So since I had the day off I had decided that I would go and check out several gun shops this afternoon. In total I went to 5. Currently I am interested in buying a number different guns in order to really get my collection going. I still have 2 pistol permits and plan on spending them on a 1911 and a S&W 686 w/ a 6" barrel.

 

Recently I've really gotten interested in military surplus guns. I think shooting JonF's Finn and checking out Maksim's Mosin at Fort DIx a few weeks back really sealed the deal on that. I had always wanted a SKS, but now I would also like to have a Mauser of my own (dad has one), a Mosin, a Finn, an Enfield, a Garand (too pricey!), and pretty much every other Surplus rifle out there.

 

Today I visited my local FFL (He has a SKS with a modern synthetic stock on consignment, I would like an original stock), The Sportsmen's Center (Very nice place much larger than I thought it was, with a couple surplus guns - about 10), Cheyenne (Only about 5 or 6 surplus guns. Did look at nearly all of their used double barrels that were in the $400 and under range though.) Shore shot ( What looked to be an almost brand new SKS on consignment that apparently had only been shot once..?) and then finally to Brick Armory ( a couple surplus guns including some mausers.)

I had never been to The Sportsmen's Center, Shore Shot, and Brick Armory. While I was at each I also checked on their other guns, not just the surplus guns.

 

So... where can I find the good deals? These places today seemed to be a bit more pricey than what I wanted to spend. It seems like a lot of people are finding great guns at inexpensive prices. I'm talking about $200 and under (even $300 and under). I'm not looking for perfect condition guns, but ones that I can actually shoot and that are relatively accurate. Even ones that need a good cleaning or even some restoring.

 

I have not gone to Sarco yet, but am planning on going next week as I have the week off. Are there any other shops I should check out for surplus rifles? Are gun shows the way to go? I definitely think I will check out some shows since I won't be working any weekends for a while after this weekend. Yay!

Your best bet is a gun show. I am not sure what type of surplus you are specifically looking for, but I see guys with crates full of 91/30 Mosins anywhere from $89-$120 almost every time at Valley Forge. There's another show there in the middle of June. It's like going to fifty gun shops in one day and I have never seen stuff for sale anywhere in NJ at prices that match some of the better vendors there. Vendors are hit or miss, not sure if you ever been to a gun show, handle lots of guns, walk around for a while, then come back to who had the best prices. You will find it there!

none of the big stores will carry cheap surplus as they are only making $10 or $20 on each.

 

at the shows, you have vendors that mostly do business at the shows and buy crates of them.

 

contact tony, @ tjsporting arms. He has a few mosin's left.

 

the ones on consignment, are not the stores guns and are on consigment. Those folks are marking them up quite high, as by selling them, they owe the show 15 to 20% fee.

Good luck getting the 686 in 6" barrel. I have searched far and wide for the past 3 weeks and no one has them in stock or can even get them. Most stores have them on order. I found 1 shop that it 1 in stock and the out the door price was $861.00. I passed because I am not paying that much for that gun. You can definitely find a 4 inch but not many of them left. I settled on a 6 inch Ruger GP100. Looks exactly like the 686. Should be picking it up next Saturday. Will let you know how it shoots. As far as 1911's there are plenty of them out there wherever you go now. A year ago it was a different story with 1911's. They were selling like hotcakes! As far as pricing most stores are hit or miss. You may find one store selling a gun at a great price and then the rest of their guns are priced on the high side. I would do a forum price request here. They usually give great prices if they can get the firearm you want.

You missed our store, Although small, we have alot of Military arms. one Moise in exc cond for 125, 3- 98s for 250,2- mas. One is bolt and one is semi.3 garands. one for 750-a REAL nice one. Call Dave at 732-269-5922 today 10-5.

forgot, a couple of SKS also. Besides about 40 shotguns.

I get home from work on Tuesday and am a milsurp addict. I have to head to sarco anyway, so if you want help picking something out over there just let me know and we can meet up. Also up in NW jersey, and eastern PA there seems to be no limit to surplus. If you are willing to drive out there pm me and I will give a list of shops that are definitely worth stopping at.

I definitely wasn't expecting to find any "cheap" surplus guns yesterday. I was more or less checking out some shops I've never been to and checking out their prices.

I think that shows will be my best bet. I'll probably still check out some more shops though. I had a good time cruising around and checking out multiple shops and lots of guns. I didn't realize that yesterday I was closer to TJ's than I thought.

Is going to SARCO really worth it? I know some people have had negative experiences with them.

 

Good luck getting the 686 in 6" barrel. I have searched far and wide for the past 3 weeks and no one has them in stock or can even get them. Most stores have them on order. I found 1 shop that it 1 in stock and the out the door price was $861.00. I passed because I am not paying that much for that gun. You can definitely find a 4 inch but not many of them left. I settled on a 6 inch Ruger GP100. Looks exactly like the 686. Should be picking it up next Saturday.

I would like to find a nice used one, but I may end up buying new. It will probably take forever to find a nice used one. If your still interested in getting a 686 instead I know of 3 stock, and one factory tuned under $800. My local FFL is getting me some quotes on some 1911s, if it will take a while to order and receive one I may go ahead and get the 686 now.

There is a gun show in Allentown this weekend. I always find good deals there.

Let me know what you looking for cause i m thinking to sell few of rifles. I have few sks($300) and Mosin's($95)

You can find a good deal on Gunbroker or Auction arms for a used 6" 686 for less then $600. Be patient and keep looking. You could not pay me to buy a new 686 relover today since S&W have handicapped them. I would get an older model that doesnt have that stupid lock on it. Also, if you plan on doing a trigger job on your 686, you are best off with an older model with the firing pin on the hammer (we are talking 686-1 or 686-2 or 686-3). The gunsmith can give you a much nicer action job on those models.If you want something really sexy then get yourself a S&W 586. It comes in a deep blue finish much like the Colt Python. It is absolutely gorgeous and not that many people own one of these so more "collectible".

There is a gun show in Allentown this weekend. I always find good deals there.

Let me know what you looking for cause i m thinking to sell few of rifles. I have few sks($300) and Mosin's($95)

 

I saw that there is a show this weekend. Of course I have to work.

 

You can find a good deal on Gunbroker or Auction arms for a used 6" 686 for less then $600. Be patient and keep looking. You could not pay me to buy a new 686 relover today since S&W have handicapped them. I would get an older model that doesnt have that stupid lock on it. Also, if you plan on doing a trigger job on your 686, you are best off with an older model with the firing pin on the hammer (we are talking 686-1 or 686-2 or 686-3). The gunsmith can give you a much nicer action job on those models.If you want something really sexy then get yourself a S&W 586. It comes in a deep blue finish much like the Colt Python. It is absolutely gorgeous and not that many people own one of these so more "collectible".

 

Are the locks really a problem if you keep them "unlocked"? I have considered a 586, but I haven't actually seen one yet.

The locks "should" not be a problem. Its something that S&W installed on their guns to try to appease the govt. With that being said, its something additional that could go wrong if it malfunctions. The non-lock models are more desirable and will be easier to sell if you ever decide to sell your revolver.

Are the locks really a problem if you keep them "unlocked"? I have considered a 586, but I haven't actually seen one yet.

 

Do a Google search on "S&W Internal Lock Failure". You will get a lot of hits. You can do a search on this forum and you will get a few too.

http://www.google.com/search?q=s%26w+in ... 1I7DMUS_en

 

I had this happen in a new 629 (that was unlocked) and sold it shortly thereafter. Some models are more susceptible than others. Generally, it is worst in the lighter guns that shoot stronger calibers (i.e. an airweight 357mag). Of course I had it happen on one of the toughest and heaviest revolvers they make, so YMMV.

Other manufacturers put internal locks on their revolvers) (i.e. Ruger and Taurus), but do not have the same problems because of better lock designs.

3 used S&W 686 357MAG 6" $600.00 and under

 

http://www.gunsamerica.com/975966458/Gu ... KE_NEW.htm

 

http://www.gunsamerica.com/941978391/Gu ... _MINTY.htm

 

http://www.gunsamerica.com/919138267/Gu ... el_686.htm

So today I decided to check out SARCO, Dicks, and a couple Walmarts in PA.

 

After stopping by my local FFL I made the drive up to SARCO. It was my first time there and it was almost overwhelming. They have a lot of guns! I didn't know where to start and probably walked around the room checking out all the guns at least three times. I particularly checked out the Mosins, the Enfields, the two SKS (one Russian and one Chinese), the K31s and a couple Mausers. In the end I decided to buy a Russian Mosin 91/30 from 1940 with Inter Ordnance import markings. It came with an ammo pouch, sling, cleaning kit and bayonet. It needs to be cleaned up some more, but it looks really nice to me. I'm happy with my first entry into the world of Military Surplus and I can't wait to shoot it!

 

 

 

This is the C&R Military Surplus section, but the rest of today's adventure involved buying a 12 ga. Stoeger STF 3000 at the DICKS in Princeton and stopping by 3 Walmarts in PA, to buy 9mm ammo. All in all a good day except for the rain.

nice, any pics of the receiver?

 

how much?

Thanks! Can't get clear pics of the receiver. It's a round receiver and has Izhevsk markings. I got it for $150. I'm pretty happy with that.

There were two more just like it.

On Tuesday I completely took apart the Mosin and gave it a good cleaning. I used boiling water to remove the cosmoline from all the metal parts (that was fun) and used the stock on the dashboard technique for cleaning up the stock. I also started to take off some of the old finish from the stock, but didn't go crazy because I want to test it out on Wednesday. I plan on re-finishing the stock, but wanted to shoot it first.

Yesterday after fishing with my dad, I did some shooting with Mosin and now am definitely hooked on Milsurp. Now what am I gonna buy and clean up next?

look into a yugo mauser, they are currently cheap only a little more than a mosin. Most are in truly unissued condition with new barrels and all. I have a bunch of them and they are really tack drivers out of the box. http://www.classicarms.us/firearms.htm

look into a yugo mauser, they are currently cheap only a little more than a mosin. Most are in truly unissued condition with new barrels and all. I have a bunch of them and they are really tack drivers out of the box. http://www.classicarms.us/firearms.htm

 

+1

Keep in mind that good surplus 8mm Mauser Ammo is starting to dry up a bit though.

I bought a Swiss K31 bolt action. These guns were government issued to all Swiss civilians who had been in the military. The Swiss were/are fanatics about precision shooting. They designed a straight pull bolt action that is super accurate, and most of these rifles have immaculate bores. You can buy surplus 7.5 x 55 Swiss match-grade ammo (@40cents/round from a variety of sources. I use Wideners.com) or reload. Graf's sells new brass in that caliber and the round takes a standard 30 caliber head that you would use in 308 and 30-06.

You can ask Maks or JonF how they like theirs.

Lunker:

 

I believe the K31's were manufactured by SIG (prior to Sauer entering their life) and have an excellent reputation for quality and accuracy (as you would expect from SIG). I seem to remember a story that they actually cost more to manufacture than SIG bid on the Gov't contract, but I don't know if that is true. The workmanship certainly speaks of quality. Nice milsurp buy.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Keep in mind that good surplus 8mm Mauser Ammo is starting to dry up a bit though.

I bought a Swiss K31 bolt action. These guns were government issued to all Swiss civilians who had been in the military. The Swiss were/are fanatics about precision shooting. They designed a straight pull bolt action that is super accurate, and most of these rifles have immaculate bores. You can buy surplus 7.5 x 55 Swiss match-grade ammo (@40cents/round from a variety of sources. I use Wideners.com) or reload. Graf's sells new brass in that caliber and the round takes a standard 30 caliber head that you would use in 308 and 30-06.

You can ask Maks or JonF how they like theirs.

 

Wow, that's some fancy pee-chur taking you done did there. While there is a glut of GP11 on the market now, it ebbs and flows over the years. Last year there was a dry spell with nothing available from retailers. Now its pretty abundant and i'm stocking up!

Wow, that's some fancy pee-chur taking you done did there. While there is a glut of GP11 on the market now, it ebbs and flows over the years. Last year there was a dry spell with nothing available from retailers. Now its pretty abundant and i'm stocking up!

 

I can't take credit for them. Actually, none of my sheets are quite that white, so it couldn't have been me.

They were from the GunBroker.com listing I won. Jon, with all your Milsurp acquisitions, you should be ordering a Dillon press yesterday.

I did check out the K31s and the Yugo Mausers when I was at SARCO. I do think that they will make it into my collection at some point. When is the question though, as I still have two pistol permits to fill and I'm running out of cash to spend on this, one of my many expensive hobbies (according to the wifey).

Sarco is a great place for mil-surp, although there are a few horror stories.

 

Best bet it to go early and take your time looking at everything. I like to go down the isles so I see each one.

 

The bathroom there is appreciated.

 

I plan on buying a cruddy double barrel there to test out my smithing skills, just trying to get myself to make the drive. Also interested in an Enfield and a lever action that is not a 22 or a Marlin...still didn't find one.

Sarco is a great place for mil-surp, although there are a few horror stories.

 

Best bet it to go early and take your time looking at everything. I like to go down the isles so I see each one.

 

The bathroom there is appreciated.

 

I plan on buying a cruddy double barrel there to test out my smithing skills, just trying to get myself to make the drive. Also interested in an Enfield and a lever action that is not a 22 or a Marlin...still didn't find one.

 

As of last Monday there are plenty of older double barrel shotguns there. There were also probably about 6-8 Enfields. As far as lever actions I believe there were 2-3 Marlin 30-30. Yeah I know Marlins.