What's your favorite military surplus rifle?

[stchman]

I like the Mosin Nagants.

1 M38 carbine 1944
1 M91/30 1934 hex
1 M91/30 1937 round

I also have a Yugo SKS.

The thing about the Mosin is they are simple, very durable and somewhat accurate.

 

[1moa@500]

Garand! Need I say more

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

Garand! Need I say more

No sir, not to me anyhow!

 

[rocinante]

I like my FN49 8mm very much. A semi automatic with sub MOA potential in a proven power caliber.I got it just this week and it is cherry for 500 dollars. Whats not to like? Whats nice is I can even afford to shoot it because 8mm ammo is still plentiful and inexpensive.

I am fond of my yugo 24/47 mauser too. Only other milsurp I have is a MN 91/30 and it is alright except it has a super sticky bolt.

 

[JHansenAK47]

When it comes to milsurp rifles I like the ones with good iron sights that have a good range of adjustment.
M1 Garand
Enfields No4s and Mark IIIs
Finn M39 mosin
1903s and 1903A3s
M1917
M38 Swede with target sights

 

[stickhauler]

I'd Be Hard Pressed To Name A Favorite...

I've got a Mosin-Nagant 91/30, a SMLE Enfield, a real fun Rock Ola M-1 Carbine and a Yugo SKS, they're all great shooters. But the Yugo and the Rock Ola are semi-autos, I like the possibility of shooting multiple rounds without racking a bolt.

 

[chevyforlife21]

wheres the sks you cant have fun without an sks

 

[KW]

Gotta vote for the SMLE since it's the only one I own. I will say that if the M1 Carbine was good enough for Audie Murphy, that's all the endorsement a weapon needs.

 

[skidooman603]

nody
Member


Join Date: July 18, 2009
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 39

Little surprised by all the fans of the M1 Carbine. Crummy little round, short range weapon, little knock down power. Only of any use for close range fighting.

Talking what you'd prefer to carry into combat, if you are thinking M1/M2 up through Korea, I'd rather have a Thompson, though for this discussion, that's not a rifle and it does weigh more.

As a peacetime civilian owner the Carbine has economical advantages. So does a 10/22.

I think a lot of GI's liked the Carbine because they were city folk and afraid of recoil/noise/weight/complexity of the Garand. Not to mention they liked their thumbs. The ammo was lighter to hump, too.

Where did I just read it? Once an Eagle, by Anton Myrer. A must read novel for you guys. In the intro, Myrer, an Marine infantry veteran, says it is a fact a large percentage of men in combat NEVER fire at the enemy, can't bring themselves to do it. Call it "spray and pray" or what you will. They figure making noise is enough. I wasn't there, so maybe I'd do the same thing.

The carbine was light and makes noise, and that is enough for some perhaps. I can't say. I'm a vet, but I dropped bombs and only in peacetime.


p.s. Great pic, CZGuy
Last edited by nody; Yesterday at 08:42 PM.









At least with the Carbine the Non-Proficient shooter could hit something. The same could not always be said for their prowess with a 1911

 

[tkendrick]

(big sigh)

Gentlemen,gentlemen, gentlemen.

When it comes to milsurps.....There are Krags




and then there's all the rest of that junk!

 

[JustinL]

My favorite is the M1 Garand. I have nothing against the others, it is just that I am left handed and, well, right-handed bolt-action rifles and really not all that fun for me.

 

[Gryffydd]

I'm surprised at how many more mentions the 1903A3s are getting than 1903s. I'll take the 1903 and skip the stamped parts, myself.

 

[offthepaper]

Another vote for the Finn M39's. Just so solid and dripping in history. I know the same can be said about some of the others, But I love a day at the range, a good packed lunch and LOTS of ammo.

 

[CZguy]

I'm surprised at how many more mentions the 1903A3s are getting than 1903s. I'll take the 1903 and skip the stamped parts, myself.
__________________

I prefer the 1903A3 because of the peep sights. I have found that as I age I have difficulty using regular iron sights.

 

[RP88]

my fav is the Garand

...I don't have one, but when I do, it will certainly be my favorite.

 

[rangerruck]

Can there be any doubt? a mosin nagant 38 type, has an 18 inch bbl, shoots flame throwers, the heavier the bullet, themore it likes it. You can still get these all matching numbers, unfired, for 100 bucks or less, and the ammo is cheap, whether it is new made or milsurp ammo. And guess what, accuracy can be from good to outstanding. Also, to improve the trigger, this is the easiest trigger ever designed, and will be the simplest trigger job you ever do.

 

[Gryffydd]

I prefer the 1903A3 because of the peep sights. I have found that as I age I have difficulty using regular iron sights.

The 1903 does have a peep sight as one of the dozen options on its ladder sight. I use it more than any of the other options when shooting my 1903. Granted it's farther away from your eye... It's best for longer range shooting, it's definitely not what you'd call a ghost ring

In this view you can see 3 of the sighting options with the ladder sight up, with the peep sight being lowest.

 

[CZguy]

The 1903 does have a peep sight as one of the dozen options on its ladder sight. I use it more than any of the other options when shooting my 1903. Granted it's farther away from your eye... It's best for longer range shooting, it's definitely not what you'd call a ghost ring

Great now I need another rifle.

If my wife gets mad about this I'm blaming you Gryffydd.

 

[PhrankKastle]

SMLE MK III* still my favorite rifle that I own, sadly as the quality suplus ammo is getting harder to find its range time has dropped, but would still be me go to rifle for any situation that could arise.

 

[American Finn]

Well, there is an upside to the surplus ammo shortage: it gives you a reason to start loading your own!! Although I haven't reloaded in years (was married, sold all of my reloading equipment, alas; not married anymore) I used to cook up all of my own recipes for my surplus rifles. I made 30-06 that had the same ballistics as M2 ball for my 03-A3 that grouped 1/2" with iron sights at 100 yards.

 

[wcoats]

I admittedly don't have much experience with other military surplus rifles, but I have a Remington made m1917, and I love it. It's accurate, and a heck of a lot cheaper than an 03A3. I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned it.

 

[SniperStraz]

Although there are many surplus rifles with more "style" my vote still goes to the Norinco SKS. There's just nothing like it. As far as the price-reliability-function equation goes the SKS has my vote!

 

[Shadow 7D]

My Mosin that has a 3# trigger, it can kinda stage, and scares the scat out of me shooting, works great until I start flinching at the thought of pulling the trigger, amazing what polishing, moly lube and a trigger job can do.

Then there is my SKS, also has a great trigger, much more comfortable to shoot than an AK, reminds me of an M-4, except its a rifle not a plastic toy

Thinking of getting another rifle maybe an Enfield or Mauser, but alas I need more money, and a new rifle means a new caliber

 

[Will_G]

I have a Mosin 91/30 (1930 Tula) and a Chilean Mauser. Of the two I actually prefer the Mosin. I guess if a firearm was designed that could be mastered by a Russian peasant, it is what I need! But for some reason I shoot better with it than I ever have with any other rifle.

 

[macka]

Lee Enfield Long Branch
FN FAL
SKS

The Lee Enfield Long Branch was what my grandfathers carried for the most part, it is by far one of the most accurate out of the box surplus rifles,a joy to shoot, and if you load your own ammo, 42 grains of AA2460 and a 125 g bullet are a happy union.
My FN FAL is an Aussie model rebarreled for accuracy and the fact that the original was fired to almost smooth bore status. The new barrel is a springfield match grade and I spent 10 minutes on the range with it getting sighted in. Not to brag but it does 1/2" at a 100m.
My SKS is a Norinco, its surprisingly fun after you clean up the burrs and rough edges. 2" at a 100m is pretty darned good for a cheap knock off. It's a fun rifle and it has also claimed 3 moose and 6 deer in the last 5 years.
I'd like to get a M1 Garand and a Swedish K to round out my collection, but my kids need their RESP's stoked up a bit more before I can do that.