Recommendations for my first C&R purchase.

[Hokkmike]

I am soon to make my first purchase with a C&R license. I want to purchase the best looking, most utilitarian, and cheapest C&R gun that I can. I have no C&R guns currently. I was thinking SKS, TT-33, or M-38 Swede. (I don't believe Makarov's or P-63's are in the C&R classification.

Can you, especially if you have bought one already, offer me a suggestion? Maybe a link?

Thanks, I am excited to join the "crufflers"!

 

[Seminole]

Congratulations on the new C&R. Whatever you buy first, it won't be the last!

By the way, the East German Makarovs are C&R guns.

 

[Hokkmike]

Seminole, thanks for your quick reply. You have captured my imagination with your first reply. If you know anything about the East German Mak's could you tell me? I have heard rumors of good things about them. Would one, for example, be an adequately powerful and reliable carry gun in your opinion? I have heard that their quality is high. I have only ever seen one and have no experience with Mak's!

 

[Seminole]

Well, I did carry a Mak for a couple of years, though it was a Bulgarian. 9x18 is on the lower end of the calibers I'm comfortable with for carry, but I don't think it is anything to sneeze at. The Mak is also fairly heavy, since it is all steel. I actually have a pocket holster for a Mak, but the gun really doesn't carry well in the pocket, so I usually carried it IWB. I carried it because it was my only pistol at the time. I bought it because it was cheap (I think I paid $125 for it) and I could shoot it fairly well.

While it sufficed as a carry weapon when it was all I had, as soon as I could afford to buy something else I did--a used HK USPc in .40 that was was a higher capacity, higher caliber gun with better sights and (believe it or not) a better trigger. While my USP has been absolutely reliable, so was the Mak. If the USP is a Lexus, the Mak is a Corolla--either one will ultimately get you where you want to go.

Now the average East German will feature much nicer fit and finish than the average Bulgie. This is reflected in the price difference, of course.

If you are looking for a cheap CCW I think there are better choices. If you are looking for a C&R that you can CCW an East German Mak is a fine choice.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[PGroenewold]

Good-looking, utilitarian, AND cheap? You ask for a lot, friend! Here are some thoughts:

East German Makarov: Bought mine well before they climbed above $325, but they are very smooth and well-built. Due to their fixed barrel, they're remarkably accurate considering the short sight radius. If you're considering CCW, they're kind of heavy relative to the power of the 9x18 round, but they're reliable as a rock.

SKS: I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but they're cheap, great fun, and, again, reliable as a rock. Accuracy is unremarkable.

Swedish M96 Mauser: Graceful lines, smooth action and excellent workmanship. The recoil of the 6.5x55 round in a 10 pound rifle is mild. My Swede is nearly 100 years old and is one of the most accurate rifles I own. Downsides? Ammo isn't cheap, and I doubt you'll find these rifles for less than $300 any more.

Schmidt-Rubin K31: Truly built like a Swiss watch. Phenomenal machining and workmanship. Extremely accurate. At less than $150, an absolute screaming bargain. Surplus GP11 ammo is excellent quality, but somewhat pricey at $.40 per round. My usual sources for ammo are temporarily sold out, but I understand more should be available in a few months. Length of pull is shorter than one would expect, which can make for awkward shooting.

Kar 98 Mauser: Russian-capture WWII German Mausers are still going for $200 to $300, I believe. I think it's a great price for a true piece of history. They're generally well-made (depending on the year) and surplus 8mm ammo is dirt-cheap right now.

M1 Carbine: Having your C&R now qualifies you to purchase rifles from the CMP. I think they're accepting orders for these within a few weeks, and I'm sure they will be deluged with applications. I don't know whether you consider >$500 cheap, but this gun is definitely a classic.

There's a lot more out there, but this is a short list of C&Rs that I've enjoyed most. Good luck, and be prepared to burn through a LOT of cash!

Regards,

PG

 

[trickyasafox]

i got my c&r last year

since then i've bought:

yugo 59
yugo 59/66
mosin nagant
pa-63 (still had to go to a FFL01 in NY)

all have been great, but if i did it over, i'd skip the model 59 and get the 59/66

 

[[email protected]]

If you want cheap & durable go with a nagant rifle or carbine
M-1 carbines are good
winchesters prior to 1956
take a look on gunbroker or auction arms & have fun.

 

[vis-à-vis]

With your standards you should get a Mosin Nagant M44. Can get a nice one from $95-150 depending on where you look. Cheap ammo currently as well ($40 = 440 rds from aimsurplus).

 

[garymc]

CZ 52 and CZ 82

CZ 52 pistol is a blast to shoot. And it's quite a hunk of steel if you need to pistolwhip someone. The CZ82 in 9x18 Makarov was just listed as C&R and you can get one at AIM surplus for $199. AIM also has the CZ52 for $139. The surplus 7.62x25 ammo has magnetic bullets and they will punch through a tree without a scratch. The Swiss K31 and the Yugo 59/66 are the other 2 candidates I would suggest. Classic Arms has CZ52's they've had hard chromed for $199. http://www.classicarms.us/
http://www.aimsurplus.com/
and also J&G sales http://www.jgsales.com/index.php

 

[aerod1]

I would have to go with the Swedish Mauser because the supply is drying up and they are some of the best old rifles ever made. I have four Swede Mausers and I love them all.
Another I would get is a K-31 Swiss (Schmidt Rubin). If this design were to be developed and built in todays market they would cost in excess of $1000.00.
The Swedes and the Swiss required engineering excellence that was way ahead of their time.
Just my honest opinion, some may disagree.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Mosin Nagant, but then, I watched Enemy at the Gates again this weekend.

 

[El Tejon]

I'd jump on one of those Swiss K-31s now while you can.

 

[aerod1]

I agree with El Tejon. The supply of Schmidt Rubins is drying up. The prices are increasing as we speak. Getting a K-31 is a must because they didn't make as many of these as they did other milsurps. I may be wrong but I'm thinking they made somewhere in the neighborhood of 500,000 Schmidt Rubins. The Russians made Mosin Nagants by the millions, but I have some of those also.