looking for first milsurp, need info

Polar Man

Polar Man

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Hey guys, looking for some info on my first milsurp, I really wanted a Lee Enfield for a while but now I am thinking I want a Mosin Nagant. I like the ballistic similarity to the 30-06 and it's rich history, among other things.
Just wondering 2 things, how common is the 7.62X54 ammo? I get most of my ammo at Canadian Tire.:D Also, how are the iron sights on these? I have heard of the great sniper Simo Hayha using irons to get 505 confirmed kills in only 100 days. (it's quite a story actually, check it out, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4 )
I can't seem to find a close up of the sites, I am curious to see what they look like.
Thanks for helping a noob out!:p
 
I really cannot tell you anything about the MN, other than you most likely are not going to find ammo nearly as easily as you would for 303. Just about everywhere that sells ammunition will have 303br, and the aperture sights on the No. 4 will work well for you out to several hundred yards.
 
As mentioned the 7.62x54r is getting scarce in reliable cheap supply. Sights are basic, fun to shoot. My preference is with the mauser family thought.
As to Enfields, hard to beat the ease to find ammunition, .303 brit can be found at every gunshop, canadian tire even walmart. The sights are excellent and as far as action goes very smooth on most models.
 
Basically this is what you have to work with as far as the Mosin-Nagant sight picture goes...

MosinRearSight.jpg


The metal ring attached on the right hand side of the picture is a folding bayonet that is only found on the M44 model of Mosin... any long rifle you buy will not have that bayonet mounted to the side permanently.
 
Lee Enfield all the way!

You could buy a sporter, get to know her and then purchase the wood and metal to "de-sporterize" it. That's what I did for my first two. A '43 Long Branch #4 Mk.1* and a 36 Ishapore #1 Mk.3

Or you could buy one of the recent imports for 400 and change, clean it up and have a great rifle.

Either way, the LE is an elegant lady and the Mosin is a rugged old street walker.
 
I just ordered up a Finn Nagant. It was about 1/4 the price of an LE. Also, I scored a bunch of surplus 54R ammo on the EE at $11 a box. So, you can get into milsurps for cheap if you want and don't have to go head over heels on the Enfield.
 
Recce21 said:
Lee Enfield all the way!

You could buy a sporter, get to know her and then purchase the wood and metal to "de-sporterize" it. That's what I did for my first two. A '43 Long Branch #4 Mk.1* and a 36 Ishapore #1 Mk.3

Or you could buy one of the recent imports for 400 and change, clean it up and have a great rifle.

Either way, the LE is an elegant lady and the Mosin is a rugged old street walker.
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I thought of doing that to a bubba'd enfield, trying to match the wood myself actually, but where can you buy the wood and metal pre-made? Having matching serial numbers won't matter to me.
Also, where can I find a recent import?
 
Sure, you can find .303 at crappy tire yet you neglected to mention it's all commercial hunting ammo that sells for close to and or more than a buck around!

Let the Ritzy prissy boys enjoy a spot of tea with their "Elegant" (A word that should never be used while talking about ANY firearm, let alone a battle rifle.) Enfields, and drop $20 for each box of shells at CT.

At the end of the day you'll have JUST as much fun with a Mosin as you will with an Enfield. And still have a bank roll to spend on other toys.

For your first Milsurp, my vote is Mosin. Ammo is somewhat scarce now, but it's still out there, and still cheap. I picked up 440 rounds for $120 off a member here a few months ago.

Once your an old fart with a retirement fund and alot of times on you hands, buy a Enfield. Than you can sit around with all the other old farts and discuss the finer aspects of life, like the Elegant Enfield, and your BMW. Barf.
 
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Get a Mosin, for dirt cheap. Find some surplus ammo, there's some here and there, sometimes by the case full. And buy a few boxes of commercial ammo too, just so you have a bit to shoot while you look for the surplus stuff. With a little patience, for a total of less than $500, you'll have a fine milsurp and lots of ammo for a while.

Then, buy a Lee Enfield too! :) No house should be without at least one...

Lou
 
-DeerStalker- said:
Let the Ritzy prissy boys enjoy a spot of tea with their "Elegant" (A word that should never be used while talking about ANY firearm, let alone a battle rifle.) Enfields, and drop $20 for each box of shells at CT.
Click to expand...

I like how you take offense to me calling the Lee Enfield elegant but offered no rebuttal to me calling the Mosin a rough, used up whore. :p
 
Recce21 said:
I like how you take offense to me calling the Lee Enfield elegant but offered no rebuttal to me calling the Mosin a rough, used up whore. :p
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Those of us who like our Mosins find that term very suitable! Infact my 1901 Sestroryetsk has been dubbed the "sl*t of the third world" - said with love of course:D. Russian rifle with Finn, German, Austrian, Bulgarian and Hungarian markings!
 
ArtyMan said:
Those of us who like our Mosins find that term very suitable! Infact my 1901 Sestroryetsk has been dubbed the "sl*t of the third world" - said with love of course:D. Russian rifle with Finn, German, Austrian, Bulgarian and Hungarian markings!
Click to expand...

Holy Crap! that rifle has been on the wrong side of every major conflict that occurred in the 20th century from the Russo-Japanese War to the Cold War, with stops in the First World War, Russian Revolution, and Second World War, probably the Hungarian Uprising too! Now that's one that should be able to talk.
 
That is the truth about .303 ammo costing a fortune, in my neck of the woods it's 30+ per box! I've never shot anything but handloads in my Mosins, and brass life has been much better than with the .303. I have ceased reloading .303, and now convert the fired brass to 6.5x53R Dutch. :)
 
enefgee said:
Holy Crap! that rifle has been on the wrong side of every major conflict that occurred in the 20th century from the Russo-Japanese War to the Cold War, with stops in the First World War, Russian Revolution, and Second World War, probably the Hungarian Uprising too! Now that's one that should be able to talk.
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She sure can shoot. Once my reloading bullets come in from the land of the Canada post abyss I will be doing a shoot with lots of pictures.

Back to the original topic, .303 surplus is few and far between and like many have said, 1$+ for factory. 54r surplus is around, and from what Im hearing will be available within the next while when NRCAN decides to relase some. Factory is around in the meantime, for around the same prices (or a BIT cheaper). However like many have said, 54r isnt available at Cdn tire or your average store
 
Lots of comercial 303 ammo, expensive, of course there is the ammo made in eastern Europe. Mosen ammo does show up, plus there is comerical mosen ammo for hunting, and its expensive too, just stock up on the surplus when it comes in.
 
Now that crap about the noisey maggot having a "rich history" almost made me puke.
You are telling me the Lee-Enfield DOESN'T have a rich history? It has served all over the world in many countries and many wars from 1891 to the present!
Ammo is expensive? Thats why we have reloading presses! unprimed brass is not a problem.

Now if you want a moisen, fine, it's your money. As for a similarity to the 30-06? Just what similarity is that? The 30-06 is a Rimless cartridge and the russian one is rimmed.
The 303 has been putting round holes in square heads for almost a century.
 
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