First Mil-Surp

[vonShine]

I've recently rediscovered shooting after a long absence. I has brought back childhood memories of a 22 single shot and a pocket full of shorts. Now it is time for a Christmas present for me. I'm sure this subject has been beaten to death before. I want an inexpensive Mil-Surp. Which one is the question: M38, M44, M91/03, Turk Mauser, Yugo Mauser, K31, etc.??? I can't afford a Garand or 303 ammo. Just something fun for the range and easy to find ammo. I not a collector or into SKS's or AK's,yet! Thanks for all opinions.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Most of the deals on ammo are not going to be at your local sporting goods store but on-line. Most of the various caliber ammo is available via that road. For lots of shooting, I would like something in 7.62x39 like the SKS. Recoil is mild. Some of the other mil-surps can be fun but brutal on your shoulder. Try to narrow things down a bit more as far as price, type of action, etc. There are a lot of things to choose from.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Get a 91/30 (or a M-39 Finn if you can find one) as ammo is cheap to find. If ammo were no object I would suggest the K31.

 

[sailorjosh]

Whichever one you like the best! Everyone likes different milsurps. I'm partial to mosins, so I'd say get an M91/30, but that's just my opinion.

 

[irishvet]

Welcome Back

I too have got back into shooting again. I have the M91/30 and K31, both are great shooters and you can get ammo from sportsmansguide.com pretty cheep. If you have to choose between the two, I'd go for the K31. I hit golf balls at 100 yards with mine.

"The Constitutions of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed" Thomas Jefferson

 

[Outlaws]

Which ever one floats your boat.

IMO I don't have much desire for a lot of surplus stuff from countries I don't have any ancestry or some kind of desire to at least visit one day.

I had an SKS, but after about 2 days I got bored with it. Now I have a Swedish Mauser (cause I am 1/4 Swede) that is even fun to just look at, and I intend to get a German Mauser, a Krag, and of course a Garand and '03 Springer.

If you want something cheap to shoot, any 8mm Mauser will fit that bill.

 

[Chipperman]

If .303 cost seems high, don't even look at the K31.
The most affordable bolt gun now would be a Mosin or Yugo Mauser. Turks are cheap, but getting harder to find, at least around here.

Give the SKS some consideration. Semi-auto, poss ban in the near future, milder recoil, ammo not too much money.

 

[Lonestar.45]

I know you said you're not into SKS or AK's, but...the SKS is the poor man's Garand, and I'd recommend it over the others you mentioned as a cheap shooter and a good way to get back into shooting.

Of the ones you mentioned though, I'd go with a good Yugo Mauser. They're built well and usually better shooters than the Mosins. Ammo is cheaper and more plentiful than the K31 (though that's probably the most accurate of the ones you mentioned). Depends on what you want, I say, try to handle as many of them as you can before you decide.

 

[Cams29er]

Like Irishvet, I have a k31 and am picking up a 91/30 tomorrow. I get the 7.5x55 from sportsmansguide because its fairly cheap. Every gun store I go into seems to have boxes of 7.62x54r ammo for cheap. I really like the k31 because its fun to shoot. I mean most guns are fun, but the k31 just has something special to it.

 

[gudoldboy]

I have a M44 and really like it.. I have done a lot of tinering with it though. I do need to get a better butt pad! I will second the statement that they kick like a mule!! Also one hell of a fireball with some ammo.. I picked mine up last year for 70 bucks and also got 880rds of ammo for 70 bucks... I havent priced them in a while though.. Try your local funshow... You can usually find one around there..
Aaron

 

[joonia]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but Furious brought up a good point. Are we going to be shooting nothing but .223, 9mm, 40cal, and 300.06 in the near future?

 

[gunnerman78]

I would go with an SKS, AK-47 or a Czech VZ-52 she-rifle the 1st 2 are in 7.62x39 but the she-rifle is in 7.62x45 or if it has been modified at some point 7.62x39. I have all 3 and they are fun

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

If you can find one, get an M91/30 with a turn down bolt. I don't know where Katy is, but Military Gun Supply of Ft. Worth has them for around $140. And they have nice bores.

 

[rangerruck]

for cheap rifle cheap ammo, and not too big, go with the 38, find an origional dog collar sling for it, (20 bucks) it is the only one that looks right on it. Also get a SMALL size , slip on pad for it. Your shoulder will thank you. So all together here, you will spend about 150 dollars. If you don't likey, at least you haven't broken the bank. Other wise I would go K 31.

 

[270Win]

K31 is the nicest, and most accurate... if you have a little money to burn on the ammo, which - for milsurps anyway - is pricy.

Mosin would be my vote for a diehard, durable go-to milsurp that is both fun and accurate. Ammo is simply dirt cheap. Both the 91/30 and the carbines are great choices.

Mausers are great also, but tend to be a little pricier. Ammo is also dirt cheap.

It's possible to find an Enfield converted to .308, which is affordable, ammo-wise.

And, of course, the old standby is always the SKS - ammo has been harder to find, and more expensive, lately... but I hardly know a shooter who DOESN'T have one.

 

[offthepaper]

Mosins, Mausers, and SKS's all fit the bill. If cost of FA is an issue, these all are very affordable. Cost of ammo, again, about the cheapest you'll find. Cost of maintaining the FA, parts are cheap and plentiful for all three. My own favorite of the stated three is the mauser. My Yugo M48 was in great shape when I bought it about 6-7 years ago for $85. The stock was a choice piece of wood and the bore was pristine. Even though you'll pay more now for one I think everybody should have one of these D ) But, the other two also make excellent choices for your stated purpose. If you don't mind paying the price to feed her, the K31 is easily the most accurate, and is, as they say, "built like a fine watch".
Or better yet, get a C&R license and slowley buy them all . No matter which you choose, all can be fine shooters with the priceless feel of history. Be careful though, Milsurps can breed if you're not careful.

 

[Vairochana]

Buy a SMLE, reload the .303 or shoot military ammo- you will fall in love and never regret it (make sure you get a Lithgow)

ps- the bipod is just there for display

 

[Waywatcher]

I recently bought my first mil-surp rifle. It's a Yugo SKS, very easy to take apart and clean, reliable as can be. (100% so far) I know you said no initially, but I highly recommend it!

If I was going to buy a mil-surp bolt action I would certainly get a Mosin-Nagant rifle. I really like the sights on "russian" guns, but I'm sure I'm in the minority there.

 

[Essex County]

8mm Yugo if you arent prepared to feed a K31............Essex

 

[CU74]

Get the C&R License

I suggest starting with a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 - nice ones can be easily found at modest cost and the 7.62x54R ammo is abundant. The Swiss K-31 is a better shooter, but the 7.5x55 Swiss ammo is getting scarce.

I strongly suggest you spend the $30 on a C&R license. You will eliminate the FFL from your purchases of old milsurp rifles; you won't pay sales tax on out-of-state purchases; you will qualify for dealer discounts at lots of places (Brownell's, Midway, etc.); you may flatten your bank account buying old rifles.

Given the abundance of 7.62x54R ammo, your could build a whole collection around one caliber - M91/30;M44;M38;Finn M39;Yugo M38 and shoot every day.

 

[wooderson]

I saw someone with a good deal on Indian Enfield 2As in .308 NATO - a relatively common ammo type (.308 Winchester) if you're willing to pay for hunting ammo. (There is some disagreement about the suitability of commercial ammo over mil-surp, but everything I've read points to it being perfectly fine in normal use.)

 

[Glockamolie]

I think the K31 has the best chance of going up in value, and they're great shooters. The ammo is a little pricey, though. I'm hoping to pick one up shortly.

I'm actually in Katy, too, by the way.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Get an 8mm mauser (8x57). If you want to take a walk on the wild side, get an M95 straight bolt from Southern Ohio Gun. $99+ transfer. It shoots 8x56 mauser which is generally mil-surplus. Most of it is Nazi marked which is historicool. You newer ammo is harder to come by, but you can find it. The M95 was my first gun. I still love mine to death.

 

[Loanshark]

Everyone should own a k-31. If you shoot enough for it to be too expensive, roll your own. You can use the .308 win bullets for reloading. I only own 2 milsurps, both of them are k-31s. After spending some quality time with my first one I just had to have annother. Most of them will shoot the fleas off you dog's a$$ at 100 yards.

Aim surplus has them for $119 by the way.

 

[armoredman]

I'd go with q nice 91/30, a Finn if you can spring the $ for it. otherwise, get a nice 91/30, (pre war years a PLUS), and a couple of tins of surplus ammo, and have fun. they are not the most accurate rifles in the world, but i have been getting good results with handloads at 100 yards with my 1920 Izzy 91/30.
I also agree that the Yugo SKS is a real snagger - they won't be around forever either, and more likely to be in someones' "bansights". Good durablerifles, not incredibly accurate, but always work.