These milsurp threads are great and have enjoyed reading them very much. The only problem is now I think I want to buy a milsurp of my own.
A little history, my Dad, actually my Granddad (grandparents raised me), started my affection for firearms at the age of 5 with his Marlin 22 single shot which I still have and plan to pass on to my grandson. In his later years, he used it for dispatching ferrel cats with rat shot out the back door. Because of his failing eyesight, it was a game, he would fire at them, they would run and be back the next day. He was convinced that the rat shot had ruined the rifling and that the rifle was good for nothing else. I know have the rifle cleaned up and it looks and shoots just fine.
Sometime around 1960 he and I bought an Italian 6.5 from the J. M. Fields in Anderson, SC on sale for around $8.00. We had a lot of fun with that rifle as this was the first center fire I ever fired. At school, all my buddies knew I had an Eyetalin 6.5 high powred rifle LOL At some point after I left home, he sold them to purchase other firearms that he wanted more. He left me all of his firearms and in particular a couple of nice Smith revolvers from the 70's.
So after reading the recent milsurp forum, I am interested in pursuing the purchase of a milsurp rifle. After some reading and watching two Hickok 45 videos, have convinced myself that I want a Mosin Nagant M39. I would appreciate comments yay and nay about this particular rifle, even convince me of another model if you can. Certainly a M1 Garrand would be nice, but more than I wish to invest. The purpose for owning a milsurp is to clean it up, fire it on the range, enjoy it and hold on to it for my grandson. Would like to think that the firearm would certainly gain value faster than money sitting in a savings account somewhere.
Would appreciate any advise on how/where to buy this particular rifle. Plan to look around at some pawn shops and maybe local gun shows hoping to get lucky. Not knowing much at all about milsurp rifles, I would not really know a good or bad deal if I even found one. Have purchased firearms on line, so am not opposed to that approach, but again I just read the advertisements and don't have the experience to see through the hype. Let me know if there is value in hand picked, should I get a brand xx barrel or xx arsenal? Am sure you guys will have differing opinions, however any input will temper my thinking and my enthusiasm which should lead me to making a better decision. A man doesn't know what he doesn't know.
A little history, my Dad, actually my Granddad (grandparents raised me), started my affection for firearms at the age of 5 with his Marlin 22 single shot which I still have and plan to pass on to my grandson. In his later years, he used it for dispatching ferrel cats with rat shot out the back door. Because of his failing eyesight, it was a game, he would fire at them, they would run and be back the next day. He was convinced that the rat shot had ruined the rifling and that the rifle was good for nothing else. I know have the rifle cleaned up and it looks and shoots just fine.
Sometime around 1960 he and I bought an Italian 6.5 from the J. M. Fields in Anderson, SC on sale for around $8.00. We had a lot of fun with that rifle as this was the first center fire I ever fired. At school, all my buddies knew I had an Eyetalin 6.5 high powred rifle LOL At some point after I left home, he sold them to purchase other firearms that he wanted more. He left me all of his firearms and in particular a couple of nice Smith revolvers from the 70's.
So after reading the recent milsurp forum, I am interested in pursuing the purchase of a milsurp rifle. After some reading and watching two Hickok 45 videos, have convinced myself that I want a Mosin Nagant M39. I would appreciate comments yay and nay about this particular rifle, even convince me of another model if you can. Certainly a M1 Garrand would be nice, but more than I wish to invest. The purpose for owning a milsurp is to clean it up, fire it on the range, enjoy it and hold on to it for my grandson. Would like to think that the firearm would certainly gain value faster than money sitting in a savings account somewhere.
Would appreciate any advise on how/where to buy this particular rifle. Plan to look around at some pawn shops and maybe local gun shows hoping to get lucky. Not knowing much at all about milsurp rifles, I would not really know a good or bad deal if I even found one. Have purchased firearms on line, so am not opposed to that approach, but again I just read the advertisements and don't have the experience to see through the hype. Let me know if there is value in hand picked, should I get a brand xx barrel or xx arsenal? Am sure you guys will have differing opinions, however any input will temper my thinking and my enthusiasm which should lead me to making a better decision. A man doesn't know what he doesn't know.