i want a milsurp for my first rifle, but i don't know which

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kcrlawlghks

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hi, i got my pal a few days ago and i'm just waiting for the license now.
i want to use a milsurp for my first rifle since well, mostly because i'm a student and don't have that much money to spare on an instrument i can use every few weeks, if not months, because i just love the way they look and have wooden stock without being pricy, and i like stuff with history

i had a mosin, lee-enfield, and an sks in my mind but after doing some 'research' i figured i wouldn't really want an sks for moderate range shooting or hunting and maybe it would have a better use somewhere else. now i'm torn between a mosin and a lee-enfield

i think most of the mosins coming up are not sporterized too much with most of the firearm intact, but just looks like a painful job to get a scope mounted. on the other hand it looks like most of the enfields have been molested to resemble the modern hunting rifles, or the l42a1 varient, but there's a lot more of them, more have already scope mounted. in addition, i'm having a hard time telling which one would provide better accuracy. it looks like they use the same diameter bullet, while the .303 british carries a little bit more powder, and both have an 'effective range' of about 500 yards, and both were modified to be used as a sniper rifle in the wartime.

i'd love to just get both but yeah, not really an option at the moment, and the conclusion is that i'm looking for help on deciding which one to purchase.
also - taking recommendation on other milsurp rifles i have not yet considered, and would much be appreciated. thanks
 
So I will start off with I love milsurps but I am by no means a “milsurp guy”. That being said both options are a decent place to start, it all comes down to what you want. You can find decent condition full wood mosins for $250-$350 (general price range they can be had cheaper or for way more depending on yadda yadda) and you can spend anywhere from $125 on a shooter grade sporterized enfield up to hundreds of dollars for decent shape long branches. It all depends on personal preference I think between the two. The enfield has a standard bolt throw where the mosin comes right up to the top, one is a soviet make one is a commonwealth make. I think one of the biggest things is how much will you shoot? Bulk .303 has gone the way of the dinosaurs where as you can still get bulk for the mosin as well as just buying one box at a time the .303 will be more expensive. But in my mind it is hard to beat a lee enfield, I have one milsurp in my locker and it is an 1896 enfield in .303.
 
If you have the cash get a decent mosin and a decent sks right off the bat. They are both still somewhat reasonably priced and both are fun to shoot. Also you get a bolt action and semi auto respectively. Those old Russian guns are always reliable too.

Enfields and k98 Mausers are also great but getting expensive kinda these days , if you have the cash grab them soon too.

But as per your post , if I had to pick one I’d go with a mosin first , bolt action , reliable , readily available ammo etc.. Then an sks as quickly as I could right after.
 
For the money, an SKS cannot be beat, for a first milsurp. Cheap and plentiful ammunition, fairly accurate, and a lot of fun to shoot, are just three reasons to look into it. You can then look at Mosins, Enfields, Garands, or whatever after that, but they're much more expensive to shoot, and purchase. A decent condition Enfield is 3-4 times the cost of a similar condition SKS.

Now, if you did want to get into a more-expensive milsurp less expensively, you can look for sporterized versions. Barrels cut, wood removed, scope mounts, all added just after the war to make them lighter, and appeal more to hunters.
 
Kcrlawlghks: I would strongly suggest a Mosin (91/30) as a first milsurp. I am a big fan of Lee Enfields but they come with a variety of potential pitfalls for the newcomer. A good proportion of LE's that I've purchased have forend problems that are not easy to rectify until you've done a few. Mosin bedding is trivial in comparison and you can probably find a refurb that has been unused since being put back into spec at a Govt facility (meaning not screwed with by previous owner!). If you're careful in your hunt for one you can probably find one with an excellent bore for $300-350. Even without a "perfect" bore they have all the accuracy potential of the LE. My most accurate rifle right now is a $225 refurbed upgraded 1927 Dragoon. Using Chinese surplus and the iron sights I can shoot better 100 yd groups than I've managed with my No. 4 T with handloads.

milsurpo
 
Where do you live? Maybe some older milsurp collector could invite you for coffee and you could get lots of valuable information, and get to see and appreciate many milsurp options that way. I have done this quite a few times over the years for new shooters. (some would say that i have contributed to spreading the milsurp disease lol)
 
louthepou said:
Where do you live? Maybe some older milsurp collector could invite you for coffee and you could get lots of valuable information, and get to see and appreciate many milsurp options that way. I have done this quite a few times over the years for new shooters. (some would say that i have contributed to spreading the milsurp disease lol)
Click to expand...

That's how I became infected with milsurpitis.

Smellie invited me over for coffee years ago and the rest is history!
 
I would get a mosin as your first military surplus firearm. They are fairly accurate and ammo is still reasonable considering its a full size round. Make sure you inspect the bore for corrosion, I have seen lots of ratty bore mosins. Best 200 dollars I’ve ever spent in this hobby!
 
Have you considered a CG63 or M69 target rifle? Unless you are looking for an ultimate dirt cheap blaster I think you'll be happier with a $400 to $500 European target rifle. https://www.tradeexcanada.com/content/schultz-larsen-m69-target-rifle-65x55-25

The M69 is a Mauser 98 action and the CG63 is a Mauser 96 action. I prefer the 98 but either will do.

They also have sporterized M96 6.5x55 rifles for under $300 if you plan to scope it.

The 6.5x55 ammo will set you back more than 7.62x54r or 308 but it's really not too bad and even Canadian Tire usually has some. Tradeex has Prvi ammo for $29 per 20.

But if you want an accurate centerfire that you can shoot for as cheap as possible you might want to look into a modern bolt action in 223. Other than surplus 7.62x39 it's the cheapest ammo around and, unlike x39, is usually quite accurate. Last time I bought bulk x39 it was 30¢ a round and 223/5.56 is around 50¢ for the brass cased stuff. Bottom line is you will eventually spend more in ammo than the gun so the extra few hundred $ on the gun to have good, cheap ammo available is a good trade.

My take on Enfields is that they are not accurate enough for a bolt action. I think Mosins are too big and clunky but they do have their own charm. And history, for sure. My brother loves his Finnish M39 Mosin but those are big money. My SKS was fun but I don't shoot it much any more since I got an AR15. AR15 is way more accurate. I did kill a deer with the SKS so it is an option if you want hunting ability out of your first gun.

Hopefully my essay helps you decide!
 
OP, you don't mention your budget.

Mosins are relatively cheap, depending on which variant you purchase. Lee Enfield variants can vary from $500 on up.

My suggestion is to purchase your first rifle as a shooter. Of course, try to pick up a rifle in excellent condition and if necessary pay up for the condition.

Also, you want something that has available surplus ammo at reasonable prices.

The Mosins are great candidates for this with relatively cheap prices on both rifles and even surplus non corrosive ammo available from Lever Arms.

Far to many newbies don't take a thorough look at the rifle they purchase. They overlook things like matching numbers and bore condition. Bore condition is far more important than matching numbers for a shooter. Matching numbers helps to retain the rifle's collectible value as long as you are meticulous about maintaining condition.

Some of the Mauser 98 variants in 8x57 are still reasonably priced and it's pretty hard to go wrong with a decent Swedish M38, M96, M96/38 or even M94 variant in 6.5x55. Commercial ammo is available for around the same price as commercial 303 Brit.

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Here’s my take on it from a hunting perspective and as someone that has both and shoots both.

Mosins are long if you’re hunting in woods or thick bush, they are heavy in full wood configuration, the safety is a pain in the ass to engage and disengage, they can be accurate with Milsurp ammo but shoot like crap with commercial hunting ammo. No easy way to mount a scope unless it’s a long eye relief scope or you drill and tap. Surplus ammo is cheap, hunting ammo isn’t too expensive but I find selection is limited depending where you are.

Enfields are shorter in length, also heavy in full wood, the safety is great. With the safety on the bolt is locked down and can’t be moved and the trigger is disabled, it’s easy to disengage even with gloves on. Surplus ammo is hard to find, hunting ammo is expensive and depending on where you are no that common. Enfields from my experience are fairly accurate shooting if you get one in good condition. There are more options for solid no gunsmith optic mounts for enfields, allowing you to bolt on a rail and scope and not drill and tap a single hole.

I hunt with a sporter no.4, it’s 10lbs and isn’t light by modern standards. Hiking and hunting with a full wood milsurp wouldn’t be my first choice, stand or truck hunting sure. I love hunting with an enfield and I have gotten used to the weight and cost of ammo, good luck with your decision.
 
Somethings to consider, if you want to shoot lots on a budget milsurps aren't always the best choice, yes they can be had for cheap, but most ammo for them runs at least a dollar per round, when on sale. Some ammo is quite a bit cheaper (Chinese SKS and Mosin come to mind), but most indoor ranges won't let you shoot it as it is steel core, so make sure you have somewhere to shoot it before purchasing a rifle and a bunch of ammo. The Savage Mk II g is a nice rimfire with a wooden stock at around 275$, and you can shoot 15 rounds for every round of milsurp.

That being said if you really want a milsurp, and I understand if you do, I too am a student and went with a K98k for my first rifle as I really enjoy all German WW2 technological advancements. To stay within budget you will most likely be looking at SKS, Mosin and maybe some lower end enfields. Higher end enfields and RC K98k start around 750$ and go up from there.

In the end it is your choice based on budget, but just some things to consider.
 
I have an sks for a cheap plinker bullet hose.

Bought an Enfield for my first hunting rifle, but I replaced it with a Savage axis in my second year. Milsurps just don't make good hunting rifles for a newb that can't shoot with iron sights very well. They can usually be scoped, but then you've got terrible cheek welds, scopes that are too high, ect. I still have the Enfield, I'm planning on chopping the barrel and making a handy bush rifle out of it... Maybe I'll get to that project this summer...

I have wanted to expand my collection but funds have been tight. On my to-buy list is an Enfield mk5 (jungle carbine), a Mosin, a mauser 98 or two (certain ones, like Yugo and Turkish mausers can be had for $500ish),a Swiss K31, and a Swedish mauser. The K31 in particular are pretty expensive these days, really wish I bought one years ago when they were $300-400 as they're 3 times that now...
 
first of all thanks for the replies; i didn't expect to get so much attention after just posting and going to bed

my budget is in the range of 500 dollars, but i can probably tighten my belt on stuff like groceries and add a few more if necessary.
they don't absolutely have to be non-sporterized, though would be a bonus, and i am not exactly sure on what i want to hunt but i'd assume it's probably anything i can find around lethbridge area.
i am located in edmonton though, for school, starting next week since i'm on reading week break at the moment.
i do want a scope to be mounted or to be able to be mounted but i guess this would 1) rocket the price if the proper scope is mounted w/o damaging the rifle permanently or 2) has to make the rifle sporterized, so really i have a mixed opinion.
i'll definitely look out and read up on mauser series

finally - i am not extremely concerned with pricing of ammunition since i will be reloading.
 
I’m in Calgary. One of the Canadian tires has 5 K98k left for 800$ not sure if this is too steep. My thread a few ones below this on K98k stock finishing has some photos to give you an idea of quality.
 
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