Buying first C&R Mosin Nagant. Need help.

[Pinned&Recessed]

Hey guys!!

I got my C&R and I'm going to use it to buy my first C&R rifle. Since funds are tight, I'm going to buy a 91/30 with accessories.

Problem is, which place should I buy from? Currently, I have an FFL on file with AIM SUrplus, Souther Ohio gun and Century Arms International. They all have the rifle (+ extras) for the same price, but I was wondering if one outfit had a reputation for "better" rifles. They are all described as "excellent arsenal refinishes", but which place would truly have the BEST rifle? I am leery of buying sight unseen.

I heard that SOG doesn't stand for Southern Ohio Gun, but instead means "S***ty Old Guns". Is SOG to be avoided? They look like they have some nice stuff.

I was leaning toward AIM, but will heed any advice.


Thanks for your Time!!!!

 

[ocabj]

I'd go with Aztec Guns (http://www.aztecguns.com) if they have any left. They're getting out of the Mosin importing business from what I understand. $54.95 (+$10 for hex, +$10 for Tula). They have a reputation for selling good specimens. I ordered two M38s from them a couple months ago, and were in great condition. No cosmoline by the way.

 

[Pinned&Recessed]

I'll have to send them an FFL. They look good, but I was hoping to order today.

 

[TimRB]

For my money you can't go wrong with AIM. No doubt someone will now post a horror story, though. Anyway, FWIW I bought one of their 91/30s a few months ago and the thing looked nearly new.

Tim

 

[ocabj]

Oh, I didn't see that you already had your FFL on file with AIM. AIM is fine. I'm not sure where they got their latest batch of 91/30s from. I ordered one from them several months ago and it was imported by Century Arms. I completely heat gunned the stock and ended up taking off the shellac with the cosmo. I haven't gotten around to reshallacing mine. It looks kinda cool with the bare wood, but I figure I should refinish it eventually.

 

[thefitzvh]

You can't go wrong with AIM. I recieved one or two rifles from them that weren't as advertised, but when you're dealing in craploads of old rifles, some are bound to get through. I called them, explained the situation, and the rifles were swapped out. They even paid the transfer fees on the replacements.

James

 

[ctdonath]

I have one to part with. Refinished, accessories, box of ammo, even a second "beater" paired with it if desired. Haven't fired either. PM an offer.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I've ordered from all three

I've heard all of the horror stories about SOG, and I honestly don't know where they are coming from. At least 80% of my peices have come from SOG and we're talking a couple of dozen rifles. I've never had a problem. With Century I've gotten some peices that weren't quite as good as advertised. The only problem I've ever had with AIM is sometimes they are out of stock of what I want, even when I order the day I get the flyer.

 

[Jim K]

Here is a dirty little secret. For the most part, all of those guns of one kind are imported by one company, sometimes a company that does not even do retail or dealer sales. The other guys all get their guns from the same place, and they all get the same "quality" or lack thereof. So SOG, or AIM, or XYZ all have the same stuff, bought from the same place.

Here is another little secret. They all work the same way with "select" grades. The warehouse has 10,000 rifles. They have a sheaf of orders, and know pretty well how many they will be able to ship on any given day. So they send a fork lift to the warehouse to bring, say, 300 rifles to the packing and shipping department.

When they get a "select" order, the packer runs his eye over the rack and picks out the best looking one on the rack at that time. At the start of the day, it is one of the better ones out of 300. At the close of the day, it is one of the better ones out of five. The guys in the shipping department are not collectors or gunsmiths. They make a reasonable effort to comply with the "select" request, but they don't disassemble and clean each rifle, and check every part for originality. What do you want for a buck or two over minimum wage?

If you want to have them pay a gunsmith $50 an hour to disassemble the rifle, check everything and consult the books on every mark, you are going to pay a lot more for that 91/30 than the price in the Shotgun News ad.

Jim

 

[Zeke Menuar]

In order of preference

Aztec
AIM

ZM