what should my first milsurp be?

Personally, if you are really interested in starting a collection, I would seek out the guns that are hard to get and/or expensive right now, and pick up the more common stuff later. Anything that's hard to get or expensive now will be harder to get and even more expensive as time goes by.

For example, years ago I picked up an M 1 Garard from Century Arms for around $400 bucks. The rifle was in very good condition and all matching. Needless to say, I'm really glad I bought it then. Try to find one like that now, and especially at a sensible price. They are selling now in the $2000 range, and are basicly parts guns.

I really regret not buying more of the hard to find guns when they were available.
 
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If you want to hedge your bets about buying an ACCURATE rifle,
then 1st choice is a k31, followed by a Swede.
Tradeex still has a very good supply of GP11 And Prvi loaded 7.5x55 ammo.
Very rare to get a K31 shooting 2moa or worse.

Reloading 7.5 is easy and you can get a starters kit, or just buy a used press.
Swedes has been around longer so may be more worn out.

I like both, and Portuguese Mausers, and FN49s and ..............
 
From all I've read and from my own first hand experience so far I'd say that any of the surplus ammo you get is going to be lucky to shoot "minute of pie plate" even at 100 yards from a supported position. Going with your own re-loads you stand to halve the size or better simply due to ammo. So while I'm a big fan of a Mosin and a SPAM can of ammo for plinking I feel that to really learn what the GUN can do instead of just the ammo that I need to gather up a set of dies and get into reloading for my Mosins.

A great combo to start out would be something Russian in 7.62x 54R and a Lee Enfield in .303British since both rifles can share the same size and weight of bullet. Of course each needs its own brass and dies but it's nice to have SOME amount of commonality to start out. And no one can say that the guns which are chambered in these rounds are not classics. A Lee Enfield bolt sitting alongside an SVT might be a nice starter combo. Bolt and semi auto.

At first cleaning the gas system may seem like a pain. But with a bit of time and trials you amass a kit of special stuff for cleaning each gun. The barrel is easy. Then for the gas system you may find that a pipe cleaner for the gas passage and some long test tube nylon or brass bristle brushes used by automotive mechanics serve to quickly clean the piston chamber and the like. Stay creative and try different things and you'll soon have strip down and cleaning process down to around 10 to 15 minutes tops from beginning to end.
 
BCRider said:
From all I've read and from my own first hand experience so far I'd say that any of the surplus ammo you get is going to be lucky to shoot "minute of pie plate" even at 100 yards from a supported position. Going with your own re-loads you stand to halve the size or better simply due to ammo. So while I'm a big fan of a Mosin and a SPAM can of ammo for plinking I feel that to really learn what the GUN can do instead of just the ammo that I need to gather up a set of dies and get into reloading for my Mosins.

A great combo to start out would be something Russian in 7.62x 54R and a Lee Enfield in .303British since both rifles can share the same size and weight of bullet. Of course each needs its own brass and dies but it's nice to have SOME amount of commonality to start out. And no one can say that the guns which are chambered in these rounds are not classics. A Lee Enfield bolt sitting alongside an SVT might be a nice starter combo. Bolt and semi auto.
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Minute of pie plate? You must be eating small pies! I average about 4-5" at worst with surplus and I think most of that is me.
 
You are a Canadian and you are asking? Ross, No1Mk3, No4Mk1.
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:)

I am surprised that this is the first recommendation for the Lee Enfield. Drop the $300-$400 and get a nice Longbranch No4 Mk1*. Ammo is still readily available and they are minute of desert plate at 100 yards and open sights.
 
flying pig said:
Lee-Enfield. U can get a Longbranch in very nice shooter condition from P&S for $350. Every Canadian needs at least one but preferably 100 or more. ;)
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My uncle has 2 or 3 of them and might pass at least one on down.
I was hoping to get something else that would be cheaper to shoot than .303
until i start reloading :D

sks and mosin are probably my 2 best bets so far as the K31 is also expensive until i start reloading.
Maybe deer hunting but not guaranteed just yet, i already have a mark II .22LR as well, so not sure if i want a semi auto or another bolt action
hard to break a mosin, but the sks is durable too
 
shores said:
My uncle has 2 or 3 of them and might pass at least one on down.
I was hoping to get something else that would be cheaper to shoot than .303
until i start reloading :D

sks and mosin are probably my 2 best bets so far as the K31 is also expensive until i start reloading.
Maybe deer hunting but not guaranteed just yet, i already have a mark II .22LR as well, so not sure if i want a semi auto or another bolt action
hard to break a mosin, but the sks is durable too
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If u are even thinking about hunting u r going to want a mosin or SVT40. No way I'd shoot at an animal with an SKS unless I wanted to mutilate it. That's the only rifle I've traded off was my SKS.
 
So here's the choices
K31- they will be harder to find with decent stocks in the future, slowly going up in price, good deer rifle?

Mosin nagant- prices are slowly going up, easy to clean, reasonably priced now, fun to shoot

Sks-laminated stock- decent prices, easy semi auto to work on, but is there any investment value?

Swede 38- more managable length compared to mosin, accurate, moderate recoil, is there any long term investment value at all?
 
My first MILSURP was an Enfield and I recommend all new shooters, let alone new milsurp collectors, get one early on.

It is a big piece of our history - and it's a beauty rifle. You will grow to love it and then you will be buying more milsurps. Ammo is plentiful, it is accurate (at the last milsurp competition at EOSC a shooter with an Enfield rifle won - beating out even the K31), and safe.

Stay away from the sporters. No.4s are reasonably priced and hold their value.
 
K31 is a snap to scope very, accurate and will increase in value over the years when supply runs out. Muzzle brakes available to tame the 7.5x55 down to 7x57-6.5x55 levels. Hunting soft point ammo is Made by Prvi and carried by Tradeex who also have GP11 and maybe other retailers. Only bad point is that you have to get your body used to carrying the weight.
Think Blaser R93 at 1/10 the cost.
What type of hunting is there close to you?

All the other choices will be more difficult and costly to scope.

Practice shooting standing with a scoped 22 at 100yds until you can keep them in the black with a 2 second time limit from 45° carry position. Much cheaper to practice.
 
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