Sporterized arms. What say you.

[Arik]

No don't like them. I hate when people chop the wood. Like an extra few ounces is what's going to make a difference if you get tired early sitting in a tree. And it looks unfinished, I don't even like the look on modern hunting rifles. They all look unfinished and like someone just got bored or 5 o'clock came around and that's where work stopped.

While milsurp guns are common the problem with Bubba is that he has an uncanny way of only destroying the rare and valuable ones.

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[Iggy]

My Great Grand Dad bought a trapdoor rifle from Bannerman's back about 1920. He left it out in the barn until he moved to town in 1940.
My Grand Dad put it in a closet until I found it in 1980. It was a crusty wreck.
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p246/Iggy25/Trapdoor-1.jpg
Well I bubbaized it with an unfired surplus barrel and a Reinhart-Fajen stock with a Neidner butt plate and pistol grip cap.
Poor man's Officer's Model.
I've taken antelope, mule deer, and an elk with it. I don't feel too bad about the way I've treated it.

 

[Art Doc]

Used to be surplus military rifles were cheap enough to justify rebuilding into a sporting rifle. Not really true these days. Also, it's easier and cheaper to simply buy a Savage or Ruger or whatever.

Rebuilding a military rifle is not economically feasible if economy is a priority. However, can anyone argue that a nicely done 1903 or 98 Mauser has far more panache and style than any modern rifle?

The crudely done rifles are an abomination but we must bear in mind they were done by men who were not rich and were making a hunting rifle not a piece of art. They served the purpose and aesthetics were not a priority.
The only real reasons for rebuilding a military rifle today is the joy of doing it and having something that can't be bought off the rack. I would strongly advise against modifying a nice original rifle, but that's in terrible shape, or has already been worked on is probably no great loss to history.

I have butchered my share of Mausers and the like in 47 years of being a gun nut. Most are long gone, sold or traded off. I have a couple custom rifles still hanging around.

This WW II Czech Mauser was rebuilt after the war by a European craftsman. I take no credit for it other than buying it. This is my idea of a rifle.

This Krag had already been cut down and drilled for the receiver siight when I found it at a show. I put on the stock and and ground off the original front blade replacing it with the hooded ramp. I think it oozes cool.

This started out as a Colombian M98. The stock was gone and the metal was pitted when I got it. Definitely no longer collector grade. My first (and so far only) dalliance with a laminated stock. Still not sure if I like it. Rather than my usual receiver siight I opted for a 3 leaf express siight. Stylin'.

This one is a bit different. I wanted to build an old school 98 sporter, but I started with a newly made commercial CZ action. No historic military rifles were harmed in the making of this gun.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I have a soft spot for nicely sporterized milsurps. My first center fire rifle was a nicely done Krag carbine given to me by my Father. I do agree though leave the original survivors alone.

 

[gregintenn]

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/gregintenn/98/IMG_3018.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt209/gregintenn/IMG_0249-1.jpg
98 Mausers make some good ones. It seems there are a few left around, so I wouldn't be too concerned about making one suit your needs a bit better than the original military configuration. The way I see it, the more we sporterize, the better return on investment the hard core collectors can realize for their hoards.

Do you reckon that 100 years from now there will be collectors bemoaning the customization of ARs?If so, they're really in for a headache.

 

[cussedemgun]

As I do, how many here remember the surplus stores in the 1950's with barrels of rifles for sale.

Enfields for ~$10, Mausers for +/-$19.95, & the high dollar Springfields went for $25/$30.

The 03-A3's just sat there because no one wanted all those stamped parts & (shudder) a 2 groove barrel

Oh, & by the way, a couple of us "Idiots" that cut up some of those precious pieces of history were Griffin & Howe, & Hoffman Arms. Holler Idiot if you want, I think I'm in pretty good company

 

[Harrison]

A crime against humanity and rape of a fine military firearm. Leave them as their military intended.

 

[Texas40]

Mine was done long ago and My dad paid 15 dollars for it so Im not to worried about the investment part.
Like poster above said it is yours do as you see with it and who really cares what say ye.

 

[Arik]

As I do, how many here remember the surplus stores in the 1950's with barrels of rifles for sale.

Enfields for ~$10, Mausers for +/-$19.95, & the high dollar Springfields went for $25/$30.

The 03-A3's just sat there because no one wanted all those stamped parts & (shudder) a 2 groove barrel

Oh, & by the way, a couple of us "Idiots" that cut up some of those precious pieces of history were Griffin & Howe, & Hoffman Arms. Holler Idiot if you want, I think I'm in pretty good company

Griffin, Howe and Hoffman are a bunch of idiots along with the company that converted American Mosins to 3006

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[brucev]

Never have chopped any nice military surplus rifles up. Have restored some. Always willing to look at one that has been "worked on." Often what has been done can be corrected.

For years I used a variety of sporting rifles for hunting. However, I just kept coming back to the 1903, 1903-A3, M-1 Garand and M-98 Mausers. Recently got to the point that I can no longer use iron sights responsibly to hunt deer. Had a gunsmith take a nice Remington 03-A3 and convert it to a faux 1903-A4. I will never have the money for a genuine WWII era 04. Using one hard would also be less than responsible. I can use this 04gery to continue shooting the 03/03-A3/4 series of rifles that I have so loved since 1980. I can use it to hunt deer instead of having to buy some sort of sporting rifle, that I would never enjoy as much. And, I can take the same rifle and shoot it in vintage military rifle matches.

 

[bshepherd]

If you take a good or better condition military firearm and sporterize it, there is a special place in hell for you. If it is already sporterized, go for it. If you return a sporterized military firearm to as issued condition, you are a saint!

 

[therevjay]

I dont have any probs with em but, I will not buy any--not my style. If I buy? it better be the same as it left the factory.

Agree 100%. If its done its done. But if you have a choice don't do it. They may be cheap and plentiful right now. But the time will come when nice ones are scarce, and you'll be sorry.

 

[Fishslayer]

I wouldn't mind a drilled & tapped Mosin with a bent bolt & modern glass on it.

Some of the Bubba jobs I've seen though make me wanna cry...

 

[LVSteve]

I don't agree, on many levels:
A 770 is a *** at any price
I just checked on the Savage .308, and they are available by mail order for around $300.00 FOB ship point, add the shipping and the FFL fee and you are usually at around $350.00 ,good price for a good rifle,
However, I recently bought a Yugo 24/47 barreled action for around $160.00, had the barrel replaced with a new barrel, had it reblued and added a new Boyds stock, that I finished myself.
And I'm into it for around $360.00.
Did the same with a K98 Mauser last year with about the same investment.
Results, I have two very fine rifles with a relatively small investment, both in cash and my time.
I'll take a bubafied milsurp any time for a good price if I like it.
olcop

I wondered when the "only Remington worth having is the 700" club would appear. The 770 is a vastly superior gun to the 710. Yes, it combines plastic parts and the name Remington, so spontaneous combustion of some may follow. I have seen the Savage kits around $300 at the local Big 5, so it can be done.

Congratulations on your 24/47 rebuild. There were a whole bunch of orphan Mauser actions around the last couple of years and I am less concerned about one of those getting the treatment. I built one up myself, but I put the action into a rare M1924 stock I snagged from Numrich. My action has a mint 8mm barrel so I thought it was a worthwhile project. For sure it is no different from what has gone on in Yugoslavia.

You did you own stock work, I see. Brave man. Wood and I do not play nice together. There's nothing wrong with working in wood that a plastic ATI stock and bedding compound cannot fix.

 

[Andy Griffith]

There is nothing nicer than a period correct sporterization.

Emphasis on the "period correct."

One of the nicest I have is on a 6.5 Jap action, still in 6.5 Jap.
Conetrol bases and rings, early Fajen stock with some exquisite walnut, and a jeweled bolt and bluing you can shave in...the trigger isn't too shabby either.

 

[sigp220.45]

I like 'em. If the bubba-ed up. 303 Ross is still at the shop tomorrow I think I'll bring it home.

Besides getting the bolt stuck in my forehead if I put it together wrong, what's not to like?

 

[roundgunner]

This 1917 enfield in 30-06 was done 50-60 years ago by my grandfather, I like it and will keep it forever.

 

[Ron H.]

How do you feel about "sporterized" weapons?

I realize that most were chopped a long time ago, and what's done is done, I'd even buy one if it was a good job but, I hate the idea of doing it to any surviving weapons.

I kind of feel that they're a part of history and shouldn't be messed with.

Modern firearms are relatively inexpensive, accurate, lightweight, and available. I see no need to chop up something as unique as an old mil-surp.

How do you feel?

Sir, philosophically, I understand why it is and was done, especially back in the '50s. Today, I wouldn't chop up a nice example still in its military trim.

Practically, I wouldn't hesitate to build up something to my liking from a bare receiver or badly done sporterizing job. (Been there, done that, may well do that again.) All the history is already gone, so it's not like I'm making it less historical.

Whether I'd buy a sporterized gun depends on the particular example: condition, price, whether it suits my purposes as-is, or whether I can economically rebuild it to suit my purposes. I do like the low prices of sporterized military rifles, but I'm also very skeptical of them. Lotta bad jobs out there. I will not buy a truly butchered gun.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Frank46]

Back in 1967 after I got out of the navy I called my uncle up in Pa. and asked if I could hunt deer on the 160 acres he owned. He said yes as family always came first. He did lease out the hunting rights to make a little extra money, but it was written into the agreement that family could hunt any time they did. So here I am at 21 with a pre '64 model 70 in '06 19 degree weather and standing there chewing the fat with some of the other hunters. I think with the one exception of a 99 savage just about everyone else was using a chopped up mauser, jap or springfield and even one long barreled krag with the full military stock. That was they way it was done up there way back when. I have a sporterized 03A3 that cost me the princely sum of 89 bucks. Barrel was toast. I had a brand new A3 bbl which I had draw filed sanded and polished. A steel lyman rear sight and redfield ramp type front sight. Took it to a smith who had his own shop and used to work for Griffen and Howe at Abercrombie and Fitch in NYC. 200 bucks later I had it back with the new bbl installed, sights installed and polished and reblued. Still have it today. When that bbl is shot I have another Smith Corona bbl to replace it with. Frank

 

[Cooter Brown]

Griffin, Howe and Hoffman are a bunch of idiots

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Is this a serious post?