Lee Enfield vs Mosin Nagant vs Mauser vs SKS

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
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I have from the following to make my selection:

Lee Enfield Mark 4 .303
Mosin Nagant M91-30, M38, and M44
Mausers of Turkish or Yugoslavian make
Yugoslavian m59/66 SKS

Which would you choose and why? Also, what modifications would you make to them?

Thanks in advance. :cool:
 

LeiZaK

Diamond Member
May 25, 2005
3,749
4
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Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
If your shopping WWII vintage guns get a French rifle.

Never been fired, dropped only once :D


...Galvanized

lol
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
51,250
43,493
136
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
I have from the following to make my selection:

Lee Enfield Mark 4 .303
Moisan Nagant M91-30, M38, and M44
Mausers of Turkish or Yugoslavian make
Yugoslavian m59/66 SKS

Which would you choose and why? Also, what modifications would you make to them?

Thanks in advance. :cool:

I love Enfields (and own several) and they are great rifles but the surplus ammo (stay away from the Pakistani) has all but dried up making shooting them an expensive proposition since you have no choice but to buy rather expensive commercial ammo.

The Nagants are plentiful and the ammo is cheap. Many soviet bloc countries have huge stocks of quality ammo they are dumping on the market. Quality new ammo can be had from Wolf (likely turned off the same machines). They are reliable and very sturdy.

Turkish Mausers are mostly bottom of the barrel these days if buying from a distributor. Yugo mausers are usually in very good shape. 8mm Mauser ammo is plentiful.

Yugo M59/66 is the best deal on a SKS today. You can get them for $100 in great shape and the ammo is dirt cheap. Some people report a few issues with the gas valve on the more used rifles.
 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
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Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
I have from the following to make my selection:

Lee Enfield Mark 4 .303
Moisan Nagant M91-30, M38, and M44
Mausers of Turkish or Yugoslavian make
Yugoslavian m59/66 SKS

Which would you choose and why? Also, what modifications would you make to them?

Thanks in advance. :cool:

I love Enfields (and own several) and they are great rifles but the surplus ammo (stay away from the Pakistani) has all but dried up making shooting them an expensive proposition since you have no choice but to buy rather expensive commercial ammo.

The Nagants are plentiful and the ammo is cheap. Many soviet bloc countries have huge stocks of quality ammo they are dumping on the market. Quality new ammo can be had from Wolf (likely turned off the same machines). They are reliable and very sturdy.

Turkish Mausers are mostly bottom of the barrel these days if buying from a distributor. Yugo mausers are usually in very good shape. 8mm Mauser ammo is plentiful.

Yugo M59/66 is the best deal on a SKS today. You can get them for $100 in great shape and the ammo is dirt cheap. Some people report a few issues with the gas valve on the more used rifles.

This is GREAT information. Thank you!
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
I have all 3 of these:
Lee Enfield Mark 4 .303
Moisan Nagant M91-30, M38, and M44
Yugoslavian m59/66 SKS

...and my favorite to shoot is the Enfield. It has more kick, but it just feels better to me.

You still can't beat an M1 Garand though. You can get the M1s, in good condition from the Camp Perry Civilian Marksmanship Program for around $500.

Link
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
51,250
43,493
136
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: upsciLLion
I have from the following to make my selection:

Lee Enfield Mark 4 .303
Moisan Nagant M91-30, M38, and M44
Mausers of Turkish or Yugoslavian make
Yugoslavian m59/66 SKS

Which would you choose and why? Also, what modifications would you make to them?

Thanks in advance. :cool:

I love Enfields (and own several) and they are great rifles but the surplus ammo (stay away from the Pakistani) has all but dried up making shooting them an expensive proposition since you have no choice but to buy rather expensive commercial ammo.

The Nagants are plentiful and the ammo is cheap. Many soviet bloc countries have huge stocks of quality ammo they are dumping on the market. Quality new ammo can be had from Wolf (likely turned off the same machines). They are reliable and very sturdy.

Turkish Mausers are mostly bottom of the barrel these days if buying from a distributor. Yugo mausers are usually in very good shape. 8mm Mauser ammo is plentiful.

Yugo M59/66 is the best deal on a SKS today. You can get them for $100 in great shape and the ammo is dirt cheap. Some people report a few issues with the gas valve on the more used rifles.

This is GREAT information. Thank you!

No problem.

I forgot to say: I'd buy a Mosin Nagant (I'm a Mosin junkie and already own about 20)

You said modifications, what kind of shooting do you plan on doing?
That will effect the selection of the rifle.

 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
51,250
43,493
136
Originally posted by: edro
I have all 3 of these:
Lee Enfield Mark 4 .303
Moisan Nagant M91-30, M38, and M44
Yugoslavian m59/66 SKS

...and my favorite to shoot is the Enfield. It has more kick, but it just feels better to me.

You still can't beat an M1 Garand though. You can get the M1s, in good condition from the Camp Perry Civilian Marksmanship Program for around $500.

Link

He'd have to meet the purchasing requirements:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
By law, the CMP can sell surplus military firearms, ammunition, parts and other items only to members of CMP affiliated clubs who are also U.S. citizens, over 18 years of age and who are legally eligible to purchase a firearm.

U.S. Citizenship:
You must provide a copy of a U.S. birth certificate, passport, proof of naturalization, or any official government document that shows birth in the U.S. or states citizenship as U.S.

Age
You must provide proof of age. Usually proof of citizenship also provides proof of age. In those cases where it may not, a driver?s license is sufficient.

Membership in CMP Affiliated Organization
You must provide a copy of your current membership card or other proof of membership. This requirement cannot be waived. The CMP currently has over 2,000 affiliated organizations located in many parts of the country.

Membership in many of these organizations costs $25.00 or less and can be accomplished online. A listing of affiliated organizations can be found by clicking on our "CLUB Info" tab on our web site at www.odcmp.com. If you have any difficulty in locating a club, please contact the CMP at 256-835-8455 or by emailing custserve@odcmp.com. We will find one for you. In addition to shooting clubs, the CMP also has several special affiliates. Membership in these organizations satisfies our requirement for purchase. These special affiliates include: Congressionally chartered veterans' organizations such as the VFW, AL, DAV, MCL, etc. U.S. Military services (active or reserves), National Guard, to include retirees. Professional 501(c)3 law enforcement organizations and associations such as the FOP, NAPO, NSA, etc.

Note: Club membership IS required for purchase of rifles, parts, and ammunition.

Club membership is NOT required for instructional publications or videos or CMP memorabilia.

Marksmanship or other Firearms Related Activity

You must provide proof of participation in a marksmanship related activity or otherwise show familiarity with the safe handling of firearms and range procedures. Your marksmanship related activity does not have to be with highpower rifles; it can be with smallbore rifles, pistols, air guns or shotguns. Proof of marksmanship participation can be provided by documenting any of the following:

Current or past military service.

Current or past law enforcement service

Participation in a rifle, pistol, air gun or shotgun competition (provide copy of results bulletin).

Completion of a marksmanship clinic that included live fire training (provide a copy of the certificate of completion or a statement from the instructor).

Distinguished, Instructor, or Coach status.

Concealed Carry License.

Firearms Owner Identification Cards that included live fire training.

FFL or C&R license.

Completion of a Hunter Safety Course that included live fire training.

Certification from range or club official or law enforcement officer witnessing shooting activity. A form for use in completing and certifying your range firing can be downloaded from the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.com/forms/marksmanship.pdf

No proof of marksmanship required if over age 60. proof of club membership and citizenship required for all ages.

NOTE: Proof of marksmanship activity is not required for purchase of ammunition, parts, publications or memorabilia.

Be Legally Eligible to Purchase a Firearm
The information you supply on your application will be submitted by the CMP to the FBI National Instant Criminal Check System (NICS) to verify you are not prohibited by Federal, State or Local law from acquiring or possessing a rifle. Your signature on the Purchaser Certification portion of the purchase application authorizes the CMP to initiate the NICS check and authorizes the FBI to inform CMP of the result. IMPORTANT: If your State or locality requires you to first obtain a license, permit, or Firearms Owner ID card in order to possess or receive a rifle, you must enclose a photocopy of your license, permit, or card with the application for purchase.

http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/eligibility_requirements.htm
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
51,250
43,493
136
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
I'd prolly start with the Yugo Mauser. 8mm is cheap and plentiful.

Or get them all? :)

I am a big proponent of this plan.

:D
 

jkersenbr

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2000
1,691
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0
It depends.... If you reload, I'd vote for the Enfield. Put a synthetic stock and scope on it. But factory ammo is expensive.

If you don't reload, I'd vote for the SKS. Again, I'd say replace the stock (unless perhaps you are a small person).
 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
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Originally posted by: K1052
No problem.

I forgot to say: I'd buy a Mosin Nagant (I'm a Mosin junkie and already own about 20)

You said modifications, what kind of shooting do you plan on doing?
That will effect the selection of the rifle.

I'm buying it just to be a plinker/target practice. I'm looking to spend about $100 on a rifle which sadly rules out the Garand. One of my friends said the SKS would be fun but you go through ammo like it's going out of style. Bearing that in mind, I'm thinking either a Yugo Mauser or a Nagant M91-30.

Amazingly enough my girlfriend (who works at Big 5 and would be buying the rifle for me to get last sale price + her regular discount) wants me to get the SKS because she thinks it's badass. :Q

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Or get them all? :)

Would love to, but for the time being I'm operating on a somewhat limited budget. ;)
 

SlowSpyder

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
17,305
1,002
126
My buddy has an Enfield, it is quite nice to shoot. Very accurate, never any problems. The only issue is finding .303 for it at a decent price. I think he paid about $200 for it.

I have a Mossin, I like it a lot also. I paid $100 for it, really cheap. It works perfectly and ammo is dirt cheap. It works nicely as a plinker at the range (using surplus ammo) and would work fine for a hunting rifle with soft points. www.ammoman.com has 780 rounds for $89 shipped.

I'd say his Enfield is a bit nicer quality, but it also costs more.

If I could have any I'd get an SKS probably, cheap, reliable, and ammo is cheap. But all I have is bolt action guns, so I kinda want a semi-auto.
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
I love Enfields and have some but I would get a Moison of any vintage or a Yugoslavian K98. There are a lot of Yugoslavian K98s that have been rearsenalled and are in excellent condition....they look brand new.