C & R Rifles

[HBK]

I JUST got my C&R license. I wanted to buy a rifle, I think a Mosin-Nagant or a Mauser. Would either of those do to hunt bear and cougar? (I know, two completely different animals) ALso, what is a good source from which to buy these rifles? Would an M-1 Garand be a better choice?

 

[roo_ster]

The Garand is always a good answer, whatever the question.

As to suppliers, here's my dump...ready for the firehose:

http://budsgunshop.com/Store/catalog/default.php/cPath/21
http://www.budsgunshop.com/Store/catalog/default.php?&osCsid=ac84333d7782c5b70df3a63ba21cbad2
http://www.bullettrapinc.com/front_page.htm
http://www.ccgunrange.com/
http://www.gunmasterinc.com/home/
http://www.jacksonarmory.com/
http://www.kyimports.com/
http://www.lonestarguns.com/index.htm
http://www.lonewolfdist.com/
http://www.rayssportinggoods.com/
http://www.gzanders.com/manu/uzi.html
http://www.legacysports.com/
http://www.ohiorapidfire.com/
http://www.entreprise.com/
http://www.accuracyarms.com/
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/index.html
http://www.richardthegunsmith.com/
http://kebcollc.com/
http://www.allans-armory.com/aa.asp
http://www.sarcoinc.com/
http://www.samcoglobal.com/
http://www.odcmp.com/
http://www.kebcollc.com/
http://64.224.40.78/miva/merchant.mv
http://www.sksman.com/
http://www.e-gunparts.com/
http://www.adamsguns.com/
http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/index.html
http://allans-armory.com/
http://www.auctionarms.com/
http://users2.ev1.net/~lertsman/rifles.html#info
http://users2.ev1.net/~lertsman/rifles.html#c&r
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/4849/webley.html
http://www.armscenter.com/parallax/webpages/page9.htm
http://64.226.66.194/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CSI&Category_Code=CR
http://www.centuryarms.com/
http://www.cherrys.com/inventory.htm
http://www.odcmp.com/
http://www.coledistributing.com/
http://www.surplusrifle.com/downloads.asp
http://www.surplusrifle.com/
http://www.collectorarms.com/
http://www.curiosandrelics.com/
http://www.shelfspace.com/~c-r-ffl/frames.html
http://www.dansammo.com/ammo.asp
http://www.dansammo.com/
http://www.ellisonsmilitaryrifles.com/
http://www.gibbsrifle.com/
http://www.goldenloki.com/misc/crffl.htm
http://members.tripod.com/greatsouthernarms/index1.html
http://www.gunbroker.com/
http://www.bdlltd.com/
http://www.beaglesrifles.com/
http://www.gswagner.com/
http://www.interordnance.com/index.shtml
http://origin.me.gatech.edu/~weage/firearms/cr.shtml
http://www.militaryshooters.com/
http://pub4.ezboard.com/bmilsurpafterhours
http://www.mosin-nagant.net/
http://www.oldgunsupply.com/
http://www.samcoglobal.com/index-2.html
http://www.southernohiogun.com/surplus_rifles.html
http://treasurehuntarms.com/
http://www.detnet.com/fuselier/
http://www.makarov.com/cz52/index.html
http://www.tmcx.com/
http://www.brocksguns.com/
http://www.gunsnammo.com/
http://www.militaryrifles.info/
http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/sks.htm

Some are better than others. It took me a while to compile this list, BTW.

Good luck & happy cruffling. They're kinda like Lay's tater chips...

 

[armoredman]

WOW! Now THAT'S a C&R list! I gotta bookmark this thread...
Get a Mosin - never more blast for the buck than a Mosin from Aztec - $49.95 rearsenaled in excellent condition, and boy howdy, are they FUN!

 

[ocabj]

Don't forget Empire Arms (http://www.empirearms.com).

They charge just a little bit more than other dealers, but they have quality stuff and they have honest descriptions of their product. They even take care of most of the cosmoline for you. The Czech VZ24 I recently purchased from them was cherry. The stock was in pristine condition and I didn't need to heat gun the thing to get cosmo out.

 

[HBK]

Is it worth it to spend the extra money and buy an unissued one? What is the best Finnish Mosin, VKY or Sako?

 

[HBK]

jfruser, thanks a lot for that long list of sources. It will help a lot.

This is a really really dumb question, but what do you have to do to the cosmoline for old rifles? I've heard it described, but no one has ever said exactly what to do.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Is it worth it to spend the extra money and buy an unissued one? What is the best Finnish Mosin, VKY or Sako?

For accuracy I hear they are all great. FWIW I have a VKT and a B-Barrel and they both get me 2 MOA (and sometimes a little better if I am lucky ). My buddy's Sako is also a good shooting rifle and nice looking also. IMHO the only reason to pay more for the Sako or Tikka is for name recognition and collectability. Well, and the nice engravings. Same with the SKY.

As far as unissued, I personally like to go with unissued if the added cost is less than $50, especially for buying sight unseen. YMMV.

Oh, and I've never gone hunting but the 8mm Mauser is considered a very good hunting rifle for North America and the safety on the Mosin Nagants aren't exactly the quickest to use.

If I wanted another Finn M39 Mosin Nagant I would go to www.gunsnammo.com since my first two were from them and they both are terrific (got'em off the special list). Lot's a places for all kinds of Mausers.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Cosmoline is just some old storage grease that preserves the rifle. First get an exploded diagram of the rifle in question and a field strip manual. Then, using purpose built gunsmithing screwdrivers, take the rifle apart until you can clean just about every corner. Wearing gloves, use some "Purple Power" degreaser mixed with hot water and submerge all metal parts. Take an old toothbrush and scrub each piece. Then rinse with plain old hot water. Do the same to the wood.

Dry off the metal parts and then give everything a coat of CLP. Clean the bore as normal and also oil it. For the stock and handguard, after it drys, rub on a coat of 50/50 boiled linseed oil and paint thinner (available at a hardware store). After about ten minutes, rub off the excess. Then, once a day for about a week, repeat with the BLO and rub off. You are done when the wood can't soak up any more BLO. Reassemble the rifle and you now have a weapon more or less as it would have been issued to troops way back when .

It does take a couple hours but you will have a great looking rifle and when you take it to the range, people will notice. Also, you will be able to better appreciate the design and craftsmanship of the rifle this way. HTH.

 

[SteelyDan]

Great list jfruser, thanks.

HBK, yes, either choice will have an adequate cartridge for black bears or cougars, but the sights will be the limiting factor. Personally, I'd rather have a scoped hunting rifle. As for what condition rifle to buy, it all depends on how you plan to use it. Still, I suspect that not too many folks regret having purchased a "better" condition rifle.

 

[HBK]

Could i put a scope on it? Also, how hard are these to take apart? If I were to move after buying it, could i just leave it in the cosmoline until I had a spare minute to clean it?

 

[albanian]

Both guns are good but I don't know anything about bear and lion hunting with them. There are scope mounts for both guns available also.

 

[SteelyDan]

HBK, you can leave the cosmoline on until your grandkids decide to shoot it. But do remove the cosmo before shooting.