Want to Get Into a MilSurp...Need Help Deciding.

[Nalapombu]

Hey all,
This is my first post here and it looks like I can learn a lot.

I have always been interested in Milsurp rifles, but have never owned one because I never had access to a range to shoot them. Well last night everything changed. I had my nephew at the range with my AK letting him have some fun and the guy next to me pulls out a K-31 and I thought it was awesome. We chatted a bit about it and on the way home I decided that now that I have a place to shoot one, I need to figure out what would be a good one to get and pick one up.

Here is what I am looking for. Something that would be fun to shoot out to 300 yards where I don't have to worry if every hole in the target is touching and groups size and that stuff that modern guys get hung up on. Also I would prefer being able to shoot lower cost ammo. That's about all I can think of.

Of course I would LOVE to have a Garand or an 03 Springfield, but those are out of my price range. Then I thought about getting an "enemy at the gates" rifle and thought it would be a lot of fun. Naturally I would have to use a mauser clone instead of an actual German mauser 98k sniper rifle. There's always the Mosins too, but those are not really on the top of my "desire" list if you know what I mean. Then last night someone told me about something else that I had forgotten about....the 1917 Enfield. I checked it out and it's a really nice looking rifle and I have read a lot of great things about them over the years. I could really see myself shooting one of these with my nephew.

I go to check GunBroker just to see what's out there and how much they are and boy did I get an eye opening. There were all kinds of Enfields in various states of completion, customization and so on. I have no idea on what serial number range to look for, how to make sure I am getting a shooter or end uo with a wall hanger and so on. If someone walked up to my door right now and had one in his hands and was asking $100 for it, I wouldn't know how to tell if it would be suitable for repeated range use or not.

Then I see these Enfields that have been "sporterized" years ago and wonder whether one of these would be best and then have it put back to near original condition.

Can you all help me here in knowing what to look for? I don't want to end up with someone else's headaches. I want something I can take out to the range with my nephew, shoot for a few hours, come home, clean it up and repeat in a couple of weeks. So if you don't mind, please help me figure out what Enfield Rifles to look for or possibly buy and what a good deal would be on one.

Also if you have any other suggestions for a "fun" range rifle, I'd certainly like to hear them.

Thanks for your time.

Nalajr

Information

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[coppertales]

What is wrong with Mosin Nagants??? Don't waste your time trying to restore a bubba custom milsurp. There are too many out there in military configuration. What you want to collect depends on how much money you have. The golden age of surplus imports is over with the exception of Mosin Nagant 91/30s which can be had for 100 bucks. Ammo is not as cheap as it once was either. The best place is to hit the gun shows, if there are any in your area. Also, pick up an issue of Shotgun News and see what is out there....chris3

[rpbayly]

I bought my first m-n for $39.00 plus shipping.
Imagine a rifle with 30-06 class power, bolt rifle, with a history for $39.
Fun to clean-up the first time and fun to shoot.
Not a moa rifle - but who cares?
Love to shoot it and to watch "enemy at the gates"

[DaveN]

Has anyone thought of the horse power factor? I find my Garands to have a nice easy kick and the bolt actions to kick hard. To go to the range as often as you say I could not imagine shooting alot (say 100 rounds) with a M/N as I'm told everytime I ask, they kick hard. I'm 230 lbs at 6 ft (ok 5 11 and 3/4) and consider myself tuff enough but am getting to the age where I just don't want to take a beating. I will, and am looking to get both a M/N and a mauser(possible yugo) because of the $$$$ is right, but will shoot the garand for 100rds and then maybe a bolt for 10rds. that ratio works for me.

[Nalapombu]

Hey,

Nothing at all wrong with the Mosin rifles, I plan on owning one of those too at some point. They just aren't on the top of my list. The main thing against them is they just don't have that "wow" factor that the others I mentioned have. You know the reaction you have when you walk up to a table at a gun show and see a nice Garand or 02 Springfield. I guess the Mosin just isn't as "sexy" as most others. I'll still get one though.

Nalajr

[easthawk]

Hey,

Nothing at all wrong with the Mosin rifles, I plan on owning one of those too at some point. They just aren't on the top of my list. The main thing against them is they just don't have that "wow" factor that the others I mentioned have. You know the reaction you have when you walk up to a table at a gun show and see a nice Garand or 02 Springfield. I guess the Mosin just isn't as "sexy" as most others. I'll still get one though.

Nalajr

Mosins do not have a "wow" factor because nice, original examples are cheap and easily available. That will change in a couple of decades.

[OCDinNC1]

I bought my first Mosin 91/30 two months ago and LOVE it. I want a few dozen more...

[1911crazy]

I started off with wanting to collect every known mauser about 20 years ago. My first two military surplus guns were a yugo model 98 mauser which is a captured german mauser with the markings scrubbed off with the yugo crest put on them. Its a german mauser at a yugo price, there the samey same. My second surplus rifle was a finnisn m39 mosin. Then i went and got a chinese sks when they were first offered. Then i got a russian m44 mosin. Then i sat tight for around 10 years doing other things. As my life went on i found my self with extra $$$ and wanted to get more into collecting guns. I thenm got my C&RFFL03 license and my very first buy was a turkiish m38 8mm mauser for $36.95. My point is for anyone who is interested in gun collecting you have to get your C&RFFL03 license and then hook up with a dealer locally who will only charge you for transfers on the modern guns too. We can have the best of both worlds. Plus we get discounts on gun accessories and ammo too on the net.
Back then i did find out there are over 1,000 different mausers so i went on to the military semi auto's and grabbed bolt action rifles inbetween. But right now i'm into C&R handguns, mausers again and modern handguns. CZY

BTW: I would suggest grabbing what mosins you can too. I have the russian and the finnish mosins. My problem is i like them all.

[CarlPalmer]

The mosin was my first milsurp. I love that thing. It is nice and tight. I got mine from AIM Suprlus for less than $100 and is came to me in awesome condition. I couldn't be happier. It was an actual WWII combat issue. A LOT of history there. That is what makes it sexy for me.

If you have $200, get a Yugo Mauser from Aim.

If you have $300, get a German Mauser from Dan's Sporting goods. Mine was nice and clean. It had some scratches and so forth, but I was surprised by how clean it was.

If you want really sexy, get an AES-10 which is a civilian version of the LMG version of the AK-47.

If you want cheap to shoot, get the mosin. The surplus ammo is still cheap and available.

[hcso617]

Mosins do not have a "wow" factor because nice, original examples are cheap and easily available. That will change in a couple of decades.

And the first time you send the 7.62x54r round downrange and everyone turns to you and say's "what kind of cannon is that".

I also own a Carcano and a 1944 K98 Mauser. For the money you can't beat the Mosin Nagant, incredible deals right now and get's you shooting for very little investment. There is a lot of great advise here, as Patrick said get Paul Scarlata's book, look at your family history as Smellie suggested. You can also apply for for C&R license if you're here in the U.S. It's a great way to find deals, and have them shipped directly to your home, and you don't have to pay the transfer fee.

Good luck with whatever you decide, you have certainly come to the right place for information.