Canadian Airgun Forum

Curious if anyone here collect and shoot military surplus rifles? I think they are very neat from a historical perspective and some of them can keep up with modern rifles for casual shooting.

The prices have increased substantially in the past 5 years. Are there even any good deals left out there?

What are some of your favourite surplus rifles and why?

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"...await the right moment for one, and only one well-aimed shot" - Vassili Zaitsev

I collected a few.. Owned No4, No5 Lee Enfields, a few Pattern 14's, few SKSs, Mosin 91/30s, Mosin 91/59, Springfield M1A.

I currently own a No4MK2 Irish Contract Lee Enfield, a Mauser K98 ( Israeli's Mauser in 762 Nato ) a Mosin M44, a M1 Carbine. I regret not buying a M1 Garand when prices were fair.

I love the robust Mauser action, I built a few precision rigs off it. But the Lee Enfield are smooth actions, a smith is building me a No4 in 9x19 that uses 1911 mags.

The M44 just roasts and blasts a hole thru people ( It's a joke ) and my M1 carbine I use for milsurp matches and it like cheating. Just because it very low recoil, and I can line up and get a second shot off before the guy is recovering from the first ( using 8mm, 303, 762x54 )

The Current 9mm Lee

That's an awesome collection leadslinger! Is the front sling band on backwards for your Israeli K98k?

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"...await the right moment for one, and only one well-aimed shot" - Vassili Zaitsev

Thanks, Yeah it was, realized after taking the photo. FYI that K98 has a NOS barrel on it. It's the rifle that I said Ballistol didn't protect. I tried shooting it with a sling and I took it off, It was the most uncomfortable sling design ever. Mauser was from 1945 from occupied Czechoslovakia, then sold to the Isreali I assume in the late 50s, 60s.. But the stock has many factory repairs and from 1944.

My M1 may have seen Korea. The Barrel was Feb 1944, but receiver may be earlier. Alot of the parts are what a Inland ( company of General motors ) would have. When I got it, it has ugly 30rd mag and ventilated handguard. My M44 is actually a miss match.. Someone turned down the bayonet lug on the M44, so it more of a M38 profile.

My Lee is 54, probably sat in Storage since it was an Irish contract that wasn't carried out.

I mean I love to find another Winchester Pattern 14, and try a 30-40 Krag in full wood. But not at the prices people want.

But wasn't only till about 2 years ago.. Milsurp prices increased to retarded prices. I mean I still could buy a 91/30 for like 100$, a SKS was like 200$, SVT 40 for 300$.

And I better put this disclaimer here. Yes the Short barrel Lee Enfield, is legal. It has a 12.5" Suomi M31 barrel, and is over 26" OAL. We adapted the rifle for the barrel, and no it does not have a functional suppressor.

That De Lisle carbine-wannabe is kind of cute
- What are you using for mag well?

Often thought it would be fun to have one in 7.62x25

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The current price of milsurp rifles is kind of silly... Every so often Trade-Ex has some nice stuff that comes up, but even the Swiss and Swedish milsurp are over $500

For someone "new" to the game, the best bet for $ would probably be one of the CG63 target rifle or some of the used hunting guns coming from Europe.

Picked up a Rhineland Arms mag adapter. Yes, going to make a new forearm for it.





I wouldn't even say SKS or Mosins would be the best bang for the buck. Since ammo harder to get and not that cheap. Plus alot of ranges ban the use of steel core ammo. But those CG63 are nice, for a target rifle.

It's not as nice as the one that inspired me to have one built.. Sure it is a little crude, but it more streamline. He has been helpful, in fixing some of the picking up and extracting issues we're having.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWZ3HYg ... ncarnation

That carbine conversion is pretty cool. Do you have to modify the bolt head for 9mm? What other calibers do people usually convert these to? .45 ACP?

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"...await the right moment for one, and only one well-aimed shot" - Vassili Zaitsev

Rhineland Arms makes a 45ACP conversion kit. Comes with adapter, extractor, and barrel. For Mausers and Lee Enfield.

Yeah they had to mod the head, or else the round would just slide down. Involved silver soldering washers, machining a new face and extractor cut. I'm just letting him do his thing on this. I think the only thing left for functioning, is machining a ejector. Lucky there are some inspirations for forearms. It looks odd with just the stubby on it.

FYI it being built from parts guns. So why it's not the nicest looking.

I was going to make it tactical, and put a M4 stock and grip on it. But those adapters are $$$$, and near impossible to find, and a AR15 quad rail.

My pride and joy : 1905 Sporterized Lee Enfield SMLE Mk1

Sporterised SMLE. 1905, started life as a No1 Mk1 (the original Enfield), and was converted three different times indicated by the three stars following the Mk1.

I still use it for hunting, very accurate and a thrill to shoot.

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Diana 280 T06 .177
FX Crown .25/.22
QB78 Deluxe
Diana Outlaw.177
Kral Bighorn .30
Benjamin Marauder .22
HW 80 .22
Kral Puncher Pro Marine .177

I often forget I also got a Mosin M44 setup like a M38. Just remembered when Dad was down earlier this month and was showing him what I got. I was like what in the gun sock?

My favorite but don't have one anymore. Is the Pattern 14 rifle. Love me Mauser actions.

Never shot a M1 Garand, but shot many M1As.


That 9mm Lee is causing some issues, cannot get it to feed properly. Round has to jump too far. So Dad and I are in contact with someone else that made their own 9mm Lee and it functions mint. He informed me he uses the same barrel. So going to try making a new simple adapter.

At one time I was up to 14 original condition #4 Enfield rifles, however I sold them before a move about 15 years ago. Apparently the price has since climbed quite a lot. I still have one #4 (DCRA 7.62 conversion) and one #5 Jungle Carbine with proper bayonet. Also a Webley mk6 to go with them.

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Slavia 630/77, Slavia 624, 1322, 1377, 2240, 2240/2260 20", WF600, Vantage .22
Walther Falcon Hunter .22, Walther Talon Magnum .25
CR600W .22, CR600W/Stormrider PCP .22, Diana Stormrider .177
Diana Chaser .22, Diana Bandit/PP800 PCP .25

I had this old Enfield for a while.

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Jonathan

Moderator

The only one I have left is a SMLE marked under the bolt knob, ENGLAND and below that 1916.
On the left side of the "receiver", is stamped FTR 1953
I do have a sporterized #4 re-chambered in .312 Water's Express (.350REmMag case necked down) and a SMLE action that needs a barrel and stock.

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Best Wishes
Daryl

I agree, the P14 was a GREAT rifle.
The model 1917, the .30/06 version used to be popular here in BC.
I have a buddy who still has the 2 model 1917's chambered/barreled up in 6.5x68 and
8x68S that he had back in 1979 when I met him. We worked in corrections for
20years. both starting there in 1979.

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Best Wishes
Daryl