Favorite Military Surplus Rifle

M1 Garand tops my list of all time as far as pratriotic mil surp rifles go. I was almost in tears when i read an article in American rifle about how a few army paratrooper recruits (vietnam era) kept incidently breaking the stocks on their M-14 during scenario drops and bayonet/rifle stock combat techniques. Their DI told the men to go into the armory where a few surplus rifles were kept as "knock-around" rifles for bayonet/rifle stock combat. The gentleman writing the article said that the unknown rifles were still sealed in plastic and covered with cosmoline. When he finally got his rifle cleaned up, he noticed a very distinct stamp on the side of the reciever stating "NM"....
Long story short, the paratrooper recruits were ordered to use national match M1 garands for bayonet/rifle stock fighting techniques... : (
 
gungho,

The military rifle I'd like to get again? That could only be the M1 Garand. Just because I've covered so many miles with one.
 
My fathers personal battle rifle. M1 Garand. A lot of island hopping was done with that one. I also have the carbine he was issued in Korea. It seems they found their way home with him along with a few souvineers (sp?).
 
Russian SKS. Bought two of them in the mid 90's for around $100 each. They shoot great and I've never had a hiccup. More accurate than they should be also.
 
I have my grandfathers Krag he was issued, later used to hunt deer with and then passed to my father who used it for hunting. It has been in my family since the US Army purchased it new and now I have it. I do not take it out of the safe other than to admire it however.
 
Since I started collecting battle rifles of the world I can say there are many nice shooters out there; the Garand, the German K98 Mauser, Swiss K31, M1 carbine and many, many more.
The Garand, Mauser and Swiss battle rifles are awesome shooters and relatively inexpensive. Those three you can’t go wrong with IMHO.
The SKS, AK’s are fun shooters but their historical value at this time is somewhat limited because they are still in use in the world and are also newly manufactured aftermarket.
If I were to start collecting and shooting mil-surp rifle today I would start with a rack grade Garand followed by a Swiss K31 and then a K98 Mauser.
After that you will have the bug and need a 03 FFL (Curios & Relics) and buy a new gun almost every month.
Good luck and happy shooting!!!

Oh yeah, The Lee Enfield should be in the list of 1st buys!
 
Lee Enfield, aka British .303

Click here please,,,

It's just an elegant rifle,,,
Real bulldog looking in stock configuration,,,
But if you so desire they sporterize very nicely as well.

I always loved the look of that 10 round magazine.

Aarond
 
I really like Mausers, Favorates are
Swedish M96 and M38 in 6.5x55
Spanish Model 93 in 7x57
German Karabiner 98K in 8mm
The Mosin-Nagant and Lee Enfields are great rifles as well.
It's unreal that the Enfield SMLE still holds the record for the fastest bolt action in the world. A British Range Instructor holds the record for 38 hits on a 12 inch target at 300 yards in 1 minute.
 
The Lee Enfield for me also ... total class in a battle rifle with a service life and history unrivaled by any other rifle of its period.

Tiki.
 
Crap...This thread sent me on a road trip to the Firing Line in Canton Ga today...I've been assuming this forum derived from there? I followed a link from their site to here ...Awesome store...anyway...I came home with a nice Authenticated/certified 1955-1957 M1 Garand that served in the Korean war AND a Remington US ARMY Issued 1911 made somwhere between 1943 and 44. It was carried by a soldier in WWII over in Europe. The original grips were broken in combat while pistol whipping a German. (The person who sold it to them, passed on his grandfather's war stories with the pistol.) The replacement grips are very cool. I'll post pics later :)
 
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