txcookie
Member
My first rifle was a carl gustov 94 . Then I got me a yugo 98K. I am a sucker for a mouser action I guess
What started your interest in milsurps?
- Thread starter shuvelrider
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Bojangles7
Member
I have my grandfathers inventory list of what he had to claim when he came back from the European theater. There's a Luger listed but he apparently sold it a while back. Would have loved to inherit that.
tahoe2
Member
when I was 10
my dad (retired marine) and two of his buddies (retired army), shot and reloaded for .30 cal M1 carbine, .30-40 Krag, and a 1903 Springfield.
The M1 carbine was the first centerfire rifle I ever shot, then I progressed up, .30-40 & so-on. That was 42 years ago,
I only have 5 milsurps, all mausers
German M98k
Yugo M24/47
Yugo M48A
Spanish 1893 long rifle (1916 pattern)
Spanish 1895 carbine
my dad (retired marine) and two of his buddies (retired army), shot and reloaded for .30 cal M1 carbine, .30-40 Krag, and a 1903 Springfield.
The M1 carbine was the first centerfire rifle I ever shot, then I progressed up, .30-40 & so-on. That was 42 years ago,
I only have 5 milsurps, all mausers
German M98k
Yugo M24/47
Yugo M48A
Spanish 1893 long rifle (1916 pattern)
Spanish 1895 carbine
Moose458
Member
I've always been a gun nut as long as I can remember. Dad gave me my first rifle when I was 7 or 8 years old. A Remington 514 single shot .22 s-l-lr. But it wasn't until I had to qualify with the M-16 that my love affair with mil sups began.
TrickyDick
Member
I love mil-surp rifles because of their ruggedness, tried and true function and low price, not too mention their historical significance. I would prefer milSurp as a first rifle for anyone. It's practical.
My long-deceased Dad was a WWII infantryman, won a Sliver Star in the pacific theatre, carrying the M1 Garand.
After mustering out at the end of WWII, he worked for International Harvester, and he was one of IH "armorers" when they were making M1's in the 50's. I also have an M44 Mosin-Nagant. Need to get a .303 Enfield of some sort, just to complete the "Allies Rifles" selections.
After mustering out at the end of WWII, he worked for International Harvester, and he was one of IH "armorers" when they were making M1's in the 50's. I also have an M44 Mosin-Nagant. Need to get a .303 Enfield of some sort, just to complete the "Allies Rifles" selections.
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Ignition Override
Member
As a youngster, watching shows in the mid-60's such as "Combat", "The Rat Patrol", movies such as "Merrill's Marauders" and the "Longest Day" did it.
I never suspected that the 'British Enfield disease' existed. It was totally subconscious from 1965 until 2008, when I handled a "Jungle Carbine", delivered to the buyer at Brighton Arms, and saw a rerun of Croc Dundee zapping a truck from his cabin with a sporter version.
What created the real motivation to acquire an M-1 Garand was the personal tour of the skirmish sites and actual fox holes of both E and F Companies around Bastogne Belgium in May '09, hosted by Reg Jans (or Jaan). This very interesting Flemish guide learned the personal accounts by befriending various US soldiers who suffered and fought there.
From my perspective, non-sporterized milsurps with original metal/wood have solid character which the later military rifles and civilian types will never have, no matter how accurate they can be. A laser pointer is also quite accurate.
I never suspected that the 'British Enfield disease' existed. It was totally subconscious from 1965 until 2008, when I handled a "Jungle Carbine", delivered to the buyer at Brighton Arms, and saw a rerun of Croc Dundee zapping a truck from his cabin with a sporter version.
What created the real motivation to acquire an M-1 Garand was the personal tour of the skirmish sites and actual fox holes of both E and F Companies around Bastogne Belgium in May '09, hosted by Reg Jans (or Jaan). This very interesting Flemish guide learned the personal accounts by befriending various US soldiers who suffered and fought there.
From my perspective, non-sporterized milsurps with original metal/wood have solid character which the later military rifles and civilian types will never have, no matter how accurate they can be. A laser pointer is also quite accurate.
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Sapper771
Member
I have always had a strong respect for the milsurps , but did not want to spend my money on collectibles. I wanted to spend my money on AR's.
A few years ago, I walked into a pawn shop to browse their selection of Firearms. My eyes immediately locked on to a long Mosin Nagant. It was beat to hell and back. No finish, light rust, dented and singed up wood, with a ratty old sling. Normally , I would have just wrote it off as another junked Mosin and went on my way. I could feel there was something special about this rifle, even before I got it in my hands. It turned out to be a 1942 Finn M91. Every inch of it wreaked of character.
For the next two days, I couldn't get that rifle out of my head. I was unfamiliar with the Finn rifles and their history, so I spent several hours researching. I went back to the shop and laid the cash down......thus starting a new addiction. I now have a safe full of Milsurps, each one with its own character. If only they could speak.
A few years ago, I walked into a pawn shop to browse their selection of Firearms. My eyes immediately locked on to a long Mosin Nagant. It was beat to hell and back. No finish, light rust, dented and singed up wood, with a ratty old sling. Normally , I would have just wrote it off as another junked Mosin and went on my way. I could feel there was something special about this rifle, even before I got it in my hands. It turned out to be a 1942 Finn M91. Every inch of it wreaked of character.
For the next two days, I couldn't get that rifle out of my head. I was unfamiliar with the Finn rifles and their history, so I spent several hours researching. I went back to the shop and laid the cash down......thus starting a new addiction. I now have a safe full of Milsurps, each one with its own character. If only they could speak.
My first firearm to own was a Colt 1911 series 80 in 1995. I was fascinated with stories of its inception from the time they need a bigger bullet to put down Moro warriors in southern Phils. Then i got a Ruger Mk 2 rimfire which i enjoyed so much. Then one day my friend showed me a new rifle he got from a pawnshop, it was a Russian SKS with all the accessories. I followed suit and got one as well. This was Jan of 1996. The rest was history. Glad i got it even to this day its in original condition. What a ride, i got several guns now , i m just amazed the fast accumulation of guns in a span of 17 yrs. Oh my God !
CapnMac
Member
I grew up with three generations of military people, history and milsurps were as commonplace as silverware or toolboxes (given the relative, sometimes those mixed together).
Then, one day, I got to trade an AMT Hardballer for a '42-dated Smith Corona M-1903A3 . . .
Which was the same week I had traded for an M-1936 Cartridge Belt, dated . . . 1942--score. Said belt now has a set of '42 suspenders, '42-dated field dressing carrier, even a '42 canteen carrier with a 1942 porcelain canteen--yeah, I've a touch of OCD about this sort of thing, and had bought, sold, and traded for much, much, more.
Then, one day, I got to trade an AMT Hardballer for a '42-dated Smith Corona M-1903A3 . . .
Which was the same week I had traded for an M-1936 Cartridge Belt, dated . . . 1942--score. Said belt now has a set of '42 suspenders, '42-dated field dressing carrier, even a '42 canteen carrier with a 1942 porcelain canteen--yeah, I've a touch of OCD about this sort of thing, and had bought, sold, and traded for much, much, more.
P5 Guy
Member
The Best Semi-auto Rifles
And I should also add that fire a full power round, are Military Surplus rifles.
M1 Rifle is my favorite. and all the rest are select fire and not on the registry, therefore unavailable.:banghead:
I'm not leaving out the SVT38/40, Hakim, MAS49 or the German G43, like I could afford one of them?
And I should also add that fire a full power round, are Military Surplus rifles.
M1 Rifle is my favorite. and all the rest are select fire and not on the registry, therefore unavailable.:banghead:
I'm not leaving out the SVT38/40, Hakim, MAS49 or the German G43, like I could afford one of them?
HavelockLEO
Member
I grew up with my fathers M1 Garand behind my bedroom door and watching Sands Of Iwo Jima with my dad. After we moved here, I met retired Marines that my Dad was in the Masonic Lodge with who had fought in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Some in all three. Add to it a die-hard love of histroy, from the Civil War to Desert Storm.
I started with my dads Garand, I bought it from him when I was 12, next was a Lithgow No. 1 MkIII* and the rest as they say is history
I started with my dads Garand, I bought it from him when I was 12, next was a Lithgow No. 1 MkIII* and the rest as they say is history
Ignition Override
Member
For those who want one of the better milsurps, have you tried an FN-49, the predecessor of the FAL?
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