Valmet Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 I grew up with guns but didn't get into them hard until I was in HS in the late-1990s and while I have a varied interest in them, it really started with milsurps. My first two were an Arlington/Blue Sky M1 Garand that cost me $400 and a 1916 Enfield SMLE that cost $90 I found in the Gun List. However, 20+ years later I still lust for a Ross Mk III, thanks to HW McBride's "A Rifleman Went to War." The MK IIs are fairly common and while neat, they aren't what he carried in the book. What milsurps have you guys been after awhile? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyzz Kydd Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Garand 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
railfancwb Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Thompson 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minervadoe Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 (edited) Short answer is a Model 98 Mauser and a 1911. A friend of mine was into military collectables when we were in High School. He bought a WWI helmet from a catalog and the liner had been replaced with a band from a construction helmet. He didn't want it because it was not original. So, he says, "I'm going to take this up to Gypsy's Camp and shoot it with my Model 98 and my 1911 after school. Want to come?" Hell yes!! The 1911 put sizable dents in the helmet, but the 7.92X57 Mauser propelling a 181 grain bullet traveling at 2,700 feet per second didn't really need to flex its 2900 foot pounds of energy to punch an entry hole in one side and a massive exit hole on the other. Boy, did we wish we'd had a watermelon to put in between. Try doing that in the S.F. Bay Area today and you'll meet your friendly neighborhood SWAT team. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.92×57mm_Mauser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gewehr_98 And, back when you could pick up a surplus .303 Enfield for $35, did I? No. That is a very fine weapon indeed. It would probably be my preference over the Model 98. Like they say, "In WWI The Americans fought with a hunting rifle The Germans fought with a sniper rifle and the Brits fought with a combat rifle." Edited August 28, 2020 by minervadoe 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batesmotel Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Martini. If I could rely on getting good ammo. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Historian Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 (edited) I was at the local gun shop today...and held a m1941 Johnson. That...pretty much is an apex. I've known the owners for 25 years. They will let me have 10 rounds through her. Edited August 28, 2020 by Historian 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Historian Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 24 minutes ago, Batesmotel said: Martini. If I could rely on getting good ammo. Bates. I have no problem with my Martini...i'm drinking one right now...plenty of reloads. 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Historian Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 1903 Springfield would do it. Made about 1918ish to 1919. A war rifle. 1942-45 1911...would send chills down my spine. Crazy thing is: These are not hard things to make happen. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fnfalman Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 The Suomi, but I want the real deal, not that parts kits crap. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26isbest Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 The 1937 contract Brazilian military 1917 45 ACP revolver. I was still in my 20 in the 1980s with a crap paying job and going to college when a bunch were imported for very reasonable prices. Unfortunately I was too broke to get one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janice6 Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 7 minutes ago, Historian said: 1903 Springfield would do it. Made about 1918ish to 1919. A war rifle. 1942-45 1911...would send chills down my spine. Crazy thing is: These are not hard things to make happen. My father taught me how to shoot with a 1903, don't know who made it. We had two. They were supposed to be military training rifles in .22 long (or long rifle). They had a little magazine that loaded from the bottom. I spent many hours with that before he let me have a .22 of my own. Have no idea what became of them both. Then my personal rifle was a Model 74 Winchester that he found under the back seat of a used car he bought. It may have been from a "shooting gallery" cause it was chambered in .22 short. I loved that rifle! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valmet Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 Janice- could you be thinking of the M2 or 1922 Springfield? They were in a sporter config but we're essentially 1903s with detachable magazines in .22LR. Pretty collectible these days. IIRC Savage mfg'd some 22s that were stocked similarly to 1903s. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janice6 Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 (edited) 7 hours ago, Valmet said: Janice- could you be thinking of the M2 or 1922 Springfield? They were in a sporter config but we're essentially 1903s with detachable magazines in .22LR. Pretty collectible these days. IIRC Savage mfg'd some 22s that were stocked similarly to 1903s. It is possible. I was struck with the resemblance to the military rifle and my father said they were military "trainer rifles". However, I never had any confirmation of what I was told. and I was young at that time. I was always curious as to why the stock went almost all the way to the muzzle. Except for the swivel I couldn't see any reason for it. The 1922 sounds like it but the stock on the pictures I saw was way too short. Edited August 31, 2020 by janice6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borg warner Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 (edited) On 8/28/2020 at 2:59 PM, Batesmotel said: Martini. If I could rely on getting good ammo. There were Martini-henry's made in 303 British. I would have liked to have one of those. I also wouldn't have had trouble reloading for 577 snider back in the day when I used to cast my own bullets. The 577 used a .590 diameter bullet weighing about 450 Grains. The 450/577 was also not that hard to reload for and there's a lot of data out there, but I like the idea of a 58 caliber a little better. There were also some very nice small frame Martini's made in a number of small calibers including 22 LR. Edited September 3, 2020 by Borg warner 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valmet Posted September 4, 2020 Author Share Posted September 4, 2020 Borg- are you sure Martini's were made in 303 British? I know thousands of them were converted to .303 in the 1890s but don't think they were actually manufactured. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheygriz Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 (edited) My first Milsurps were a Garand and a 1911 that my dad gave me when I was 12. I soon followed with a 1903A3, a .303 No.4 Mk1* and an M-1 carbine. But the gun I always lusted after was the Brit .55 cal. Boyes Edited September 9, 2020 by Cheygriz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheygriz Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
railfancwb Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 On 8/28/2020 at 4:59 PM, Batesmotel said: Martini. If I could rely on getting good ammo. The original? Later Martinis were offered in .303 I believe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
railfancwb Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 12 minutes ago, Cheygriz said: I remember mail order ads for those. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestor Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 Love those ex military rifles. Had some, but sold most of them. Usually forced by the circumstances. Life. I still have the minty Mosin Nagant. I invested a lot of love, time and knowledge into the rifle. I would like to believe that now it's the way it was supposed to be. No rough surfaces where it counts. This thing is now as smooth as a well manufactured Mauser. Never malfunctioned on me. Whoever tries this thing...is like...wow! I think I love this boomstick a lot. Made in 1943 when the battle of Stalingrad raged. I want to think that this rifle put down a Nazi or two. I want No4 Mk1 now. Minty preferably. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G21H30 Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 (edited) Lahti I-39 20 mm anti tank rifle Edited September 9, 2020 by G21H30 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmax Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 1918 BAR, owned Thompson’s and a Lahti 20mm anti tank rifle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheygriz Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 I also lusted for a Bren gun, but those were hard to find legally. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Historian Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 This...but i have an issue with a whale. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batesmotel Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 1 hour ago, railfancwb said: The original? Later Martinis were offered in .303 I believe. An Original .45. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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