Let's see your sporterized Military Surplus Rifles

[38magnum]

Back in their day, Mitchell was selling "refurbished" Mausers at an astronomical price. I believe they were re-blued and may have also had new replacement stocks. In any event, they sure looked pretty.

With the work being by a private company (and not an arsenal refinish), I would guess that their value would not be that good now.

When they were in business, Century was still selling "originals" at a fraction of the cost.

mtichells seems to be a higher priced item now on the auction sites since they went out of business

 

[AJ]

mtichells seems to be a higher priced item now on the auction sites since they went out of business

I think is that some folks don't realize the Mitchell's were reblued and rebuilt. Their surprise might come if they try to sell it to a knowledgeable collector.

 

[Narragansett]

I have a 1917 Winchester Enfield, that I have had now for 50 years and not fired in 49. When I got it, the stock was black with dirt and oil and age. Heat would make the stock ooze oil so I got 2 black walnut surplus stocks, and a set of handguards from Ruval. Cost me 15.00.

I finished one stock and handguards for a full military look, and whittled on one to make a sporter stock out of the other one. Just swap the butt plate and the barreled action. I think it looks cool.

I would never mill the ears or alter the metal in any way.

I think it is worth a fair piece now. Not sure my sons want it. I may put it up for sale to a new caretaker

 

[GypsmJim]

I think it is worth a fair piece now. Not sure my sons want it. I may put it up for sale to a new caretaker

Caretakers are old codgers like us and there ain't many of us left. Maybe you should scrap the wood and adorn it in black plastic. Then the "new" caretakers might buy it because they got fooled by the color.....LOL.

 

[Terry G]

I won't do it. M-1's, SMLE's, Mausers, SKS's and even the Italian Carbine stay the way they were made. I have a beautiful Browning .30/06 for Whitetail hunting so why convert a historical rifle?

 

[SWFan27]

As to surplus 303 British, most that I have seen in the last few years has been Pakistani (POF) and it is notorious for misfires and hangfires. The problem seems to be the primers. They can be a good source for bullets though if you buy them cheap enough as I have salvaged quite a few. There have been other lots from different sources but many seem to have been the victims of poor storage and in my experience is also not dependable shooting ammo. The 303 is an easy cartridge to load and I mainly shoot my own reloads in mine. Neck sizing only (and keeping the brass assigned to one rifle) I get good case life with clean, accurate ammo.

As to the OP's post I have never been into sporterizing old military rifles. The closest I ever came to that was tricking out a couple SKS rifles with aftermarket stocks & mags back when they were cheap (and everywhere). Didn't make any permanent mods and put them back in their original stocks when I later sold them off (and sold the aftermarket parts separately, made more money that way LOL).

I have owned quite a few old military rifles that had been sportered years ago. Back when they were cheap and there were many of them to be had. Some had been nicely done, some were quick hack jobs. They made for fun, cheap shooting. Restored a couple to their military form to fill out my collection (usually just repairing a cut off forearm and replacing a couple bands). Some of the hack jobs I cleaned up and made nicer looking sporters out of, the nicer ones didn't need any work. They had been done by someone who had the time and skill to do it right.

Nowadays anyone who cuts up an original is throwing money away in my view. If they have the skill to make a really nice sporting rifle they would be better off just buying a stripped action and building on that. If they just want a cheap hunting rifle many new guns are really very affordable and would be a better choice. Or simply hit the gunshows, pawnshops and gun stores looking for a milsurp someone cut up long ago.

I still have some military ammo from the 1940's. The stuff still goes bang every time and is very accurate.

 

[Muddyboot]

I won't do it. M-1's, SMLE's, Mausers, SKS's and even the Italian Carbine stay the way they were made. I have a beautiful Browning .30/06 for Whitetail hunting so why convert a historical rifle?

After both WWI and WWII returning vets were a big market for sporterized rifles, they were cheap and great platforms for scopes. I don't disagree about chopping up historic rifles, however at the time it was a common thing to do

 

[AJ]

I keep military rifle as they came from the armory for issue to the troops. I did end up with an 8MM Mauser K98 that someone had "Bubba'd", The metal was left alone but the stock had been cut. Think I paid $50.00 for it. I cleaned up the stock and put a shotgun recoil pad on it (all I had at the time). I used it for a plinker, when everyone else was shooting .22LR's. Surplus ammo was $0.04 a round (long time ago). It was fun!

 

[38magnum]

I won't do it. M-1's, SMLE's, Mausers, SKS's and even the Italian Carbine stay the way they were made. I have a beautiful Browning .30/06 for Whitetail hunting so why convert a historical rifle?

I like the long full stocks... they help with balance, and with my arms most over the counter modern guns dotn have meat where i have to put my support hand.

And who really wants a 5 pound rifle chambered in 30-06? a 243 or 308 in that weight rifle sans scope, is not exactly an enjoyable experience, but it is an experience.

I like iron sights, and such, always wanted an enfield but with what little I know about the receiver stretch and the 3 or 4 sizes of bolt head made to correct it, i have no clue as to what would be a good rifle or not.

Went yugo 24/47 stock is a tad to short for me. But i got a slip on recoil pad for it.

 

[Fishinfool]

Any reason you went to .35 Whelen instead of a more common caliber?

Just noticed your question. Back then, I read a lot of Elmer Keith, and he was an influence. I hunted whitetail and black bear, mostly in the big woods of Maine. A .35 cal at moderate velocity sounded good.

I wanted to stay with a cartridge that would feed in the rifle without modification other than the re-chamber and re-bore, and I also had about 300 once fired '06 brass, so 35 Whelen it was. Bought a basic RCBS reloading set up along with 35 Whelen dies. It proved a real deer killer, more than you need really, but more isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Larry