Beckerhead firearms

NixKustoms said:
Love a Mauser!! Nice choice mine friend!!
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I was just in the right place at the right time when I spotted these. A 99 in .243 or .308 was something I had wanted and I let one slip through my fingers a couple years ago when I chose a S&W revolver over the rifle, albeit a nice one. But the Mauser, never planned on getting a sporterized or custom one but this one is just so well done. Only problem is the comb is a little low. XS makes a lower scout rail for Mausers or I could have a 'smith raise the comb slightly. There's a compartment in the butt for extra shells so a slip-on cheek pad would prevent using that.
 
8mm. This one is pretty slick but it was gone over but a pretty good 'smith. Kept the original barrel but removed the sights and re-crowned the muzzle, turned down the bolt handle and milled a flat on the backside of the knob, great trigger in it and a very smooth action which was probably polished. That's why I had to have it, the quality of the work is very good and it's hard to find guys like that today.
 
bigghoss said:
8mm. This one is pretty slick but it was gone over but a pretty good 'smith. Kept the original barrel but removed the sights and re-crowned the muzzle, turned down the bolt handle and milled a flat on the backside of the knob, great trigger in it and a very smooth action which was probably polished. That's why I had to have it, the quality of the work is very good and it's hard to find guys like that today.
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Well, it certainly looks gorgeous for a sporterized rifle, that's for sure! They rarely turn out so well, glad to see yours looks good!
 
Basher313 said:
Well, it certainly looks gorgeous for a sporterized rifle, that's for sure! They rarely turn out so well, glad to see yours looks good!
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Well, I doubt it was done recently. Just guessing, but probably 15 or 20 years ago. I wasn't so much drawn to the setup as I was the craftsmanship. I wish I could find a guy that good locally.
 
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Got some trigger time in today. The trouble I had with the M39 last week was indeed cosmoline in the chamber and it cycles fine now. The Mauser scout is a hum-dinger of a nice gun but I'm not sure how practical it actually is. The low-power scope has a small field of view being so far out but it does allow you to load the gun with stipper clips, however valuable that is. It's fun though so whatever.
 
How'd the M39 group? I'm looking at either an M39, K-31, No4 MKI/MKII, M1917, or M1903, and having a hard time choosing. The M39 is the least expensive of the bunch, and I hear good things about them.
 
I haven't put it on paper yet, mainly just function testing. Once I figured out the hold I was able to hit what I wanted but I only had 50 yards to play with. I will say that the M39 has a smoother action than any other Mosin I've shot, including my M44 with a shortened striker spring. It's not drastic but after you clean the junk out of the chamber you won't have to smack the bolt open and it runs alright.

I would say get them all. I plan to. So far I've got the M39, a K1911 (because the K31's are only on the secondary market anymore) a No. 4 mkI, a Yugo M48, M44 Mosin Nagant, an FR-7, and an M1 carbine. Really need an M1 Garand, a 1903A3, an M1917 (and maybe a P14), MAS36, MAS49/56...you get the idea.
 
I plan to have plenty at some point! :) A few years back I had a nice No4 MKI but fell on hard times and it (along w/ 540 rounds of Greek .303!) was sold. I had a bubba'd M1917 as well, but never got to shoot that one. :( So I'm wanting to get back into it, one at a time. Funds are still tight w/ me in school, so I have to prioritize!

My interest in the M39 comes from the fact that, while Mosins are robust, I don't want to have to carry around the 2x4 and rubber mallet you sometimes need to unlock your typical M44 or 91/30, haha. Mosins are fairly common in general, though I'm not sure about the M39, so I'm trying to feel that all out. None of them are getting any cheaper, that's for sure!
 
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This popped up on another forum, so I shot the guy an email asking for details about it. He's asking $650, and says he's the first private owner of it, having removed it from it's "mummy wrap" years back. $650 is a bit rich for me, but the dang thing looks pristine, and it's a MKII, so I may have to jump on it and sell something else to make up for it. The Enfield has always been of great interest to me. Since I don't hand load though, .303 would have to be purchased a box or two at a time for me unless I stumbled upon someone selling a case or two.

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The thing is, there's a Backpage ad locally for a MKI in decent shape (per the photos, the description doesn't offer much in the way of details) for $350. I'm looking for a good shooter, not so much a pristine collector's piece, so I'm tempted to go that route and put the difference into either ammo, a decent M39, or a G43 as an EDC piece. Decisions, decisions!
 
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Looks nice but for just a shooter I would look for something less expensive. Mine is kinda a beater but it was $250 I think just last year. The M39 in the pic I got from classicfirearms.com and it's the cheapest option they had, VKT I think. Iraqveteran8888 has a couple good videos on the M39's and he has a video on smoothing the action on a Mosin so you don't have to beat on it. I cut a coil off the striker spring on my M44 and that helped a lot.
 
So I hear that A LOT of the Enfields seem to be just shot out. Like almost all of them. If this ones original owner and clean it might be worth every penny of the 650. If thats what someone is looking for. Iraqveteran8888 is actually one of the guys I saw saying that the Enfields all seem to be beat to crap ..lol
 
That could be. The one I had five years back was in solid shape, overall. Best I did with it was about 2" at 100 yards, but that was using some really old surplus with a few hangfires, haha. This one looks pristine, but I still haven't heard back from the guy.

I did stop by a LGS on the way home and fondled a few 91/30s. They're a recent shipment, still full of cosmoline, but seemed in good shape. They were asking $249 for hardwood and $269 for laminate examples. I'm tempted on the laminates, but how much of a difference in quality/feel am I going to see between a nice condition 91/30 and a Finnish M39? I'm willing to pay more for a better trigger, smoother action, etc., and everybody seems to rave about the M39s. I can't buy all three (heck, I can't do two right now!), so I'm thinking the Enfield is first in line if I can swallow that much, with an M39 second and a 91/30 laminate third. Thoughts?
 
spikebot587 said:
If you pass on the enfield, would you mind sending me the info about it? I'd definitely be interested in it
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Sure thing! Still no word back from the seller yet though, so I'm still waiting to get my questions answered.

On an aside, center fire ammo has become freaking expensive! I haven't bought anything other than XM193 in YEARS. Run of the mill .308 FMJ stuff is more than match grade ammo was when I last had a .308 four years ago! =-O It seems all the surplus calibers (at least at this place) are all only within a few bucks of each other (between $14-23 box for 7.62x54R at the low end and .303/8x57JS on the high end. Sheesh!
 
My M39 isn't leaps and bounds better than a 91/30. Keep in mind that the M39's started life as 91/30's so either one can be made to run just as slick with a little work.
 
bigghoss said:
My M39 isn't leaps and bounds better than a 91/30. Keep in mind that the M39's started life as 91/30's so either one can be made to run just as slick with a little work.
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they should be MUCH better than a 91/30. in particular, often new heavier barrels, improved sights, and replaced trigger groups, not to forget the REALLY nice stock. love mine :D

need me some Winchester 1895 Russian :D if anyone sees one, let me know please.
 
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