Surplus Rifles at Big 5
- Thread starter Goet
- Start date
Now here's an ID question.
The rifle I bought has numbers matching on the floorplate and receiver. Don't know if that means anything. I haven't found any number on the bolt yet, but I have yet to take it all apart for cleaning.
The crest on the top of the receiver is ground off. Also, the serial number on the receiver starts with a big "HR" that looks like it was put on after the original #.
Since I don't have the crest, and it has all the Czech marks like the Czech BRNO stamp on the receiver, including something like "cal. alb. sta.. Czech" on the end of the barrel, what the heck do I have? Is it some recaptured rifle?
The rifle I bought has numbers matching on the floorplate and receiver. Don't know if that means anything. I haven't found any number on the bolt yet, but I have yet to take it all apart for cleaning.
The crest on the top of the receiver is ground off. Also, the serial number on the receiver starts with a big "HR" that looks like it was put on after the original #.
Since I don't have the crest, and it has all the Czech marks like the Czech BRNO stamp on the receiver, including something like "cal. alb. sta.. Czech" on the end of the barrel, what the heck do I have? Is it some recaptured rifle?
Goet - the serial number should be on the bolt handle (between the knob and the bolt itself), so you should be able to see it without disassembly. It may be on the underside of the handle.
I would be VERY surpirsed if the # on the bolt handle matched the #s on the floorplate and receiver.
The crests on the VZs is almost always ground off.
I would be VERY surpirsed if the # on the bolt handle matched the #s on the floorplate and receiver.
The crests on the VZs is almost always ground off.
.ATeaM,
I live up in Northern California, so I can't help you regarding stores in L.A. I don't think I've seen Enfields in Big 5 - they seem to have a lot of Mausers and Mosin-Nagants. They've also had some of the Spanish FR-8 Mausers/CETME .308s, and some of the Century Garands (which are universally criticized by people who know Garands). There is a store in Sacramento that had quite a few Enfields the last time I was there (a few months ago) - it's called "Old Sacramento Armory." Good luck.
Doug
I live up in Northern California, so I can't help you regarding stores in L.A. I don't think I've seen Enfields in Big 5 - they seem to have a lot of Mausers and Mosin-Nagants. They've also had some of the Spanish FR-8 Mausers/CETME .308s, and some of the Century Garands (which are universally criticized by people who know Garands). There is a store in Sacramento that had quite a few Enfields the last time I was there (a few months ago) - it's called "Old Sacramento Armory." Good luck.
Doug
I am in NorCal and at the Napa and Vallejo Big 5 stores I have seen Enfields in .303 calibre.
What is the difference in ammo for the M44 rifles? I have seen them advertised as 7.62x54, and in other areas as 7.62x54R. I need someone to explain that to me please.
I bought a M44 as my anti UN firearm on the 9th and would like to know before I buy ammo.
Thanks,
Phil Ca
What is the difference in ammo for the M44 rifles? I have seen them advertised as 7.62x54, and in other areas as 7.62x54R. I need someone to explain that to me please.
I bought a M44 as my anti UN firearm on the 9th and would like to know before I buy ammo.
Thanks,
Phil Ca
PhilCA,
I'm glad to hear that Big 5 gets some Enfields - I've been wanting to get one, but I don't think I've seen any at the Big 5s I visit. They don't seem to have any control of what guns they get - it seems like each store gets more or less random shipments of surplus rifles (at least that's how the employees seem to see it - no doubt there is some sort of inventory tracking). I'll watch for Enfields.
I think the Mosin-Nagants (M44s, M91/30s, etc.) use the 7.62x54R. I believe the "R" stands for rimmed. Even though they don't always include the "R," I think all 7.62x54 cartridges are rimmed. I'm not 100% sure of this - there are a lot of different cartridges and maybe there is a rimless version, but that would be easy to check. I ordered a bunch of surplus ammo for my M44s from J&G Sales in Arizona. It was fairly cheap and seems to work fine, although it is corrosive so you have to remember to clean the rifle after shooting. It came packed in sealed tin cans of (I think) 440 rounds.
Doug
I'm glad to hear that Big 5 gets some Enfields - I've been wanting to get one, but I don't think I've seen any at the Big 5s I visit. They don't seem to have any control of what guns they get - it seems like each store gets more or less random shipments of surplus rifles (at least that's how the employees seem to see it - no doubt there is some sort of inventory tracking). I'll watch for Enfields.
I think the Mosin-Nagants (M44s, M91/30s, etc.) use the 7.62x54R. I believe the "R" stands for rimmed. Even though they don't always include the "R," I think all 7.62x54 cartridges are rimmed. I'm not 100% sure of this - there are a lot of different cartridges and maybe there is a rimless version, but that would be easy to check. I ordered a bunch of surplus ammo for my M44s from J&G Sales in Arizona. It was fairly cheap and seems to work fine, although it is corrosive so you have to remember to clean the rifle after shooting. It came packed in sealed tin cans of (I think) 440 rounds.
Doug
Welcome to the world of Milsurp rifles. I saw Enemy at the Gates a couple months ago, and since then, I have purchased ten rifles (I think). The M44 shoots the same ammo as the 91/30, the M39 and others. I have been shooting them alot, but have tried to stay away from the corrosive ammo. I have shot it and tried several cleaning methods. As far as I know, they all worked; I don't see any rust or corrosion yet. The best way to clean with water IMHO is to get the hottest water you can. I boil a pot of water and add it to hot tap water. With the action out of the stock, I stick the muzzle end of the barrel in the bucket and pump the water through the barrel with a cleaning rod and patch. Assuming you have the water hot enough, the water will evaporate almost as soon as you take the barreled action out of the bucket. Some recommend using GI bore cleaner. The last time, I just cleaned it with Hoppes and let it go at that.
I have never bought a milsurp rifle at Big 5, but a number of my friends have. They all looked and shot fine. The VZ24 is a terrific rifle; much better than the 'Nagant. S&B makes non corrosive ammo along with Winchester. It costs more, but I am willing to pay the extra money to get the reloadable brass and the piece of mind.
I have never bought a milsurp rifle at Big 5, but a number of my friends have. They all looked and shot fine. The VZ24 is a terrific rifle; much better than the 'Nagant. S&B makes non corrosive ammo along with Winchester. It costs more, but I am willing to pay the extra money to get the reloadable brass and the piece of mind.