Mil-Surp Suggestions

[VERO1]

I have a 13 year old son who is just dying to get an old war rifle. Doesn't matter what kind just has to have one. Preferably with bayonet.

I don't mind as I think it could be an interesting project for him to research its use and history. Only conditions I have are: Price-it must be cheap! +/- $200. And ammo must be available. Other than that it's pretty much wide open.. Suggestions and heads ups appreciated.

[Mr. Brooks]

Mosin 91/30 or M44 w/folding bayonet

Mosin-Nagant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They can be had at just about any gun shop for around one hundred dollars. And ammo is still readily available.

They kick like a mule though so if he will be firing it I recommend getting a slip-on recoil pad.

[TripleDigitRide]

Swiss K31

Mosin

In that order.

[Garufa]

I recommend something like this:

Yugoslavian 24/47 Mauser rifle, Matching bolt, 8mm.

this:

Welcome to Samco Global Arms, Inc.

or this:

Mosin-Nagant 91/30 Round receiver rifle, 7.62x54R caliber. Plus condition bore option.

There are still military issue Mausers and Mosins available in that price range. There is also surplus ammo for both. The Yugo Mausers may have not seen any action but the Mosins most likely did.

Both are a great way to start the life-long mil-surp addiction. That is as long as he can handle the recoil!

[Motasyco]

My dad got me an Italian Carcano for my birthday when I turned 12. The same type weapon used by Oswald on Kennedy. I still have it. I haven't fired it in probably 30 years but would never part with it. He had cut the stock down, refinished it, and put my initials in it. Probably really screwed it up as far as collector value but it's priceless to me. He's been gone for a while now but I think about him every time I open my gun safe. I hope you can do the same for your son.

[Guest SUNTZU]

My dad got me an Italian Carcano for my birthday when I turned 12. The same type weapon used by Oswald on Kennedy. I still have it. I haven't fired it in probably 30 years but would never part with it. He had cut the stock down, refinished it, and put my initials in it. Probably really screwed it up as far as collector value but it's priceless to me. He's been gone for a while now but I think about him every time I open my gun safe. I hope you can do the same for your son.

That's cool that your dad got you that rifle. You can't put a price on a gift from father to son.

[56FordGuy]

for about 200 bucks, I don't think you can beat a Mosin. If you shop around, you can probably get a rifle and 400-500 rounds of ammunition for 200 bucks, or maybe less. The rifles go for right around 100 bucks, and the last I priced ammunition it was about $60.00 for a sealed 440 round can. I imagine it's gone up a bit in the last month or two, but it's still a heck of a deal in my opinion.

My only caution would be with the ammunition- while plentiful, and cheap, the surplus stuff has corrosive primers. They're not as big a deal as a lot of people make them out to be, but you need to clean the rifle within about 24 hours of shooting it, preferably the same day. Nothing special about cleaning it, but it doesn't hurt to run a couple of patches dipped in hot water down the bore before you clean like normal. That dissolves the corrosive salts left behind.

[VERO1]

Thanks for the suggestions. He has $51 saved up. I told him I would match whatever he came up with. He wanted to but another stupid airsoft gun to shoot plastic BB's at a box!!

Any shops near Knox that I can take him to see what I am talking about?

Or should I wait for one of the weekly shows? Where is Spuds when I need him?