To some, the older surplus rifles might be too heavy, not "tacticool", and to others they may appear just plain ugly. I, on the other hand, like them for several reasons. They are for the most part reliable. They are simple to shoot, clean, and maintain. Also, they are cheap to "feed". I saw this meme over at WRSA and it prompted me to post. I like shooting older surplus rifles such as the Mosin Nagant 91/30 in the video further down. I have shot them for years. I started my boy shooting long distances in reclaimed strip pits (coal mines) over twenty years ago. With a little training he, as an eight year old boy, could consistently make 800 yard shots on man-sized targets using a Turkish Mauser and 1940's surplus 8mm ammunition. If anyone who is not a shooter is interested in shooting, there are still surplus rifles and ammo available. Sadly the glory days of the early 90's when Turkish Mausers could be purchased for less than $40, K98 German WWII Mausers for $75, and Mosin Nagant 91/30's for $60 are long gone. I did see some 91/30's a few weeks back for around $200 and they are a bargain even at that price. These old war horses can still be found in pawn shops, gun stores, etc. If you are lucky enough to come upon one at a bargain, buy it. I bought two K98 rifles back in '94. I paid $79 each and that included shipping, dealer fee, and taxes. Today, Russian capture K98's with import marks are bringing upwards of $600.00 plus depending on maker, condition, etc. The guy in the YouTube video is dinging steel quite regular at 944 yards with open sights. No one is going to win a "long distance" competition with one of these old guns, but they sure are fun to shoot!
I was at a gun show in the early 90's and they had a deal for $95 you got a K98 and a case of surplus ammo on stripper clips. If you bought 2 the price dropped to $80. The guns were in cosmoline and oil paper. One looks like it was never issued. The other had some wear marks but it was in very good condition.
That was one of the best gun deals I have ever done.
Yep, the original idea was to sell off one keeping all of the ammo. Things got busy and I threw them into a corner in the basement and forgot about them for about 5 or 6 years. I re-discovered them and cleaned all of the cosmoline off and shot about 10 rounds through both guns. They kick worse than my 30-06 and 2 clips was enough for me to realize they were hard hitters. I then cleaned them up, coated them in oil and put them away. I have one in my basement with it's ammo and the other is at my mountain house. They are my "last resort" weapons.
I may have two Mosin's...Maybe a M44. Maybe a M91/30.. Bit of a kick. If you miss, you've got the muzzle blast for follow up.. Shoot where I aim them... 89.00 for the M91/30 119.00 for the M44 Their not going anywhere...Well unless my eldest takes the M91/31...
Regarding the M-44, I am always reminded of that meme that was floating around a few years ago which read "when you need to kill one person in a room, set the rest on fire, and make the people in the next room temporarily deaf" underneath a photo of the M-44.
Got my 1946 M44 when Big-5 was selling them for $80. Extremely accurate, especially for a 72 year old gun. Also bought lots of surplus ammo when it $40 a can of 400, some already mounted on clips.
I was at a gun show in the early 90's and they had a deal for $95 you got a K98 and a case of surplus ammo on stripper clips. If you bought 2 the price dropped to $80. The guns were in cosmoline and oil paper. One looks like it was never issued. The other had some wear marks but it was in very good condition.
ReplyDeleteThat was one of the best gun deals I have ever done.
So you bought two?
DeleteYep, the original idea was to sell off one keeping all of the ammo. Things got busy and I threw them into a corner in the basement and forgot about them for about 5 or 6 years. I re-discovered them and cleaned all of the cosmoline off and shot about 10 rounds through both guns. They kick worse than my 30-06 and 2 clips was enough for me to realize they were hard hitters. I then cleaned them up, coated them in oil and put them away. I have one in my basement with it's ammo and the other is at my mountain house. They are my "last resort" weapons.
DeleteI agree, I had an 1944 M-44 which was pristine, but gave it to the PATCON for a raffle a year or two ago. :(
ReplyDelete"A great gun to get another gun".
DeleteI may have two Mosin's...Maybe a M44. Maybe a M91/30..
ReplyDeleteBit of a kick.
If you miss, you've got the muzzle blast for follow up..
Shoot where I aim them...
89.00 for the M91/30
119.00 for the M44
Their not going anywhere...Well unless my eldest takes the M91/31...
Regarding the M-44, I am always reminded of that meme that was floating around a few years ago which read "when you need to kill one person in a room, set the rest on fire, and make the people in the next room temporarily deaf" underneath a photo of the M-44.
DeleteA friend of mine has his teenage daughter dinging ten foot targets at thousand yards with a M14.. I'm old. But it keeps from flirting with his wife.
ReplyDeleteThat is great that his daughter is that proficient at that age. Keep shooting and buy more ammo!
ReplyDeleteGot my 1946 M44 when Big-5 was selling them for $80. Extremely accurate, especially for a 72 year old gun. Also bought lots of surplus ammo when it $40 a can of 400, some already mounted on clips.
ReplyDeleteMike in CA