Those military surplus days. Top 3?

valnar said:
I think most here would agree that there was certain time period where military surplus rifles were all the rage and imported into the USA in droves. I believe that time has passed.

So now with 20/20 hindsight, what are your top 3 milsurp guns?

Me:
Swedish m/38
Swiss K31
Vz.58 (if it counts). If not, then my 1897 antique Finnish M39 :)
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I would say M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield and Yugo 59/66 SKS
 
Top 3 milsurps........ For years I lusted after an enfied #1 mk 4 sniper varient. When I finally saw one, I couldn't afford it. When I can afford one I see 1 or 2. Go figgure. But if I can't find an original, I have located the parts and I have a #4 tracked down for a reasonable amount. Just have to build one.
I picked up all the garands I could ever want, so thats done,
US 1917 Eddystone, had one poor old butchered sporterized one that I remade into a ' scout ' rifle. I would really like an original un fooled with one however.
The last one I will probably never even touch, being a winchester 1895 Russian contract 7.62 x 54r.
I know they have bunches of them, but dont see that happening anytime soon
 
valnar said:
I think most here would agree that there was certain time period where military surplus rifles were all the rage and imported into the USA in droves. I believe that time has passed.

So now with 20/20 hindsight, what are your top 3 milsurp guns?

Me:
Swedish m/38
Swiss K31
Vz.58 (if it counts). If not, then my 1897 antique Finnish M39 :)
Click to expand...

Rifles:
M1 Garand
M1903A3 Springfield
Kar 98

Handguns:
M1911A1
Colt M1917
Browning Hi Power
 
I don't know much about rifles that are not US military. M1 Garand is tough to beat IMHO. It is highly accurate for a power semi-auto. My Korean War Garand has a crummy muzzle and can shoot just under 2.5 MOA with factory ammo and under 2 with handloads. I think the sights are a perfect design too. Aperture size just right and easy to dial the distance. M1917 and then M1903A3.
 
My first owned gun was a select-grade Lee-Enfield British 303 purchased from the Sears catalog in 1962. The rifle, a cleaning kit, and some boxes of ammo came to just over $39. The mailman left it on the front porch.

I have owned three different M1 30 Carbines over the years. I don't currently own any surplus military rifles. I do own AR-15s, an AR-10, and an M1A.
 
1962, NRA sold all sorts of WWII pistols for a song. My dad got my uncle, who was an NRA member, to get him a Swedish Husqvarna .380 pistol (on the 1903 Colt Browning design), in 99% condition, for $20. He said that when he opened the box, he immediately tried to order another one, but they were all sold out. Utterly reliable, never malfunctioned with any ammo I put through it. And it was really easy to strip, clean, and reassemble.

ETA: I gave it as a gift to my nephew when he was promoted to Major in the USAF. I hope he still has it.
 
My cousin got me a Ljungmann back in '96 or so, for a song, and it was in good shape (stock was dinged up, but it was mechanically perfect). I sold it to Gurney when I worked at Bud's, but wish now that I'd kept it.

One thing I didn't like about the Ljungmann (despite its reliability) was its direct gas impingement system. Even wearing glasses, it put flecks of burning powder into my eyes (and mouth, and nose, and ears). That was pretty annoying.
 
I actually remember the 1950's when WW 2 rifles were sold cheap in hardware stores and by mail. British 303 Enfield's were the most popular and millions were sporterized by home gunsmiths like my brother. Also Mausers and Springfields. We didn't have commie junk in those days.
 
Savage30L said:
1962, NRA sold all sorts of WWII pistols for a song. My dad got my uncle, who was an NRA member, to get him a Swedish Husqvarna .380 pistol (on the 1903 Colt Browning design), in 99% condition, for $20. He said that when he opened the box, he immediately tried to order another one, but they were all sold out. Utterly reliable, never malfunctioned with any ammo I put through it. And it was really easy to strip, clean, and reassemble.

ETA: I gave it as a gift to my nephew when he was promoted to Major in the USAF. I hope he still has it.
Click to expand...
I have the 1907 husqvarna. I pictured it with the M40 as they were purchased together from my buddy's step dad. I don't care that it was converted to 380. 9mm Browning long is hard to find. 20230420_204747.jpg 20230420_204811.jpg
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
The cheap milsurp imports may have ended, but the gene pool has plenty of swimmers that will continue to come around for resale.

For me the most fun are the M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield and Swiss K31, in no particular order.

Just got back from the range with my Yugo 98/48 about an hour ago, so that should get an honorable mention too:

View attachment 1035431
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With a good setup (bench, bags/rest), and good quality ammo, what kind of groups will that gun shoot?
 
I6turbo said:
With a good setup (bench, bags/rest), and good quality ammo, what kind of groups will that gun shoot?
Click to expand...

I've yet to actually shoot the Yugo with normal 8x57 ammo, just the .32 H&R conversion and my Erma .22 LR insert barrel conversion. Both will produce nice tight groups, but due to the problems getting the zero perfect with the ZF-41 scope they aren't as well-centered as I would like. Here's a short vid of the rifle shooting .32 H&R wadcutter handloads at 20 yards:

 
For the guys listing M1 Carbine in your top 3, I am curious as to why. Don't get wrong, I like mine and it shoots well and is fun to shoot, but it would never make my top 3.
 
For me:

1. M1 Garand although mine was a CMP Special so not from overseas as far as I know?
2. K31 - Really regret I had to sell it due to divorce, was beautiful, accurate and had the troop tag!
3. M39 - Great rifle, mine was a pristine 1969 No Maker - Had to sell it too!

I also have had several SKS, just have a run of the mill a bit beat up Chinese Spiker now but I had a few Russians and a Romanian.
I had a ton of Mosins, M44s, some neat variants. All I kept was my 02 Hungarian M44, still fun to shoot and make fireballs with.

I was blessed to have been alive during the Golden Age of C&R imports, which for me was beginning about 2012. They were
everywhere, cheap, lots of interesting variants and a ton of fun.
 
My top 3 these days would be

1.) MP40
2.) M45 Carl Gustav
3.) M1 Thompson

Assuming there was cheap surplus ammo too, these would be runners up. :)

4.) MG42 or 34
5.) 1919A4
6.) BAR
 
Chief TC said:
For the guys listing M1 Carbine in your top 3, I am curious as to why. Don't get wrong, I like mine and it shoots well and is fun to shoot, but it would never make my top 3.
Click to expand...
As an Adviser in Viet Nam in '66-67, my issue weapon was an M2 Carbine -- same as the M1 Carbine, but with a full auto switch (which makes it ever MORE useless.) It got wrapped around a tree and I borrowed an M1 Garand from the ARVN unit I advised.
 
tommy.duncan said:
I agree 100% except it should be a No.1 Mk 3*.
Love your list!!
Click to expand...
That snubby-nosed Enfield No 1 Mk III and derivatives have sure seen some battles, from African skirmishes to WWII theaters, India/Pakistan, all the way to Korea in the hands of UK Commonwealth troops. :thumbup:

I love the look and history of the Mk III, but I picked the No4 MkI because it’s the only one I have fired of the SMLE family. Mine is a Savage made lend-lease rifle from 1942. :)

Stay safe.
 
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