Mil-surplus Christmas gift

[marshall3]

My wife gave me a little money for a Christmas present, and I'm planning to buy my first Military Surplus rifle. I don't know which to get: SKS, 1898 Mauser, Yugo Mauser, Swiss K-31...
Any suggestions for a first MilSurp?

Here's my research: http://www.mouseguns.com/milsurp.htm

I've read all the articles there.

 

[Firehand]

Well, what do you like the most? Bolt-actions or semi-autos? There's a start. And how much consideration is ammo cost? 8mm and 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R is fairly cheap for good-quality stuff(much is corrosive primed, so clean accordingly); some other like the 7.5 Swiss is a fair bit more expensive, .303 British has become so as surplus seems to have pretty much run out.

Lots of possibilities out there. And there's always the CMP and the M1 Garand or 1903 Springfield...

 

[marshall3]

More specifics...

I want to spend less than $200. Semi auto or bolt action makes no difference. I like accuracy. I'd like to get something with a sweet trigger. I'm not too concerned about cost of ammo. I'm leaning toward the K-31. My local gunshop has two. Wotcha think?

I'd kind of like an SKS, too, but I've read that the trigger is "like trying to pull the bumper off my truck." Is that right?

 

[Ian]

Sounds like a K31 is right up your alley.

 

[Firehand]

I'd have to agree, you might well like the K-31. I've heard very good things about trigger and accuracy, whereas most other mil-surp stuff needs some work to get a really good trigger action.

If I had more free cash(is it ever, really?), I'd buy one myself.

 

[donkee]

Get the K31, you'll love it. If you don't hand load, this may be the gun to start doing it for.....

 

[George S.]

For a first Milsurp, I would look at Mosin-Nagants. You can find these all day long for around $80 on sale. 7.62x54R milsurp ammo is cheap and easily available. You can choose between a 91/30, M38, or M44 and they will be a lot of fun to shoot. M-N's will not provide you with MOA accuracy but most of the WWII-era milsurps were never designed for extreme accuracy. They were infantry rifles and the standard for the 91/30 was 4-6" at 200 meters.

My 1931 91/30 will shoot 6" groups at 200 meters with the iron sights and 147gr FMJ Czech Silvertip ammo. The shorter versions like the M38 and M44 can be found as rearsenaled ones that were put into storage by Soviet-bloc countries. You could possibly find one with a new or near-new barrel.

An SKS would be a good choice too. A good Yugo version (or a Russian one) is not expensive and 7.62x39 is cheap ammo too.

The CMP Garands are outside the dollar range and the CMP is now out of the 1903A3 rifle. But save up for a Garand!! This is one rifle everyone has to have in their collection, followed by an '03 and a M1 Carbine

 

[redranger1]

get the k-31, its been said many times and many ways that its the last great bargain surplus rifle and thy will only go up in costs. i plan on buyin a couple asap.

 

[Farnham]

K-31. Case of ammo from AIM. Still cheaper than a new 10/22.

S/F

Farnham

 

[Preacherman]

For $200, you can get both a Mosin-Nagant of one or other flavor and an SKS in shooter grade. I'd consider that to be more fun than just buying one rifle - but then that's me...

Oh, and don't let the trigger quality worry you. You can drop in replacement triggers on both guns, and/or smooth up the issue units with dry-firing. Not a major problem.

 

[losangeles]

As my new sig suggests, I've just added a few milsurps --- all at one time. Today, I got the Swiss K-31, the Mosin Nagant M-44 and M-91. I already got the Yugo SKS M59.

I've done some research and can't believe how inexpensive range shooting is going to be. Although with these rifles I'll probably put some limits as not only are they going to be occasional shooters but as relics part of my collection.

The K-31 was $99, the M-44 and M-91 each $79. Cheap, so I bought all three of them.

 

[ocabj]

Garand.

 

[BloodyBucket03]

Milsurp Christmas Purchase

Get a Mosin and K31. I own both. I just purchased my K31 a few days ago. I am refinishing the stock because it looks horrible but the rest of the rifle is beautiful. My Mosin M38 is great rifle to shoot the draw back is the horrible trigger. So I had to purchase a trigger from Huber. Just like the guys are saying the ammo for the mosin is cheap. The ammo for the K31 is slightly pricey depends on where you buy it. Whatever rifle you decide good luck on you purchase.