Milsurp Discussion Lounge

[bgcatty]

The Enfield is probably my favorite milsurp of them all, and somehow I don’t have one right now. They’re amazing rifles! But the ammo’s getting crazy expensive these days.

Factory ammo is expensive; however, I’ve been reloading for years and years and stockpiled components along the way including all I need to feed my Enfields and everything else I shoot. It’s the only way I could keep shooting over the years. Besides, to me, reloading is therapeutic and cheaper than a shrink! LOL!!!

 

[indyblue]

I'd really like to enter this hobby, but I feel like you damn near need to be a historian to even mess with it. To know the values of various guns, their weakneses and how to find parts and do minor smithing on them. Plus I know it's (no longer) an inexpensive hobby as it used to be.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Looks good to me! I have quite a few surplus rifles, and almost all of them are "shooter" grade, primarily because I'm cheap, but also because I know I want to shoot any rifle I buy.

I had an opportunity to buy my first Enfield a couple months ago. It was a Mk5 jungle carbine, but i passed on it because the receiver was drilled and tapped (and i didnt really want another caliber to worry about finding ammo for). Seeing yours makes me wish I'd bought it anyway!

Keep your eye out for an M2A1. They're chambered in 7.62x51 so cheaper and easier to find than .303 Brit.

 

[Nugget]

I'd really like to enter this hobby, but I feel like you damn near need to be a historian to even mess with it. To know the values of various guns, their weakneses and how to find parts and do minor smithing on them. Plus I know it's (no longer) an inexpensive hobby as it used to be.

Do what I did a couple years ago... Buy the first decent-looking $250 - $350 Mosin you come across, learn everything about it, shoot it a bunch, and then go from there! A lot of these older rifles are pretty stout, and hard to break. The extent of smithing needed for most of them consists of taking them apart, cleaning off 75 years of surface rust, cosmoline, carbon, and lead. With youtoob, that's all fairly easy. If the action moves freely and pulling the trigger makes a clicking noise, it'll probably work. I wouldn't be overly concerned at first with getting museum quality collectors pieces. Shooting an old military rifle is 98% of the fun of owning it.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

My M2A1...



My No.1 Mk III...



My No. 4 Mk1...



I've got a No. 5 Jungle Carbine too but I can't find any pics.

 

[Nugget]

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I've got a No. 5 Jungle Carbine too but I can't find any pics.

Not taking a pic of a Jungle Carbine in front of that last background would be criminally negligent firearm ownership!

 

[Vanderbilt]

I'd really like to enter this hobby, but I feel like you damn near need to be a historian to even mess with it. To know the values of various guns, their weakneses and how to find parts and do minor smithing on them. Plus I know it's (no longer) an inexpensive hobby as it used to be.

....well, you are correct in that it's not inexpensive. I guess it all depends on what you want. If you are looking at high end collectibles, yeah, you're going to separate your wallet from your cash. OTOH, there are still some decent shooters out there if you are patient and willing to look. Out of my milsurps, the 1898 Krag was the most expensive, with the 1901 Colt DA that is paired with it the most expensive pistol. Then you need the proper bullets, in my case our range rules require lead bullets, brass, powder and reloader dies. Then among my group we put together the accoutrements and clothing. It can get out of hand, fast. Come on in, the waters fine, lol.....

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I love old military surplus weapons. Just something about them. History, of course being the number one thing, but they are also, especially the older ones, being from a bygone era, very well built. They can be very rugged, and long lasting arms.

There's also the fact that I was myself a soldier for 28 years. (1981-2009) This gives me a real front row seat in knowing, and respecting what the guys went through that may have been lugging around these old things every day. In fact this coloring of my views even has me thinking of the AR family of weapons as "milsurp". From the days of Vietnam, (when I was but a kid) to the almost 30 years I spent toting one around, and the fact that I've been retired 13 years... yet these types of weapons are STILL in service. (albeit updated / modified)

However, not counting the AR types... I only have one milsurp weapon as of right now) This is a Longbranch Lee Enfield No4 Mk1*. It's in very fine condition (now) and I always get comments when I post photos of it.

Some, because I have so tastefully (I think) updated / modified it, and of course others because somebody feels I have destroyed an irreplaceable piece of history....

Either way, it was a well build rifle to start with. (80 years ago) It shoots as well, today... and is now much faster on target than it has ever been. Yes, it's an 80 year old bolt action that shoots hard to find rimmed cartridge, but if I had to use it for it's intended role today (even against it's modern counterparts) I wouldn't feel all that much at a disadvantage, except for the stupid thing being so damn heavy...






57 year old eyes + 80 year old rifle + red dot @ 50 yds on a milsurp zero target. This was the confirmation target after the zero.

 

[Basher]

I love old military surplus weapons. Just something about them. History, of course being the number one thing, but they are also, especially the older ones, being from a bygone era, very well built. They can be very rugged, and long lasting arms.

There's also the fact that I was myself a soldier for 28 years. (1981-2009) This gives me a real front row seat in knowing, and respecting what the guys went through that may have been lugging around these old things every day. In fact this coloring of my views even has me thinking of the AR family of weapons as "milsurp". From the days of Vietnam, (when I was but a kid) to the almost 30 years I spent toting one around, and the fact that I've been retired 13 years... yet these types of weapons are STILL in service. (albeit updated / modified)

However, not counting the AR types... I only have one milsurp weapon as of right now) This is a Longbranch Lee Enfield No4 Mk1*. It's in very fine condition (now) and I always get comments when I post photos of it.

Some, because I have so tastefully (I think) updated / modified it, and of course others because somebody feels I have destroyed an irreplaceable piece of history....

Either way, it was a well build rifle to start with. (80 years ago) It shoots as well, today... and is now much faster on target than it has ever been. Yes, it's an 80 year old bolt action that shoots hard to find rimmed cartridge, but if I had to use it for it's intended role today (even against it's modern counterparts) I wouldn't feel all that much at a disadvantage, except for the stupid thing being so damn heavy...

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57 year old eyes + 80 year old rifle + red dot @ 50 yds on a milsurp zero target. This was the confirmation target after the zero.

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That’s an absolute abomination, and I’m here for it, lol. While I prefer to keep milsurps as they “should be,” I think the addition of an RDS is a perfect fit for it given how quickly you can work the action. And it looks tastefully done!

 

[Ballstater98]

I need to take time to walk into my gun room and get to typing. Keep up the good work gents!

 

[Squid556]

1940 and 1938 German K98K


Oddly enough they aren’t sighted the same when the slider is all the way down.

 

[STopaz1982]

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1940 and 1938 German K98K
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Oddly enough they aren’t sighted the same when the slider is all the way down.
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Beautiful! tell us more. Bores must be in great shape. Any plans to sell?

 

[Squid556]

Beautiful! tell us more. Bores must be in great shape. Any plans to sell?

I’ve been on the fence about selling. It would take a very serious dollar for me to part.

Bores are in good shape, the laminate stock Mauser has less muzzle erosion. Both feed and cycle very smoothly. With handloads they really are pleasant to fire. I loaded the Hornady 170 gr soft point at a mild 2200 fps. Even as neutered as that is, it will still scatter a water filled pumpkin into a 30 foot area around the range

 

[mikegreer1956]

Now we're cooking! Great pics and stories so far, guys. Keep 'em coming. And I love to see the camaraderie, kaveman. Exactly what i was hoping for with this thread. I guess now that we're getting some activity in here, i should probably contribute a little!

The pics below are of my most recent milsurp acquisition, an Arisaka Type 99 that i bought about a month ago. The serial # and markings indicate it's a 32nd Series Toyo Kogyo rifle, mfd sometime around 1941/42. As i mentioned in one of my first posts after joining the forum, it's definitely a shooter, not a museum piece. It has no mum whatsoever, numbers don't match, doesn't have a monopod, bayonet, or sling, and a previous owner Bubba'ed the stock by adding an extra inch+ of wood and a modern buttpad to the end.

On the plus side though, the bore is great, the anti-aircraft sights are intact, it shoots great, there's no import markings, and I only paid $225 for the rifle, a second complete stock (with hardware), and a couple boxes of ammo. The ammo alone made it worthwhile to me. (FYI, I'm on the lookout for more 7.7 Jap ammo if anyone has any they're looking to sell or trade!)

First pic is the rifle, along with the spare stock. (Note the high-quality Bubba-job at the end of the stock on the rifle!)
View attachment 217921

Second pic is the action showing the complete lack of mum. I'm assuming someone ground it smooth and polished it at some point. Perhaps a trained eye can verify or correct me.
View attachment 217923

My next big decision is whether i want to go to the effort of moving the rifle to the other stock, or leave it as is. Given the lack of mum and how well it shoots in its current configuration, i might just keep it as is and sell the spare stock to recoup some of the cost (or pay for more ammo). First though, I need to strip it down and give it a decent cleaning. That process might help me make my decision.

I realize this is an older post, bu couldn't help replying.
My Arisaka was given to me because it had been put in a monty carlo and hobed out to 30-06. Coulihit a wall with it.

Series 7 Nagoya about 1942. The action is clean no pits or rust and tight. The bolt is not numbered with action (mist aren't) but is in great condition and all oarts in bolt match.
I found a Nagoya barrel 7.7 about the same year perfect condition and rebarreled it.
Bedded the action and floated the barrel.
Tight groups at 100 yards, iron sights . I reload so ammo mot a problem and since I was shooting 30-06 in it with no problems I do reload hot for fun stuff load less for plinking.
Not pretty but outshoots my model 70 30-06 and my friends 98 Mauser.. I'll keep this one.

 

[bgcatty]

Just finished restoration of an
Enfield No.5 MK1 Jungle Carbine. Going to go shoot it this weekend at ProTeq. Should be fun!

 

[mikegreer1956]

I realize this is an older post, bu couldn't help replying.
My Arisaka was given to me because it had been put in a monty carlo and hobed out to 30-06. Coulihit a wall with it.

Series 7 Nagoya about 1942. The action is clean no pits or rust and tight. The bolt is not numbered with action (mist aren't) but is in great condition and all oarts in bolt match.
I found a Nagoya barrel 7.7 about the same year perfect condition and rebarreled it.
Bedded the action and floated the barrel.
Tight groups at 100 yards, iron sights . I reload so ammo mot a problem and since I was shooting 30-06 in it with no problems I do reload hot for fun stuff load less for plinking.
Not pretty but outshoots my model 70 30-06 and my friends 98 Mauser.. I'll keep this one. View attachment 272507 View attachment 272508 View attachment 272509

 

[maxipum]

This is my favorite Milsurp in my collection. Picked it up at an auction in Ohio a few years back, paid $800 for it. A guy laughed at me and told me Mauser's are a dime a dozen and that I am a fool for paying that much. Seriously, the only time anything like that has ever happened. I think I did ok.

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That is a screamer! You always have some of the nicest rifles.

 

[mikegreer1956]

That is a screamer! You always have some of the nicest rifles.

Beautiful

 

[mikegreer1956]

Just finished restoration of an
Enfield No.5 MK1 Jungle Carbine. Going to go shoot it this weekend at ProTeq. Should be fun!
View attachment 272550 View attachment 272552

I like that one

 

[ben142266]

Milsurps are really the only guns I have save for 3 modern 22's. My thought process is all of the modern guns will be around just like the milsurps were years ago so why not get the older one's while they're still "affordable". First milsurp was a 91/30 that my girlfriend bought me for Christmas and since then I've been on a collecting warpath. 3 Mosins (2 Russian, 1 Finn) 3 Mausers (1 Czech, 1 Turk, 1 Spanish), Type 14 Nambu and a Type 99 Arisaka, Eddystone 1917, Riot Winchester 1897, Czech CZ 52 and 82, Chinese SKS, French Berthier, Swiss Vetterli 69/71, and the most recent acquisition, a sportered Stomperud Norwegian Krag. There are plenty more on the wishlist, one being a Garand which will hopefully happen this year. The history of these guns is such a rabbit hole which kind of led to the variety in my collection (plus prices I couldn't beat lol)