Import numbers

[Dixie Dude]

Does anyone know how many 8mm Mausers, Moslin-Nagants, SKS's, and, AK's have been imported in the last few years?  Just curious. 

[Stan in SC]

Millions.

[Dixie Dude]

I heard at one time a few years ago, that we imported 3 million SKS's from China alone.  Don't know how many AK's.  I was more interested in the Mausers.  I have been thinking about buying a few to rebuild into other calibers.  Love the action.  Thinking about getting a curio and relic license, buying them at a lower cost, then reworking them to other calibers.  I can't make the barrels, but can completely disassemble, reblue, and rework the stocks. 

[Stan in SC]

Been there.Done that.Got the T-shirt.You would be much much better off just buying a quality target or hunting rifle.You will come out cheaper and much more satisfied with better results in the long run.
Let me show you my $54 Mosin that I sank $300 into which still doesn't shoot worth a hoot and is worth $75.
Bored?Wanna tinker with something?Get an NEF Handi rifle.

Stan

[Dixie Dude]

Moslins are to me a little different.  Older design.  Mausers are almost just like today's rifles, except the bolts are easier to disassemble, easier to sporterize.  I had a sporterized Spainish Mauser in .308 one time with a nice walnut stock.  Sold it for about $175 about 5 years ago.  Should have kept it and put a scope on it.  Good shooter.  Lowest cost Mauser action today is CZ and the Remington 798.  Both are around $600 minimum.  For $35, I have a gunsmith who will drill 4 holes and tap for scope, and bend the bolt lower to miss the scope.  Then for around $200 change out the barrel to another caliber.  Stock can be changed out for another $100.  So from $150-450 you have a very good bolt action rifle.  Of course, you can buy an American used.  Just drilling and tapping for a scope, cleaning up and refinishing the stock, and touching up bluing, you can have a decent shooter for under $200.  Adding and barrel or sporter stock runs it up.  I like iron sights AND a scope.  Just my preference.  Almost all rifles today do not have iron sights, except lever actions.  I also like to Mauser action. 

[Wynn]

Moslins are to me a little different.  Older design.  Mausers are almost just like today's rifles, except the bolts are easier to disassemble, easier to sporterize.  I had a sporterized Spainish Mauser in .308 one time with a nice walnut stock.  Sold it for about $175 about 5 years ago.  Should have kept it and put a scope on it.  Good shooter.  Lowest cost Mauser action today is CZ and the Remington 798.  Both are around $600 minimum.  For $35, I have a gunsmith who will drill 4 holes and tap for scope, and bend the bolt lower to miss the scope.  Then for around $200 change out the barrel to another caliber.  Stock can be changed out for another $100.  So from $150-450 you have a very good bolt action rifle.  Of course, you can buy an American used.  Just drilling and tapping for a scope, cleaning up and refinishing the stock, and touching up bluing, you can have a decent shooter for under $200.  Adding and barrel or sporter stock runs it up.  I like iron sights AND a scope.  Just my preference.  Almost all rifles today do not have iron sights, except lever actions.  I also like to Mauser action. 

You left out replacing the safety so that it will clear the scope and changeing out the military two stage trigger. What about set back and proper headspacing on this barrel/caliber changeing. The days of cheap sporters is long gone. You will end up with more in it than it is worth if done properly. I can do ALL of my own work and it is not worth it. Surplus rifles are a piece of history that should be left intact. By the way; the original mauser design which has remained largely unchanged, is quite a bit older than the Mosin Nagant.

A C&R license is for the purpose of collecting. In order for it to be and remain a C&R eligible firearm, it must remain in it's original military configuration. Changeing barrels and caliber will definitely disqualify it as a C&R. A 03 license is subject to annual audits and inspection at the whim of the BATFE and although rare, it happens. I would hate to have to explain a bunch of rifles that were no longer C&R eligible that had been purchased on a 03 license.

There are plenty of chopped and bubba'ed surplus rifles already out there. If you want to build yourself that special rifle, unique to your specs, then I say go for it. I have. But please don't start chopping up possibly rare and collectible mausers. I've already seen to many $150 chop jobs that would have been worth $800 +++ if they had been left alone. And what's cheap today may be worth big $ tomorrow. I have a stack of 3 for $100 Finnish M39's that now cost 10x that today and could be liquidated in a week. Wish my stocks were doing that well.