What do you consider "Must-Have" Milsurps?

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the best deal in milsurps right now is the swiss k31.
the second best deal is the finnish m39.
after that, the yugoslavian m59 sks
finally, the last good milsurp deal is the slightly damaged waffenampt russian capture k98s.

now, what about really cool c&r rifles?
well, you have several choices. in no particular order:
1. SVT-40
2. m1 carbine
3. safn 49
4. hakim
5. llungman (sp)
6. mas 49/56 (a REALLY good deal right now)
7. russian sks
8. m1 garand

now, when you are rich, and you can really spend $, but dont want to do NFA...

1. armalite ar15
2. rashid
3. g43
4. johnson
5. bm-59

and..
don't forget c&r shotguns!!

an AWESOME deal right now on shotties is the Remington Model 11. Waaaay undervalued. It is the american licensed version of the browning humpback a5. very high quality, very reliable. less than 200 shipped! semi auto shotgun.

another undervalued shotty is the stevens model 520.
 
My current stable:
Luger (mine's commercial, rather than military, but it's still a luger)
M1 Carbine (Underwood)
1911A1 (again, mine's an almost, Sistema, rather than US Government)

My wishlist:
1903A3
Either an SMLE or Jungle Carbine
91/30
Dragunov
CZ-52
Colt 1917
Genuine US Military 1911A1, don't really care whether it be colt, remington rand, or one of the others, but one that was made HERE, and used by our guys, rather than the World Tour of 1911s I've got now.
SKS
Garand


~~~Mat
 
Get everything you like and can afford. Look around and know what is what and you can find some really great Milsurp firearms for not that much.

It's almost a crime, not to stock up on cheap and like new Moison Nagants

Same with K-31's. Actually, I haven't bought one yet, Instead, I happened to find what I believe is a Swiss 1896/11 Alpine Sporter, the Alpine sporter part being a marketing gimmick, that thankfully, only involved the cutting back of the forestock. 1911's, the rifle that is are also nice but cost up yto twice a K-31 price.

Swedish Mausers are great, but so is an AG-42, a semiautomatic rifle that replaced it. I found one for about half what they are worth, and the rifle is quite fun to fire, although it tends to eat brass. About half are trashed.

German Mausers are also quite good. A K-98 is essential, but how about it's WWI predecessor, the GEW 98? The German made Mausers, that were exported to several South American countries are quite nice. Personally, I think the 7MM rifles are a bit preferable to other calibers.

Yugo and Czech Mausers are great rifles, though probably not quite as historical as other Mausers.

There are tons of Enfields out there in several models, including the Ishapore models in 308. I'm not into them personally, but many people are and recommend them. And 303 can still be had in surplus.

FN-49's are great. I passed up on a really nice Venuzualen some years ago in 7mm and I've been kicking myself since, especially since I can now find surplus 7mm. Instead, I got a Argentine navy model in 308 with removable magazines. The regular magazines are removable, but these are actually designed to be removable. The rifle also comes in 30-06, but it seems the most common is the Egyptian 8mm.

While you're at it, grap an FAL replica.

You need a Garand.

The PSL is an actual Romanian military rifle, and not a replica, although I am reasonably sure, the parts are being made new specifically for the US market.

All SKS's, except for certain Chinese models are surplus. Russians are usually really nice.

AK's? Replicas, but get some anyway.

Lugars? P-38's? Cool! Available. To be really cool, get a German Broomhandle Mauser. Some of the Webly's are also cool, as are the Moison revolvers. The DA version is also very cool.

Grap a Tokarev pistol, and a Tokarev rifle. And get a CZ 52. And a Makarov pistol. I got a RUssian made one, it's not really Milsurp, but it is a really nice DA auto.

If price is no object, and neither is ergonomics. Get a DP-28, a Semiauto BAR, Browning 1919a-2, an MG-42 semiauto, ect. I am trying also not to be envious for the guy that posted the G-43's, because Envy is a sin, but I would really like to have one. I got my SVT-40 for a decent price, but for the longest time I believed I wouldn't be able to find one, so who knows? Maybe I'll find a G-43 for a decent price. Oh yes, don't forget the Johnson 1941. Someone specializes in redoing them, but they are several thousand dollars.

1903's are alright, and think about a Steyr M-95, the "other white meat", I mean the "other straight pull rifle".

Japanese type 99 are good and strong, and ammunition is difficult, but not impossible to find. I missed out on ohe that had the bayonet and the AA sights. It might have also had the monopod, but the bayonet was skrinkwrapped to the stock and so massive I could't see if the monpod was there. I also missed out on my grandfather's trapdoor Springfield. Krags are also nice, but like Enfields, I'm just not into them.

Well. that's about everything.
 
Everything. EVERY SINGLE ONE.

But for some starters, a good Mosin, a K31, and SKS, a Garand.
Some unqiue items others won't always have; Arisaka's, Caracano's, Lebel's and Mas 36's. Spanish Mausers are good too.

Then you've got pistols. Nagant revolvers are cheap and neat gun. Broom handles are costly but they awesome as well. If you can find a old Beretta they're great additions. Lugers, P38's, and PPK's are great as well.

Those are just some basics though.
 
+1 on the French MilSurps. Most have been fired very little and dropped only once!

My sweetest shooter and a must have is my K31. I just bought mine and I love it.

I also have a Mosin 91/30 and a M44. They cost 150 and 80 bucks respectively. Why wouldn't you have one?? Both kick like a son of a gun and have terrible triggers. I LOVE them.

And also lets not forget the Star BM 9mm. I have two of them. They are SO sweet shooting.

But if I had to pick a MUST HAVE. I would say the SKS. It is the poor mans assault rifle, hunting rifle, all around home protector. It is a jack of all trades and pretty good at all of them. IT is sturdy, reliable, ammo is plentiful, and with practice is a pretty formidable weapon. I have a Tula Russian SKS that is not only a great shooter but great looking too.

WAIT, I forgot about the Makarov and the CZ52?!?! Dang, I guess they are all "MUST HAVEs" I wouldn't part with any of them.
 
Russian ..... Japan Britian
SKS............... Arisaka 38 ............ Enfields
Mosin................ Arisaka 99 .............. Webley revolver
SVT ................ Nambu
Nagant revolver

USA ........ Germany
M1 ........ Luger
M14 ...... K98
M1 carbine
1911
1903 Springfield
 
1941 Johnson (If I could have anything) but if I could only have 1, for the rest of my life, It would have to be : US Rifle Cal .30 M1 (Go figure ;) ) I love my Garand, her name is Kate.

If I become president: everyone gets a Garand; and to talk bad about them would be considered treason.
 
None are must-have rifles.

I have a bunch I never shoot. If you want a rifle for shooting, go get a heavy barrel 700 or something and have at it. If you want a rifle for hunting, choose one according to your game and environment, but if you figure you'll make a huntin' rifle by dinking around with a milsurp, expect to blow too much money on an inferior gun.

If you want a collection of historical interest, however, they're ALL "must-haves." Worse than cigarettes, as addictions go.

I know a guy with over 100 98-series German Mausers alone, all with some interesting variation or provenance.

Don't start.:)
 
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Everyone needs an SKS to fart off with. Mil surp ammo by the 1000 case. Cheap range thrills. Beyond that, whatever you're into. I'm not reallythat into mil surps, but I have a few, a Hakim, an 88 commission rifle, sold a Spanish 1916 mauser I got cheap. All are fun to shoot, but kinda useless. The SKS is just down right too cheap to pass up the fun on, though. They are a little higher now days that the 75 bucks I gave for my rifle or the 115 I gave for my paratrooper, but there are still SKS bargains out there for not much more. Down side is they'll never be worth a whole lot as supply, no doubt, will never outstrip demand.
 
Here's how I see it... it's not what you "must have", but rather what do you like. For instance, if you look at my last post you'll notice I have and shoot a German K98k, M1 Garand, and No.4Mk2 British Enfield. I like those and my Nat'l Ord. 1903A3 build which I was just shooting (testing loads to deer hunt) yesterday. You'll also notice I don't have and don't care for the Mosin Nagant rifles... while that makes me a sort of oddity on this forum, they just don't appeal to me.

Now, this thing about not using a milsurp to hunt... there've been many many deer and other big game killed with Enfields in .303British, especially in Canada. The British Enfield is to Canada what the 1903/03A3 is to the US. And likewise, there's been a lot of hunting rifles made on the '03/'03A3 actions and used to hunt big game in the US. But rather than to sporter one, I'd not hesitate to use my Enfield and '03A3... and maybe even my M1... as issued to hunt deer. But now, if rescueing one of Bubba's rejects means building a sporter and it can be done nicely and turn it into something respectable, both in appearance and accuracy, then don't think I won't go for it. Some of us just like to tinker.
 
Some of us just like to tinker.

Nothing wrong with that.

And I happen to really like the Enfield action. Of course it will harvest game, too.

I do think, however, that people with little mechanical knowledge and no equipment see the price tag of a Mosin carbine and think, "Woohoo! Cheap deer rifle." By the time you're done, you'll have learned a few things, but you'll have spent a lot more money than you thought you would, especially if you scope it, for an overweight, clunky little rifle. (I have two, but they're in original configurations.)

That's what I meant. As much as you might be put off by the pricetag of a new rifle, you can go plunk down $520 on a Weatherby Vanguard package gun with a scope on it, a sling and a hard case, and you'll have an accurate, reliable new rifle that isn't all shot-out. You can take it to the range and shoot it on the way home from the store, and to the woods the next day. By the time you're done with the Mosin carbine hunting rifle, you'll have spent at least as much and the Vanguard will easily outshoot it, has a better trigger, etc.
 
1. M1 Garand
2. Mosin M44
3. Mosin 91/30
4. SKS




Wait a sec, those are the only Milsurps I have.:)



On second thought, I have to say all of them:D


y?

if u buy a french made milsurp its probably never been fired......but u may have to clean off a urine spot or two

Haha, good stuff.
 
Military surplus

They must to be rebarreled, I have 98 Mauser 22-250, Arisaka 38 .308Win and Arisaka 38 and 9,3x57 Mauser.
 
Swede 96 and/or Swede 38 completes any worthy Milsurp collection. Krags are cool also, though I got rid of mine. And the Arisaka's are pretty interesting pieces. My hands down favorite it my No.4 (T) at the range and the G43 in the safe. If you can add either of these to your collection without giving up a first-born...go for it.
 
I'm particularly enamored of the last generation of non-smokeless powder rifles, there's just an elegance to them that later rifles just don't have. Yes, the Krag and the Arisakas have a beauty to them, but a Swiss Vetterli is just gorgeous.
As far as which ones I particularly want.....ALL OF THEM. I want at least one example of every rifle fielded by every army since the mid 1600s. Preferably at least one example of every VARIATION or VERSION fielded too. As far as the ones I can actually AFFORD.....well.
 
I like accurate , smooth operating rifles, so my choices are the Swede 96 and 38, the Swiss K-31, and 1911, the 98 Mauser(Yugo 48), and the M-1. I have to include my 1871 Swiss Vetterli, as one of the slickest, early bolt action cartridge rifles.
 
As previously noted, there are no "gotta haves", (with the possible exception of the John Moses Browning Masterpiece - the 1911 semi-automatic pistol).) It all comes down to personal preference (and your firearms budget).

IMHO, the "desirables" include the Springfield 1903, Swedish Mausers, Russian and Finnish Mosins, Swiss Schmidt-Rubins, and other non-German Mausers. For semi-auto rifles, I prefer the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, SAFN-49 (in 30.06 caliber), and the Egyptian Hakim (in lieu of the much more expensive Swedish Ljundgren).

As a personal preference, I do not care for the Enfields, anything Japanese or French, nor German firearms. Neither am I an accumulator of Mil-Surp handguns - I spend my money on old Smith and Colt revolvers.
 
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