Picking a military bolt action. Tips please.

A

AndABeer

New member
The next long gun will be a military bolt action of some sort. A Springfield, German Mauser 98K, or Russian Mosin-Nagant are the main three under consideration. Perhaps all three some day but gotta start with one. My main inclination right now is the Springfield because it is the American one.

Buying online makes me somewhat nervous, but I am afraid it may be what I have to do as the local gun shows are no longer the bargain grounds they use to be. This rifle and subsequent purchases will be shot often so 100% condition is not desired due to price but I do want a decent rifle that is in the original issue configuration (i.e. not sporterized). Matching serials would be nice but I am mostly ambivelant as again I am looing for a shooter not a museum peice.

If I were to find one of these models in a rack at a gun shop or a gun show what should I look for besides a nice bore? What should I expect to pay for them in 85-95% condition? I realize these are loaded questions (no pun intended) so is there a text which instructs a neophyte on buying military surplus arms?
 
If you've got the money, go with the Springfield first. They're expensive now, and going up.

A good M-N and M98 will run you together about half of what the Springfield will.
 
I'm a big fan of the Mauser action, and the 8mm Mauser cartridge is a good one, comparable (roughly) to the .30-06. An original German K98k can be hard to find, since the Soviets took great delight in grinding off all the Nazi-era markings. But since you're looking for a shooter, may I suggest a Yugoslavian M48? They are basically K98k carbines that fell into the hands of the Yugoslavian government after the Nazis were expelled. Arsenal refurbished and stamped with a "communist victory over facism" seal, many are available in excellent to unissued condition.

My web links are on another computer, but there are a ton of places online selling them. Prices range (at last check) from $130-$250 or so. Other surplus fans out there with some active links?
 
I agree that the Springfield would be the first choice for 2 reasons, first as you say its American and secondly they are getting hard to find. If you can find a good 03A3 they are a great shooter and if you keep it original (I would hope so they are too scarce now to customize) the peep sights make for a good shooter. Watch out for the low numbered 03's if what you are looking for is a shooter. Until the heat treat process was changed some of them could come apart. Its not likely but it CAN happen.
 
Don't overlook the English #4 rifles. 303 British is readily available(one of top ten best selling rifle cartridges). The guns are accurate and shoot softer than the others.

An 03 will cost you much more than the others and also note 03 bolts were not numbered.

For dealers that specilize in milsurps go to Tuco's page,WWW.mosin-nagant.net
 
Mauser, Mosin-nagant, Springfield, and Enfield. I like them all. But I am a big fan of the Mauser smooth action. Get the German.
 
Surplus rifles are great...you can pick up a whole gun safe full for the price of a SIG or a H&K pistol.

I have a cut-down Enfield No.4 "Tanker", and my roomie has a Spanish FR-8 "Cetmeton" Mauser. We're looking at adding a Mosin-Nagant and a 98k Mauser to the collection soon, since they are cheap enough to be "impulse buy" items.

I really like the Enfield, their action is very smooth and fast for a military rifle. Any good example of Mauser, Enfield or Mosin-Nagant is worth buying, just for the history. Springfields are a little more scarce and therefore more expensive...go for it if you want to collect, but go with an Yugo Mauser or Mosin-Nagant if you want a cheap, solid shooter just for the fun of it. Yugos run ~$100-150, Mosin-Nagants can be had for way under $100.
 
Ah, but when you find the right Springfield...

You'll know it. Check out your local pawn shops, sometimes the darndest things show up for $300:

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Then again, sometimes they ain't so cheap...

You could buy a LOT of Turkish Mausers, or several Yugo M48's for the price of one of these:

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Very pretty Gewehr98. That appears to be a Lyman Alaskan (no sliding scope shade as on M81/M82) scope. Is it genuine (CMP papers)?
 
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