Received my C&R FFL today!

[Sergeant Bob]

Only took about a month or so from app to receipt. What's a pretty good, inexpensive 1st buy? I know Mosin Nagants and some others pretty cheap but, what models are the better quality, better shooters, etc?

Suggestions please?

[Jamisjockey]

I had a Nagant for a few months.  I was desperate to get rid of it.  Horrible gun in my opinion, other than being cheap I don't know what the appeal is.  Oh, but if you do get one, fire it at night.  That right there is a spiritual experience.  Oh, another great use, if someone is next to you at the range, and you don't want them there, torch off the Nagant a few times.  They will probably move a few stalls away...

[Balog]

Jamis: did you clean it thoroughly? A lot of the dislike I see for MN's originates from running them full of the nastyness they came with. Also, I don't like the little carbines either, but the 91/30 is a lot of fun. Admittedly a bit clunky on the bolt manipulation, but still...

[roo_ster]

So many milsurps, so little time.

First thing to do is send your FFL to all sorts of terrible, terrible folk who will ply you with milsurps & discount in exchange for $$$.

Here's a Q&D list:

Code: [Select]

Name                                  Address 1                            Adress 2                  City, State                Zip                Website                                               Comments
AIM                                   P.O. Box 556                                                   Springboro, OH             45066              http://www.aimsurplus.com/
Allans Armory                         Allan Schisel                        P.O. Box 331              Graham, FL                 32042              http://www.allans-armory.com/aa.asp
Aztec International                   PO Box 771569                                                  Ocala, FL                  34477-1569         http://www.aztecguns.com/
Bob Adams                             P.O . Box 23010                                                Albuquerque, NM            87192              http://www.adamsguns.com/
Brocks Guns                           640 Valley Brook Rd.                                           Decatur, Georgia           30033
Brownells, Inc                        200 S. Front Street                                            Montezuma, IA              50171              http://brownells.com/                                 parts
BudsGunShop.Com                       4115 Lexington Road                                            Paris, KY                  40361              http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php
CDNN Investments Inc.                 P.O. Box 6514                                                  Abilene, TX                79608              http://cdnninvestments.com
Centerfire Systems                    102 Fieldview Dr                                               Versailles, KY             40383              http://www.centerfiresystems.com/
Century Arms International            1161 Holland Drive                                             Boca Raton, FL             33487              http://www.centuryarms.com
Cherry's Fine Guns                    3402-A West Wendover Ave                                       Greensboro, NC             27407
Civilian Marksmanship Program         PO Box 576                                                     Port Clinton, OH           43452              www.odcmp.com
CLASSIC ARMS INC.                     P.O. Box 125                                                   Indian Trail, NC           28079              http://www.classicarms.us/htm/firearms.htm
Cole Distributing  270-622-3569       P.O. Box 247                                                   Scottsville KY             42164              http://www.coledistributing.com/
Collectors Firearms                   3301 Fondren Suite O                                           Houston, Texas             77063              http://www.collectorsfirearms.com
D & R Sports Center                   PO Box 139                           620 Fairchild Street      Nanticoke, PA              18634              https://www.dnrsports.net/miva/Contact.html
Dan’s Sporting Goods                  400 5th St.                                                    New Kensington, PA         15068
David's Collectibles                  Po Box 897                                                     Grifton, North Carolina    28530              http://www.tickbitesupply.com/
EMPIRE ARMS                           P.O. Box 2068                                                  Ormond Beach, FL           32175              http://www.empirearms.com/
FAC of America                        8035 Ranchers Road                                             Fridley, MN                55432              http://www.gunsnstuff.net/
Florida GunWorks                      8306 Mills Drive                      Box 571                  Miami, FL                  33183              http://www.floridagunworks.com
Graf & Sons                           4050 S. Clark                                                  Mexico, MO                 65265
Great Southern Arms                   2138 Patsy Hill Road                                           Tylertown, MS              39667
Gun Parts Corp.                       226 Williams Lane                                              W. Hurley, NY              12491              http://www.gunpartscorp.com                           parts
Impact Guns                           2710 S. 1900 W.                                                Ogden, UT                  84401              http://www.impactguns.com/store/
Inter Ordnance                        3305 Westwood Industrial Dr                                    Monroe, NC                 28110              http://www.interordnance.com/
J & G Sales LTD                       440 Miller Valley Rd                                           Prescott, AZ               86301              http://www.jgsales.com/
KY Imports Inc.                       P.O. Box 22446                                                 Louisville, KY             40252              http://www.kyimports.com/
L.C. Enterprises                      S 1093 County Road G                                           Wonewoc, WI                53968              http://www.militaryshooters.com/
MidwayUSA                             5875 W. Van Horn Tavern Rd.                                    Columbia, Mo               65203
Military Gun Supply                   3815 East Loop 820 South                                       Fort Worth, TX             76119              http://www.militarygunsupply.com/shop/
Navy Arms Company                     689 Bergen Boulevard                                           Ridgefield, N.J.           07657              http://www.navyarms.com/
Numrich Gun Parts Corporation         226 Williams Lane                                              West Hurley, NY            12491              http://www.e-gunparts.com/
Ocala Armory                          6998 NW Hwy 27 Suite 109                                       Ocala, FL.                 34482              http://ocala-armory.com/
Samco Global Arms Inc.                P.O. Box 7323                                                  Miami, FL                  33152              http://www.samcoglobal.com/
SARCO Inc.                            PO Box 98                            323 Union Street          Stirling NJ                07980              http://www.sarcoinc.com/
Southern Ohio Gun                     100 S. Mechanic Stree                P.O. Box 590              Lebanon, OH                45036              http://www.southernohiogun.com/
Springfield Sporters Inc.             R.D. #1                                                        Penn Run, PA               15765
Surplus Firearms                      8440 Ulmerton Rd #500                                          Largo, FL                  33771              www.surplusfirearms.com/
Treasure Hunt Arms                    83A Mimosa Ave.                                                Luling, LA                 70070              http://www.treasurehuntarms.com/index.htm
Treasure Hunt Arms                    83A Mimosa Ave.                                                Luling, LA                 70070              http://www.treasurehuntarms.com/contact.htm
West Texas Military Surplus           2413 34th Street                                               Lubbock, Tx                79411
Wholesale Guns & Ammo, Inc.           P.O. BOX 289                                                   CALVERTON, N.Y             11933              http://www.gunsnammo.com/

First milsurp?  Do you want it cheap or nice?

Nice:
Swede Mauser, Swiss K31, Finn M-N

Cheap:
Turk Mauser, Any non-Finn M-N

[mtnbkr]

My suggestion:  Don't buy a gun because it's cheap, buy it because you want it.

There are lots of good C&R guns out there (such as early to mid century S&W revolvers) that don't require cleaning cosmoline or sourcing commie milsurp.  Remember, your C&R is good for any gun 50yrs old and older.  That means late 50s and back.  Lots of good choices that are indistinguishable from the same models made 30 years later...

Chris

[stevelyn]

Only took about a month or so from app to receipt. What's a pretty good, inexpensive 1st buy? I know Mosin Nagants and some others pretty cheap but, what models are the better quality, better shooters, etc?

Suggestions please?

Congratulations. Start going broke saving money by sending a copy of your license to:

Graf's
Midway
Brownell's
Huntington's

[Sergeant Bob]

Thanks fellas! Jfruser's list should do pretty well for a start. I'm thinking Mosin for a start but, since there are a lot of different types and all guns are not created equal, I'll definitely do some research before I jump in. I see they are pretty reasonable so it's a good place to start without freaking out the wife.

I saw Makarov's are on the list (Russian and Chinese?) but aren't those pretty hard to come by? I was looking into those quite a few years ago but have forgotten most of it.

[Ben]

Looks like Aim Surplus has Czech VZ-24s again. Not as cheap as the Mosins, but a good quality milsurp. There's some Turks floating around again as well. It's an inexpensive Mauser action, but expect a yucky barrel (though I got lucky on a couple of mine).

DEFINITELY check headspace on a Turk if you get one before putting anything downrange. I actually did the "tire and string" trick shooting all mine the first time, then closely examined rifle and cartridge case for pressure stress, etc.

[Sergeant Bob]

Those Czech"s are pretty sharp. A bit more than I want to pay right now but, definitely a nice rifle.

They have a pretty good price on Russian 91/30's, $79.95, which are "Arsenally refinished after WWII to Excellent Condition". Does that mean they hit it with some sand paper and varnish?


I think I could be in trouble...

[Ben]

I have an arsenal refinished M38 Mosin. If the 91/30s are the same, it's really a "like new" rifle. Obviously stocks are cheaply varnished, but mechanically they are sharp, and have really nice barrels.

[lee n. field]

I saw Makarov's are on the list (Russian and Chinese?) but aren't those pretty hard to come by? I was looking into those quite a few years ago but have forgotten most of it.

C&R eligible ones are.

Mosin

There's a pretty little M38 carbine in my cabinet, that I picked up on a whim.  Nice wood, nice metal, but hideously, horribly inaccurate.  I should try to find a 91/30 some time, since I have dies and brass for the 7.62x54.

[BReilley]

Does it have to be a rifle?

You could get a CZ-52 pistol, or a CZ-83(like the .380 CZ-82, but in the more powerful AND less-expensive 9x18mm Makarov :)).

[S. Williamson]

Does it have to be a rifle?

You could get a CZ-52 pistol, or a CZ-83(like the .380 CZ-82, but in the more powerful AND less-expensive commercially available 9x18mm Makarov :)).

Fixed. 

[BReilley]

Fixed. 

Fair enough :)

I have been delighted in the ease with which I have found Makarov ammo since purchasing my P-64.  Quality defensive ammo is another story, but still.  .380 is offensively expensive right now, for no good reason.

[Sergeant Bob]

Does it have to be a rifle?

You could get a CZ-52 pistol, or a CZ-83(like the .380 CZ-82, but in the more powerful AND less-expensive 9x18mm Makarov :)).

I like boomsticks, short or long. I am more partial to rifles, but there are wuite a few pistols that interest me.

[BobR]

Oh, another great use, if someone is next to you at the range, and you don't want them there, torch off the Nagant a few times. 

While the Nagant is adequate to relocate people a few benches away, I can often get them to move to another county after touching off the Hakim a few times. 

bob

[Jamisjockey]

Jamis: did you clean it thoroughly? A lot of the dislike I see for MN's originates from running them full of the nastyness they came with. Also, I don't like the little carbines either, but the 91/30 is a lot of fun. Admittedly a bit clunky on the bolt manipulation, but still...

Cleaned throughoughly.  The thing kicked like a mule and was terribly inaccurate.  Sights were ruidmentary, as if they had been carved by a drunk 2 year old.  But man, when it went bang....everyone knew it..

[AmbulanceDriver]

While the Nagant is adequate to relocate people a few benches away, I can often get them to move to another county after touching off the Hakim a few times.  

bob

*heheheh* I can imagine the Hakim moving people by shock wave alone.   Especially if it's loaded to true 7.92x57 power levels.  :)


I myself will admit to doing some Mosin-Nagant based people relocation.   Had fun one time.  Took it to an indoor range.  (At the time, they allowed centerfire rifles in any non-magnum caliber.)  I cleared the entire BAY.   :)

[S. Williamson]

Cleaned throughoughly.  The thing kicked like a mule and was terribly inaccurate.  Sights were ruidmentary, as if they had been carved by a drunk 2 year old.  But man, when it went bang....everyone knew it..

I'm still waiting to hear downsides. 

[coppertales]

Congratulations.......however, you are a bit late as the golden age of C&R is just about over.  There are some nice guns out there if you look.  As for Mosin Nagant rifles, I have a bunch and they are accurate for their intended purposes.  Some of them have been rebarreled by Tikka, VTK, etc and are as accurate as any rifle around today.  The Swiss rifles are around and they are very accurate.  MGS has some with a matching serial numbered bayonet.  I gave up my license last year because I did not want obama's brown shirts, aka ATF, going through my safe......chris3