Surplus Rifles

[passintime]

So, I am wanting to get into the whole surplus rifle shooting. I hear it is fun and cheap. I was looking at the el cheapo mosin nagant for 70-80 dollars. Any suggestions? Do you'll shoot these bone stock or make some modifications? Thanks! Any and all input is welcome since I am mainly a handgunner. What rifles should I look at? What surplus ammo? Mags? Thanks!

 

[High Planes Drifter]

Nagants will be cheap and abundant for at least the next few years. If you are serious about getting into surpluss rifles, I would advise you to grab a Swiss K31, and a Swedish Mauser M96 first ; as these rifles are starting to dry up and are going up in price.

 

[alde]

Get a Service Grade Garand from the CMP. The best bang for the buck out there IMO.

 

[Shade00]

Many consider it heresy to modify a military rifle. I would hesitate to extensively modify an M1 Garand or other fairly expensive rifle, but not a Mosin. Personally I would recommend you get a Mosin, as ammo is super cheap (you'll just have to learn proper cleaning procedure, as the ammo is corrosive), but I also think SKSes are a blast. Yugo SKSes run around $200, depending on where you are and where they come from. They're a blast to shoot, and 7.62x39 is widely available.

Enfield rifles are also great shooters. .303 British can still be found in surplus, and it's fairly cheap. These rifles are super accurate.

 

[jws527]

The real fun in surplus rifles is to shoot them as they are, and as they were used. If you're going to put them in a synthetic stock and slap a scope on them (excluding perhaps scout scopes or period-correct scope for sniper-type rifles) you might as well just buy a modern hunting rifle that was made for the purpose.

There are some out there who will crucify anybody who even thinks about modifying a military surplus rifle. Personally, I don't belong to that camp (after all: their money, their rifle), though I do think it's a lot smarter to make non-permanent alterations (NO drilling, tapping, cutting, threading etc!) so that you don't destroy the gun's resale value.

 

[jws527]

Get a Service Grade Garand from the CMP. The best bang for the buck out there IMO.

Oh, I don't know about that - you could build a modest collection of milsurp bolt guns for the price of a single Garand, CMP or not. For example:

Service Grade Garand - $600

-or-

Yugo Mauser - $120
Mosin 91/30 - $70
Mosin M44 - $70
Enfield No.4 - $180
K31 - $185

Total: $625

Of course, this assumes you have a C&R and aren't getting hit with transfer fees, but I suppose even if you don't you can eliminate one or two of the rifles above. The point remains...

 

[Colorado]

I have a blast shooting my Moisn Nagant 91/30. Ammo is cheap, but you must clean your rifle after shooting it every time. Not a bad idea for all firearms really. Mine is from 1939 and I picked it up for under $90. Great fun. Enjoy.

 

[Hoppy590]

dont make any "modifications" to any milsurp ( slip on pads, and no drill mounts aside) just shoot them as is.

i agree, get a Mosin (any one, but Finns are nice) a K31, and an Enfield

 

[alde]

jws,

Point taken. There are many less expensive mil-surp rifles out there that would scratch the itch for a high power rifle. Many are very good deals and I plan on building my collection with a few, but there is just something about my Garand that makes me smile every time I take it to the range. Maybe it's that "PING" on the last shot or having 8 rounds of semiauto 30-06. It's just a great rifle.

 

[sarduy]

get a Mosin from aim, they have a very good selection

 

[passintime]

Is aim surplus the best place to get the mosin nagant and the ammo? What kind of shape are these in?

 

[Hoppy590]

What kind of shape are these in?

depends on the rifle. many 91/30's or M44's will be like new. where as most M38's and some m44's and 91/30's may be rearsenaled.

AIM, J&G, Center Fire Systems and almost any other source are getting them from the same importers, and likely would be the same in terms of condition.( with the exception of those CFS battlefield pickups)

 

[elmerfudd]

Many consider it heresy to modify a military rifle. I would hesitate to extensively modify an M1 Garand or other fairly expensive rifle, but not a Mosin.

I tend to agree with this. I wouldn't modify a Finn, or a more unusual MN like a 91, 38 or an American made one, but there are just so many cheap 91/30's and M44's out there that their prices are extremely unlikely to rise any time soon. They're not really collectible and they probably won't be for another 75 years or so, so if it makes someone happy to alter them I'm not going to object.

 

[hardwarehacker]

Since MN 91/30s were mentioned, the Big-5 store here has them for $69 this week, which is about as low as any retail price I have seen. Don't know if this is a chain-wide sale or just this area.

 

[hobgob]

I have a garand and an enfield. Both great guns. My garand is a service grade from cmp. My enfield is a 1943 no4 mk1 Fazarkerly. Personally i would look into the enfields! action is much smoother than a nagant and faster. If you can find one with the micrometer sights, you would be very please, mine just has regular peep sights. ammo is a bit more expensive, but still a great shooter! that being said, Mosins are great guns too. you just have to slap them around a bit more... and the definetly return the favor.

 

[rem2429]

Personaly I am not a fan of the mosin. I would get anything before it, but if that is what you can afford then go for it. It is serviceable. A better but still affordable buy is an sks. Less common, but still reasonable is a K31, ammo is a bit tricky to find, but not impossible. Mausers, Enfields, Garands are all worth consideration.

 

[jws527]

Many are very good deals and I plan on building my collection with a few, but there is just something about my Garand that makes me smile every time I take it to the range. Maybe it's that "PING" on the last shot or having 8 rounds of semiauto 30-06. It's just a great rifle.

Well, I can't argue with that. There really is something about the Garand that a lot of other rifles simply don't have - including the rifles I listed above.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I have a M44 and a 91/30 Mosin. Both are fine shooters but my K31 Swiss is a dream to shoot. I shoot headshots on the target offhand at 100 yards. Amazingly accurate and soft shooting. The straight pull bolt is unique and smooth operating. I love it.

 

[txdude321]

i have a mosin nagant m44 and they are a ton of fun plus more to shoot!, plus you look cool shooting with the bayonet extended (you can make smores from the fireball coming out of the muzzle) Jk or am i? :banghead:

Get yourself a mosin you wont regret it

 

[the rifleer]

cant go wrong with a mosin. usually pretty accurate and ultra dependable.

 

[yenchisks]

24/47 $129. original mauser

 

[CU74]

So, I am wanting to get into the whole surplus rifle shooting. I hear it is fun and cheap.

I suggest you submit the paperwork and the $30 to get a Collector of Curios and Relics (C&R) Federal Firearms License. The C&R FFL emphasizes the "cheap" for collecting surplus rifles. You can order from one of the on-line dealers and have the rifle delivered to your doorstep, without the hassle and cost of going through a local dealer for paperwork and fees. You will probably "recoup" the $30 with the first purchase. Moreover, many of the on-line ammo/equipment folks will give you their FFL discount if you send them a signed copy of your C&R FFL.

 

[Danus ex]

These recommendations are always difficult because a rifle's performance depends almost entirely on how well it fits its user and how well that individual rifle shoots. My counterbored Tula 91/30 shoots better than my mint-bored Tikka 91/30. My MAS 36 groups tighter than my K31. We can all think of a million little exceptions like that.

A K31 is a good place to start, though. Everyone seems to like it (or at least not hate it).

 

[ColinthePilot]

I love my Mosin Nagants. I bought my first, an M38, about 6 months ago, and I just bought a 91/30 last weekend. I also have a CMP Garand, and a Yugo SKS, but I still find I shoot my Mosins a lot more than the other Milsurps. Part of that is ammo price and availability. Surplus 30.06 is still available cheap from CMP, but in a year, I've only gone through half a case. Its a great rifle, but I only shoot about 40rds each time I go to the range. 7.62X39 is getting pricey, which is why I don't shoot the SKS as much. 7.62X54R is really cheap, but the cheap stuff is corrosive, as others have mentioned, so you have to do a bit of cleaning at the range. Otherwise, the MN's wouldn't ever get cleaned, because they don't need it.
I can't speak much on what to look for on the SKS or the Garand, but on the Mosin you really want to check out the bore before you buy. Its common to find pitting in the bore because the Russians didn't care about shooting corrosive ammo and not cleaning the rifle. Just open the bolt, pull the trigger and slide the bolt right out the back, and then aim it at a good light source and you'll be able to see all the rifling, and pitting if there is any. Also find out what comes with the rifle. Many will come with a sling, some ammo pouches, a messy oiler can, and 91/30's will come with a big spike bayonet.

 

[NWGunner]

Something Extra...

It's been my experience that surplus rifles carry with them an aura of history, militaria and general intrigue. Shooting the 'surps is like going to a museum, and stepping into the display to grab your things to go to the range. History really holds my interest like few other topics can. Given most of these weapons' significance in the geopolitical landscape, I find them to be more enjoyable than shooting some of my other rifles. Yes, I have some fun toys, but the M44 and SKS are probably my "favorites" to shoot.

One more thing on the M44 specifically, maybe I'm a little sensitive, but I don't ever think I could go broke shooting it simply due to the fact after about 50 rounds through it, I'm ready to shoot something a little more forgiving.

Am I the only one that gets goose-bumps when I visit war memorials or watch Saving Private Ryan?