questions about vintage sniper rifles

[unluckyjohn]

from what i understand at one time all these rifles were very cheap what happen to make the prices so high?
do ya'll think its smart to custom or "sporterize" something like the Mosin Nagant?
i know people say Mosin Nagants are to common for the prices to ever rise but isn't that what people said about the other vintage rifles that are more valuable?
i'm not thinking about investing in Mosin Nagants or anything just curious. if i got an older rifle i think it would be a Schmidt Rubin Straight pull Rifle just because i like how the bolt works and its different. what do ya'll think about them?

 

[BasraBoy]

Re: questions about vintage sniper rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: unluckyjohn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
do ya'll think its smart to custom or "sporterize" something like the Mosin Nagant?
</div></div>

Personally I think anyone who "sporterizes" classic rifles should have their wedding tackle removed with a blunt, rusty chisel!

It's not like we're living post-WW2 and chopping milsurps is the only option available!

Just my £0.02

 

[Beef_Supreme]

Re: questions about vintage sniper rifles

K-31 is awesome. As I stated on here in another post, I want to ad one to my collection.
There are many many bubba'd surplus rifles out there that can be slavaged for sporterizing. My rule is not to chop on anything that isn't already on the path to ruin. I have taken some REALLY crappy bubba guns and turned them around.
I have worked on some nagants myself and made decent sporters for other people, not really anything I want to personally foolt with.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: questions about vintage sniper rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">from what i understand at one time all these rifles were very cheap what happen to make the prices so high?</div></div>

CMP GSM (Garand, Springfield, Military) Vintage rifle Games including the Vintage Sniper Matches, and the requirement they be "as issued" un modified.

Many have been sporterized, which drives up the price of the ones that remain. They arn't making them any more.

CMP sells military surplus rifles to fund their programs. As they run out of certain rifles ('03s, Carbines, etc) the prices of these "un-modified" rifles go up.

Russias had millions of Mosins, they flooded the market, (as did other countries 50 or so years ago) and the prices reflect the supply.

Years from now people are going to be asking, "WHAT HAPPEND TO THE $100 MOSINS My Grandpa told me about.

I hate to see these old work horses butchered, but to each his own. Sure there are plenty out there, there were plenty of Cheap Springfields, Enfields and Carbines out there at one time also.

 

[Joop]

Re: questions about vintage sniper rifles

I would agree with all that has been said, already. And, to expand on Kraig's comment:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Years from now people are going to be asking, "WHAT HAPPEND TO THE $100 MOSINS My Grandpa told me about.</div></div>

This is already happening. I remember, not even ten years ago, when you could buy Mosin M38 and M44 carbines for as low as $39-$49. In the last year, I've lost track of how many times I've seen a thread on the internet, titled something like, "Where are all the M44s?" and "M44s, Finally dried up". The current retail price on them IF a vendor happens to get them in (not often, anymore), is about $200 for an M44 and upwards of $250 for an M38. They haven't completely dried up and you can still find them for a bit cheaper, if you know where to look. However, the days of buying two of them and a tin of ammo, for a hundred bucks, are LONG gone and those days weren't even that "long" ago. I would imagine that it won't be too much longer until the M91/30s are in the same category. Something to consider.

ETA: When speaking specifically of sniper rifles (originals, not repros), this is the time to buy. Their numbers are even fewer and $700-800 is going to seem like a steal when they're finally gone. Have you priced an original, German K98 sniper, recently? Many of them sell for the same price as a nice car or small house.

 

[unluckyjohn]

Re: questions about vintage sniper rifles

Also won't the mosin ammo dry up soon because no one makes the spam cans for it any more. What happen to the other surplus rifles when there surplus ammo dried up??

 

[kraigWY]

Re: questions about vintage sniper rifles

I don't shoot any surplus ammo in my rifles. The exception being some M72, M118, and M852 left over from the days I shot for the guard.

As not the old span can stuff.........Not in my guns.

I even shoot reloads (with winchester brass) in my Mosin.

As to quality ammo, Nornady in cohoots with the CMP is starting to make match ammo for these old work horses. '06, 6.5X55 and others. They are available at the CMP's GSM Games and Perry and the Eastern/Western games.

 

[Joop]

Re: questions about vintage sniper rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also won't the Mosin ammo dry up soon because no one makes the spam cans for it any more. What happen to the other surplus rifles when there surplus ammo dried up??</div></div>


I'm not disputing that, but have never heard it, before. So far as I know, the 7.62x54r round is still in front line use in dozens of countries. I don't foresee a shortage anytime in the near future. However, to answer your question, I think 8mm and .303 are good examples. I don't think the availability of surplus has had a huge impact on the price of the rifles. There are other factors, though. The same things can be said for 6.5 Swedish and Arisaka, 7.7 Arisaka and 7.5 French. None of these are still in production for military use, so far as I know, but it doesn't seem to drive the market of the related weapons.

John

 

[unluckyjohn]

Re: questions about vintage sniper rifles

i read it on another form not sure if the ammo thing is right or not