Ok so I've decided to buy a Milsurp but I'm pretty new to it. I just love the style and look of the old war era weaponry ( mostly ww2 but interested in it all ). My question is where to start? Lol I know it's a pretty broad area but for someone starting out what would be a good starting point? I like all the European and Russian stuff like mausers , et al. But not sure what I should be looking for and don't really want yo get hosed right off the start which could turn me off them pretty fast. Also what are the real gems I should keep my eye out for jus in case I run into something. From what I've read in all the forums so far the guys here seem the most genuine and helpful so don't prove me wrong lol. Thanks in advance cause I know the info is coming!
Good jumping off point
- Thread starter Kev70
- Start date
Where you start will depend on your budget. And your area of interest. A decent Lee-Enfield will run you around $500ish these days. That Mosin-Nagant under $200 in decent condition. You'll be spending money on book$ too.
$199 for an M1? Are you made of money? Think $175. And 50 cents each for clips is over priced too. snicker. I'm PO'd I didn't buy the C or D at $250. A break into tears over the operational BAR at $500.
$199 for an M1? Are you made of money? Think $175. And 50 cents each for clips is over priced too. snicker. I'm PO'd I didn't buy the C or D at $250. A break into tears over the operational BAR at $500.
Get a sks and a 91/30 practically free after that svt 40 ,after that start payin the bucks if you've got them
personally i was content with sks and 91/30
You can not have too few or too many it is all as you are comfortable
cheers
personally i was content with sks and 91/30
You can not have too few or too many it is all as you are comfortable
cheers
SKS because it is fun and cheap, and ammo is cheap, too.
A M44 is a nice handy rifle, but kicks too hard for my taste. I added a slip on recoil pad. Ammo is cheap, but costs more than SKS ammo.
My favourite shooter is a repro m91 sniper. Only cost about $600
A M44 is a nice handy rifle, but kicks too hard for my taste. I added a slip on recoil pad. Ammo is cheap, but costs more than SKS ammo.
My favourite shooter is a repro m91 sniper. Only cost about $600
Buy any type of rifle you like - french, german, soviet. Just not bubbaed. Study it, read the books, read the forums. Then you'll start understanding whether you want to collect all years and makes of SKS or all types of french bolt rifles. It's a feeling you get as soon as have your hands on the rifle. And yeah - forget about gems until the homework with books and forums.
If it weren't for Bubba I wouldn't have the variety I do now. Don't bubba any; but a Bubba'd sporter is often the only way.
What if the OP is a proud Canadian and wants a Ross? Or a Longbranch Lee Enfield? Or a US Krag? There are some that can only effectively be purchased ( for the beginner) as Sporters.
I'm not too proud or picky to pass up a fine piece of Military history because the forestock has been shortened. IMO it still retains it's character, even with cut down wood
Thanks, I do want to be able to shoot them to no wall hangers and no " collectors " unless I find something that's to good to pass on. Budget? Well I do have one lol I'd like to start in that 2-300 range but I'm sure once I get the bug that will increase lol and I'm prepared for that ( I hope lol ) I like the thought of the sniper variety but from what I've seen they can be pricey, seems more cause the accessories are harder to find then the rifle themselves?
The Ross is a vanishing piece of Canadiana.
A South American contract Mauser can be had for...30%...60%...of the price of a European mauser? And they were built prewar and are insanely over built compared to the typical European job. Full length un-dyck'd with Mauser for 300 $...Banana Republic rifle.
Mosin's are pretty cool actually IMO.
Norwegian Krag's, decent deal in an excellent round.
A South American contract Mauser can be had for...30%...60%...of the price of a European mauser? And they were built prewar and are insanely over built compared to the typical European job. Full length un-dyck'd with Mauser for 300 $...Banana Republic rifle.
Mosin's are pretty cool actually IMO.
Norwegian Krag's, decent deal in an excellent round.
Ah, where to start?
I recommend reading up a bit on milsurp rifles and then looking at the EE at whatever tickles your fancy.
I started buying stuff simply because of the historical "cool" factor.
I have a 1944 Oberndorf K98k that somehow (via the Czechs?) made it to the holy land.
It has Nazi and Israeli markings side by side and eventually got rebarreled to 7.62NATO.
I have a 1936 Mosin Sniper with a Finish stock and sling, presumably a Winter War capture.
Both of these are also good shooters.
I also have a Malaysian Ceremonial Jungle carbine and a Finish-capture SVT40.
The most beautiful rifle I have is a 1908 Brasil Mauser with matching bayonet.
It has red tropical wood of some kind and is in excellent shape.
I also have a 1956 Mosgfal Brasil Mauser in 7.62NATO with flash hider and HK sights that I really like.
I just grabbed these things when they became available. I don't think any are real collectibles and most where not too expensive.
I like the fact that they have history.
many of these I could sell already for more than I paid for.
The alternative is to get really serious and start buying real collector pieces. For that you need to educate yourself though to know what is real and what it's worth
and be prepared to spend some serious money.
I recommend reading up a bit on milsurp rifles and then looking at the EE at whatever tickles your fancy.
I started buying stuff simply because of the historical "cool" factor.
I have a 1944 Oberndorf K98k that somehow (via the Czechs?) made it to the holy land.
It has Nazi and Israeli markings side by side and eventually got rebarreled to 7.62NATO.
I have a 1936 Mosin Sniper with a Finish stock and sling, presumably a Winter War capture.
Both of these are also good shooters.
I also have a Malaysian Ceremonial Jungle carbine and a Finish-capture SVT40.
The most beautiful rifle I have is a 1908 Brasil Mauser with matching bayonet.
It has red tropical wood of some kind and is in excellent shape.
I also have a 1956 Mosgfal Brasil Mauser in 7.62NATO with flash hider and HK sights that I really like.
I just grabbed these things when they became available. I don't think any are real collectibles and most where not too expensive.
I like the fact that they have history.
many of these I could sell already for more than I paid for.
The alternative is to get really serious and start buying real collector pieces. For that you need to educate yourself though to know what is real and what it's worth
and be prepared to spend some serious money.
I started with an SKS, and have since gotten a cheap sporterized lee enfield. I still want a swiss K31 and a swedish 1896 mauser too. And a Mosin Nagant. I got the enfield cheap, otherwise I would have gotten a Mosin.
If you dont mind it being a sporter, a cheap enfield is easy enough to get. Mine was $142 after shipping off the EE, and shoots plenty well enough for the price. Its going to be my short range bush gun, because it'll cost more than the rifle was to get a scope mounted. Even without a scope I would feel plenty confident with its accuracy out to 100 yards with the iron sights.
If you want something semi auto for a plinking toy, the SKS is hard to beat, especially considering the price.
Price is another thing to consider. Both the price of the gun, and the price of ammo. The red rifles (SKS and mosin) have plenty of cheaply available milsurp ammo around. The K31 also has the GP11 ammo widely available, and is VERY good quality for milsurp ammo. So good that apparently people use it for competition purposes in switzerland (Or so I have read on the interwebs. who knows...) The GP11 ammo is much more than the stuff for a Mosin, but its still much cheaper than regular factory ammo.
You can also still find milsurp 8mm mauser ammo, but its not so common and not so cheap.
Finally, others dont have much milsurp ammo around. You might find some 303 british milsurp at a gun show, but its unlikely to find any in a store. I know nothing of 6.5x55 ammo, but I haven't seen any milsurp ammo anywhere so its probably uncommon to nonexistent.
Long story short, it really all depends. How much do you wanna spend on the gun? How much do you wanna spend on ammo? Do you want something that'll be good for hunting? Or just a target gun? Do you want it to be a pristine example with all matching numbers and full military stock? Or is a sporterized model acceptable??
If you dont mind it being a sporter, a cheap enfield is easy enough to get. Mine was $142 after shipping off the EE, and shoots plenty well enough for the price. Its going to be my short range bush gun, because it'll cost more than the rifle was to get a scope mounted. Even without a scope I would feel plenty confident with its accuracy out to 100 yards with the iron sights.
If you want something semi auto for a plinking toy, the SKS is hard to beat, especially considering the price.
Price is another thing to consider. Both the price of the gun, and the price of ammo. The red rifles (SKS and mosin) have plenty of cheaply available milsurp ammo around. The K31 also has the GP11 ammo widely available, and is VERY good quality for milsurp ammo. So good that apparently people use it for competition purposes in switzerland (Or so I have read on the interwebs. who knows...) The GP11 ammo is much more than the stuff for a Mosin, but its still much cheaper than regular factory ammo.
You can also still find milsurp 8mm mauser ammo, but its not so common and not so cheap.
Finally, others dont have much milsurp ammo around. You might find some 303 british milsurp at a gun show, but its unlikely to find any in a store. I know nothing of 6.5x55 ammo, but I haven't seen any milsurp ammo anywhere so its probably uncommon to nonexistent.
Long story short, it really all depends. How much do you wanna spend on the gun? How much do you wanna spend on ammo? Do you want something that'll be good for hunting? Or just a target gun? Do you want it to be a pristine example with all matching numbers and full military stock? Or is a sporterized model acceptable??
Nothing wrong with Safe Queens; I'm just not the type of guy to have one. I tend to play with my treasures.
If you gave me a 100 mile 1970 Hemi charger; the 1st thing I'd do is out to the strip and flog it hard.
I don't flog my milsurps hard; but I don't buy above my station. Because I'd never be able to leave it in the safe; I'm pushing through the willows with it, fording logs across the creek with it slung across my back, putting it in the gun rack and going for a drive.
One does not do that with pristine pieces...that's why I buy pieces that are already sporting a few marks and some wear.
If you handed me the most prized rifle from your collection to look at; I'd smile, admire it ( because I likely really would ) and hand it carefully back. Then say "Wow, I couldn't have this...it would not be the thing for me"
No offence intended ( I offend regularly enough, don't need to add unintentional to the pile)
Lol well the more you know the more questions you have I guess .I don't have anything against safe queens I just don't wan anyone giving me grief if I show up to a range with one lol I'd rather mount it on the wall for everyone to admire just my opinion I know everyone has theirs. As I mentioned I'd like to keep my first one under 300, though I've looked at some combo deals with ammo for 400 and am cool with that as well. I'd prefer something with fairly accessible ammo as I would like to shoot it. Ideally matching numbers would be a bonus, but it appears most coming over are going to be mismatched so I may not have a choice in that price range to start. From what I've seen so far in regards to price and ammo it looks like I might be looking at SKS's or Mosin's which I'm fine with. I saw a beautiful Mosin ( strictly aesthically ) on EE but of course it was SPF, have to jump on these things quickly it seems. I ultimately would love a German Mauser and maybe a South American contract I think I've seen some with different South American wood stocks which are beautiful . Going to head to a gun show here in souther ontario this Sunday so hopefully I can find something there. Any tips on what to look for? I've read something about shaking the rifles to make sure you can hear the firing pin " rattle " as some can get sticky from the old cosmoline.
I'd choose based on caliber and ammo price and availability. Especially if you are planning on steadily shooting the rifle.
Right now, the Russian guns provide the best ammo availability and price.
Swedish Mauser's, British Enfields and German Mauser's have commercial ammo available, but at a significantly higher per round cost.
Swiss K31 is a dream to shoot and operate. Ammo is currently avail. at a cost somewhere between the two above mentioned groups of milsurps.
Right now, the Russian guns provide the best ammo availability and price.
Swedish Mauser's, British Enfields and German Mauser's have commercial ammo available, but at a significantly higher per round cost.
Swiss K31 is a dream to shoot and operate. Ammo is currently avail. at a cost somewhere between the two above mentioned groups of milsurps.
