Do you remember your first Milsurp

Depending on how technical you want to get, my first milsurp was a swede m96 that was sporterized and sold as a "Husqvarna Mauser" (research would later indicate it was actually made by CG). I was then bitten by the milsurp bug and a K31 in original configuration would follow me home a little while later. Still have both with me too.
 
My first was a 96 swede. Bought 2 of them from SIR for $49.95 for the pair. Being young and foolish, I sportered one, and sold the other. That gun has probably taken 30 deer for me over the years. And quite a few coyotes. Still one of the most accurate rifles I've ever used.
 
M38 Swedish Mauser purchased at LeBaron's in Toronto in late 80's. Cost was 75 bucks. 6x55 ammo was not common at that time which led me to handloading. Turkey shoots were very common at that time and my Swede won more than her fair share. I was shooting against other open sighted sporting rifles and received initial comments from other shooters like "do you really think that old army rifle can hit the paper at 100 yds". Over the years their opinion changed to" I'm not sure I want to shoot against that rifle".
I still have it and still shoot the original load I worked up for it.
Unfortunately the turkey shoots are a thing of the past ( at least in my neck of the woods). Eyes are 35 years older as well!
 
Chinese SKS. I grew up surrounded with bolt actions and black powder rifles. It had the same round as the AK47 and was semi AUTOMATIC. I thought it was so badass.
 
Believe it or Not... it was a MkIII Sten, purchased through Allen at Milarm for $29. It did not have a speck of paint remaining on it and was sort of a soft white metal,
like mild steel. Full barrel jacket so only a 1/4" of the muzzle poked out the end. But it shot like a house of fire. Back in 1976 you could transport to any range to shoot
and I did that plenty. I don't recall that silly gun ever jamming or miss feeding. It shot all kinds of 9mm surplus without complaint. I acquired a Sterling years later and it
was only better in the looks department. That little Sten was a hoot to shoot. I sold it to someone in Edmonton and I hope he is still enjoying it. Ugly as sin but carried a great tune.
 
FN FAL in 1980.....from Lever Arms via Israeli surplus.....sold it in about 1983...nice weapon, never failed to shoot and I probably didn't do much for maintenance back then
 
Lee Enfield #5 Jungle carbine that I "borrowed" from my father when I went to Lakehead University in the early 80's for moose hunting. He had bought in the 60's when you could hand pick them and took one that appeared to be unfired. I still have it and will never get rid of it.

My first actual milsurp purchase was a full stock Lee EnfieldIII SMLE with the sword bayonet from an army surplus store in downtown Winnipeg in mid 80's. Was visiting my (soon to be) wife and while she was at a conference, I walked up to the store and walked out with a long oblong box and walked down Portage with it to the hotel...

best part of that one was when I got back to Thunder bay, I was showing it to a non shooting high school buddy in my apartment. While he was sitting on the couch, I clipped the bayonet onto to it. He said "Cool" and jumped up driving the bayonet through the drywall ceiling of the apartment.... Wonder what my landlord thought when he found that!
 
'42 No4 Mk1 made by Savage.

My Dad bought it in the late 60's to use as a hunting rifle. It's the one I took my first deer with in the mid-80's.

She rests peacefully in Dad's gun cabinet. One of these days I'm gonna take her out to the range for some target blasting with her younger sister Long Branch '43
 
I bought a RC K98 and a Mosin Nagant at Al Flahertys. All my savings from chores and odd jobs for months to get them. Worth every penny
 
My first was a 1916 no.1 mk3* Lee Enfield.

I just got my pal and over coffee one morning I mentioned I was looking for a centerfire rifle to a guy at work. He said he had "an old 303" that I could have for $100 if I wanted. I went over to his house that night and there it was a good old sportered Lee Enfield. He even through in about 50 rounds of federal ammo and every piece of brass he had.

I remember touching her off the first time, I was scared to fire it cause it was so old and I figured it may blow up! :)

I still have it and it is what started my passion so it will stay with me until I'm an old man for sure. Then I'll pass it on to another youngster and hopefully the cycle will start again.
 
A daewoo k1 assault rifle.....Can't remember the name of the gun store.1982????Ish.
Had it for a summer, miss that gun. It shot so nice. Had to sell it due to plates and insurance coming due on car......Think it was only 400-500 bucks.
 
Mine is a 1951 Russian SKS Tula. Really great, my dad got it for me for 150$ about 4 years ago when I got my license. I wish I know how to take care of it, definitely used the cleaning for the wrong way a few times and didn't know what corrosive was but luckily I learned really fast and it shoots pretty good still:)

Love that rifle!
 
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