New Milsurp Project

djmay71

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So, now that I've caught the milsurp bug with my 1912 M98, I've been doing some long and hard thinking, and came to the conclusion that I need another milsurp to work on.

But I'm tossed up between the SKS and the Lee Enfields. Apples and oranges I know, but which one do you suggest?

Also-for a fair to good condition Enfield, how much can a person expect to pay?
 
What are you planning on doing to it?

Either one- a full stock strip down and restore. See how well it goes.
Goes well- slap it back on, turns south, get a 'tacticool' stock.

After that- it'll turn out to be platform specific, and I'm not sure yet as to what I want to do with it at that point.
 
If you plan on doing any stripping or "tacticooling" up, avoid Enfields like the plague. Pick a nice commercial Chinese SKS and have at er.
 
Either one- a full stock strip down and restore. See how well it goes.
Goes well- slap it back on, turns south, get a 'tacticool' stock.



Sounds more like a Babba project, not milsurp. You should change your title so the real milsurp people in this section don't have to read about how you ruin a good rifle.


:jerkit:
 
I played a bit of bubba with a Chinese sks
bought a extra Russian sks stock, had a lot of fun and a good learning experience refinishing it and installed the Chinese hardware in it
and still got the original untouched Chinese stock
 
SKSs are easy to alter. They are cheap, plentiful and in most cases historically irrelevant. You also have the advantage of being able to remove and keep the original parts and ticticrap the hell out of it, then return it to original if so desired.
Lee Enfield sporters can be left wide open to altering as many have had the front lugs removed and otherwise altered beyond reasonable repair. So have at it with those. Any Enfield that is mostly original should stay that way if for no other reason than you would lessen the value no matter how much crap you hang off of it.
Bottem line though is it would be your rifle to do as you see fit.
 
RESTORE, Don't bubba......Unless your seriously going make it a usable rifle for hunting/shooting.

For the SKS: "Tactical Stocks" don't make the SKS rifle more Accurate, not much lighter either. I would rather buy an AR-15 vs a "Tactical" SKS. Its purpose was to arm communist infantry with a carbine capable of hitting man-sized targets out to 300+ meters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ee0eLUT0CY&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLE2A11A518D7CCC8D

Historically irrelevant?

I seen SKS rifles on many conflicts. Last time was Vietnam HD on History channel. Also in arms cashes in the Middle East conflicts.

For the Enfield's: There are many around in rough shape, Many are missing Wood Stocks and standard issue parts. They make good restore projects, Parts are all over the place from sponsoring vendors and often at gun shows. A good stock refinish can bring new life to the old wood.

If you want to Bubba an Enfield, buy a sporter. They'er cheaper than an original and more plentiful. There are Synthetic and wood stock options available. These sporters can be great shooting rifles for the money. For a Scope mount, Weaver makes a decent mount. There are also "No Gunsmith" mount options, but a I'd go with the weaver mount or similar.

Bottom line is an Enfield .303 or 30-06 can make a Great Sporting rifle for way less than a new Commercial rifle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C95b_NjXkFM

SKS rifles's aren't worth dumping cash into as they are Just Communist grunt Carbines, Don't go out and buy $400 dollars of "upgrades", invest in Ammunition instead.
 
I'd like to see pictures of what you did to the M98.

Nothing radical- everything can be found here- fast forward to post #38 for end results.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=703972&highlight=Chilean+M98+Mauser

Found the Austrailian International Arms Improved Enfields on Marstars website. Very enticing.

EDIT: To clarify, if I went the Enfield route, I'd stay original, as I recognize the historic value of them.
If a SKS finds its way into my safe...can anyone say a synthetic stock? I'm thinking like a Dragonov style like this:
ATI-SKS3000-750px.jpg
 
I'm not quite sure what you did to it. Was the stock painted or something?

Nope.
Stock:
Steamed out the dents.
Linseed scrub with 0000 steel wool.
light 800 grit sanding on fore end to remove muck build up.
Linseed coat & soak.
Wax & polish.

Bolt:
Stripped & cleaned.
Polished & WD40 soak (to remove excess polishing paste)
Reassembled & oiled.

Barrel & rest of rifle:
Stripped down. Cleaned & oiled.
Barrel cleaned & lightly oiled.
Inspected by Gunsmith: Ok to shoot.


Just got it appraised by a guy I found who knows a lot about Mausers, and he's appraised it at a conversative $500, but $800 to the right buyer.
 
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