What's your favorite Military Surplus Rifle?

J

JustThisGuy

New member
Like the title says, what's your favorite military surplus rifle? And let's be specific as to why.

When you state a favorite:
- Do you like its balance?
- Its caliber?
- Its accuracy?
- Its history?

What really sets the gun apart in your eyes?

Also, if you own your favorite, what did you pay for it and when?

If you own several different milsurp rifles, what else do you own and how does your favorite compare in your eyes to the others?
 
K31. Its exceedingly accurate and has terrific ammo for about 50 cents a round. I would like an 03 springfield, but the k31 is just as accurate and costs a lot less.
 
My T-99 Arisaka. It's not my best shooting milsurp or the best looking, but my dad brought it home from Guam after Japan capitulated in '45. That means a lot to me.

He enlisted in '44 and served to the end of the war as a B-29 navigator. He retired from the Air Force Reserves some 20 years later. He traded a bottle of "hooch" for the Arisaka. Apparently officers could buy booze, but the marine seargant he traded for it couldn't. :)
 
Hello, I would have to say the 1896 & 1898 .30 U.S. (.30-40 Krag-Jorgeson) rifles and carbines...there's not a smoother military (or sporting) bolt action out there. Plus the part it played in the U.S. becoming a world power. As an aside...when the U.S. brought out the new .30-03..the older Krag outshot it at the national matches!
 
I respect the folks who like them and get so much pleasure from them.

They do not appeal to me, but we are not all alike. It does not mean either of us is any better than the other.

The old military rifles served their purpose and were the tools of the trade at their time.

I am no longer in the military business and do not need military tools per se. The surplus rifles have some age on them and are not current for this day in age. They had a specific purpose for a specific time.

I do not need a rifle for their purpose, and I am also not living in their time or span of use.

I prefer weapons for my purpose (which is not war-fare) and has the latest characteristics of modern time gained from evolution of weapon systems.

The older surplus weapons are geneally to long and too heavy for my gunning hobby and enjoyment.
 
I really enjoy the USGI M1 Carbine. I like the light weight, and simple history on the carbine. I trained with one during the 1960's, and one I have has the approximate same bith date as I do. I find it a joy to shoot and take it varment hunting for ranges under 100 yards.

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i have 3. the first is my K31. it's accurate and a dream to shoot. i've also got a M96 Swede that i love for the same reason. the third is my wife's grandfather's M1 Carbine from WWII. it's an all matching early war Inland. he was in the Navy during the war and saw action on Saipan and Tinian.
 
I have two milsurp rifles and they copuldn't be more different:
One is a K31, a mechanic as refined as a Swiss watch and an incredible rifle at long distances.

The other is a Tula 1951 SKS, I presume that just a Mosin Nagant could be cruder...

K.
 
My all time favorite would be the 1903 Springfield. My uncle was a marine in WWII and he brought one home after the war. I remember seeing it when I was a little kid and when I got a little older the stick I carried out in the pasture when I was playing war was a 1903 Springfield like my uncle's. I actually have a real one now. :)

Im also a fan of the Mosin Nagant. They are crude but they are tuff, reliable,simple, no nonsense and some are accurate. I have 3.
 
My second favorite k31, refinished and cost $189.00 without accessories.

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Third favorite

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My King of the Hill zfk55, not refinished and cost $4,240.00

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Latigo
 
I have 2 favorites. My T99 Arisaka and my 7.5mm K31 Swiss. I also have a sporterized T99 that I picked up cheap some years back that is a nice hunting rifle but still in the oddball 7.7x58mm.

I convert '06 brass to make 7.7x58 and I lucked out and found new 7.5mm Swiss brass at Graffs. I should have bought more than 100 pieces of the 7.5mm since it hasn't been back in stock for a long time...

Tony
 
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