What's your favorite Military Surplus Rifle?
- Thread starter JustThisGuy
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Stephanie B
New member
I have a few milsurps, but of the ones that I have, I have two favorites:
Mosin-Nagant PU sniper: Arguably the best sniper rifle of the Second World War and the most widely used. Mine is a "re-snipered" model that cost $400 a few years ago.
M1898 Krag-Jorgensen: The Krag was the first Army-wide repeater. With lighter spitzer bullets, it might have continued in use. Mine was "bubba'd" with a shorter barrel and a cut-down stock, but the receiver was never altered, so it is restorable. (I might buy the parts and then stash them, as the 20" barrel currently on it is a lot handier than a 30" one.) I bought it with some other stuff after a bit of haggling, so let's just say it was under $200.
My CMP Garand:
(Just the luck of the draw with its birch stock)
Plus my Dad carried one when he was in the Pacific.
The M1 carbine is second. Having WWII history is a big thing for me. My Dad also has a 1903 and I've been wanting an M1 Thompson for ages, but I guess that one will have to be new-production.
(Just the luck of the draw with its birch stock)
Plus my Dad carried one when he was in the Pacific.
The M1 carbine is second. Having WWII history is a big thing for me. My Dad also has a 1903 and I've been wanting an M1 Thompson for ages, but I guess that one will have to be new-production.
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My father fought in WWII.
He designed some guns that fought in Viet Nam.
He did not like the Garand, said it was clumsy.
He did not like the Carbine, said it fell apart in his hands.
He liked the 1903 Springfield, and bought one from Sears at the end of the war.
I think his Springfield kicks too hard.
I really like the AR15.
Light weight, accurate, low recoil, and the ammo is light weight.
AK's for soldiers worth $1k
AR's for soldiers worth $100k
He designed some guns that fought in Viet Nam.
He did not like the Garand, said it was clumsy.
He did not like the Carbine, said it fell apart in his hands.
He liked the 1903 Springfield, and bought one from Sears at the end of the war.
I think his Springfield kicks too hard.
I really like the AR15.
Light weight, accurate, low recoil, and the ammo is light weight.
AK's for soldiers worth $1k
AR's for soldiers worth $100k
Izhevsk 91/30, made in 1942. I love this rifle, it has a ton of history behind it. It's pretty well balanced, and definitely cool looking (although a lot of people will disagree with me). As for caliber, I'm a fan. Power/ballistics similar to a .30-06, plus there is a ton of cheap surplus ammo out there. Overall, it's a sweet rifle that will outshoot me.
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Nico Testosteros
New member
I love them all but the one I've been shooting the most lately and can confidently break down the furthest is my B barrel M39 Finn Mosin.
Mausers - 98 1st followed by 96's
I have been playing with Mausers for over 25 years. I started out with a Swedish M96 in 6.5x55 which I restocked, had the barrel steps turned down, reblued and scoped (my first hunting rifle). So far have "customized" two of these. The second one I stocked with a really slim light weight stock, added an after market Timney trigger with its own safety, slimmed down the trigger guard and had it reblued and scoped. After glass bedding it turned out to be the most accurate gun I have ever owned. Right now I have a Husqevarna M96 in 9.3x57 I'm working on. I also have an Austrian made M98 in 30-06, a European issued Parker Hale M98 in 30-06, a Brno 7mm Mauser and a German made M98 in 7mm Mauser. I love the workmanship, accuracy and European flavor to the guns. I never get tired of them.
I have been playing with Mausers for over 25 years. I started out with a Swedish M96 in 6.5x55 which I restocked, had the barrel steps turned down, reblued and scoped (my first hunting rifle). So far have "customized" two of these. The second one I stocked with a really slim light weight stock, added an after market Timney trigger with its own safety, slimmed down the trigger guard and had it reblued and scoped. After glass bedding it turned out to be the most accurate gun I have ever owned. Right now I have a Husqevarna M96 in 9.3x57 I'm working on. I also have an Austrian made M98 in 30-06, a European issued Parker Hale M98 in 30-06, a Brno 7mm Mauser and a German made M98 in 7mm Mauser. I love the workmanship, accuracy and European flavor to the guns. I never get tired of them.
It'd have to be the M1 Garand without hesitation. The first army in the world whose front-line troops were issued an accurate, reliable and powerful semi-automatic rifle.
Even today where the dress 'em up .22's are all the rage, if someone were to hand me an M1 Garand and a couple of bandoleers of ammo here in Afghanistan, I'd be smiling for a long time and not feel undergunned, I'd feel sorry for the poor dumb b*st*rd on the other end though.
Even today where the dress 'em up .22's are all the rage, if someone were to hand me an M1 Garand and a couple of bandoleers of ammo here in Afghanistan, I'd be smiling for a long time and not feel undergunned, I'd feel sorry for the poor dumb b*st*rd on the other end though.
My all-time life-time favorite for sentimental reasons is the K98k Mauser and kit brought back from ww2 by my old Dad... First HP rifle I fired, basically learned to shoot with it. I inherited it after my brother passed away 25 years ago. The rifle is in good shape, some rough nastiness in front of the chamber from some corrosive-primered stuff that was never cleaned properly. Even so, it shoots well and looks good. Other than that bow to family heritage...
My favorite Mauser is a slim, tall, blonde Swede 96 that is 100 years old and lookin better than a lot of gals do at 20.... I got it for some distance shooting and am tormented about scoping her. It does send the 140 FMJ buzzin down range. The long barrel is more than I usually care to carry, but it serves the purpose.
A certain #4MkII Enfield Fazakerly is very promising as well... good sights and an accurate barrel. An old military armorer long since passed looked it over and pointed out that the barrel was an H&H!. The stock has been used a bit but she sure can shoot. SOOOO... my favorite vintage mil-surp rifle would be any one of the above for one reason or another.
I really don't remember what I paid for the Swede or the Faz... probably less than 200 for the Swede and maybe 100 for the Faz... the Faz came with a lot of surplus "Lend-Lease" marked ammo and some other goodies. The Swede was a chunk of change with the case of 6.5 Swede that I purchased with it.
My favorite Mauser is a slim, tall, blonde Swede 96 that is 100 years old and lookin better than a lot of gals do at 20....
I got it for some distance shooting and am tormented about scoping her. It does send the 140 FMJ buzzin down range. The long barrel is more than I usually care to carry, but it serves the purpose.A certain #4MkII Enfield Fazakerly is very promising as well... good sights and an accurate barrel. An old military armorer long since passed looked it over and pointed out that the barrel was an H&H!. The stock has been used a bit but she sure can shoot. SOOOO... my favorite vintage mil-surp rifle would be any one of the above for one reason or another.
I really don't remember what I paid for the Swede or the Faz... probably less than 200 for the Swede and maybe 100 for the Faz... the Faz came with a lot of surplus "Lend-Lease" marked ammo and some other goodies. The Swede was a chunk of change with the case of 6.5 Swede that I purchased with it.
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Father Time
New member
My Favorites are the Lee Enfields. All of them.....
I currently only have a Number 4 mark 1* But I have shot almost every version of the enfield.(with the exception being the "jungle carbine")
I like the .303 round it pack a lot of "power" for the amount of recoil it has.
But the best part of the Enfield's are the super quick/smooth action. It is second to none.
Oh yea the Enfields also have a certain "swagger" that makes them cool and fun to shoot.
I currently only have a Number 4 mark 1* But I have shot almost every version of the enfield.(with the exception being the "jungle carbine")
I like the .303 round it pack a lot of "power" for the amount of recoil it has.
But the best part of the Enfield's are the super quick/smooth action. It is second to none.
Oh yea the Enfields also have a certain "swagger" that makes them cool and fun to shoot.
Ignition Override
New member
DougW:
Having somehow found a nice Spanish FR8 (.308/NATO 7.62) in a Clarkesville TN gun store weeks ago, the only question is learning to use the strange HK (Cetme) sights.
The front sight was elevated with the sight tool from Numerich. If only it could be elevated enough to use the (200 yard) lowest aperture from 50 yards, it might rank with the "Jungle Carbines".
At Surplusrifle's section on the FR8, a guy describes how he made a different front sight post, and maybe it can solve the problem (?).
Having somehow found a nice Spanish FR8 (.308/NATO 7.62) in a Clarkesville TN gun store weeks ago, the only question is learning to use the strange HK (Cetme) sights.
The front sight was elevated with the sight tool from Numerich. If only it could be elevated enough to use the (200 yard) lowest aperture from 50 yards, it might rank with the "Jungle Carbines".
At Surplusrifle's section on the FR8, a guy describes how he made a different front sight post, and maybe it can solve the problem (?).
MilSurps in the safe include...
m44
Yugo SKS
Roman WASR
Turkish Mauser
M1 Carbine reproduction (not really a mil-surp, but 1/3 of the price)
#4 mk5 Enfield, IIRC, I'd have to dig it out...
and what would have to be my favorite due to it's "rareity", meaning not a lot of folks have them..ie; I'm the second person in this thread to mention them.
MAS Mle 1936. Mine is a "mystery" rifle, having the serial number 319. Got three boxes of ammo for it, just waiting for my next set of days off to finally go shoot it. Built well, some research has stated that some folks believe it's actually stronger then the Mauser action. Me? Don't really care, as it's really my son's rifle, and we just have them for the fun factor of collecting some old stuff.
Short list includes a 1903 or 1917, a Garand and a weird rifle we found today. Can't recall what it was, chambered in 7.62x39, had a heavy barrel with venting/handguard all the way around it. Might just be the next buy, lol.
m44
Yugo SKS
Roman WASR
Turkish Mauser
M1 Carbine reproduction (not really a mil-surp, but 1/3 of the price)
#4 mk5 Enfield, IIRC, I'd have to dig it out...
and what would have to be my favorite due to it's "rareity", meaning not a lot of folks have them..ie; I'm the second person in this thread to mention them.
MAS Mle 1936. Mine is a "mystery" rifle, having the serial number 319. Got three boxes of ammo for it, just waiting for my next set of days off to finally go shoot it. Built well, some research has stated that some folks believe it's actually stronger then the Mauser action. Me? Don't really care, as it's really my son's rifle, and we just have them for the fun factor of collecting some old stuff.
Short list includes a 1903 or 1917, a Garand and a weird rifle we found today. Can't recall what it was, chambered in 7.62x39, had a heavy barrel with venting/handguard all the way around it. Might just be the next buy, lol.
AirborneMosinFan
New member
Type 99 jap
Just bought the rifle from warpath militaria collectables in fayetteville nc then bought some 7.7x58 from cabelas and shot about 20 rounds Its my new favorite rifle. Mine has the dust cover and anti aircraft sights it shoots like a dream. I love the history of it though used against us. Mine was made before the craftsmanship went out the window. I enjoy the safety being a nob on the back of the bolt and the high caliber round it shoots
Just bought the rifle from warpath militaria collectables in fayetteville nc then bought some 7.7x58 from cabelas and shot about 20 rounds Its my new favorite rifle. Mine has the dust cover and anti aircraft sights it shoots like a dream. I love the history of it though used against us. Mine was made before the craftsmanship went out the window. I enjoy the safety being a nob on the back of the bolt and the high caliber round it shoots