I NEED help...

[spencerk]

Im going to be a first year gunsmithing student at Lassen Community College this fall and i am having a seriously hard time finding a 1903 springfield or Enfield in my price range (both work for the same classes). id rather have the springfield but its all about what I can acquire at a good price.

im also looking for an old handi rifle for external truing and bluing classes. any help would be greatly appreciated. It doesnt matter if they are in good condition or not as i am going to be giving them complete makovers in gunsmithing school.

This is not a wtb ad but more of a "help steer me in the right direction" kind of post.

ive been to all the gun shows and shops and NOBODY seems to have anything in my price range 250 or less each other than a shop in red bluff that is way too far out of my way to want to buy what they had.

[Cowboy T]

1903 Springfields are now pretty much "collectors' items", so it's doubtful you'll find one. People are hanging on to them. However, a SMLE should be pretty easy to come by. Given that a Springfield is our copy of the Mauser 98, would, say, a Turkish Mauser do the trick for your class? I've seen them at some shows for $110 on occasion, in not-too-bad condition.

[TheExpertish]

Yeah, I'd either look at something else, or raise your budget. I'm guessing it's more of what you want, vs. what will work so I'd look at what Cowboy T said. For your price range you're going to find an absolute junk trainer or sporter.

[spencerk]

I have a Mauser for school already, a Remington 700 ADL, and a Mossberg 817.

I found 2 enfields at the Ordinance Shop in Red Bluff. One was all original and in alright cond and was $250, plus they had a sporterized one for $199 thats stock was beaten to hell, but the barrel and action seemed to be in perfect working order.

should i have jumped on these and just bit the bullet and made the drive up there to get it? they still have both. and a cheap chinese mauser for $99 that i was thinking of getting

[TheExpertish]

I have a Mauser for school already, a Remington 700 ADL, and a Mossberg 817.

I found 2 enfields at the Ordinance Shop in Red Bluff. One was all original and in alright cond and was $250, plus they had a sporterized one for $199 thats stock was beaten to hell, but the barrel and action seemed to be in perfect working order.

should i have jumped on these and just bit the bullet and made the drive up there to get it? they still have both. and a cheap chinese mauser for $99 that i was thinking of getting

Well hopefully you have your C&R and COE. Might find something else comparable if you call around out of state and see if you can get it shipped to you.

[spencerk]

Well hopefully you have your C&R and COE. Might find something else comparable if you call around out of state and see if you can get it shipped to you.

I was just about to look into getting those. I think it might be too little to late for the liscences though because of When school is. I doubt the DOJ will have the background check done by the time i even go to school knowing how that works. Someone told me it takes 3 months normally after applying to even get it...

Im going to look that up though. Id rather not go by word of mouth

[Pthfndr]

I was just about to look into getting those. I think it might be too little to late for the liscences though because of When school is. I doubt the DOJ will have the background check done by the time i even go to school knowing how that works. Someone told me it takes 3 months normally after applying to even get it...

Im going to look that up though. Id rather not go by word of mouth

If you are already 21, get the application and send it in. Can take as little as 4 weeks, to as long as 3 months. Usually closer to the former than latter.

[TheExpertish]

I was just about to look into getting those. I think it might be too little to late for the liscences though because of When school is. I doubt the DOJ will have the background check done by the time i even go to school knowing how that works. Someone told me it takes 3 months normally after applying to even get it...

Im going to look that up though. Id rather not go by word of mouth

I got my C&R in 18 days, but my COE took 2 months. Fastest I've heard for a COE is 6 days. Just depends.

[littlejake]

Personal experience - COE is running 60 days right now.

[spencerk]

im gonna have to just bite the bullet and buy the guns. I cant afford to miss out on this opportunity. they only accept 20 students a year and I am officially student #1 on that list (i spent over 48 hours straight awake waiting outside the doors of the admissions office with the other applicants who are as determined, dedicated, and as passionate about firearms as me.

Long story short, It was a ***** to get in and im going to just play it smart and get the remaining rifles ASAP