This page is now undergoing major revision for the first time in four years. We first designed this page for our friends who are interested in Bolt Action Military Rifle competitions, and would like to know more about the rifles used and which rifles are available on the surplus market today. As the golden age of inexpensive surplus bolt action military rifles passes, many of the rifles popular in competition are no longer readily available on the surplus market. (For example, we have no surplus source for 1896 Mausers, and we find only occasional sources for the 1903/1903A3 US Springfield.) We are, however, maintaining the entries on these rifles for our friends from other countries who use them as research material. One new thing being added are the "Field Notes" which provide our experience shooting these rifles. Prices on these rifles differ greatly, as does their condition. As the late Turner Kirkland was fond of saying, "If you want good oats, you have to pay the price. If you'll take oats that have already been through the horse, those come cheaper."
     This page is always under construction. If you find broken links, please report them to our editor.


M1917 Enfield

An M17 Enfield at the 2000 State Shoot Off
     The U.S. Model of 1917 Enfield was the substitute rifle of the United States in World War I when not enough 1903 Springfields were available. It is essentially the same as the Pattern 14 rifle (the P14 Enfield) manufactured for England and chambered for .303 British, but with minor changes to accommodate the rimless American service ammunition. NRA published information indicates a total production of about 2,200,000 Model 1917 rifles produced by Remington, Eddystone, and Winchester.
     Individual M17 Enfields are still frequently offered at gun shows and in trade publications, but this rifle has not been generally available on the retail surplus market for some several years. Two years ago the CMP sold a small quanity of these rifles in functional condition, but those sold quickly. The M17's now available from CMP are "drill rifle turn-in's" which are not going to make competitive shoters; indeed, they do not even have bolts. Interested readers should check the CMP website daily for information. M17 Enfields rifles in good condition can produce very respectable scores.
     The M17 fires the US .30-'06 Springfield (aka .30-'06 Govt.) cartridge. Ammunition loaded for the 1903/1903A3 Springfield or for the later M1 Garand may be fired safely in any 1917 in good condition. Components for reloading are available from all major manufacturers, or will be if the shortage ever ends.


1903 Springfield

A 1903A3 Springfield at the 2000 State Shoot Off
     The Springfield 1903A3 rifles and the earlier Springfield 1903's were the main battle rifles of the United States through World War I and into the early days of World War II. The most visible difference is the rear sight. The 1903 will have an open rear sight located to the rear of the barrel, much like most Mausers. The 1903A3 will have a aperture ("peep") rear sight located at the rear of the receiver, not unlike the M1 Garand.
     For some time 1903 and 1903A3 rifles have not been available on the open market. In early March of 2002 the Civilian Marksmanship Program announced that they had received the last large quanity of 1903 and 1903A3 rifles in the world. Those rifles were quickly sold to members of CMP-affiliated organizations. The CMP sales program continues at this time, however the 1903 and 1903A3 rifles now available are "drill rilfes" which would be VERY difficult to return to functional firearm status.
     The CMP warns against shooting any of the "low number" Springfield or Rock Island 1903 rifles. Members of our club who purchased low number 1903 rifles from the CMP report the strikers (firing pins) had been cut. All 1903 rifles received from the CMP had a hole drilled through the floorplate retaining catch and a brass or steel pin inserted. This prevented the floorplate from being released and prevented the rifle from being unloaded through the magazine. (New strikers are available from commercial sources; the pins can be drifted out with a pin punch.)
     Both the 1903 and the later 1903A3 fire the US .30-'06 Springfield (aka .30-'06 Govt.) cartridge. Any ammunition loaded for the later M1 Garand may be fired safely in any 1903 or 1903A3 in good condition. Components for reloading are available from all major manufacturers..


M1895 Mauser

An M'95 Mauser Rifle
     Good M'95 Mausers are not generally available on the surplus market.
     The M'95 Mauser is often considered a variation of the M'93 Spanish Mauser. In its day the M'93 Spanish Mauser was probably the finest military rifle available. Spanish M'93 rifles captured in the Spanish-American War were studied by the United States Ordnance Department and led to the development of the 1903 Springfield.
     The M'95 Mauser was adopted by Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, the Orange Free State, China, and Iran. Those most frequently encountered in the United States in shooting condition seem to have Chilian markings. These were factory chambered for the 7X57 mm Mauser cartridge. Military surplus ammunition, commercial sporting ammunition, and reloading components are all generally available.
     Some 1895 carbines have been offered recently which have been converted to 7.62 NATO and are advertised as being .308 Winchester. We do not believe these conversions should be trusted. Some companies offering these guns caution that they should not be fired. While the 7.62 NATO and the .308 Win. have the same exterior dimensions, .308 Win. ammunition loaded for modern sporting rifles may be too much for these old guns. In the same way, 7.62 NATO ammunition intended for use in machine guns should NEVER be fired in these rifles. Remember that the M'95, like the M'96, is not much different from the M1893. They are fine rifles when used with the ammunition designed for them, but they are NOT M'98 Mausers and are best left in their original chambering.

     FIELD NOTES: The common service load was a 173 gr. bullet at 2296 f/s. We used the Hornady 175 gr. .284 Spire Point at 2053 f/s. The accuracy was good (10 shots groups under 3" at 100 yards), but the recoil became uncomfortable by the end of a 50+ round match. We will try again with a lighter bullet, and post our results here.


M1896 Mauser

An M'96 Mauser at the 2000 State Shoot Off
     The most accurate rifles listed (with many individual exceptions) seem to be either M'96 rifles or the shorter M'96/'38 and M'38 carbines. The M96 Mauser is so called because it was adopted by Sweden in 1896. Except for the guide rib on the bolt and the "finger cut" in the receiver, it is much the same as the earlier M'93. Over the years it was manufactured, this model was produced at the Mauser Company of Germany, and by the Husquvarna Arms Company and the Carl Gustafs Stads Rifle Factory, both of Sweden. The NRA reprint "Military Rifles" mentions that "unfortunately most specimens on the market have neglected bores." In many cases cleaning with an electronic bore cleaner, followed by fire lapping will return these barrels to servicable condition.


An M'96 Mauser Rifle (top) and an M'38 Rifle (bottom)
     There is both an M'38 Swedish Mauser and an M'96/'38 carbine, which is an M'96 rifle cut down to M'38 carbine specifications. The M'38 Swedish Mauser will use the same ammunition as the M'96 but, due to the shorter barrel, velocity will be about 100 f/s less than a given load producing 2,400 f/s in the M'96 rifle. [Sierra 140BT/37.8 gr. IMR 4895 produced 2491 ft/sec in an M'38. The same load produced 2595 ft/sec in an M'96.] The M'38 has a shorter sight radius (20.5") than the longer M'96 (26"), but some of them were equipted with a "dial" or "micrometer" rear sight which allows fine adjustments for elevation. Because the "micrometer" replacement for the rear sight slide was available on the national retail market and because it has been allowed on M'96 rifles at the State Shoot Off, the M'38 (given equal condition) seems to have no advantage over the M'96. [NOTE: There is a target version of the M'96 which has a true micrometer peep sight. These were not general issue and are generally not allowed in BAMR matches.] M'96 Mausers in good or better condition have become harder to find in recent years. The 6.5x55 Mauser is an excellent cartridge, but because the M'96 is a variation of the M'93 Spanish Mauser, pressure must be kept below what might be safe in modern sporting rifles. Components for reloading are available from all major manufacturers.

     FIELD NOTES: The Swedish service load was a 156 gr. bullet. We used the Sierra 155 gr. MatchKing when available, but found the recoil uncomfortable for a 50+ round match. Many match loads use 140 gr. bullets like the Hornady A-Max or Sierra, but we have gotten very good results with the 142 gr. Sierra MatchKing. Service load velocities are way too high for bench work; we find moving under 2,200 produces best results. In a decent rifle, this can produce ten-shot groups under two inches.


M1898 Mauser

An M48A Mauser at the 2002 State Shoot Off
     While the K'98k is best known as the main German battle rifle of World War II, other versions of the 1898 Mauser were sold to countries all over the world.
     After the war, many Soviet-block nations produced their own version of the K'98k on looted German machinery. One such version is the common Yugo M-48 or M48A shown above. Some of these eastern nations also took large numbers of captured German WWII Mausers and simply ground off the Nazi acceptance stamps, adding their oun national crests.
     As a general rule, the best variations of the M98 Mauser on the surplus market will be those made in Germany and sold to countries which did not participate in World War II. German WW II Mausers captured and re-hab'ed by the Russians vary widely in condition. Variations of the M98 produced after WW II are often offered in "excellent to new" condition, but this is dependent upon the quality of the rifle when new. Remember when buying older Mausers, there are TWO 8x57M cartridges, the 8x57J and the 8x57JS. They DO NOT interchange!!.


Mosin-Nagant

Top to bottom: Mosin-Nagants 1891, 91/30, 1938, 1939 (Sako), and 1944.
     Just as western Europe was dominated by the M98 Mauser and its variants, much of eastern Europe and Asia has been dominated by the Mosin-Nagant and its decendents. Once considered a "junk" rifle, many shooters have changed their minds about the Mosin-Nagant in recent years, due in large part to the release of top quality war stocks from both Russia and Finland.
     The earliest model, the 1891 or M91, was produced in Russia and in the United States. These are no longer available on the surplus market, and having been through two world wars and a revolution, even when found they are usually not in "competitive" condition.
     There is a Russian Mosin-Nagant rifle slightly shorter than the M91, and this is usually refered to as the Model 91/30. These are available in many grades. There is a similar Finish Mosin-Nagant rifle called the M39. These were made from captured 1891 and 91/30 Russian rifles which were reworked by Finland, and these are generally considered more desirable.
     A shorter version of the Nosin-Nagant was produced by the Russians for WW II, and is usually refered to as the M38. They are often offered in "excellent" to "unissued" condition and with a choice of manufacturer.
     The last model of the Mosin-Nagant was the M44, which was produced in Russia and in several other Soviet block countries. Again, various grades are available and you tend to get what you pay for. A Mosin-Nagant-type carbine manufactured in China has appeared on the market, but we do not have enough information to write an evaluation.
     Mosin-Nagant rifles were chambered for the 7.62x54R cartridge. The cartridge seems to be capable of excellent accuracy, but suitable ammunition can prove expensive. The surplus military ammunition coming out of the old Soviet block is not suitable for match work and is only slightly less corrosive than battery acid. The brass used to load modern S&B 7.72x54R ammunition does not seem to reload well. Prvi Partizan ammunition does not perform well, but provides usable brass. That leaves brass from Norma or Lapua, one hundred rounds of which can cost more than the rifle. This should improve in the near future if American-made brass becomes available. Recently we have reports of Winchester brass being offered for sale, and Winchester ammunition should be available again once the market recovers from its Obama-induced panic.


SMLE

A No.4 Mk1 Enfield at Fort Sill's MB-1 Rifle Range
     Once considered unsatisfactory for competition work,Lee Enfield rifles are being seen more often on the firing lines. As used here "Lee Enfield" should be understood to include not only the "Rifle No. 1 Short Magazine, Lee Enfield Mark III," but later Commonwealth rifles such as the "No. 4 Rifle Mark I." These were the main battle rifles of the British empire in World Wars I and II. Most fire the .303 British cartridge, although some made in India after WW II are chambered for 7.62 NATO. Components for reloading are available from all major manufacturers. The .303 British is a good cartridge and has proven itself in sporting firearms. The Rifle No. 1, SMLE Mark III--and to a lesser degree the later Rifle No. 4, Mark I--are known for what has been called a "wandering zero," which makes them less than dependable in BRMR competition. We have received reports from several friends in the UK and Canada who report exceptional accuracy from the British Lee Enfields in .303 caliber, but here in Oklahoma the general experience has been that the "Commonwealth rifles" available of the surplus market today are hard put to match the Springfields and Mausers, many of which have bores in much better condition.
     The British No. 1 Mk III Lee-Enfield rifles were produced in England, Australia, and India. The No. 1 Mk III has a 25.2" barrel and measures 44.8" OAL. Care should be used in selecting one of these rifles, as the bores are often found to be worn or neglected, an understandable condition in a rifle which may have seen service in both World Wars.
     The British No. 3 Mk I rifle is better known as the (Pattern) 1914 Enfield. It is very much like the American 1917 Enfield, except that the rails and bolt of the 1914 rifle are set up for the rimmed British .303 cartridge. These rifles were manufactured in the United States.
     The British No. 4 Mk. I rifle has a 25.2" barrel, but has a 44.4" OAL. It was developed between the World Wars, and individual rifles may be found in somewhat better condition than is usually the case with the earlier No. 1 Mk III rifles. In addition to England, Australia, and India, No. 4 Mk I rifles were manufactured during WWII in Canada and in the United States.
     The No. 5 Mk I rifle, with its shorter barrel, is the least suitable of the Lee-Enfields for BRMR competition. The barrel is only 20.5" (flash hider included), producing a considerable increase in muzzle flash and in felt recoil. Cut-down Lee-Enfield rifles, sometimes called "Tanker" carbines, are available from a number of sources, but were never issued to troops and do not qualify for BAMR matches.


K-31 Swiss

K-31 Schmidt Rubin
     The K-31, properly called the M1931 Carbine, is the last and best general issue rifle in the Swiss Schmidt Rubin line of military arms. Its long receiver and straight pull bolt make it unusual among common military rifles. (There is a 1911 Carbine, but it is easily distinguished by its red plastic bolt handle knobs.) The K-31 is still widely available, but prices have begun to rise as interest increases. Most shootists are favorably impressed with the high quality of workmanship evident on these Swiss rifles. The K-31 fires the 7.5 (7.51 mm) Swiss cartridge. (DO NOT fire the earlier 7.54 ammunition, even if you can find it.) The K-31 is an excellent firearm, well suited to bolt action military matches. The 1911 rifles and carbines, as well as all earlier versions of the Schmidt Rubin, are better left to the collectors.
     One member of our team (JP) who shoots a K-31 in matches here wants to pass on two warnings which he has received. The first [Google "SRMB Archives"] concerns the interrupter lug which is located on the operating rod opposite the bolt handle. When this lug "breaks" (sheers off?) at the point of union with the operating rod, the bolt is free to travel rearward when the rifle is fired. The second warning is in German [Google "SBV-ASA"] with a poor English translation, and is more difficult for this editor to read. It seems that cracks may develop at the base of the "bolting device warts" (forward locking lugs). When such cracks are observed, the rifle should not be fired. Should a break occur at the point of the crack, the gas from the cartridge may be vented directly in the shooter's face.



"The worst day on the range is still better than the best day at the office." Joe Charles

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