5 Best Military Surplus Rifles (You Can Still Buy)
Owning the newest rifles can get expensive quickly. Fortunately, there are a number of affordable military surplus rifles to help you scratch that "new gun" itch. These are our favorites.
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Owning the newest rifles gets expensive fast.
But what if I told you that there was an entire group of firearms that are fun to shoot, interesting to look at, and, best of all, generally much more affordable than the latest AR-15?
Sound too good to be true?
It turns out that you can add to your gun collection fairly cheaply by looking somewhere most people never bother...military surplus rifles.
These guns are battle-tested and make a great addition to any shooter's collection.
If you are new to the idea of owning military surplus rifles or just interested in the topic in general, this article will cover a few of the best surplus rifles to own, and what it is that makes them worth owning.
The Quick List
- Best Overall: SKS RiflesJump to Details ↓
- Best US Mil-Surp: M1 GarandJump to Details ↓
- Best Straight-Pull: Swiss K31Jump to Details ↓
- Best Bolt-Action: Lee-Enfield RiflesJump to Details ↓
- Best Budget Rifle: Mosin-Nagant RiflesJump to Details ↓
Table of Contents
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How We Tested the Best Military Surplus Rifles
Military surplus rifles have made appearances for target shooting and even hunting, so we know what works and what doesn’t. We’ve put thousands of rounds (presumably including a lot of cheap, steel-cased ammo) through these particular rifles and gladly slap them with our stamp of approval.
Every rifle here earned its place through hands-on time with the Pew Pew Tactical freelance writer team and editorial staff. We come from civilian, law enforcement, and military backgrounds – and we all love a good deal on a great rifle.
Best Military Surplus Rifles
1. SKS - Best Overall
Pros
- An affordable semi-automatic
- Reliable as a hammer
- Integrated bayonet (or spike)!
Cons
- Held back by the attached magazine
Specs
- Caliber: 7.62x39
- Action: Semi-automatic
- Loading: 10-round internal magazine
- Barrel Length: 20"
- Overall Length: 40"
- Origin: Soviet Union, China, Yugoslavia
The venerable SKS served in the military forces of dozens of countries across the Eastern Bloc and Asia.
SKS rifles come from Russia originally, but those tend to be tougher to find. Yugoslavian and Chinese SKS rifles seem to be a fair bit more common than the Russian models, and Yugos are often the most affordable option
There are so many SKS rifles in the states that Bubba has gotten his hands on them, and a 'tactical' SKS market has popped up.
The SKS provides a semi-auto rifle that's actually quite handy.
It's more than just a surplus rifle and can be used as a working gun, a hunting rifle, and even a defensive weapon.
The fixed 10-round magazines make them Assault Weapons Ban-proof, which is rather nice.
SKS rifles use a short-stroke gas piston system that has been proven quite reliable. Like the AK, it eats when it's filthy dirty, when it's hot or cold, and when it's not even hungry.
It fires the 7.63x39mm round --- an abundant caliber in the United States and rather cheap.
It's no sniper rifle but it puts lead where you need it. Screaming, "For the motherland" while you shoot may or may not improve accuracy.
Finish off the rifle with an old-school Chinese chest rig and a pile of stripper clips to get the complete experience.
You can read more on the SKS in our SKS: Norinco & Yugoslavian Variants review or Chinese Type 56 SKS review.
2. M1 Garand - Best US Mil-Surp
Pros
- World War II champ
- Very accurate
- Iconic “ping!” on the last round
Cons
- Expensive
Specs
- Caliber: .30 Service (.30-06 Sprg)
- Action: Semi-automatic
- Loading: 8-round en-bloc clip
- Barrel Length: 24"
- Overall Length: 43.5"
- Origin: USA
The world's finest battle implement, the M1 Garand, is also one of the best semi-auto rifles on the milsurp market.
It's also one of the more expensive models and can be somewhat tough to find.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program sells U.S. surplus M1 Garand models, but that requires a membership.
Sadly, lots of folks are members who buy these M1s and resell them at astronomical prices. So, it’s worth the admission into the CMP and a better option than buying from a flipper.
The semi-auto action and rapidly reloading design made the American soldier a force to be reckoned with in a field of bolt-action rifles as we entered World War II.
It fires the .30 Service cartridge, aka the .30-06. This ammo is common and available but not exactly cheap.
These gas-operated rifles are wonderful to shoot and truly a mechanical sight to behold. Not to mention, surprisingly accurate for the time. They would still make a very effective hunting rifle.
If you are a member of the CMP, then you owe it to yourself to take an M1 out to a high-power competition and have some fun.
The M1 uses an en-bloc clip and internal magazine. Those en-bloc clips are still widely available today and easy to find.
A cartridge belt replica and a belt full of clips will make you well-equipped to storm beaches and kill Nazis. Don't forget the bayonet!
What do you think of the M1 Garand? Let us know by giving it a rating below.
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3. Karabiner 31 - Best Straight-Pull
Pros
- Typical Swiss Precision
- Very accurate
- Unique
Cons
- Ammunition is expensive
Specs
- Caliber: 7.5x55
- Action: Straight-pull
- Loading: 6-round detachable magazine
- Barrel Length: 25.7"
- Overall Length: 43.5"
- Origin: Switzerland
Regardless of whether you’re really into milsurp or not, you’re going to dig this one.
Known for the straight-pull bolt, the beer keg charging handle, and a gorgeous Swiss shield, the Karabiner 31 is a sweet model for shooters and collectors.
Built on a reputation for excellent machining and craftsmanship, the K31 doesn’t disappoint. It offers legendary accuracy firing the 7.5x55mm Swiss round.
Many military rifles murder your shoulder, but the felt recoil on the K31 isn’t too bad. I’ll call it medium and certainly manageable.
Be wary that it feels a bit heavy, and ammo is expensive. But with a unique cartridge like that, it’s to be expected.
But aside from that, the K31 is a fun gun to shoot...and even better to show off.
Be sure to read up on our review of the K31 or watch the video below!
4. Lee-Enfield - Best Bolt-Action
Pros
- 10-round capacity
- Fast action
- Good accuracy potential
Cons
- Shorter length of pull
- Ammo isn't cheap
Specs
- Caliber: .303 British
- Action: Bolt-action
- Loading: 10-round box magazine loaded with 5-round stripper clips
- Barrel length: 25"
- Overall length: 44.5"
- Origin: United Kingdom
The Lee-Enfield has undergone many revisions since its original introduction in 1895.
But for this article we are specifically looking at the No.1 and No.4 variants, which are the most iconic and popular versions.
These rifles have a very robust, reliable action, and are noted for their smooth cock-on-close action and higher 10-round capacity. They are often associated with the "mad-minute drill" that required soldiers to put at least 12-15 rounds on a target at 300 yards within a minute.
As mentioned, the Enfield boasts a 10-round capacity and can be loaded using two 5-round stripper clips. This is double the 5-rounds that most standard bolt-action rifles of the era held.
Recoil-wise, the .303 British round is about on par with .30-06 out of a bolt-action rifle of similar weight. While the short No.5 jungle carbines might look appealing, the recoil is pretty heinous, hence our recommendation of sticking to the classic No.1 and No.4 versions.
Enfields have managed to stay a bit more stabilized in price over some other guns like the Mauser K98 and are even cheaper than many of the Mauser clones like the Yugo M48s.
These are awesome shooters with a ton of history behind them and are a great addition to any mil-sure collection.
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5. Mosin-Nagant - Best Budget Rifle
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Ammo isn't as expensive as some other mil-surp
- Easy to find
Cons
- Stiff action
- Rougher fit and finish
Specs
- Caliber: 7.62x54mmR
- Action: Bolt-action
- Loading: 5-round integral box magazine
- Barrel length: 20.2" - 29"
- Overall length: 39.9" - 48.5"
- Origin: Russian Empire
Mosin Nagants have long been the go-to surplus rifle for those new to the world of milsurp. This was mainly because they were widely available, as was surplus 7.62x54mmR ammo.
The price of Mosin has risen drastically in the last few years, due largely in part to a new generation of shooters, dwindling supply, and video game popularity.
Although the days of $89 Mosins and cheap 54R spam cans are gone, the rifles are relatively affordable as far as mil-surp goes.
Like the Lee-Enfield, there have been a ton of variants of the Mosin-Nagant since its inception. The rifle has been around since 1891 and has been used in nearly 50 different major wars and conflicts.
While these are solid rifles, they do exhibit the typical Russian standard of manufacturing.
Lovingly referred to by many as the "garbage rod", Mosin actions aren't as smooth as the other rifles on this list, and they are definitely rougher around the edges (unless you spring for a Finnish Mosin).
However, the rifles are rugged and have clearly withstood both the test of time and the test of new young shooters abusing 100-year-old guns.
Again, we typically like the longer variants, such as the 91/30. But if you like shooting fireballs and feeling some mighty recoil, the M38 and M44 carbine variants are pretty easy to find as well.
Why Shop Military Surplus?
For new and old gun owners alike, the world of military surplus firearms is sometimes overlooked --- often considered to be for collectors only.
However, milsurp rifles and firearms tick a lot of boxes relevant to anyone looking for a new rifle.
Fun to shoot? Check. Handsome to look at and display? Check. Budget-friendly? Check; well, sometimes.
The bottom line is that military surplus rifles are worth researching for aspiring or experienced gun collectors and make for excellent rifles for shooters of all levels of experience.
How Much Do Military Surplus Rifles Cost?
It isn't unusual for an owner of a single gun to quickly find their collection growing as their budget allows.
Owning guns is sort of like saying that you are just going to take one bite of your favorite food and then winding up eating the entire thing. One taste is just not enough.
However, the prices of guns can make it a challenge for a budget-minded gun owner to grow their collection at a fast enough rate to satisfy the itchy trigger fingers that are hungry for new triggers to pull.
Sure, a brand-spanking new AR-15 with a full array of rails, accessories, grips, and optics is a sight to behold and a joy to take to the range.
However, that same AR-15 can quickly soak up even an ample gun budget.
Milsurp rifles offer a slightly more budget-minded approach.
Where to Find Military Surplus Guns
Searching for military surplus rifles and accessories can turn into a sort of treasure hunt.
That's part of the fun!
I enjoy finding out of the way gun stores and military surplus stores and stopping by to check out what they have. I have come across some great deals using this method.
Gun shows are pretty much a one-stop shop for most common military rifles as well. And some online dealers also offer milsurp too.
In short, shop around and keep your eyes peeled.
Why Trust Us
The Pew Pew Tactical writing crew is full of dedicated shooters and more than a few collectors. Collectively, we’ve got experience with everything from World War II to the Global War on Terror covered.
We love the latest bougie rifles from today’s manufacturers, but a little nostalgia never hurts – especially when it’s cheap!
FAQs
Final Thoughts
This article doesn’t even begin to cover the huge variety of surplus firearms available to collectors and firearm enthusiasts.
Bottom line: military surplus rifles are a great way to enhance the hobbies of shooting, gun collecting, military history, hobby-level gunsmithing, and hunting.
Just don’t be surprised if you set out to add one rifle to your collection and wind up with a new interest that quickly has you stalking gun show floors for more pieces to add to your collection.
What models do you own? Let us know in the comment below. Also, be sure to check out our round-up of the Best Military Surplus Handguns.
Latest Updates
July 6, 2024: Removed Yugo M48 and Chinese Type 53 rifles. Added Lee Enfield and Mosin-Nagant rifles. Updated supplemental media.
June 10, 2024: Added more detailed product information and sections on how we tested and selected the rifles on this list. Removed the M91 Carcano, Hakim and Rasheed rifles, and Remington 870 Wingmaster. Updated supplemental media.