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Military Surplus Firearms

There are many people who use military surplus firearms as their primary survival guns.  When you really think about it, what is a surplus military rifle if not a survival rifle ?   Most of the traits that military grade weapons posess, are also traits that make them a good choice as a weapon you can count on in a survival situation... specifically, toughness, accuracy, and lethality.  Until recent years, prices of military surplus firearms have been another compelling reason to own one.  Here are some of our favorites, please tell us about your military surplus firearm below, post a picture, and let us know what you like about it.

Mosin Nagant M44
Mauser K98 8mm
Military surplus ammo
 

There are many military surplus firearms on the U.S. market that are popular.  The AR-15 and the AK-47, which started life as military weapons, have been produced in huge numbers for the civilian market, and so are not technically always true "Military Surplus"... but more "Military origin" weapons.   That said, there are of course military surplus versions of both rifles available thru gun dealers throughout the U.S., and plenty of people ready to take up the argument of which one is better, AR vs AK.  Maybe someone who owns both will give us their honest assessment in the submission area below, but this topic has been beaten to death over the years so we're not going to try to settle that here.    

One drawback to a lot of military surplus rifles is their weight, they tend to be heavy, by neccessity in most cases, for durability.  A light breakdown rimfire rifle will only weigh around 5 or 6 pounds, where surplus military rifles like the M1 Garand can weigh twice that.  Surplus ammo, which is generally larger caliber, is of course going to be bulkier,  heavier ammo also.

What's your favorite Military Surplus Firearm ?

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Other visitors favorite military weapons:

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

M4 with the LOT!!!  starstarstarstarstar
OK i know this picture is doing the rounds but it very eloquently shows the real meaning of the "K.I.S.S."(Keep It Simple Stupid) principal.
I rekon ...

springfield m1 garand 30.06 cal  starstarstarstarstar
its the most accurate rifle i have ever used i have hunted with it a whole lot of years and it never failed me hunted moose. caribou. black. and harp ...

remington 870 with a 20 inch smooth bore slug barrel   starstarstarstarstar
I have used this shot gun many times on hikes and camping trips in Pa,State Game Lands, Canada,Newfoundland, and even in Uganda and Sudan.

I know this ...

Tula arsenal (soviet weapons factory) Mosin Nagant model 1891/30  starstarstarstarstar
Bought the rifle in April 2010 from J&G Sales online. My eldest son and I have shot it at a local indoor gun range three seperate times, and put 80 rounds ...

Winchester 1895  starstarstarstarstar
I have a winchester Model 1895 US Army cavalry short barrel 30-40 Krag . This gun was handed down to me and is a tough , reliable , dream to shoot .No ...

German 8 mm mauser stamped Berlin 1932  starstarstarstarstar
The german mauser is a rifle i would put up against any modern day rifle in a second. I have many guns new and old and it never ceases to amaze me the ...

7.7mm Arisaka type 02 "take-down" paratroop rifle  starstarstarstarstar
They might be the ugliest rifle on the planet, but the Arisaka has one of the strongest actions of any firearm ever made.
In fact when 'pressure tested'...

Tarted-up SKS  starstarstarstarstar
I've written before of my love for this weapon, and when i came across this picture of a "Pox-doctors clerks" SKS rifle system, i felt compelled to show ...

Mosin Nagant M91/30  starstarstarstarstar
The first time I surrendered to buying one of these led to the Purchase of three more. One is my main shooter with the only mod being a good recoil pad....

AK 47 cons and pros  starstarstarstarstar
I have to say this is the best rifle for its price and ammo availability. Ill explain

Pros

-VERY reliable no jams ever will work in rain, snow, desert ...

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY M-14  starstarstarstarstar
IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE GREATEST BATTLE RIFLE IN HISTORY. IT WILL OPERATE IN EXTREME HARSH CONDITIONS AND IS VERY ACCURATE IN THE HANDS OF AN EXPERT....

Spanish mauser M95 cavalry carbine  starstarstarstarstar
Using standard 7.62mm Nato (.308 win) out of a very handy 17" barrel this rifle is handy and manoeuvrable whether inside a vehicle, off an ATV/dirtbike,...

303 british lee enfield  starstarstarstarstar
I have a Lee Enfield in caliber .303 British and I use it for deer, bear,and moose hunting it's a precise rifle and the ammo is sale at a lower price. The ...

Sporterized 8mm mauser   starstarstarstarstar
For rifles I keep a 22lr model 597 remington, keltec sub 2000 in 40cal, 223 ruger rancher, and a m24/47 sporterized 8mm mauser. as well as back up replacement ...

my AK47  starstarstarstarstar
I really love my AK. Were going to marry next month. It saved my life back there in Vietnam and now it's always by my side. So if you see a dude kissing ...

FN FAL rifle  starstarstarstarstar
The FN FAL rifle has been called the right arm of the free world. It was adopted for military use by nearly 90 countries, and is chambered in the accurate,...

Ak47 standard rifle (Any variant aside from the thumhole stock version.)  starstarstarstarstar
the AK 47 standard issue is still fairly readily available, ammunition is still inexpensive, Its powerful enough to take down just about any medium to ...

chinese sks from 1990  starstarstarstarstar
i traded a 303 british enfield for this Chinese sks in 1990. The sks was brand new never been out of box, just arrvied at the store. This sks cost $75....

M1 Carbine  starstarstarstarstar
Makes an excellent little rifle for survival. It is small, compact, and can be made more so with a M1A1 or similar folding stock. It has enough power for ...

Mosin Nagant M44  starstarstarstarstar
Cheap. My Mosin Nagant M44, Russian made in 1947 in the Izhevsk Arsenal. Paid less than $100.00 and added a sling, a leapers tri-rail with a mildot scope ...

Swiss Schmidt Rubin K31  starstarstarstarstar
I have 6 K31s....so far I have one 1911 carbine usually called the K11 and a 1911 long rifle. These are the most accurate surplus rifle one can buy. The ...

Norinco SKS, or variant  starstarstarstarstar
The sks is one of the most under rated rifles available. Its in expensive, accurate, reliable and a comfortable size to carry. The vast production and ...

SKS Yugo  starstarstarstarstar
Nice little rifle, very accurate and easy to use. Although i would like to point out that it is NOT an "assault rifle." An assault rifle has selectable ...

isreali mauser k98 in .308  starstarstarstar
Mauser k98 action in .308, military sights and heavy but extremely durable. Have used as a backup gun at deer lease and is very accurate. Ammo easily obtainable ...

sks   starstarstarstar
It's acurate, robust,reliable,fires a necked down 308 bullet, and still available for about 250.00 or less.
I have used one for 20 years,and have used ...

AK-47  starstarstarstar
The reasons i like the AK-47 is it's overall durability, relative cheaper pricing of the gun and ammo, and most of all the clip accessories that are available....

1903A3 U.S. Rifle by Remington  Not rated yet
My wife gave me this rifle for some birthday or another and while other rifles have come and gone, this one stayed.
The 03A3 was the last iteration of ...

1903A3 Springfield AND the M1A Grand  Not rated yet
The 03A3 was the first large bore rifle I owned and I was 12 years old when I received it. No BB gun for me, my Dad gave me the Springfield, two boxs of ...

Lithgow/Thales built AUSTEYR F88  Not rated yet
More of a wishlist than an actual acquisition considering Australia's current gun laws. This Lithgow Small Arms Factory (Australia) weapon has just been ...

Makarov 9X18 pistol  Not rated yet
Since the topic is "surplus firearms" and not "surplus rifles", I assume it's OK to put in a plug for for my trusty Mak. Like most Russian firearms, it'...

Any of them really and heres why.........  Not rated yet
It doesn't really matter what weapon you choose. As long as it is reliable and most of all accurate! Depending on the survival situation you are preparing ...

What about a survival/Mil surplus for the "Better half" ?  Not rated yet
Pulled this picture off gunbroker and thought it would have to be just about perfect for a teenager, wife or smaller statured man.
Just be sure to announce ...

Mosin Nagant, M38 dated 1943 in a Laminated Stock  Not rated yet
This rifle, a Izhevsk M38 Mosin Nagant carbine, is arguably the most bang you can get for your buck on the surplus market. It took me too long to make ...

M1 Garand  starstarstarstarstar
M1 Garand

Mosin Nagant 91 30  Not rated yet
I have several Mosins and prefer the 91 30's to the shorter models. I found a dealer that had crates of these and got a deal when purchasing more than ...

Mosin Nagant M91/30  starstarstarstarstar
Submitted reviews, pictures, and recommendations of the Russian Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifle

mauser  Not rated yet
i have a m24-47 8mm has been sporterized before i got it but appears to have been done by a gunsmith or competent person large scope and with hand loads ...

SKS Tactical Carbine  Not rated yet
My SKS is a Chinese (or Norinco) model SKS with a single piece gas block. This takes away some of the parts that I feel are not needed. For an idea how ...

MY Rock River AR 15  Not rated yet
It has a 16 inch barrel, is very light, and shoots the amazingly versatile 5.56 round. It is widely used as a varminting round, but is absolutely powerful ...

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