In Search of Milsurps...

[WarrZone]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and to the milsurp. I recently acquired my first 2 milsurp rifles. A K31 and an M39.

Now that I have been bitten by the bug I was wondering where would be a good place to start looking for more. I am aware of some places like Classic Firearms, which is where I got my M39, and a couple of others but was hoping to get some suggestions on where to start looking online and so forth.

Thanks!

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[Aragorn243]

Unfortunately you are about two years too late getting started. It's a rough milsurp world out there right now. People seem to be hoarding guns right now, at least that's what my local gun shop says. They are buying but they are not bringing anything in to sell or trade. There are still some Warsaw Pact handguns out there. Gunshows are your best bet or a local gun trader group or some of the auction sites. It's all pretty much hit or miss also. Never know what will show but they don't last long, someone will snap them up pretty quick.

[cipherk98]

Aim Surplus is another source, J&G Sales also sometimes has interesting C&R stuff but are typically high on shipping. One thing I've noticed, especially with handguns, is surplus stuff is rarely getting C&R listed by name unless they qualify for C&R status being over 50 years old And most stuff over 50 got surplused off a long time ago. Southern Ohio Gun is another vendor but they have an even more mixed reputation than Classic. You'll get the most mileage out of your C&R at places like local auctions and browsing Gunbroker, versus getting them fresh out of the crate from some retailer.

Right now I'd pick up a Yugo M59/66, Dan's Ammo has a good price on them and if you really have money to burn has a consecutive crate (If I could liquidate my collection fast enough I'd do it). Plenty of vendors also have Polish P64s at very reasonable prices too though cheap ammo seems to have vanished and the supply of Yugo mausers still seems pretty good. It seems like Romanian Tokarevs are beginning to dry up though. Mosins come in spurts as people find crates in the corners of warehouses, like a run of Yugo M59s that recently hit the market locally.

[Flying10uk]

Anything that's been made or refurbished in the former Yugoslavia is likely to be excellent value for money and good quality, in my opinion, and better than Soviet produced items.

[mmppres]

If your looking for the odd piece ask
I might have it I will ship any c&r firearm
most of the time its about 30 to 35 for USPS Priority mail

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Sound advice thus far.
I would like to congradulate you on the foundation of your collection. K-31 & M-39 are a sound foundation on which to build a collection. Beware the Enfield bug. It bites hard.

[burb1989]

I concur with Hooked about the sound advice and also I second the advice about gun shows. Sometimes you run into a rifle or handgun that is different than what you would find at most online stores and part of the fun is the negotiating. I'm in the same boat about looking for more milsurps. I'm getting in several more arisakas from a friend who is thinning out his massive collection and wanted to give me them as a gift. However rifles like k98s, berthiers, and lebels are next to impossible to find in my area. I've been hunting within an hour driving radius in all directions for five years and I have yet to come across a k98 on someone's table for sale. Keep up the hunt and as always please post pics of whatever you do find.

[WarrZone]

Thanks all for the advice. I really appreciate it.

I think my next targets will be an SKS, some form of Mauser, and one of those Polish 64s or something similar.

But most of all, I really, really want a Garand, and a 1903A3. I know they're pricey but I think it will be well worth the price. So any advice on those would be great as well!

I will work on getting some pictures up of the milsurps I have so far.

[Aragorn243]

Lots of Garand's and O3A3's at shows. Possibly the most common milsurps at shows these days. Guys that have them usually have half a dozen to a dozen each. Prices are higher than most others but I've seen reasonably priced ones at shows. If you qualify for CMP purchases, Garands are available there at times.

[Vincent]

Occasionally I find some in Pawn shops. The ones in the not so nice parts of town have reasonable prices.