Why is it milsurps put a smile on your face like no other?

na1lb0hm

na1lb0hm

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A friend and I went out and had a spur of the moment milsurp appreciation day this weekend.

My Garand and mosin, His two enfields, one just picked up, a bubba'd enfield, and upon disassembly, found it to be all matching, dated 1918... damn you bubba.

No pictures (darn it) as this one wasn't really planned but of all the recent trips to the range, I haven't had a smile on my face like after this one.

Maybe it was shooting my mosin for the first time, maybe it was the ping of the garand, but all of a sudden I think my black guns need to go away, replaced by nothing newer than 1950.

Why does this happen? Can anyone explain this phenomenon?
 
I like milsurps because I can get 3 good quality rifles made of real wood and steel for the price of a crappy new aluminum and plastic factory rifle.

Price point aside, I'm not sure why, but there's a "feeling" with milsurps. Like knowing that some young man placed his faith and trusted his life to the piece of history that you hold in your hands.
 
Maybe its cos you're shooting a real mans rifle, which was made for war. It seems to turn my crank, I really like my SKSes but I love my SVT's. I sometimes wonder how much Krauts my SVT's took care of. :D :ar15:
 
There are a variety of reasons:
- it's old
- each one is unique
- there is history to it
- they work well even in old age
- there is a quality to them that isn't present in new firearms

I think a lot of antique car, tractor etc. enthusiasts would understand how you feel.
 
Each person who collects/shoots/appreciates milsurps will have something to contribute to this thread.

When I was a kid, my Dad used to buy the odd Field & Stream, Sports Afield, etc. magazine. I would pour over the stories and ads. I would order the free catalogs. That's where my milsurp addiction got its start. It has been a rush for over fifty years now, and shows no signs of receding!

There are many things I could go on about regarding milsurps, but I would only be preaching to the converted.:)
 
Its like they have there own individual stories and histories i sometimes just sit down with the rifle and clean its every piece. It seems every time i do i find a new mystery marking or stamp that i just have to go look up. They are also great shooters and feel and are of course very solid reliable guns.
 
I recently got a Mosin and a SKS but there is something about that Mosin that is just awesome! The feel, the action it just makes me so happy. :D
 
Milsurps usually mark the zenith of the military bolt-action (cartridge-magazine) rifle and the advent of the semi-automatic cartridge-magazine military rifle.....:cool:...that happens to be a stellar period of time for both firearms and firearm development :) , not in the least b/c it marked the prevalence of cartridge-magazine firearms that could be both fired while prone and rapidly loaded....:yingyang:

There's also the history, the construction, and the sheer "feel" to these firearms that lets us know that, yes, you are holding a very capable implement.
 
Shooting my K31, SKS's and Enfield is always very enjoyable. It's the history of it.

I like the SKS, especially Russian ones, as it was made with killing my family members in mind. Now, we buy them for cheap because Russia lost that particular ideological battle. You know you've lost when your former enemy is buying up your old rifles you made to kill them so they can plink cheaply out in the back 40.

We win. :)
 
My love for milsurps comes from my grandfather, a WW2 veteran. I remember hearing all the various stories of war, who was the best shot in his regiment( he claimed it was him), and I tended to believe him. Along with the good, he rarely spoke of the bad, and to this day I'll never forget the nightmares and bad dreams he used to have. I remember as a young boy, watching one of these nightmares play out, arms outstretched and fighting for his life, and wondering what the hell he must of seen or done! To this day I have a certain respect for these men and thier tools of war. RIP Steve.
 
I think you hit on it with all your points, but my favourite is the History.

AdrianM said:
There are a variety of reasons:
- it's old
- each one is unique
- there is history to it
- they work well even in old age
- there is a quality to them that isn't present in new firearms

I think a lot of antique car, tractor etc. enthusiasts would understand how you feel.
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