they seemed to have turned into a primarily retail/new goods establishment.
There are others, some better some worse. Congrats on getting your '03. Get copies to everyone and start buying. I'd suggest a Mosin as your first purchase.
Good Luck!

Read the fine print in the ads about condition of the gun.

+1 on SOG. If I had the money, I would pick up one of the WWII Canadian INGLIS (High Power) pistols they have in stock right now. They also have P64 Polish Radom Pistols. I have one and it is a great little pistol. Recoil is a little stout, but if you get a new recoil spring it evens out. They also have Chinese SKS rifles, but I don't know the condition. Something else to look for would be Mosin PU rifles .Importers have gotten in M91/30 PU sniper rifles at various times over the last year. If you keep your eyes peeled, it is an opportunity to pick up an actual Soviet sniper with correct WWII scope. I picked up two and both are honest to goodness PU rifles. You have to watch it, as some of the rifles are built up from parts. Typically if the rifle is $400-$480 it is a parts gun. If it is from $590-$650 it is the real deal. Classic Arms, AIM, and a few others had them. The two I picked up are by far the coolest surplus rifles I have picked up in a while.

Unless its something you've just got to have "very good" is probably as poor a condition as you should go, as good allows "minor pitting" in the bore, very good allows dark bores but no pits.


When surplus 7.62x25 was plentiful a TTC Tokarev pistol was a good choice. The CZ-82 is C&R and a very nice 9x18 pistol. The P64 is OK, but that trigger needs work, the CZ-82 is good to go as it comes.

The M91/30 PU sniper rifles are also one to be looking for. Mine came form the Ukraine.

+1 Mosin

SOG

I would say the M57 Tok is the best. The cz50 was very nice. In rifles the M44 and Manlichers. I would avoid the you go SKS they are very rough. Bought all these within 2-4 months.

As far as C&R, the M57 and other TT-33 variants seem hot right now, since it seems all the CZ52's have dried up. Keep in mind 7.62x25 ammo has doubled in price in the last 18 months. I just ordered a Polish PPSH43c from Classic Arms (Imported by I.O), but I got it for $299..a year ago they were $400+, which they're still going for on gunbroker, but if one place can sell them at $299 you can bet more will follow.

Eastern Bloc stuff is still the best bet for C&R, but I think it's clear the 'salad days" are over. I say this as I look at my first CZ-52, purchased in 2003 for $109.00, and my $149.00 Bulgarian Makarov.....

SOG has a good selection right now

I think Royal Tiger imports ( or maybe Classic Arms, can't recall right now) has various straight pull Swiss rifles in stock right now, including K31s and K11s. These rifles can be astoundingly accurate. If you get one of these stock up on Swiss GP11 ammo.....as much as you can afford. They ain't making it anymore.
There are some FN Hi-Powers on Gunbroker right now for reasonable prices.....some of them are C&R.
I bought my last C&Rs in december (a model of 1917 parade rifle, barrel date of 9-18 , and a MAS 36 as well) . The state legislature here in CA, in their infinite wisdom, saw fit to close the "loophole" of C&R licensees getting rifles shipped to their doors. Now they have to go through an 01FFL and get registered.
My license will lapse in April......I am now focused on accumulating ammo for the guns I already have.

Good luck with your new 03 license. Collecting and shooting is a lot of fun.

Here is the link to those Swiss rifles. A FANTASTIC opportunity, IMO. If you pass on these they will get ever scarcer and pricier.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/k31-rifles

Classic arms had MN91-30 on sale recently for around $99. You can also find Chinese SKS for around $300.

Places that are good C&R dealers that I have dealt with.

Aim surplus
Classic firearms
Allan's armory
SOG
Empire arms
Century arms

Brion

Aim surplus
Classic firearms
Allan's armory
SOG
Empire arms
Century arms

Click to expand...

Don't forget JG Sales.

Also send a copy to Brownell's and sign up for dealer's discount pricing -- this alone has more than paid for my C&R and why I will renew it despite already having about all the C&R guns I'm interested in at the moment.

Midway used to have the same thing, but they stopped it as they felt the spread between normal pricing and dealer's pricing shrunk too much and dealer's pricing couldn't take advantage of "sales" and 10$ off $100 purchase coupons they offer three or four times a year.

I have had luck ordering from Wideners and SAMCO as well.... I am a bit biased since they are both in my hone state, but I have never done bad dealing with SOG or AIM.

As far as what to get, CZ-82 would be high on the list, P1 if you can find one, Swedish Mausers in general, Swiss K11 or K31, mosins and ammo, and those Chinese type 56 SKS rifles are (or at least have been for me,, 3 for 3) really sweet once you clean the Cosmo and crap off of them.

And of course any US surplus you come across....

Good luck and happy hunting

Fazakerley No 4 Lee Enfield. Modern production ammo is available. 303 Brit caliber is cool to shoot. Soft recoiling as well....

I would say Swiss and the early Chinese SKSs out of Albania (especially given a non-zero chance to get a mis-marked Soviet).

As with everything else, take your time and do your homework. Pickings are currently slim but once in a while something pops up. Always keep in mind that your purchase might be attractive to you now, but if you want to sell in the future it may not be a "gotta have" to buyers then.

American weapons' prices have gone crazy since the Obama reelection. I shy away from the Asian market and tend toward European weapons. Even there though some countries' products are not held in high esteem.

Also, check your local in-state sites.

I just let mine expire. Every C&R gun I wanted I found local for decent $ less than ordering myself. I never used the license.

I've used mine several times, but I agree with you that local sellers can be cheaper...except those sellers who decide that they should mimic the big sites' prices.

The big vendors are OK, but keep an eye on GunBroker for items you want.

It's tempting to buy anything available with a C&R, but I'd be wary. Better to have a clear idea of what you want in a collection, use your C&R to pick up those items.

That being said, I'd grab a Cz-50, Cz-82, and a K-31, purely as trade fodder. The track record of C&R is that the instant the import supply dries up, prices go up by at least 50%.

I guess some people get a C&R strictly to buy surplus guns that are available from importers. I use mine for that plus from individuals in and out of state plus it is good for ANY 50 year old gun locally, out of state, and on the on line auctions like Gunbroker. Why in state? I live in Illinois and it makes things a lot easier.

Any 50yo gun? I thought they had to be on the C&R list to qualify.

SOG just got in some P64s and mags

I just received an SOG P64 and it is nice. A little light wear at the muzzle is all. The import marks are large and rough however. And the Wolff spring kit is required. The DA pull is awful.