I've been getting a milsurp itch lately and after having sold my only bolt action I feel it is what's missing in my collection now. Had my eye on a VZ 24 or M48-M48A. Seen a few Swiss rifles moving lately which I would be keen on as well. Just looking for a few tips and opinions on the best bang for your buck. I should mention it would be used as a shooter so it doesn't need to be the prettiest lady around or all matching just fun to shoot and a good conversation piece at the range perhaps. Trying to keep it in the 5-750 dollar range as well. Is an arsenal refinished VZ-24 worth pursuing in the 650+ range? Also should mention I've had and sold an Enfield already so I was going to leave that whole rifle out of the running.
Best Bolt Action Milsurp
- Thread starter Crewe
- Start date
Wait you don't want to go down the Enfield road? They are the best military bolt action rifle.
Wonder how long before someone challenges my claim
Any way, I have been drooling over some Ross rifles lately. As long as you don't take them trench fighting they are suppose to be fantastic. I won't speak on the two guns you are talking about because a mauser is a mauser to me
Wonder how long before someone challenges my claim
Any way, I have been drooling over some Ross rifles lately. As long as you don't take them trench fighting they are suppose to be fantastic. I won't speak on the two guns you are talking about because a mauser is a mauser to me
Vz 24 would be a great choice, as would any German or contract mauser. Plus all the dozens of other varietys. M48 is alot of rifle for the buck too. I happen to really like the 7mm, so am a big fan of the Chileans, Spanish, Brazilian etc.
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
If you are talking about the arsenal refinished VZ-24s for sale currently I wouldn't buy them myself they sat forever at 400$ which to me is more than they were worth.
Some good value milsurps in the <750$ range are:
Swedish Mausers, 300-500$ and can be in very good condition. Personally I am not much of a fan of them but they are excellent for value.
Portuguese M1904/39, 400-600$ in 8mm Mauser. Usually in pretty good condition and the bolt is much smoother than any M98 I have handled. Overall they are patterned like a Late Mauser with a bit of a twist on the action.
VZ-24s, 300-800$. Good guns, but each individual gun will vary
Chilean M1912 in 7.62 Nato, 350-450$. Common caliber, classic M98 action, and cheaper than a Isreali K98k.
All sorts of other Mauser variants in the sub 750$ range as well as many Mosin Nagant variations, and then some odder rifles like the MAS 36, or Berthiers. Lots of options in that price range but if it is a shooter your looking for, those listed above are a good place to look.
Some good value milsurps in the <750$ range are:
Swedish Mausers, 300-500$ and can be in very good condition. Personally I am not much of a fan of them but they are excellent for value.
Portuguese M1904/39, 400-600$ in 8mm Mauser. Usually in pretty good condition and the bolt is much smoother than any M98 I have handled. Overall they are patterned like a Late Mauser with a bit of a twist on the action.
VZ-24s, 300-800$. Good guns, but each individual gun will vary
Chilean M1912 in 7.62 Nato, 350-450$. Common caliber, classic M98 action, and cheaper than a Isreali K98k.
All sorts of other Mauser variants in the sub 750$ range as well as many Mosin Nagant variations, and then some odder rifles like the MAS 36, or Berthiers. Lots of options in that price range but if it is a shooter your looking for, those listed above are a good place to look.
Thanks, I was talking about those. I didn't think they were worth that much to be honest. Good info all around thanks for the input everyone I'll keep on the EE hunt I think! I missed a kar98 in 7.62 yesterday up for $450 by minutes!
Umm... Best for what? There are lots of scenarios and roles and not every rifle is the "best" for all of them.
Or do you mean what's the best buy right now?
I'm a bit worried he may not find a nice Enfield for under $750 all in these days. Anything under that price is likely a poorly slapped together restored sporter. Sadly.
I'm going to be the dissenting voice here.
For under $750, your options are somewhat limited. That said, there are some solid buys at that price point.
For starters, you could find a really exceptional M44 or m38 mosin with a clean bore. These carbines have gone up a lot in value and are still climbing.
You could also get a pretty nice svt40.
Check out p&s militaria, there are some nice Chilean mausers converted to .308 in the 60's that look the part but have new barrels and shoot cheap ammo.
You could also look for a finnish-barelled m91 with a clean bore. That would be a solid choice.
You may also locate a mosin pu sniper for that price.
I would avoid the vz24. Almost all I have seen had pretty dark bores. There are much better choices for the same price.
I would buy an m48 before a refurb VZ.
For under $750, your options are somewhat limited. That said, there are some solid buys at that price point.
For starters, you could find a really exceptional M44 or m38 mosin with a clean bore. These carbines have gone up a lot in value and are still climbing.
You could also get a pretty nice svt40.
Check out p&s militaria, there are some nice Chilean mausers converted to .308 in the 60's that look the part but have new barrels and shoot cheap ammo.
You could also look for a finnish-barelled m91 with a clean bore. That would be a solid choice.
You may also locate a mosin pu sniper for that price.
I would avoid the vz24. Almost all I have seen had pretty dark bores. There are much better choices for the same price.
I would buy an m48 before a refurb VZ.
Still alive
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rainy mosquito infested part of BC
Accuracy-wise, likely the Swiss K-31.
However, for pure esthetics and all-around combination of power, action, reliability, shootability and accuracy, I can’t think of a more well balanced and good looking rifle than the K98 Mauser. I don’t care whether it’s 8mm or .308. The Mauser is just darn pretty! The SMLE comes close in my books but you ruled out that rifle.
However, for pure esthetics and all-around combination of power, action, reliability, shootability and accuracy, I can’t think of a more well balanced and good looking rifle than the K98 Mauser. I don’t care whether it’s 8mm or .308. The Mauser is just darn pretty! The SMLE comes close in my books but you ruled out that rifle.
Yugo Mausers went down in price lately, you can find a nice one for $450.00 or less.
Swedes M96 are sweet, and still available for around $500.00.
Or save your money and buy South American Contract Mauser, in new condition with matching bayo for $1200- 2000.
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If you need to buy from a store then yes you won't find one in your price range.
If you look on the EE you sure can. No 1 seem to go for 600 and No4 go for 400. This price goes up for amazing condition and matching numbers of course.
There is a really nice long branch No4 on there now for 700
I would tend to agree with you on Swede's, but the price of the South American contract guns seems a tad high. There is a couple that command that kinda coin, but the majority are about half that I find... mind you condition and ' Complete with Bayo' might bump that up a couple hundred.
OP, you only state that you would like a milsurp bolt action rifle. You also state you sold the only bolt action rifle you owned.
Now with no other information how on earth do you expect us to help you decide on which bolt action milsurp you should purchase.
What do you intend to do with it???? Plink or shoot for accuracy or maybe competitively in club matches???
You need to be careful as to the ammunition it shoots and whether it's readily available. Right now, the most readily available ammo in surplus form that's available at reduced prices is 7.62x51 Hirtenberger and 7.62x54 Russian made by different nations. There may be the very odd lot of surplus ammo showing up at shows for other calibers such as 7.92x57 or 303Brit etc.
The biggest criteria to obtaining a "shooter grade" milsurp is bore condition and of course whether or not your eyes can make out the sights (not a joke.)
With GOOD ammunition in rifles with VG+ to EXC bores milsurps can be every bit as accurate as off the shelf commercial rifles.
If you're just looking for a shooter, then something that's been drilled and tapped will be much cheaper to obtain and leaves the option open for mounting a scope. It will also likely retain the value you originally paid for it but of course isn't likely to increase in value.
If you're looking for a collector/shooter, then you need to be much more careful and should try to get a MENTOR that REALLY KNOWS what they're talking about.
If you're polite, guys like Claven2 and Eaglelord17 can either put you onto what will suit your needs best or walk you through it. Price may be a consideration but you also need to know what you're looking at before you purchase.
Last weekend in Victoria a young fellow in his early twenties had his wife?? and grandfather in tow. He was looking for a CHEAP milsurp and lots of CHEAP surplus ammo. Yes, he had a PAL.
I don't know who he was trying to impress but he wanted nothing to do with in his words "crappy Chinese/Russian" junk. He had $400 to spend and his grandfather had him convinced he SHOULD be able pick up a nice Mauser or Springfield with a bunch of ammo thrown in for that princely stipend. Can you say STICKER SHOCK???? They ended up purchasing a beat up 340 Savage in 30-30 Winchester along with several mixed boxes of partially filled ammo from the bins of such things on the tables. It turns out they had lots of deer on their farm and the rifle/ammo should last them for many years.
Decide what you're going to do with the rifle first. Check out ammo availability. Most milsurps have new made commercial ammo available from one of the upper banner sponsors.
Go onto sites like Weimajack and check out their offerings.
Now with no other information how on earth do you expect us to help you decide on which bolt action milsurp you should purchase.
What do you intend to do with it???? Plink or shoot for accuracy or maybe competitively in club matches???
You need to be careful as to the ammunition it shoots and whether it's readily available. Right now, the most readily available ammo in surplus form that's available at reduced prices is 7.62x51 Hirtenberger and 7.62x54 Russian made by different nations. There may be the very odd lot of surplus ammo showing up at shows for other calibers such as 7.92x57 or 303Brit etc.
The biggest criteria to obtaining a "shooter grade" milsurp is bore condition and of course whether or not your eyes can make out the sights (not a joke.)
With GOOD ammunition in rifles with VG+ to EXC bores milsurps can be every bit as accurate as off the shelf commercial rifles.
If you're just looking for a shooter, then something that's been drilled and tapped will be much cheaper to obtain and leaves the option open for mounting a scope. It will also likely retain the value you originally paid for it but of course isn't likely to increase in value.
If you're looking for a collector/shooter, then you need to be much more careful and should try to get a MENTOR that REALLY KNOWS what they're talking about.
If you're polite, guys like Claven2 and Eaglelord17 can either put you onto what will suit your needs best or walk you through it. Price may be a consideration but you also need to know what you're looking at before you purchase.
Last weekend in Victoria a young fellow in his early twenties had his wife?? and grandfather in tow. He was looking for a CHEAP milsurp and lots of CHEAP surplus ammo. Yes, he had a PAL.
I don't know who he was trying to impress but he wanted nothing to do with in his words "crappy Chinese/Russian" junk. He had $400 to spend and his grandfather had him convinced he SHOULD be able pick up a nice Mauser or Springfield with a bunch of ammo thrown in for that princely stipend. Can you say STICKER SHOCK???? They ended up purchasing a beat up 340 Savage in 30-30 Winchester along with several mixed boxes of partially filled ammo from the bins of such things on the tables. It turns out they had lots of deer on their farm and the rifle/ammo should last them for many years.
Decide what you're going to do with the rifle first. Check out ammo availability. Most milsurps have new made commercial ammo available from one of the upper banner sponsors.
Go onto sites like Weimajack and check out their offerings.
I checked the EE today
no 4 700 with bayonet in amazing shape and long branch
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1635967-1942-Longbranch-No4-MK1*
no 4 550 in good shape
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1632751-No-4-Mk-1-matching-(Now-550-shipped)
no 1 850 in amazing shape
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...90-1917-SMLE-No1-MkIII*-full-wood-and-bayonet
no 1 650 amazing shape
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1634924-Lee-Enfield-No-1-Mk-3*
This is one page of the EE. Want me to keep going?
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
Doing a bit more thinking another good buy in the 350-800$ range is a P14. .303 British caliber, but essentially a modified Mauser action with aperture sights.
