new to Milsup and would like to buy

[Foxxtrot]

My budget is $300 - 400. I like the SKS from what I have read, but reviewing the boards here it seems like I have some options. IF you were getting started in this all over again, what would you buy?

[james]

I am more of a conservative and like the accurate mil-surps... fewer shots and small groups.  I've had an sks and a mini 14 but they didn't suit me.  I like my  Swede 96 and 38 and a couple of Swiss k31s, which I reload for.  If you are, shall we say more liberal with your ammo, and want to spray a stream, you are on the right track. I never had any jamming problems with the semi autos and some people (better shots than me) have gotten decent accuracy with them. The best rifle depends on your preferences.   For $400 you might want to look at the AK or Saiga type rifles also. I gave $75 plus tax for my Chinese sks in 1993 but my nephew has it now.    Someone with a $30 C&R license can order a good SKS and lots of ammo for $300.  Hope you find the right rifle.

[mcwoodduck]

In the SKS market I have has Chineese, Russian, and Yugo.
The chineese was chineese and it did wat it was supose to do.  Shot 2.5 to 3" groups at 100 yards off a rest.
The Russian guns I got in a trade and they seemed a little beefier than the chineese one.  Of the two I had I don't remember ever shooting them and traded them for other projects.  I think strait across for a slightly used Ruger red label in 20 ga.
I now I have one of the Yugo rifles.
It looks to be interesting, in it has day glow night sights that fold up, and the gernade launcher that acts as a muzzle break.  have not shot it yet but it looks interesting and has the flat blade bayonett like the russian models I had.   The chineese model had a spike that seemed to stab me everytime I shot the thing.  It comes off easily.  Maybe this weekend I will break it out and shoot it.  But I need to know what the button on the gas port does before I do shoot it.  It looks to be a gas cut off that may be needed for the gernade launcher.  I think I paid 300 to 325 for it and some ammo 5 months ago.
At one point I was collecting and shooting the mauser bolt action rifles.  When I found out there were thousands of models.  Between countries, factories, and models.  heck the swede model James spoke of I had four of them and you have Huskavarna, Carl Gustov, and Mauser making models, when you get to the the short rifle you have the same three plus the strait bolt (Infantry) and the bent bolt (cavalry) and the other 94  Cavalry models.

[Foxxtrot]

Just looking for a starter project. If I can get a couple for $400 (sks and mosin) or something like that, I will. I am just looking to start a collection of nice off pieces to my American made hunting rifles I have. I feel that I need to start somewhere. Any good reading I should pick up on these or websites on what to look for in these rifles?

[mcwoodduck]

I guess it's more of what tickels your fancy.
If you like the SKS get what you can afford.
If you want a Nagant get one.  Again there are a lot of different options there too.  I have had a couple of those as well.
At one point I wanted to get one of each main battle rifle in WWII.
Now I have a hodge podge of what I like to shoot.
I have an M1 garand, M1 carbine, No 4 Enfield, 96 Mauser, AR 15A2, SKS, and some others I can remember right now.
But I digress,
Personally I think a Mauser (93, 96, 98) would be a great place to start.  The reason is the Mauser rifles are easy to disassemble and there are plenty of books and pictures that show you how they go back together.  I have had the No 4 enfield since the early 90's and have yest to get the stock off of it.  The first mauser I owned Hat it completly stripped the first day and the best part was back together and functioning the same day.

[1marty]

I have my C&R so I ordered a Yugo SKS. I always heard these guns were not accurate however, I was greatly surprised at its accuracy. The Russian Brown or Braunal ammo is cheap and shoots great. I have the usual assortment of Mausers, Enfields etc. but my prized rifle is a CG Swedish Mauser made in 1909. It ran $300 and it is the finest military rifle money can buy. It is accurate and the workmanship is outstanding!