I have been looking into purchasing a milsurp rifle probably a mauser 98 or lee enfield i don't know much about them yet i fired a friends 308 mauser and it seemed to be in good condition i was wondering if anyone could give me some hints when buying one what to look for, i want one that can be used often and be reliable. I just don't want to buy one and find out that i have to repair a bunch of parts before it is reliable so any advice about what to look for would be helpful. Thanks
Milsurp Advice
- Thread starter satyr
- Start date
You could always look at the yugom48's and check mausers that are for sale now, good condition and way cheaper that a ww2 german mauser, as for enfields always a hit and miss, but always check the rifling in the barrel, and condition of the wood etc, i weould like to suggest a cheaper rifle if you don't mind, take a look at the mosen nagants that are for sale, simple cheap and nice to shoot, yes i am braging as i have a nice m44, carbine mosen nagant
Mausers are pretty much indestructable, but then, most milsurps are. What do you intend to do with it? Hunting? Plinking? Target shooting?
I don't know anything about the 7.62 conversions, but I'd check the bore; is it clean, bright, sharp rifling? Check the muzzle; is it worn or damaged and in need of a crown job? Does the mag feed rounds reliably? Will you need to mount a scope? If so, you'll need to drill and tap the receiver or have a "no-gunsmith" mount added.
How much is he asking for it? Can you post a picture?
I don't know anything about the 7.62 conversions, but I'd check the bore; is it clean, bright, sharp rifling? Check the muzzle; is it worn or damaged and in need of a crown job? Does the mag feed rounds reliably? Will you need to mount a scope? If so, you'll need to drill and tap the receiver or have a "no-gunsmith" mount added.
How much is he asking for it? Can you post a picture?
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- .303BR is commonly available as hunting ammunition. The square root of ZERO milsurp in general circulation. If you find any buy it immediately at whatever price.
- 8mm Mauser (7.92x57mm) is likewise common, but much less so. The milsurp ammunition is often corrosive and of indifferent quality. You'll become a handloader to shoot your Russian Capture (RC) Mauser or Yugo M48. Mind you, Johnone at Marstar keeps teasing us with rumours of new Serb or Bosnian 8mm ammo.
- .308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO are more common than either of the others. Plenty of commercial and less so for milsurp ammunition. Handloading is a snap.
For simple shooting ease, an Israeli 7.62 conversion is a very easy decision. The next choice would be a Lee Enfield No.4 for its Commonwealth military record, and in my opinion its superior accuracy. The third choise and only because you asked, would be a Russian Capture Mauser K98.
- 8mm Mauser (7.92x57mm) is likewise common, but much less so. The milsurp ammunition is often corrosive and of indifferent quality. You'll become a handloader to shoot your Russian Capture (RC) Mauser or Yugo M48. Mind you, Johnone at Marstar keeps teasing us with rumours of new Serb or Bosnian 8mm ammo.
- .308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO are more common than either of the others. Plenty of commercial and less so for milsurp ammunition. Handloading is a snap.
For simple shooting ease, an Israeli 7.62 conversion is a very easy decision. The next choice would be a Lee Enfield No.4 for its Commonwealth military record, and in my opinion its superior accuracy. The third choise and only because you asked, would be a Russian Capture Mauser K98.
Hi. Most Lee-Enfields have headspace issues. Sporterized or not. Has to do with the bolt head. It screws off and the bolt head is how headspace is dealt with on Enfields. Lots of 'em have been assembled out of parts bins with no QC. Fixing bad headspace has gotten expensive. No. 4 Enfield bolt heads run about $20 each and you need the headspace guages. More of an expensive issue with a No. 1 Mk III Lee-Enfield. The barrel diameters vary too. Not that Enfields are bad rifles. They aren't. They just have more issues to deal with.
Mausers rarely have headspace issues.
"...a friends 308 Mauser..." Likely an FN made Israeli Mauser. Not a bad thing. However, Mauser rifles were used by everybody and his brother in Europe and elsewhere. A K98(8mm Mauser) isn't the only game. The Swedes used a Model 96, chambered in 6.5 x 55. A top notch deer/moose/bear cartridge. It's still the standard Swedish moose hunting cartridge. Ammo is readily available and the rifles tend to be in good condition.
Epp's, up the road from you, is listing one at $275. Worth drive. Mind you, Epp's also has a No. 4 Lee-Enfield with an excellent bore. $399 though.
Take the drive up there. It's worth the trip just to see the place if you've never been. Up Hwy 11, 15 minutes past Orillia, right on the Hwy. Great big sign on the roof. Good people working there too.
Drive over to CFB Borden on a Sunday afternoon and tour the Museum too. Free, I think. The outdoor tank park certainly is. All kinds of slick stuff to look at. The only CF general ever buried on a base lies there.
Mausers rarely have headspace issues.
"...a friends 308 Mauser..." Likely an FN made Israeli Mauser. Not a bad thing. However, Mauser rifles were used by everybody and his brother in Europe and elsewhere. A K98(8mm Mauser) isn't the only game. The Swedes used a Model 96, chambered in 6.5 x 55. A top notch deer/moose/bear cartridge. It's still the standard Swedish moose hunting cartridge. Ammo is readily available and the rifles tend to be in good condition.
Epp's, up the road from you, is listing one at $275. Worth drive. Mind you, Epp's also has a No. 4 Lee-Enfield with an excellent bore. $399 though.
Take the drive up there. It's worth the trip just to see the place if you've never been. Up Hwy 11, 15 minutes past Orillia, right on the Hwy. Great big sign on the roof. Good people working there too.
Drive over to CFB Borden on a Sunday afternoon and tour the Museum too. Free, I think. The outdoor tank park certainly is. All kinds of slick stuff to look at. The only CF general ever buried on a base lies there.
often 7.62 Nato Israeli Mausers show up on EE
as for 8mm mausers, you can see russian captures as well
but i personally love russian. a mosin nagant is a great arm, and nowaday a sniper reproduction goes for less than 800$
surplus 7.62x54 comes in from time to time and goes for less than 50c a round
as for 8mm mausers, you can see russian captures as well
but i personally love russian. a mosin nagant is a great arm, and nowaday a sniper reproduction goes for less than 800$
surplus 7.62x54 comes in from time to time and goes for less than 50c a round
"i personally love russian. a mosin nagant"
Probably the best & cheapest way to get into milsurps or something in 7.62x39mm.6.5x55mm, 303 & 30-06 surplus ammo has all but dried up. 308 can still be found from time to time
Probably the best & cheapest way to get into milsurps or something in 7.62x39mm.6.5x55mm, 303 & 30-06 surplus ammo has all but dried up. 308 can still be found from time to time
Last edited:
