good first milsurp rifle?

[manboy]

great looking site!!

i'm a total noober when it comes to milsurp, so if you had to recommend the best milsurp starter rifle what would it be?

best price/calibre/ shootabilty/ whatever.....?

educate me!!!!

Information

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[muh-muh-muh-mauser]

Well if you want something cheap and plentifull, get an enfield or a mosin. You can buy sporterized enfields for less than $100. The nice military config ones are usually around $300 for a nice one. Mosins are also very common and can be had quite cheap depending on what model you want/how collectable you want it.

Personally, id recommend a mauser (although i am a bit bias towards the German guns ) ; nothing puts you back in line quite like the kick from a military 8mm mauser round . The all matching k98s will command a high price depending on their configuration but you can pick up a Yugo or Russian refurb (if you can find one) for $400ish. Virtually new M48s are about the same price, sometimes cheaper and are good if you want something "new", although their quality is usually below that of German mausers.

In regards to ammo for the above, the 54r rounds for the mosins are very common and very cheap, although surplus ammo is corrosive, if that matters to you. Surplus .303 is hard to find, as is 8mm mauser, but its out there if you look hard enough. You can also go to virtually any gun shop and buy new .303 but it is expensive compared to the milsurp stuff. Most people who are really into milsurps load their own ammo as it is cheap and they can tailor loads to their particular gun.

Thats just my $.02

[Stevo]

Pretty much the cheapest, easiet way to get into milsurp rifles is with a Mosin Nagant of some sort. Refurbished or good original models can be had for $200 or less. Nicer or more rare models can run into the $300-400 range for a particularly collectible one.

Surplus ammo is currently cheap and plentiful, and they're peasant proof. So you're good to go, manboy, and one would go with your Tokarev.

You can look at Lee Enfield No1s or No4s, available in complete original condition from $200 or the many different flavours of Mausers, starting at about the same price.

I

[manboy]

200 or less? that sounds like my kind of junk. where do i find a $100.00 Mosin Nagant milsurp rifle that is tapped for scope mounting? also, is that 7.62x54 ?

[Stevo]

200 or less? that sounds like my kind of junk. where do i find a $100.00 Mosin Nagant milsurp rifle that is tapped for scope mounting? also, is that 7.62x54 ?

Shhhh. Don't let on you're an incipient bubba.

For $100 you're not likely to find a MN with a decent bore, a good shooter's worth a bit more than that. Sportered LEs that would be good shooters are available in that price range.

The best way to mount a scope on a MN is with a scout mount and LER scope, no gunsmithing required. Otherwise you have to bend the bolt handle. You're young, what's wrong with the Mk1 Mod 0 eyeball?

And yes, MN are in 7.62x54R.

[Badger]

Welcome manboy...

Here's a typical low priced Mosin on display in our Russian Milsurp Knowledge Library and yes, they're 7.62 x 54R ......

1955 Mosin Nagant Model 44 Carbine (click here)

If you're a member of CGN, then run a WTB (Want to Buy) advert in the Military Surplus EE (EE Forums) and see what kind of response you get. Specify some of the variables you'd like to control (ie: price etc) and make sure you check the buyer's iTrader rating before you start sending money.

If you get a rifle offered to you and you'd like to get some feedback, leave a post here with some pics and the asking price. I'm sure folks here would be happy to give you an opinion on what kind of value it is.

Regards,
Badger

[Steve]

It will likely be difficult to find a milsurp that has been drilled and tapped unless you visit a gun shop and check out the gun racks. Lower price is an indicator.

If you go online to a place like Jeans - http://psmilitaria.users.50megs.com//index.html or Epps Sporting Goods - http://www.ellwoodepps.com - email them and ask for a Mosin Nagant or Lee Enfield that's been sported.

MNs are likely the best for both price and availability of surplus ammunition. 303 British is harder to find now. Availability of military surplus ammunition is cyclical. That is, it comes and goes.

If you don't mind a rifle that's not really accurate, consider an SKS or other 7.62x39mm. Ammunition is more available for these too.

If you reload (or plan to do so) then finding milsurp is not a consideration.

[Stevo]

I can bring my 91/30 over to IDPA night if you want to take a look at one.

[manboy]

I can bring my 91/30 over to IDPA night if you want to take a look at one.

why yes i do..... if you don't mind. got any milsurp rifles for sale Stevo? just in case i get hooked?


thanks for all the info fellas. i don't really need to scope it, i just happen to have more optics than rifles at the moment, and some of them are brand new......i was feeling sorry for them.

i do reload, so availability is not really an issue once i get my hands on the brass. is the milsurp brass reloadable for 7.62x54R, or is it dirty laquer coated tin made from recycled tractors? also, are reloading dies for the milsurp calibres fairly common, or do yuo guys end up having to special order them?

[Stevo]

why yes i do..... if you don't mind. got any milsurp rifles for sale Stevo? just in case i get hooked?


thanks for all the info fellas. i don't really need to scope it, i just happen to have more optics than rifles at the moment, and some of them are brand new......i was feeling sorry for them.

i do reload, so availability is not really an issue once i get my hands on the brass. is the milsurp brass reloadable for 7.62x54R, or is it dirty laquer coated tin made from recycled tractors? also, are reloading dies for the milsurp calibres fairly common, or do yuo guys end up having to special order them?

As a matter of fact, that particular 91/30 is for sale, how coincidental! I'm getting out of long MNs and sticking with the carbine models. Got lots of ammo too.

Most milsurp 54R is steel cased with lacquer or copper wash exterior, and Berdan primed. Not reloadable. Commercial Boxer brass is available. Milsurp calibre dies are readily available. If you're just blasting, it's not really cost effective to reload for the MN with the current prices on milsurp.