What Milsurp rifle is affordable

[Jon-Lloyd]

Hey y’all, looking for a relatively cheap milsurp rifle around $300 or less and wanted some pointers. Looking at any Mauser, K31, Lee Enfield, SKS, AK. Long gone are the days of cheap as dirt rifles but figured I’d ask for some solid recommendations. Thank you!

Edited May 11 by Jon-Lloyd

[Darrell]

There's a sporterized Argentine Mauser listed in the classifieds that's in your price range. But as you mentioned, it's pretty tough to find bargain milsurps anymore.

[1gewehr]

It kind of depends on what you consider 'affordable'.  Under $500 you can find Yugo M48 Mausers, Lee-Enfields in several flavors, Mosin Nagants, Japanese Type 38 and 99, Italian Carcano, Austrian Steyr, and I've recently seen a couple of Czech VZ24 Mausers in 7mm for around $400.

[rodteague]

If I May ask, what’s your intended use for the rifle?

$300 or less for a milsurp rifle is going to get you a firearm that is probably de-milled(US milsurp) or even worse, a rifle that is so unserviceable or damaged, that it will be dangerous to fire.

 If it’s a wall hanger or prop, you’ll be gtg. However, If you plan to use it, that will require a few more Benjamin’s. Mosin Nagants have historically been the least expensive of the last century bolt actions, but now they are hard to find for less than $500 YMMV 

Best Regards

Rod

Edited May 12 by rodteague

[Grayfox54]

The days of cheap Mil-surps is over. The supply has pretty much dried up and the few that are still for sale cost way too much. Mosin Nagants and SKSs that used to sell for $75 are now over $500. 

Sorry, but that boat has sailed. 

Edited May 12 by Grayfox54

[Choatecav]

On 5/12/2025 at 3:16 PM, Grayfox54 said:

The days of cheap Mil-surps is over. The supply has pretty much dried up and the few that are still for sale cost way too much. Mosin Nagants and SKSs that used to sell for $75 are now over $500. 

Sorry, but that boat has sailed. 

30 years ago I bought a SKS in great condition for $99.  And a Mosin for not much more than that.  

I guess I can just reflect back on the "good ole days."

 

[spurge]

I remember being annoyed with the crates of Mosins everywhere. Maybe I should have picked up a few more!!

[rodteague]

16 hours ago, Choatecav said:

30 years ago I bought a SKS in great condition for $99.  And a Mosin for not much more than that.  

I guess I can just reflect back on the "good ole days."

 

Amen to that!
 

I acquired a mint, unissued Tula Arsenal SKS for $80 from my brother back then. Came with a SKS sling, oil can and chamber brush

He bought 2 crates of Russian SKS rifles back in the early 90’s. They were Christmas gifts for his men who worked in his construction company. One of the younger men actually cried when he held the Tula rifle in his hands. Told my brother this was the first rifle he had ever owned because he grew up in a very poor home. My brother later told me the kid took his first ever deer on a hunt with one of his supervisors. Good times in the good ole days

Edited May 14 by rodteague
Spelling, grammar

[Grayfox54]

My late best friend was an avid C&R collector. He had about a dozen SKSs, at least 8-10 Mosin Nagants and a bunch of other Mil-surp weapons. He also kept good records. Including what he had paid for each.  The most he ever paid for any of them was $100 and that was for a new in factory wrap SKS. 

When he passed, I was put in charge of disposing of his collection. I sold all of them for 3-4 times what he had paid. They sold quick because I still had them priced a fair bit below the standard pricing at the time.

Today's prices are even higher.

We went to a gunshow with just over 100 guns. We came home with 11 and a huge profit. 

[Erich]

Old Sacramento Armory had three 55 gallon drums packed with M1’s for $79 to $89 during the 80’s.

I’d sorted thru them a few times intending on coming back on the following Saturday, but never did thinking they would always be there.  But not the case, wish I had

 

Edited May 15 by Erich

[Garufa]

I bought this for that back in the day and my daddy got those sweet mil-surps he left me way cheaper in his time.

What was then really is irrelevant now. 

 

[rodteague]

7 hours ago, Garufa said:

I bought this for that back in the day and my daddy got those sweet mil-surps he left me way cheaper in his time.

What was then really is irrelevant now. 

 

Today’s relevance, is always seasoned with the past; otherwise it’s a fools game. When you live long enough you relish both.

See, I can do that too

Best Regards

Rod

Edited May 15 by rodteague

[hornett22]

None of them are worth what they're priced at today. 

[gregintenn]

I've noticed a plethora of mil surp rifles in the classifieds here recently. Prices are dictated by what the market will currently bear, not what we wish they were. $300 ain't gonna get you far unless you own a time machine.

[Grayfox54]

13 hours ago, gregintenn said:

I've noticed a plethora of mil surp rifles in the classifieds here recently.

I've noticed them too. There were several that I'd like to have.  But not at today's prices. 

[ironheartz05]

Mausers of less desirable countries usually are cheap. Especially South American ones 

[rodteague]

Argentine mausers are the best of the lot since they were produced on Mauser tooling

best regards

Rod

Edited May 20 by rodteague

[Handsome Rob]

@Jon-Lloyd PM sent

[OneClick]

On 5/14/2025 at 6:39 PM, Erich said:

Old Sacramento Armory had three 55 gallon drums packed with M1’s for $79 to $89 during the 80’s.

I’d sorted thru them a few times intending on coming back on the following Saturday, but never did thinking they would always be there.  But not the case, wish I had

 

 

WE GO back in time,  I WAS THERE,  lol. .  !!   I was there at the Old Sacramento  Armory in the 80's . . .holy cow.  For a short time they also had a literal heaped pile of "wall hangers"  Mauser 98 8mm piled on the floor.  I dug thru that pile for an hour and found two with fantastic actions but rusted out  bbl.  $25.  So,   LOL,, I bought two,  with the intention of a re-barrel, converting to 308.   Did the first, trimmed a Win mod 70 308 and rethreaded to Mauser,   cut off 8" of the full forend, torched the straight -out handle to a curve, glassed,    modded trigger to a crisp 2.5 lbs.  The second did a Boyds stock, Timney, a $70 heavy bbl from Brownells. Money was tight,  had just gotten married.  

To both I added a scrap hardwood wedge since i like to "firmly cram against shoulder"  when I pop off any kicker to mellow the slam . Amazing you know of that shop.  Kinda forgot,  but they may have been on "J"  street.     Wow,  Back to the Future.  

since pictures are cool:  

The torched handle handle  circa 1938 FN 98 is my favorite rifle of all time.  Lot's of good times in its 3,000  rds and 40 years.  Those frikken 98's are case hardened actions. . .had to buy carbide drills and taps to install those Lymans.

[Scotty]

^very cool. Kudos. 

[Darrell]

40 minutes ago, OneClick said:

WE GO back in time,  I WAS THERE,  lol. .  !!   I was there at the Old Sacramento  Armory in the 80's . .

So was I. I worked at the Sacramento Army Depot in the early 80's, up until just a year or two before it closed, and lived in the Placerville area.

[TSG]

As someone who primarily shops for relatively budget milsurp rifles, I'll point out that on the lowest end you are looking at limited models and frequently in poor condition (or non-functional). For examples of non-functional, drill purpose SMLEs have been around under 150, trainer Arisakas under 300. Debatably functional, the sort of low grade stuff from the likes of RTI. 

For something functional at this price point you may have to be willing to drive for a deal, or get lucky at a gun show. But sometimes you can find basic M91-30 mosins, Spanish or Turkish Mausers, SMLE Mk1*** in poor condition, Carcanos, and some other less common or less generally desirable guns at or a bit below that. 

Just takes some patience, tempered expectations, and a whole heap of luck.

[DO-TN]

The milsurp game sure has changed since I began years ago. Today it is all about patience and luck. Deals are still out there. Guys are still willing to leave some meat on the bone but most are trying to get top dollar and leave no room. In the last year i have stumbled upon a cosmo-filled Security Forces marked SKS for $350, A FLP Mosin 91/30 in cosmo for $300, Pristine DWM Argentine 1909 for $275 and lastly a Finn Sako 28/30 for $250. Some OK deals, 1940 Colt 1911A1 US Property for $700 and 1918 Springfield 1903 WWII refurb for $750. While high compared to 20 years ago, great deals by today's market.

If you are collecting, get that C&R. Costs $30 so 3 transfers pays for itself. Also, most time you get better prices when you see a nice example of whatever and the dealer knows it is going to another FFL and you give them a 75% cash offer. Heck, most will even eat the tax on top of that.

Carry a copy (I carry 10 in each vehicle) and cash and poke your nose into every corner gun shop and pawn shop. Avoid gun shows for deals. Pay attention to the boards and GB believe it or not. The game is still active, just the prices and rules have changed.

Edited yesterday at 11:46 AM by DO-TN

[ken_mays]

Of course the most well known examples such as the German K98s, nicer Enfields, and any US military will tend to move at a premium.  However, you can still get serviceable, interesting rifles in fairly good condition for not too much money.   Czech VZ-24s, Ishapore Enfields, Spanish FR-8s, etc.   Mosins too, there seems to be a pretty wide disparity between asking and selling price.   If you reload, a whole lot more options open up.