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Good Quality Surplus Rifle in 7.62x54r /8mm Mauser?
- Thread starter Dead
- Start date
Depends a bit on what you want it for. If you are going to sporterize in a different caliber, the barrel doesn't matter. If you want a collector piece or just a good quality shooter, that is another.
There are no rifles in 7.62x54R in any quantity except Russian and a few Chinese. These can be the old Mosin-Nagant bolt action in either the full length rifle or the carbine. There are also some Tokarev 1938/40 semi-autos around. The "Toke" is long and clumsy and not really suitable for a sporter, though a desireable collector piece. The bolt actions are OK if you don't mind the rather stiff action, but they are not suitable for any other cartridge.
In 8mm Mauser, the world opens up. There are Yugoslav Mausers, mostly ex-German K98k's and Czech Vz24's. There are some Mausers made for Iran in Czechoslovakia, and some made in Iran. There are Turkish Mausers. All these are in 8x57. There are ex-German rifles rebarrelled to .308 Winchester (7.62 NATO) in Israel and other countries. There are Steyr-made Mauser 1898's rebarrelled to .308. There are the excellent Swedish Mausers in 6.5x55.
In other words, the variety is large and bewildering. Of the 8x57 rifles, I like the Vz24, but most are not in very good shape. Most Turkish are not either, though some clean up well. Some Yugoslav rifles are rebuilt and look like new. The Yugos and Turkish rifles mostly run well under $100 even for ones that are fairly nice. Others will be higher, depending on condition and caliber.
Jim
There are no rifles in 7.62x54R in any quantity except Russian and a few Chinese. These can be the old Mosin-Nagant bolt action in either the full length rifle or the carbine. There are also some Tokarev 1938/40 semi-autos around. The "Toke" is long and clumsy and not really suitable for a sporter, though a desireable collector piece. The bolt actions are OK if you don't mind the rather stiff action, but they are not suitable for any other cartridge.
In 8mm Mauser, the world opens up. There are Yugoslav Mausers, mostly ex-German K98k's and Czech Vz24's. There are some Mausers made for Iran in Czechoslovakia, and some made in Iran. There are Turkish Mausers. All these are in 8x57. There are ex-German rifles rebarrelled to .308 Winchester (7.62 NATO) in Israel and other countries. There are Steyr-made Mauser 1898's rebarrelled to .308. There are the excellent Swedish Mausers in 6.5x55.
In other words, the variety is large and bewildering. Of the 8x57 rifles, I like the Vz24, but most are not in very good shape. Most Turkish are not either, though some clean up well. Some Yugoslav rifles are rebuilt and look like new. The Yugos and Turkish rifles mostly run well under $100 even for ones that are fairly nice. Others will be higher, depending on condition and caliber.
Jim
I bought a Hungarian(?) M44 Mosin-Nagant Carbine from a local retailer for < $80. In small qty, surplus corro 7.62x54R goes for ~ $3/20 rounds.
The rifle cleaned up real well. Shoots great. Functions flawlessly. Affordable. Plus, I really enjoy shooting and handling it.
Sure - it's no tack driver, and it won't win a beauty contest. But it'll put meat on the table just as well as comparable pieces costing much, much more.
Don't discount spending a little more for a good K98 mauser, it's one of the best pieces on the market.
I love this milsurp stuff. VZ24 is next!
The rifle cleaned up real well. Shoots great. Functions flawlessly. Affordable. Plus, I really enjoy shooting and handling it.
Sure - it's no tack driver, and it won't win a beauty contest. But it'll put meat on the table just as well as comparable pieces costing much, much more.
Don't discount spending a little more for a good K98 mauser, it's one of the best pieces on the market.
I love this milsurp stuff. VZ24 is next!
I'll third the VZ-24 if you can find one with a decent bore. They're cheap and clean up rather nicely. I haven't seen a Yugo for under $100, but that would be a good buy, too. The Yugos I've seen have great barrels. My M24/47 is sweet! The Yugo M48s have the bent bolt-handle if that's a plus for you. Turks are cheap, but they're usually in no better than "Good" condition.
Big 5 is a good source, but only buy when they're on sale; they put everything on sale every few weeks, and the prices are reasonable. If you have a C&R, which I assume you don't if you don't have anything in 8mm or 7.62x54, you can order from AIM or other mail order cruffler source.
Big 5 is a good source, but only buy when they're on sale; they put everything on sale every few weeks, and the prices are reasonable. If you have a C&R, which I assume you don't if you don't have anything in 8mm or 7.62x54, you can order from AIM or other mail order cruffler source.
Arizona Fusilier
New member
Don't overlook the Finnish Moisin-Nagants, often regarded as the finest example of this design. I bought one a few years ago, and its a nice, robust gun. I recently got a catalog called "Guns-N-Stuff", they are selling Finnish M39s in "good" condition for $74.95 (FFL applies). I have no experience with this vendor. Their number is 763-780-5747.
I saw a "NEW" m44 carbine made in poland at a recent gun show, deep bluing chromed bolt, heavy blonde wood.. looked brand spanking new. heavy side folding bayonet.. which isn't needed in a brush gun that i'm aware of.. but a really good looking (if heavy) carbine price was under $200.
If you're leaving it as-is, I'd go for the M-N. The sights are superior to the miserable "Vee notch and pyramid" on the Turk and Yugo Mausers. If you're going to customize it, I'd go for one fo the M98 Mausers. They look better (no protruding mag) and there are TONS of sporterizing parts and stuff out there.
Forgot to mention, there's a TON of cheeeeeeeap 8mm Turk corrosive ammo out there. I've seen it advertised for $75 for a 1400 round case, packed on stripper clips in bandoleer...bandoliere... cloth holders thingies.
Forgot to mention, there's a TON of cheeeeeeeap 8mm Turk corrosive ammo out there. I've seen it advertised for $75 for a 1400 round case, packed on stripper clips in bandoleer...bandoliere... cloth holders thingies.
http://www.mosin-nagant.net/
Tuco's (address above) has discussion boards for both Mausers and Mosins. For under $100 you can get mint Mosin-Nagant 91/59 carbines and excellent condition MN 44 carbines (thoroughly inspect to make sure, many 44s aren't in great shape). I bought a Polish carbine just like Dr. Rob describes for $60 at a Big 5 sporting goods stores, and they've sold them cheaper than that. The 91/59 does not have a bayonet, which might be better for most purposes. The 91/30s have substantially longer bbls (29", as opposed to the 20" of the carbines), and are usually well-used.
The Polish and Russian M44s are usually considered to be the nicest, then the Huns and the Romanians. They're all wonderful for the money.
I have not seen a new condition Mauser for less than $159. I own a Yugo M48 that I bought (mint condn.) for that price. It's a great gun, but that's more than $100. The Mosin action is larger and heavier (and possibly stronger) than the more sophisticated cock-on-opening Mauser 98 action. Mosin sights are better, but Mojo's aftermarket aperture sight is wonderful on a Mauser.
If $100 were the limit, I think the best deal out there is the mint Mosin-Nagant 91/59. These were 91/30 rifles that were arsenal-refinished to new condition with short 20" bbls. They were stockpiled in case of an invasion from the West. I don't know how you could do better than a new miliatry rifle for $79 (which is what the 91/59s often sell for).
Check Tuco's for LOTS more info.
Tuco's (address above) has discussion boards for both Mausers and Mosins. For under $100 you can get mint Mosin-Nagant 91/59 carbines and excellent condition MN 44 carbines (thoroughly inspect to make sure, many 44s aren't in great shape). I bought a Polish carbine just like Dr. Rob describes for $60 at a Big 5 sporting goods stores, and they've sold them cheaper than that. The 91/59 does not have a bayonet, which might be better for most purposes. The 91/30s have substantially longer bbls (29", as opposed to the 20" of the carbines), and are usually well-used.
The Polish and Russian M44s are usually considered to be the nicest, then the Huns and the Romanians. They're all wonderful for the money.
I have not seen a new condition Mauser for less than $159. I own a Yugo M48 that I bought (mint condn.) for that price. It's a great gun, but that's more than $100. The Mosin action is larger and heavier (and possibly stronger) than the more sophisticated cock-on-opening Mauser 98 action. Mosin sights are better, but Mojo's aftermarket aperture sight is wonderful on a Mauser.
If $100 were the limit, I think the best deal out there is the mint Mosin-Nagant 91/59. These were 91/30 rifles that were arsenal-refinished to new condition with short 20" bbls. They were stockpiled in case of an invasion from the West. I don't know how you could do better than a new miliatry rifle for $79 (which is what the 91/59s often sell for).
Check Tuco's for LOTS more info.