ISO: War-Era long guns

[rman]

I'm not too savvy on these things. All I know is I should have bought a Mosin or a crate of them when Big sold them for next to nothing.

My kid is big into wars right now... wwii but really any war. What should I get him?

Sub $300... I know, I know.

There's a Mosin in my town for $300. Don't even know the model, date, or receiver type.

Mauser? Mosin? Lee Enfield? Where do I go?

Thanks guys

Sent from my SIG Sauer

 

[Texasjack]

The Mosin wasn't close to being the best rifle in WWI. They're cheap and they shoot cheap (Russian) ammo. Otherwise, I see no value at all.

The Mauser 98 may be one of the best rifle actions ever made. They used to be advertised for cheap prices all over the place, but the market must have dried up the supply. The Enfield and the Springfield A3-03 were great rifles, but you don't find many cheap ones around anymore. (Until WWI, the US had to pay Mauser for each Springfield because of patent infringement.) Used to be a lot of 30-40 Krags around, and that's a neat rifle.

Its going to be more than $300, but consider an M1 Garand from the CMP. They just got a huge shipment from the Philippines. (Saw that on a Jerry Miculek post.) When I was young, they had barrels full of M1s and M1 carbines at Woolworth's. Wish I knew then what I know now; I'd have bought several of them.

When you get a chance to buy a firearm at a good price, jump on it. Chances are pretty good that the deal won't come around again.

 

[rman]

The Mosin wasn't close to being the best rifle in WWI. They're cheap and they shoot cheap (Russian) ammo. Otherwise, I see no value at all.

The Mauser 98 may be one of the best rifle actions ever made. They used to be advertised for cheap prices all over the place, but the market must have dried up the supply. The Enfield and the Springfield A3-03 were great rifles, but you don't find many cheap ones around anymore. (Until WWI, the US had to pay Mauser for each Springfield because of patent infringement.) Used to be a lot of 30-40 Krags around, and that's a neat rifle.

Its going to be more than $300, but consider an M1 Garand from the CMP. They just got a huge shipment from the Philippines. (Saw that on a Jerry Miculek post.) When I was young, they had barrels full of M1s and M1 carbines at Woolworth's. Wish I knew then what I know now; I'd have bought several of them.

When you get a chance to buy a firearm at a good price, jump on it. Chances are pretty good that the deal won't come around again.

a Philippine m1 garand would be extra. cool because I'm filipino and we like Freddy's steakburgers.

If that sounds weird, every location has a picture of Freddy visiting the MacArthur statues in Leyte where he landed/returned

Sent from my SIG Sauer

 

[LEP]

My question would be: how old is your son & would this be his first rifle? That being said, a Mosin is an economical entry into the milsurp world. They can be anything from cheap, fun to shoot carbines, to pretty accurate variations such as a Finn M39.
Finding a sub-$300 WW II Mauser, or any English/U.S. firearm for that matter, would be difficult.

 

[Moonpie]

For < $300 you're gonna be looking for a looooong time.
You might luck into a sporterized 1903 or .303 Enfield.

If I were you I'd spring for an original USGI .30 Carbine.
They're fun to shoot.
Stock is smallish so it will fit a smaller person well.
Recoil on something like an Enfield, Mauser, or Mosin will stomp the beejabbers out of a kid.
.30 Carbine ammo is pretty easily obtainable. It's pricey but not as bad as .303Brit or 8mm Mauser.
Plenty of aftermarket(and even original parts)goodies so kid can mod it out later if he so desires. Bayonets and slings are plentiful. New made barrels are available.
And last but not least is resale. Selling off an original .30Carbine is easy.

 

[Inspector43]

I'm not too savvy on these things. All I know is I should have bought a Mosin or a crate of them when Big sold them for next to nothing.

My kid is big into wars right now... wwii but really any war. What should I get him?

Sub $300... I know, I know.

There's a Mosin in my town for $300. Don't even know the model, date, or receiver type.

Mauser? Mosin? Lee Enfield? Where do I go?

Thanks guys

Sent from my SIG Sauer

Don't get the Lee Enfield unless you can afford the ammo. I have one that is awesome but I don't shoot it much because the ammo is difficult to find for a reasonable price.

 

[rman]

For < $300 you're gonna be looking for a looooong time.
You might luck into a sporterized 1903 or .303 Enfield.

If I were you I'd spring for an original USGI .30 Carbine.
They're fun to shoot.
Stock is smallish so it will fit a smaller person well.
Recoil on something like an Enfield, Mauser, or Mosin will stomp the beejabbers out of a kid.
.30 Carbine ammo is pretty easily obtainable. It's pricey but not as bad as .303Brit or 8mm Mauser.
Plenty of aftermarket(and even original parts)goodies so kid can mod it out later if he so desires. Bayonets and slings are plentiful. New made barrels are available.
And last but not least is resale. Selling off an original .30Carbine is easy.

gonna sound like an idiot... 30 carbine - is that m1?

and recoil on a mosin gets me a little tense, let alone a 10 year old haha.

Really just looking for a cool collection gun for him, that he is able to shoot as well. Nothing like a go-to or anything like that.

 

[Moonpie]

Yes, the .30 carbine i'm referring to is the USGI M1 .30 carbine.

 

[rman]

My question would be: how old is your son & would this be his first rifle? That being said, a Mosin is an economical entry into the milsurp world. They can be anything from cheap, fun to shoot carbines, to pretty accurate variations such as a Finn M39.
Finding a sub-$300 WW II Mauser, or any English/U.S. firearm for that matter, would be difficult.

he's 10... and more or less his first rifle, he's got a 10/22 takedown and he's shot an AR.

It's more for the novelty behind it, but we'd obviously want it to be functional and able to shoot.

 

[Bozz10mm]

How about an SKS? Ammo is plentiful and cheap. Recoil is pleasant. Aren't they going for around $300 now? Post WW II, but close enough.

 

[TreyG-20]

Although its war life was short lived at least in WW2, the SKS is a cool old military rifle with less recoil and much cheaper and easier to find ammo. They can be had in the 300 dollar range if you keep looking.

ETA: Ninja'd

 

[benenglish]

A milsurp rifle for a 10-year-old? I'm having trouble thinking of anything suitable that's not an M1 carbine or an SKS. I own both and lean toward the M1.

 

[rman]

How about an SKS? Ammo is plentiful and cheap. Recoil is pleasant. Aren't they going for around $300 now? Post WW II, but close enough.

i've actually always wanted one of those... had a trade set up for one with another member here a few years ago and he ended up flaking on it.


BUT i am going to drive my ass 2 hours out of the way to meet with someone tonight.... For now I'll say the planets have aligned, big thanks to the suggestions here. It's RIGHT up my son's alley in terms of time period... I'll keep you all updated.

 

[rman]

A milsurp rifle for a 10-year-old? I'm having trouble thinking of anything suitable that's not an M1 carbine or an SKS. I own both and lean toward the M1.

Honestly 9mm and 5.56 are probably his limits in terms of strength and experience. He's absolutely obsessed with the old war eras, especially WWII. so as much as this will be a cool gun for him, a lot of it is about having some sort of memorabilia. He can always grow into the size and recoil.

Hell, he can barely hold his 10/22 up for more than a few minutes.

Not buying a Mosin or the like 5 years ago has already proven to be a financial miss. Don't really want to wait much longer on these.... Hell with the new 1917 movie coming out who knows what it'll do to milsurp prices

 

[rman]

Ok, further research shows that this k98 is a turkish mauser. What do you all think the value of that is? Still the proper era

 

[LEP]

he's 10... and more or less his first rifle, he's got a 10/22 takedown and he's shot an AR.

It's more for the novelty behind it, but we'd obviously want it to be functional and able to shoot.

I gave my Frau a Mosin carbine & found some "gallery" ammo for it. Virtually zero recoil and fairly accurate to 50+ yards. I had to start rationing it, she shot so much.

https://www.sgammo.com/product/surp...us-46-grain-hollow-core-low-recoil-ammo-762-r

 

[zackmars]

Save up an extra 300 for a CMP. Garand if you can. You will also need to add in the fees you'll have to pay to qualify for the CMP, but it is worth it.

The mosin is dissapointing, and not worth $300, SKS's are ok, but can be hard to find good examples

My M1 is a service grade, but I've seen some rack grades that are extremely nice

They also have a grade for $650 that is supposed to be extremely nice, though i don't know what its called

 

[zackmars]

M1 carbines are also nice, but finding a cheap one won't be easy. Beat up USGI STARTS at $900, and goes up from there.

New production guns are hit and miss, most often miss, and by the time you replace the offending parts in a new carbine, you are in for the same amount of moneyas a USGI gun

Absurdly fun to shoot though

 

[rman]

looks like I'll be getting the Turkish Mauser. It's not the coolest gun in the world, but for the price it's OK. Even though they were a neutral country in WWII, a neat little back story can be made for it. It's a K.Kale, which I understand is a Turkish-made receiver (vs a re-used german/gew98).

For a 10 year old it should be super cool to hang over his bed.

Sent from my SIG Sauer

 

[Inspector43]

looks like I'll be getting the Turkish Mauser. It's not the coolest gun in the world, but for the price it's OK. Even though they were a neutral country in WWII, a neat little back story can be made for it. It's a K.Kale, which I understand is a Turkish-made receiver (vs a re-used german/gew98).

For a 10 year old it should be super cool to hang over his bed.

Sent from my SIG Sauer

You never know what you are going to find if you look around for a while. I got a GI original WW II M1 Carbine for under $300 at a gun show. I think he was selling it because it would jam after 2 shots. I found it was nothing but barrel timing. Fixed and it hasn't jammed since.