Surplus Rifles at Big 5

G

Goet

New member
I'm extremely tempted to spend some gift money on a couple of these babies.

Turk 8mm Mauser
Mosin Nagant 91/30

Here's the deal. I don't know jack about rifles, much less surplus. I've been reading some of the past threads and the MN site. I'd just like to hear from anyone that has bought these rifles, especially if they were from Big 5.

What do I look for in the way of excessive wear?
Is Big 5 quality going to be ok?

In the end, they're going for 50 bucks a pop, so I really can't lose too badly. :)

Thanks in advance.
 
I've bought a decent number of rifles from Big5. Never a Turk 8mm, tho I have friends who have. The quality of their used rifles ranges from like-new to pretty awful. The employees are almost universally not knowledgable enough to help you make a decision.

Personally, I check everything. I haven't found a 91/30 with a matching bolt, but I've found some with good bluing, pretty stocks, and decent bores. There are so many variables to look for, that I don't know where to begin. Bring someone who you trust to know guns along to help, that's my quick-and-easy answer for you. BTW, I would estimate that I look at maybe 50 rifles for every one that I buy or consider buying.

You might consider holding off until Big5 puts the 91/59s (cut-down refurbished-to-new-condition 91/30s) on sale. I think I got one at $79. They're just a whole lot better condition for not much $. The 44s are often in better condition than the 91/30s (and they've been on sale once for $49, tho usually the sale price is $69), too, but you have that freaky bayo down the side - off-putting to some folks.

Big5 is a good company, given its limitations. Go get 'em!
 
Not a bad idea, if you can, borrow a set of headspace guages for checkin before you buy. Sometimes mismatched bolts are ok but then a lot of times they are not.

Sam
 
What's Big 5? Is this some discount store in the hairy-chested West?

If you do get either rifle mentioned, take it to a gunsmith to give it a bill of good health before firing. Or, better yet, have your gunsmith show you what to look for.

You'll enjoy shooting this old surplus stuff. High-power plinking. The ammo is usually corrosive, clean you weapon right away. Do not throw your weapon in the river to clean it as they do out East somewhere.
 
Goet. You are in Utah too. I've got a Russian M44, and an Ishipore Enfield. I also have a buddy that has a couple of Turk Mausers. One of our other Utah TFLers has a (believe it or not) French (I'm not making that up) Mauser, and an MKIII Enfield. Send me an e-mail, maybe we could hook up and you could try some of these.
 
I thought Century (Big5's usual source for rifles) headspace-checked all the rifles they sell. . . I seem to remember reading that in the Century literature they include with the rifle. Maybe I'm wrong. I know some of the guys on Tuco's are real into headspace-checking, but I never worried about it. Maybe I should start . . . .

Yeah, Kirk, Big5 is a CA-based sporting goods chain (I think, maybe TX-based) that actually sells surplus firearms. Great sale prices, too: MN 91/30s have been as low as $39. Hard to beat that, when you consider that you're able to check the guns out before buying them. Lots of CRuFFLers shop Big5, despite their C&R FFLs.

Throw your rifle in the Wabash?! What if a gar eats it?

Edited: It's CA-based. http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/
 
Erich, don't worry about the gars. I worry about the rust. However, there seems to be this group in Old Virginny and Floriduh that pours water over their firearms as part of cleaning process. I must be different (or maybe arrogant) but guns and water just don't mix. Don't write me to say that they set guns on fire in New Mexico.

Thanks for info on Big 5 for us Midwest boys. The judge rarely allows me out of state without violating my probation. Need to get out to Paulden again so I can stay in touch with West. G-friend came back from Lost Wages (no gambling, just shoes--what shoes do they sell out there that they do not sell here anyway?) and now wants to go to Frontsight and shoot SMGs ("they look like your guns but they are cleaner and newer" geez).
 
Sounds like a good store, this Big 5, but I wish they'd open up some more stores further east. Houston to San Angelo TX is a pretty long distance, so I guess it will have to be gun shows until then.
 
The one thing that bugs me about Big 5 is asking if they have any 8mm or 7.62x 54R ammo. They don't know what you are talking about. MWT
 
Here is a good rule of thumb:

If it looks like it has had the crap beat out of it, IT PROBABLY HAS HAD THE CRAP BEATEN OUT OF IT.

;)
 
I broke down

and bought one yesterday. I called them just to see what kind of quality they were in. Of course, the rifles hadn't even been taken out of the boxes yet, so quality unknown. They did tell me they were going like hotcakes. Had to move fast.

I went down to the Big5 with the most stock left and looked at their displays--crap. I asked them to bring up a couple from the back, one Turk and one MN--crap. One even looked like it had been carved out of driftwood, the furniture was so weatherbeaten.

After being totally discouraged, I saw a decent looking rifle on the rack with all the $160 Yugos. I asked the price and the clerk said $99, but on sale for $79.

So, now I am the proud owner of a new VZ24!!!

My first rifle (other than a 10/22). :)

Now, off to research how to clean, disassemble, restore, etc. This is going to be fun.
 
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You'll shoot your eye out!

(Not really, just felt it had to be said.)

Congrats! Gotta love them Czechs! Be sure to clean it out with molten lava after shooting, like a good Southwesterner! ;)

Seriously, though, there are some special steps you should consider taking to clean a rifle after it's used ammo with corrosive primers (like pretty much any surplus ammo you're going to be buying for the new rifle). Tuco's Mosin site has lots of tips, but I think you're okay as long as you use some sort of ammonia while cleaning to dissolve the corrosive salts. Windex on a patch should work fine. I have some solvents that have ammonia in them (good to get out copper fouling), but I always do a separate cleaning step with Parson's Sudsy Ammonia (88-cents for a quart at the grocery store) to keep my bores minty-fresh.

You might also peruse the tips over at Tuco's site to get some pointers on cleaning up the wood. It's pretty amazing what some folks (I'm notso-hotso at this, but Black Elk from Tuco's makes them look new again) can do with an old military stock. There's also info over there on how cleaning the stock will affect collectability.

Have a great time with the new firestick!
 
You can link off of http://www.mosin-nagant.net

I've been over there a bit, trying to find out more info. There isn't too much.

Does anyone know where I can get a schematic breakdown, or at the very least some instructions so I don't get a spring in my eye?

I'd hate to break it.

Also, should I use diluted ammonia to clean it? I read something about historically, they used to clean it with 3 days of hot water, then liberal (sorry) oiling. Should I use the ammonia (diluted?) and then clean the usual way+oil? Or, do I go the hot water and patches way? Some likened it to muzzleloading cleaning, about which I have no clue.

Where are the #s located? So far the only visible one is one the side of the receiver. This matches with the #s on the floorplate, but will I find more numbers as soon as I am instructed in disassembly?
 
I currently have four rifles on layaway at Big Five (Mosin-Nagant 91/30, M44, Turkish Mauser, and Yugo Mauser). I know when the stores delivery truck comes every week, and I try to stop by and check out the surplus rifles that come in. The condition is highly variable, but they do get a few nice ones, and they sell them for the same prices as the really beat ones. I keep putting them on layaway, because here in California, we have to pay a $15 DROS fee when buying guns. I can put various rifles on the same DROS if I get them at the same time (and pay only one $15 fee for the bunch). I have found that the folks at Big 5 will generally give me the sale price if I ask, even if I miss the sale by a week or two. They seem to have one or two surplus rifles on sale every week. They are generally willing to pull out the new rifles and show me when I ask - although the clerks rarely know much about the rifles.

Doug
 
$50 a pop? I think I'd get two of each. One to play with and one to keep original.
 
yeah
That was part of the reason why I bought instead of waiting for responses. With X amount of guns this week and already most of them "going like hotcakes" the choices were pretty slim.

I hope I made a decent choice with the VZ24. Sure is hard to find schematics on it. I'll have to go with that 98K diagram from sleeping dog.
 
Goet - Congrats on the VZ-24. Well-built rifles. And Big 5 is a great place to buy military surplus rifles.

Don't worry about not having the manual for the exact model. The Mitchell's Mausers one is just fine. For the most part, the military Mausers all assemble & disassemble pretty much the same.

For serial #s, there will be one on the receiver, one on the bolt handle, maybe one on the floorplate and maybe one on the buttstock. On a VZ from Big 5, I doubt you'll have matching #s.

Once you get it disassembled, you'll want to clean the oil and grime out of the wood. I use soap, water and an old toothbrush to clean the old grimy stocks. Dow Bathroom Cleaner ("Scrubbing Bubbles") works well, too and won't damage the wood. Don't soak the stock, just clean it. You can raise the minor dings by putting a wet rag over the dings and pressing a hot iron to the rag. Then let the stock dry for several days and protect it with linseed oil, tung oil or Tru-Oil.

These rifles look SWEET once they're cleaned up a bit.

KSFreeman - I'm one of those guys who cleans my rifles with water. Nothing wrong with using hot water and soap on the milsurps. Just dry thoroughly and oil 'em up afterwards. Nothing gets rid of the corrosive salts better than water. And it's cheap, too.

diyj98 - Tuco's forums are at www.mosin-nagant.net

Semper fi,
Bruegger out
 
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