How do you pick a surplup?? How about parts??

[1911crazy]

How do you pick a surplus military gun??

When you first started buying what would guide you in selecting which gun??  Price of the gun vs. condition? Or price of the ammo to shoot it?  Or do you just try to fill a gap in your collection?  Do you check on part availability first??

When I first got into this I would pick a gun to look for then check on parts availablility first just incase I needed parts down the road if I purchased it.  Now on some parts  we have a slim to none chance of finding them do you buy the gun anyway or pass??   It turns out to be a crap shoot for parts sometimes too?                       BigBill

Years ago before I was collecting my first two military guns were a yugo "44" 8mm mauser and a finnish M39 7.62x54 to hunt with in the rain.  This was the time when the 7.62x54 ammo became very expensive and hard to get if some can remember that time. Right after that 7,62x39 went the same route too and for many years it stayed the same. Now you younger guys are lucky the market is flooded with cheap affordable ammo.  I was very fortunate or my guns were they never seen the rain.  But I still have the orginal box of norma 7.62x54 spoft point hunting ammo $30 sticker still on it.  It was too expensive to shoot.  This kind of raised my ammo price awareness it made me look at the prices of ammo and if I wanted to buy a military surplus gun as a shooter or not.

[NRAJOE]

First thing I stay aware of is ammo cost. If its gonna cost me an arm and a leg to shoot it, its no fun, no matter how cheap I can get it. I have been concentrating on Russian arms 7.62x54r and 7.62x39. Both cheap and plentiful. Then I look at overall condition...don't mind paying a little extra for top of the line examples. Lifes too short for cheap ugly guns bro!  :wink:  :grin:

Parts are plentiful too....

[securitysix]

I flip through the Shotgun News, see one and go "That would be cool.  I'll have to look for one of those."  Then, when I find one, I buy it.  Works for me, anyway.

[SBF]

I pretty much follow SecuritySix's route.  Find something that catchs my eye, ask around and get info on various boards about them.  If I'm satisfied I order one.  So far all my C&R purchases (except 1) have been through AIM, Century, etc.  I have been pleased with everything I've recieved.

[His lordship.]

I first got into the old bolt actions as an attachment extension for my hat, medals, and uniform collection.  I did not even shoot my first Mauser until 2 years after I bought it.

Later I went nuts with Japanese Arisakas, handloaded the Norma brass due to high cost.  Then decided that having several of the same rifle bored me, aquired one specimen each of the major types of WW 2 rifles, except the American stuff as they are way overpriced.  Then we got blessed with the arsenal rebuilds of inexpensive bolt actions, so now condition became paramount.  Also, I am very demanding on accuracy so the bore has to be very good!  I remember the various rifles I had with the pitted bores, the dark dented stocks, and gouges on the steel fittings and am grateful that all these like new Mosin Nagants and Yugo mausers are here.

Did the SKS thing, then went into Ak's.  I guess the collection thing is a road travelled for one of life's experiences, variety.

[kevin.303]

when i bought my my polish M44 the conditions that i decided where right where that the ammo was cheap the gun was cheap and the bore wasn't in bad condition. the stocks been beaten all to hell but i'll refinish it or get a synthetic stock. i might consider something even if ammo isn't available if it is a rarity and in not bad condition.

[S.S.]

I am a collector, so just about anything is fair game for me!
The stranger looking and more complicated the better!
I do not go as much on the availability of ammo, as I do the condition
of the piece. I have only run across 1 milsurp handgun that
I simply cannot find ammo for. I have at least a few boxes of ammo
for everything else. (the handgun is an Italian BODEO model 1889
but it is not in the standard caliber for that piece. It is also a
smoothbore ? )

[litman252]

Please forgive me if this is a no brainer.
What is the r for in 7.62x54r??? is this Russian?? same as 7.62x54???
Thanks,
Tony

[Chuck White]

I think R = Rimmed!

But you could be right "Russian"!

It is a rimmed, Russian cartridge!

[1911crazy]

How do you pick a surplus military gun??

When you first started buying what would guide you in selecting which gun??  Price of the gun vs. condition? Or price of the ammo to shoot it?  Or do you just try to fill a gap in your collection?  Do you check on part availability first??

When I first got into this I would pick a gun to look for then check on parts availablility first just incase I needed parts down the road if I purchased it.  Now on some parts  we have a slim to none chance of finding them do you buy the gun anyway or pass??   It turns out to be a crap shoot for parts sometimes too?  I do like to shoot my surplups so they have to be functional too.                       BigBill

Years ago before I was collecting my first two military guns were a yugo "44" 8mm mauser and a finnish M39 7.62x54 to hunt with in the rain.  This was the time when the 7.62x54 ammo became very expensive and hard to get if some can remember that time. Right after that 7,62x39 went the same route too and for many years it stayed the same. Now you younger guys are lucky the market is flooded with cheap affordable ammo.  I was very fortunate or my guns were they never seen the rain.  But I still have the orginal box of norma 7.62x54 spoft point hunting ammo $30 sticker still on it.  It was too expensive to shoot.  This kind of raised my ammo price awareness it made me look at the prices of ammo and if I wanted to buy a military surplus gun as a shooter or not.

[Dalton Masterson]

I started with an AK because the price was right (200) and the caliber was legal for deer. Then I got my M/Ns, again because the price was right, and they are legal for deer. Now anything I buy, according to my wife, needs to be legal for deer, or at least somewhat practical. So goes my life. We are going to a show this weekend, and I am looking for a CETME or something fun. I bet I don't get it though.    DM