First milsurp, some advice please............
- Thread starter KyleSchenk
- Start date
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
BCtrigger said:Have you considered a P-14 or P-17? I picked one up at my local shop for $175 including base rings and 4x scope. the p14 is in .303 while the p17 is in 30-06. mine shoots very accuratly. now, it is bolt action. but arguably one of the strongest and ruggedly made ones ever. I was looking at lee-enfeilds, but they have a two-part stock. this results in the gun "flexing" slightly at the hinge pin, adversly affecting accurasy. as for simi-autos. get an SKS. most of them can outshoot most new shooters anyways. I have two and it's still one of my favs to take to the range, camping etc...
Another "Enfield myth" the two part stock. There are LOTS of other rifles with "two part" stocks and NOBODY has complained about their accuracy. I am curious as to just where you find a "hinge pin" on a Lee Enfield.
By the way, P14's and M1917's are also great rifles, (have 7)
Just a added bit. If one wants cheap shooting, its best to invest in a low cost Lee reloading press and dies. The case is the most expensive component of a cartridge and dumping it is like throwing your money down the Loo.
NB.nagantsniper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- northern nb
yes i agree good guns in general an fun /accurate.
nelly said:
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Tons of good info so far...
My opinion- for pure fun and affordablility, go with the SKS...I've got a Yugo and before I bought mine I used to HATE everything about them !! I'd see a picture of one and think "why would anyone want a piece of sh*t like that ??"
I don't remember what made me decide to try one out, but I ordered one with a case of surplus ammo...now I'll never sell it !! Best bang for your buck.
Also-as funds become available, you WILL definitely get a Mosin or two, as well as a few Lee Enfields...Mauser, Garand, Swede...
And eventually you'll be saving up for an AR (this is where I'm at right now)
Will always love the milsurps though !!!
My opinion- for pure fun and affordablility, go with the SKS...I've got a Yugo and before I bought mine I used to HATE everything about them !! I'd see a picture of one and think "why would anyone want a piece of sh*t like that ??"
I don't remember what made me decide to try one out, but I ordered one with a case of surplus ammo...now I'll never sell it !!
Best bang for your buck.Also-as funds become available, you WILL definitely get a Mosin or two, as well as a few Lee Enfields...Mauser, Garand, Swede...
And eventually you'll be saving up for an AR (this is where I'm at right now)
Will always love the milsurps though !!!
X 3
Call SIR,. they are selling 91/30 Mosin Nagant that are in excellant refurbished condition for $150.00
or
Go to P & S Militaria and tell Jean you want a nice Mosin Nagant. He is a good guy and will fix you up.
If you want to plink, that's what a .22 is for. The Nagant can be fired with surplus for about 6 bucks for 20 rounds or less if you by some in bulk. Then you can get soft point for hunting, if you hunt.
Call SIR,. they are selling 91/30 Mosin Nagant that are in excellant refurbished condition for $150.00
or
Go to P & S Militaria and tell Jean you want a nice Mosin Nagant. He is a good guy and will fix you up.
If you want to plink, that's what a .22 is for. The Nagant can be fired with surplus for about 6 bucks for 20 rounds or less if you by some in bulk. Then you can get soft point for hunting, if you hunt.
Unregistered
Regular
- Location
- South Ontario
I was in the position of the originator of this thread. Here's what I can tell you based on experience
Lee-Enfield
-awesome rifle, 10-round capacity, smooth action, historically important, accurate if you buy one in good shape
-ammo is expensive if you can't secure a supply of surplus
Mosin-Nagant
-if you love history and want a "real" rifle, this is it
-cheap to shoot, recoil manageable in the long barrel
-you may encounter bolt "stickyness" with cheap ammo
-long, impractical, and needs bayonet for factory zero
-accuracy varies
.308 Mauser
-I shot one on the range and was impressed. Hard to find though.
Swedish Mauser
-very accurate but like the Mosin-Nagant, sights may not be adjusted for the 50-200 yard range but instead 300 yards or something crazy like that. Can be fixed.
-Ammo can be expensive.
K-31
I'll let you know when I can afford the ammo!
Garand
-buy one and get it right the first time!
-seriously though, ammo is expensive, almost as bad as .303.
Buy a Long Branch .303 as suggested. It's something I wish I had saved up a little money to do when I first started. No piece of Canadiana better than that.
As for the SKS, try it and see if you like it. If you do, you'll be set. If not, you'll have to get a "real" rifle like the ones suggested above.
Lee-Enfield
-awesome rifle, 10-round capacity, smooth action, historically important, accurate if you buy one in good shape
-ammo is expensive if you can't secure a supply of surplus
Mosin-Nagant
-if you love history and want a "real" rifle, this is it
-cheap to shoot, recoil manageable in the long barrel
-you may encounter bolt "stickyness" with cheap ammo
-long, impractical, and needs bayonet for factory zero
-accuracy varies
.308 Mauser
-I shot one on the range and was impressed. Hard to find though.
Swedish Mauser
-very accurate but like the Mosin-Nagant, sights may not be adjusted for the 50-200 yard range but instead 300 yards or something crazy like that. Can be fixed.
-Ammo can be expensive.
K-31
I'll let you know when I can afford the ammo!
Garand
-buy one and get it right the first time!
-seriously though, ammo is expensive, almost as bad as .303.
Buy a Long Branch .303 as suggested. It's something I wish I had saved up a little money to do when I first started. No piece of Canadiana better than that.
As for the SKS, try it and see if you like it. If you do, you'll be set. If not, you'll have to get a "real" rifle like the ones suggested above.
Just a comment about 7.5x55 ammunition for K-31 and other Swiss rifles. I shot mine for the first time this past weekend. I have never seen original ammunition for sale; never bothered looking. Used the standard alternative source of cartridges: FL size .284 Winchester in 7.5 die, then load. Rifle shoots like a house on fire. I got my rifle from P&S, first time I did business with Jean, and can recommend him. A K-31 isn't as inexpensive as a MN or SKS, but they are extremely well made, and have a reputation for accuracy second to none.
The Queens Medalist 86 said:
Bingo!
Also the ammo is still out there, at a recent gun show in my area I walked up to a table loaded with 30/30 stuff, and since I don't have one of them I started to walk away when out of the corner of my Eye I spotted a .303 Cartridge hidden among the 30/30.
Upon digging in the box I found about 44 rnds of mixed .303 ammo, half surplus (berdan primer), and half mixed commercial soft point hunting stuff.
I bagged all of it, and paid .30 cents a cartridge for it...even left the guy a $2tip.
In the next several tables there was more .303 hunting ammo, and even some old .303 Bren ammo still in the boxes.
Also reloading is part of the fun anyway IMHO.
BTW... any pics of this "Enfield hinge"
I agree with the sks vote. Can't be beat. But if reading your post correctly, it sounds like you're looking for an oldy. Then I second the Mosin M44 Polish. Beautiful work all matching numbers and a great lookin rifle. Mine is brand new, made in 1951. Fantastic workmanship which you won't find on a chinese SKS. But the question of ammo price will bring you back to the sks. My M44 Pole was $75. bucks OTD. I sleep with it every nite
1) SKS for punching paper only at the range (max 100 or something similar).
2) mosin nagant or an M14 for combo hunting and paper punching.
these rifles have cheap ammo available (lots of bang for you buck).
3) if you are going to be buying commercial ammo, get a lee enfield or a swedish M38 or a k98 (yugo or russian capture are affordable), these are accurate and good for hunting. ammo will be about a buck a shot though, unless some 8mm surplus comes in.
cheapest "milsurp" option, both for the rifle and ammo, would definately be a mosin nagant or some sort.
2) mosin nagant or an M14 for combo hunting and paper punching.
these rifles have cheap ammo available (lots of bang for you buck).
3) if you are going to be buying commercial ammo, get a lee enfield or a swedish M38 or a k98 (yugo or russian capture are affordable), these are accurate and good for hunting. ammo will be about a buck a shot though, unless some 8mm surplus comes in.
cheapest "milsurp" option, both for the rifle and ammo, would definately be a mosin nagant or some sort.
I've been pondering the SKS for myself because of the prices .
Anybody seen softpoint hunting ammo in 7.62x39 ?
This is my 1st milsurp - '43 No.4 Mk1* Longbranch
...got it 35yr ago...
Still my fav for the range or deer hunting
Anybody seen softpoint hunting ammo in 7.62x39 ?
This is my 1st milsurp - '43 No.4 Mk1* Longbranch
...got it 35yr ago...
Still my fav for the range or deer hunting
