OK. Here is my 2 cents.
I have 4 nephews that probably know more about Tanks and WW2 then any kid in their schools. Whenever they see their uncle...they get a history lesson. Milsurp love has to be taught...it won't come naturally! An Enfield means little to someone unless they know the history behind it.
Mosins. With 30 million of them out there, the value is never going up more than the rate of inflation. They are not the prettiest, and not finished nicely like the others, but you cannot argue that as a weapon used in WW1, the Russian Revolution, the Winter War, WW2, and later on in Korea, Vietnam, Afgan 1980 and 2002... is battle tested and has done what it was made to do. I own them and they deserve a part in any collection. I bought my first one from Century Arms in 1991 for $20!
SKS's - Millions made for war and now Norinco makes them. They are cheap, they use cheap ammo. It is the "plinker" of milsurps. As an intro gun...sure I guess it does a good job of it. But I wince when I hear the word milsurp and SKS in the same sentence. Maybe it is the Norinco thing. I have to laugh at the $400 SKS's out there. WTF are people thinking????
Garands - Yeah they are priced high, but Americans love em, and there are 10x more Americans out there and they have next to no gun laws in some states. It's a demand vs supply thing. I don't think the price will go down, and likely it will continue going up. I like the sights on them. I like 30-06. The Enbloc noise is music to my ears. And every time I see Band of Brothers I gotta go downstairs and look at mine.
Enfields - If you don't like the rifle Canada used in WW1 and 2 -the rifle that won the war for the Commonwealth, you've been shooting too much corrosive 7.2x39 and it's affected your brain. I love my Enfields. I used to love my Longbranch No.4 the most...but now I am lovin' the WW1 SMLE's because I swear I can smell the trenches in em!
Mausers - Yes they are well made, accurate, but the 8mm Mauser round is not in my top 5 rifle calibres. I have a Norwegian "capture" K98 in 30-06 that is sweet as pie to shoot. My 8mm sit's in the safe, and may be on the EE soon!
COST - Reloading the Commonwealth, US, and German calibres will keep you at the ranges. You don't have to pump out super match grade. I load em' light for plinking. Easy on my shoulder, easy on the rifle. Looking to get into cast bullets next to keep it easy on the barrels!
But the BEST thing about milsurps is the people that collect em. No matter where they are from, or what age, or background, I get along with em. I learn a new thing every time I do a deal on the EE or have a chat at the range. I hope I can organize some more milsurp competitions out here in Ottawa next year, maybe a vintage sniper match? The shop talk usually overtakes the range stuff!
I have 4 nephews that probably know more about Tanks and WW2 then any kid in their schools. Whenever they see their uncle...they get a history lesson. Milsurp love has to be taught...it won't come naturally! An Enfield means little to someone unless they know the history behind it.
Mosins. With 30 million of them out there, the value is never going up more than the rate of inflation. They are not the prettiest, and not finished nicely like the others, but you cannot argue that as a weapon used in WW1, the Russian Revolution, the Winter War, WW2, and later on in Korea, Vietnam, Afgan 1980 and 2002... is battle tested and has done what it was made to do. I own them and they deserve a part in any collection. I bought my first one from Century Arms in 1991 for $20!
SKS's - Millions made for war and now Norinco makes them. They are cheap, they use cheap ammo. It is the "plinker" of milsurps. As an intro gun...sure I guess it does a good job of it. But I wince when I hear the word milsurp and SKS in the same sentence. Maybe it is the Norinco thing. I have to laugh at the $400 SKS's out there. WTF are people thinking????
Garands - Yeah they are priced high, but Americans love em, and there are 10x more Americans out there and they have next to no gun laws in some states. It's a demand vs supply thing. I don't think the price will go down, and likely it will continue going up. I like the sights on them. I like 30-06. The Enbloc noise is music to my ears. And every time I see Band of Brothers I gotta go downstairs and look at mine.
Enfields - If you don't like the rifle Canada used in WW1 and 2 -the rifle that won the war for the Commonwealth, you've been shooting too much corrosive 7.2x39 and it's affected your brain. I love my Enfields. I used to love my Longbranch No.4 the most...but now I am lovin' the WW1 SMLE's because I swear I can smell the trenches in em!
Mausers - Yes they are well made, accurate, but the 8mm Mauser round is not in my top 5 rifle calibres. I have a Norwegian "capture" K98 in 30-06 that is sweet as pie to shoot. My 8mm sit's in the safe, and may be on the EE soon!
COST - Reloading the Commonwealth, US, and German calibres will keep you at the ranges. You don't have to pump out super match grade. I load em' light for plinking. Easy on my shoulder, easy on the rifle. Looking to get into cast bullets next to keep it easy on the barrels!
But the BEST thing about milsurps is the people that collect em. No matter where they are from, or what age, or background, I get along with em. I learn a new thing every time I do a deal on the EE or have a chat at the range. I hope I can organize some more milsurp competitions out here in Ottawa next year, maybe a vintage sniper match? The shop talk usually overtakes the range stuff!
