For my first gun ever I am looking for the most accurate, reliable, and tough milsurp bolt action. I know it's not the best idea to go straight to such a rifle instead of getting a decent .22, but I love the look and history of these beautiful rifles. So far I have noted the Finnish Mosin Nagants, the Mauser 98ks, and the Lee Enfields as some stand-out rifles of their time. I am not looking for anything rare, just a great shooter, and am looking for anything under 500$, spending whatever is left on ammo. Hopefully my info is right and I'm not making a fool of myself, even though I know I might be being an idiot by getting a milsurp as my first gun. Thanks alot for the help.
Finest bolt action milsurp
- Thread starter monoceros
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Hey there,
For $500, you are looking at the high end of milsurp rifles. How about a M1903 Springfield rifle? You can order one of these thru the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). They have a direct history for Americans as they were the battle rifles of WWI and part of WWII as opposed to foreign rifles.
I like these because they shoot 30.06 which is a round that will always be around in the USA.
Otherwise, your $500 will go far and can get yourself a couple of other milsurps. I'd go for a Mauser as a second choice, they can be as cheap as $99.99 for 'good' grade Serbian to $459.99 for unissued Mausers with teakwood stocks. Try Impact guns. http://www.impactguns.com/store/M48-26-S.html
For $500, you are looking at the high end of milsurp rifles. How about a M1903 Springfield rifle? You can order one of these thru the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). They have a direct history for Americans as they were the battle rifles of WWI and part of WWII as opposed to foreign rifles.
I like these because they shoot 30.06 which is a round that will always be around in the USA.
Otherwise, your $500 will go far and can get yourself a couple of other milsurps. I'd go for a Mauser as a second choice, they can be as cheap as $99.99 for 'good' grade Serbian to $459.99 for unissued Mausers with teakwood stocks. Try Impact guns. http://www.impactguns.com/store/M48-26-S.html
rangerruck
Member
I was gonna say either an 03 springfield, or a 1917 enfield. After that i'd go the swiss 31.
cracked butt
Member
For that price range you could buy some of the best milsurps out there:
M96 or m38 swedish mauser: $200-$400
Persian 98/29 mauser: $200 on up.
K-31: $100 on up
The biggest and best reasons why I picked the above rifles is that they are all very well made (the swedes and persians are by far the best made mausers in that price range), and none were fired with corrosive ammunition (the 98/29 might have fired corrosive ammunition, but was unlikely to be shot at all after it left the factory).
M96 or m38 swedish mauser: $200-$400
Persian 98/29 mauser: $200 on up.
K-31: $100 on up
The biggest and best reasons why I picked the above rifles is that they are all very well made (the swedes and persians are by far the best made mausers in that price range), and none were fired with corrosive ammunition (the 98/29 might have fired corrosive ammunition, but was unlikely to be shot at all after it left the factory).
aaronrkelly
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Definitely consider the K31, its one of the most accurate mil surps out there.
Cant go wrong with a Mauser either, I love my K98......more for the history then the accuracy but they are finely crafted rifles.
I picked my K31 up from Classic Arms, damn nice rifle - mine an early 50s gun and came with the troop ID tag even though I didnt pay extra for it (got lucky).
The K31s are the cats meow if you toss on a diopter sight......
Cant go wrong with a Mauser either, I love my K98......more for the history then the accuracy but they are finely crafted rifles.
I picked my K31 up from Classic Arms, damn nice rifle - mine an early 50s gun and came with the troop ID tag even though I didnt pay extra for it (got lucky).
The K31s are the cats meow if you toss on a diopter sight......
GarandOwner
Member
What you need is a good ol' US rifle M1903A3....or save and get yourself a Garand, you wont regret either. (though it price is your main concern, Id recomend the Mosin Nagant, it was my first rifle, cheap and accurate)
qajaq59
Member
I like the K31 Swiss.
jrfoxx
Member
K-31
GTSteve03
Member
Swedish Mauser. The epitome of the Mauser design, shoots one of the best cartridges ever made, the 6.5x55.
JNewell
Member
Swedes.
tbtrout
Member
You might want to check Mitchell's Mausers. I have heard some good reports on them, but I have not shot one.
Swedes are also a good way to go.
Swedes are also a good way to go.
redranger1
Member
For reliability and tough i dont think you can go wrong with any bolt action choice. But when you throw in accuracy no two guns stand out more then the Swede Mausers and the K-31 swiss rifles. The 6.5x55 ammo for the Swedes are going to be more common so you may take that into consideration.
iamkris
Member
If you are looking for tough and accurate, Swede Mauser or K31.
If those in addition to cheap, K31.
If those in addition to cheap, K31.
BillinNH
Member
Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 and K31 in 7.5x55 Swiss. Eventually you will get both so start with either. Third place is maybe a Finnish Mosin Nagant. But the Swede and the Swiss are clearly at the top. Equally desirable, IMO. The Swiss is technically more interesting, the Swede fires a more versatile cartridge.
Bill
Bill
outofbattery
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Yet another suggestion to get a K31,there aren't as many left out there and prices should start to rise.Not to mention wonderful shooting,it'd be quite expensive to replicate the machining to make one today.If you have a $500 budget,you could be well on your way to a nice milsurp shooter collection.
Davo
Member
K31!!!! Get 2, scope one, and spend the rest on ammo!
270Win
Member
K-31 or a Swede
Essex County
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Economics aside, I doubt if I'd swap one of my K31's for any 03 Springfield I've ever owned. Just a personal observation. Essex
offthepaper
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$500
Get a Mosin M91/30, K31, M48 Mauser, and a Swede.
For $500, If you take your time and check around, you can have a good start to the Milsurp collection you desire, and be at least be somewhere near your budget. Be careful though, Milsurp fever can fester into a major illness if the wallet allows.
Get a Mosin M91/30, K31, M48 Mauser, and a Swede.
For $500, If you take your time and check around, you can have a good start to the Milsurp collection you desire, and be at least be somewhere near your budget. Be careful though, Milsurp fever can fester into a major illness if the wallet allows.
longrifleman
Member
That description fits the Enfield No4 MkI as well as any other rifles already mentioned. Don't completely discount them, but they are more common and should be available later in your collecting career.
For pure quality, another vote for the K-31 and the Swedes. You will also find that reloading is almost a necessity due to the cost of the ammo for much volume shooting. Good luck and be aware there is no cure for milsurpitis; only frequent fixes to keep the shakes away.
MrDig
Member
Dem Svedes makes gutt rifles ya?
Only a Minnesotan will be able to translate that, so I would agree with the Swedish Mausers, as a first choice and the Swiss K-31 as a second.
Only a Minnesotan will be able to translate that, so I would agree with the Swedish Mausers, as a first choice and the Swiss K-31 as a second.
Yet again THR comes through for me. Sounds like the K31 and mauser are really up there, and I cannot wait to get either. I'm really surprised nobody bashed me for going straight to a milsurp as my first gun ever, so I cannot wait to grow old with this gun. On that note, with proper care and non-corrosive ammo, can theses rifles last me a lifetime.
Cosmoline
Member
Springfield 03's, Old Glory aside, are just Mauser knockoffs. They can be accurized, but the run of the mill ones you could get in that price range will not outshoot a K-31 or Swedish Mauser.
For top of the line, here's my list:
--Schmidt-Rubin 1911 or 96/11. These are the long rifles that came before the K-31 carbine. Accuracy is astonishingly good, and they handle like a dream. Very close to perfection.
--Greek Mannlicher-Schoenauer. Very hard to find now, but their actions are among the smoothest of any rifle ever made. Most of them have been cannibalized for sporters as a result.
--Swedish Mauser--target model. These are still around for that price range, and will shoot the pants off anything the US ever made. Sarco had them for awhile. The post war ones have a trimmed down stock, the wartime ones have the fulls tock. Both were floated.
--Swedish Mauser, Carl Gustaf Gevär m/96 long rifles. Also amazingly accurate and reliable. Wonderfully balanced, they feel lighter than they are.
--Finnish Mosin-Nagants. I would include the M-28, M-28/30, M-30 adn M-91 on this list. The M-39's include excellent rifles but the stocks cause too many problems to get them on this list.
For top of the line, here's my list:
--Schmidt-Rubin 1911 or 96/11. These are the long rifles that came before the K-31 carbine. Accuracy is astonishingly good, and they handle like a dream. Very close to perfection.
--Greek Mannlicher-Schoenauer. Very hard to find now, but their actions are among the smoothest of any rifle ever made. Most of them have been cannibalized for sporters as a result.
--Swedish Mauser--target model. These are still around for that price range, and will shoot the pants off anything the US ever made. Sarco had them for awhile. The post war ones have a trimmed down stock, the wartime ones have the fulls tock. Both were floated.
--Swedish Mauser, Carl Gustaf Gevär m/96 long rifles. Also amazingly accurate and reliable. Wonderfully balanced, they feel lighter than they are.
--Finnish Mosin-Nagants. I would include the M-28, M-28/30, M-30 adn M-91 on this list. The M-39's include excellent rifles but the stocks cause too many problems to get them on this list.
lionking
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its hard to go wrong with any of the above mentioned rifles so I''ll say based on personal preference.
M1903a3.....well balanced to me,slick action and great sights for target shooting.
Persian mauser......soooo elegant.
Swedish Mauser......well balanced,great cartridge,slick action
K31....very accurate,Im slowly warming up to its egronomics.
M1917......great sights,very solid.
Enfield.....very solid with good sights.
its true though as said,once you get the milsurp fever you might wind up with all of them in the end anyway.
M1903a3.....well balanced to me,slick action and great sights for target shooting.
Persian mauser......soooo elegant.
Swedish Mauser......well balanced,great cartridge,slick action
K31....very accurate,Im slowly warming up to its egronomics.
M1917......great sights,very solid.
Enfield.....very solid with good sights.
its true though as said,once you get the milsurp fever you might wind up with all of them in the end anyway.
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