First Time Newbie

[Milsurp Collector]

Preferably, I'd like to find a K31, but I also would not mind in the slightest getting a Mosin 91/30 as well!

Several K31's on Gunbroker.com

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/631615531

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/632293880

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/632587594

Instead of a Soviet Mosin consider the refined Finnish version. These have cracked stocks at a lower price. The crack can range from insignificant to something that needs a repair https://www.classicfirearms.com/finn...-rifle-762x54r

[sickboybrad]

As i sit here and read this I'm thing of the order i should have started buying/ collecting.
This is just me.
Ar15 (not sure how practical now)
Good target .22 ( 513t for me)
M1a
M1garand .30 cal
M1 garand 308
Then everything else
B

[Top Shotta HiFi]

How About an M1 Garand From CMP

How about an M1 Garand from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP)?

Somewhere along the line during your trod into the world of C&Rs you will become obsessed with US battle rifles - specifically the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine (maybe even 1903 bolt action rifles). Unfortunately the ship has already sailed on affordable M1 Carbines and 1903s as the CMP sold out of them several years back and they have become quite expensive on the secondary market.
The M1 Garand ship is about to sail too as the CMP has almost completely exhausted their existing inventory of Garands. Once they do the prices on the secondary market are expected to follow suit and jump up in price same as the M1 carbine and 1903 rifles did. Not sure what your budget currently is, but you may want to consider buying one of the last of the CMP Garands now before they disappear and the prices spike. They just sold out of their 6 Mil serial # Service Grade Garands and all that is currently available are the CMP special Field Grade rifles (RM1SPECIALFIELD) for $830.

http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/m1-garand/

To be clear these are more for a shooter and not a collector as they have been fitted with replacement barrels and CMP (non-USGI) wood.

Just another option to consider, welcome to the addiction....

[Discogodfather]

If you can swing it in the $ department maybe the K31 is the best place to start since their prices are going way up. If you can find a decent version for $350 or so you will be getting into one of the finest mil surps ever.

Nothing wrong with going Mosin, but it's fairly common and the time frame on K31 is closing rapidly. You'll also be getting into the Cadillac of milsurps right off the bat, which will ruin you for all other rifles in the future and therefore bypassing the sickness we all have collecting too many.

[Sevonic]

If you can swing it in the $ department maybe the K31 is the best place to start since their prices are going way up. If you can find a decent version for $350 or so you will be getting into one of the finest mil surps ever.

Nothing wrong with going Mosin, but it's fairly common and the time frame on K31 is closing rapidly. You'll also be getting into the Cadillac of milsurps right off the bat, which will ruin you for all other rifles in the future and therefore bypassing the sickness we all have collecting too many.

I'm honestly relieved that the frame for the K31 is around $350-$500ish since I expected them to be almost into the almost thousands like American MilSurp rifles since the K31's are such beauitful and well made rifles, and unfortunately seeming to be running out fast.

[Sevonic]

Are you more interested in having old guns to shoot, to collect, or both?

Most people say both, but lean more toward shooting or more toward collecting. You should think about which way you lean. Your "lean" might shift later but decide which way you lean now. It is important to have a clear idea of what your goals are or else you will waste money buying things randomly.

If you lean more toward shooting you have to consider not only the cost and availability of the firearms, but also the cost and availability of their ammo. For example, British, Japanese, and Italian firearms can be obtained for modest prices, but their ammo can be scarce and/or expensive. One way to get around that is to handload your own ammunition, but then you have decide if you want to get into that. Handloading isn't hard and it can be a rewarding hobby itself but it does cost time and money.

If you lean more toward shooting than collecting then US and Soviet/Russian arms can be a good choice. US arms are popular with Americans for obvious reasons so the prices can be higher, but ammo is available - it can even be bought at Walmart - and affordable, and there is good support with parts and advice from other owners. The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/ is a good place to become familiar with, although the golden age of CMP sales is coming to an end. You missed the golden age when the CMP was selling many M1 Garands and M1 Carbines with your choice of manufacturer a few years ago.

Soviet/Russian arms are still reasonably priced, although prices are higher than they used to be. I remember going to Big 5 just a few years ago and buying three 91/30 Mosin Nagants for $89 each. I saw several for sale at Cabela's a few months ago so they are still available, but now they are $250. Still affordable, and the ammo is available and affordable.

If you lean toward shooting then you will soon want more accuracy than you can get from the more common milsurp rifles. The countries that produced the most accurate military rifles overall were Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland, so you might want to look at a Swiss K31, a Swedish Mauser, or a Finnish M39. There is some excellent Swiss surplus ammo still available, 6.5 Swedish isn't hard to find, and the M39 uses the same available and affordable ammo as the Soviet Mosin Nagants.

If you lean more toward collecting, then the ammo issue isn't as much a factor. If you lean toward collecting, your collection should have a theme so it isn't just a random collection of things. Many people start with "major battle rifles of World War II". Some people focus just on arms from one country, like the US or Britain or Japan or Germany or Finland. Some people focus on Mausers, which were used by many countries, especially those in South America. Some people focus on Smith & Wesson revolvers or M1911s or Lugers. Whatever it is, see what it is that interests you and try to focus on that.

Finally, the most important advice if you are going to be more of a collector than a shooter is buy more books than guns. Many people, especially younger people, have been spoiled by the Internet, quite frankly, and expect all of their answers to come over the Internet quickly and with little or no effort on their part, and for free. They aren't interested in buying books and more books and studying them to gain knowledge, or joining collector societies like the Garand Collectors Association and reading their magazines to increase their knowledge. No, some of those guys don't want to do anything more than get on the Internet, start a thread called "School me on XYZ", kick back, put their feet up, crack open a beer, and then wait to be spoon fed information, like a Roman emperor being fed grapes by eager and compliant slave girls. You aren't that guy, and shouldn't want to become that guy. There are a lot of people who are more than willing to help if you have done your homework but need help with a specific problem or question. But at least try to learn and figure things out on your own first. It's more fun and satisfying that way, and eventually you can become the helper and the one answering questions, instead of the one needing help.

I was leaning more towards shooting, but at some point will probably be interested in collecting as well. And yessir, I hear where you're coming from. I'm not going into this completely blind, I have done some homework on the subject of C&R and researching what I wanted, but I just wanted to hear the experiences and the recommendations of some of the veterans of Calguns! But I appreciate your reply very much sir