Popular Milsurp Rifle Cartridges
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to cover some popular milsurp pistol cartridges today. This list will cover calibers which are readily accessible and are complimented by popular semi-automatic milsurp rifles. In this list, we will briefly discuss each caliber while delving some of the firearms which utilize each cartridge. Without further ado, let’s talk about some popular milsurp rifle cartridges.
What is Milsurp?
First thing’s first, what is milsurp? The term “milsurp” is a commonly used amalgamation of “military” and “surplus.” This term is essentially a shorthand way to describe an item as military surplus. Beyond the designation of milsurp, the general term “surplus” is also commonly-used. Law enforcement used or police trade in firearms and equipment are also categorized as surplus good, though not military in nature. The term is generally used to refer to firearms, ammunition, and a variety of gear and equipment used by militaries in the past. Some milsurp goods are imported from other countries such as China, Russia, Britain, and Germany to name a few. Other milsurp goods are of a more domestic nature, representing a variety of American firearms and pieces of equipment and gear.
.30 Carbine
The .30 Carbine is an iconic milsurp cartridge which was introduced in the 1940s alongside the M1 Carbine during World War Two. Both the cartridge and the handy carbine effectively bridged the gap between handguns and full-sized rifles, providing increased firepower to personnel such as artillery crews and rear echelon troops. In addition to the M1 Carbine, the .30 Carbine was also utilized by the select-fire capable M2 Carbine and infrared scope equipped M3 Carbine. While most closely associated with the M1 Carbine, the cartridge was also utilized in a variety of commercial firearms such as revolvers and semi-automatic handguns.
As far as surplus offerings chambered in .30 Carbine go, shooters will find that M1 Carbines are the most common firearms one will encounter. Over six million of these rifles were made during World War Two by a variety of manufacturers. These carbines were primarily manufactured by companies outside of the firearms industry that had retooled for the war effort. Companies such as Inland (General Motors), National Postal Meter, and even Rock-Ola, the jukebox company produced M1 Carbines. These carbines can also be found in various forms, often featuring updated features for the Korean War or desirable paratrooper stocks.
.30-06 Springfield
The .30-06 Springfield is a potent American service rifle cartridge which was employed by the United States military until the late 1950s. Introduced in 1906, the cartridge notably served the United States in some of the largest conflicts of the 20th century such as both World Wars and the Korean War. The .30-06 Springfield was utilized by many types of firearms such as the Browning M1919 machine gun, Model 1903 bolt action rifle, and the iconic M1 Garand. Beyond its service record, the cartridge has also been utilized for recreation, competition, and hunting uses by shooters on the homefront.
Shooters will encounter a variety of surplus firearms chambered in .30-06 Springfield. These include both bolt action rifles and semi-automatic rifles, though a majority of these rifles are of the bolt action variety. American classics such as the M1903, M1917, and M1 Garand are common milsurps found in the cartridge. While the cartridge was most prominent in American use, there are foreign milsurp rifles which also utilize the .30-06 Springfield such as the FN-49 and Modelo 1935 Peruvian Mauser. Additionally, many service rifle examples were sporterized and modified to chamber the common .30-06 Springfield after the war.
.303 British
Originally introduced in the United Kingdom in 1889, the .303 British holds the distinction of being one of the longest serving service rifle cartridges. The cartridge has been employed by militaries, governmental authorities, terrorist groups, guerillas, and partisans in most of the major conflicts from the late 19th century to the present day. The cartridge is most commonly associated with the Lee Enfield series of bolt action rifles, with examples like the No.1 Mk.3 SMLE and No.4 Mk.1 being some of the most well-known. Additionally, like many other mainline service cartridges, the .303 British was utilized in machine guns like the iconic Lewis Gun and Bren.
An overwhelming majority of the milsurp rifles chambered in .303 British one will find on the market will be of the Lee Enfield variety. Popular and common variants include the No.1 Mk.3 SMLE, No.4 Mk.1, and No.5 Mk.1 “Jungle Carbine.” One of the most sought-after variants of the Lee Enfield is the No.4 Mk.1 (T), the sniper rifle variant of the iconic service rifle. These rifles were typically manufactured by the United Kingdom, Australia, and India. Depending on the model of Lee Enfield, shooters will be able to find rifles which were used in World War One, World War Two, or even both World Wars.
7mm Mauser
The 7mm Mauser was introduced by Paul Mauser in 1892 and served as an early example of a potent and efficient smokeless powder service cartridge. Shortly after the cartridge was developed, it was presented to the Kingdom of Spain alongside the Model 1892 and Model 1893 Mauser rifles, leading to its adoption by Spain and many other countries. The cartridge saw use in many conflicts throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century like the Spanish-American War and the Mexican Revolution. Beyond military service, the cartridge has also become popular as a sporting round, especially in Europe.
As a Mauser designed cartridge, the 7mm Mauser is most commonly chambered by Mauser type rifles. As far as milsurp offerings go, one will find that multiple Spanish Mauser rifles have made their way to the surplus market. These rifles include rifles such as the Model 1893, Model 1907, and Model 1908 rifles. Additionally, shoters can find other Mauser type rifles such as Czech Vz. 24 variants and even Remington Rolling Block rifles chambered in the 7mm Mauser cartridge.
7.62×39
The iconic 7.62×39 cartridge made its debut in the Soviet Union in 1945. Design for the cartridge was spurred by a desire for an intermediate cartridge which could be utilized by various service arms. Specifically, the Soviets wanted a semi-automatic carbine, automatic rifle, and light machine gun to utilize this new cartridge. This desire was realized in the form of the SKS, AK-47, and RPD machine gun. In addition to the Soviet Union and present-day Russia, the cartridge has been utilized by countless armies, guerillas, governmental forces, and partisans since its introduction.
The most common surplus firearms chambered in 7.62×39 are SKS rifles. These rifles used to be quite cheap and were imported in great numbers into the United States. In the present day, supply is starting to wane due to sanctions and diminishing domestic stock of rifles over time. SKS rifles were made by many countries such as Russia, Yugoslavia, China, and East Germany. These rifles were often accompanied by stripper clips, ammo pouches, and cleaning kits. Additionally, shooters can also find surplus parts kits for popular and iconic firearms in 7.62×39 such as AK rifles and belt-fed RPDs.
7.62x51mm NATO
Derived from the same parent cartridge experiment group as the .308 Winchester, the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge entered service in 1954. The cartridge made its debut alongside iconic firearms such as the M14 service rifle and M60 light machine gun. Like the name suggests, the cartridge is a NATO standardized round and has been utilized by various countries since its inception. Presently, the cartridge is utilized in battle rifles, designated marksman rifles, sniper rifles, and machine guns. The cartridge still sees widespread use, even after widespread adoption and the NATO standardization of the 5.56x45mm NATO.
Many milsurp bolt action rifles can be found chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. Rifles of this type include Spanish FR-8 rifles and Israeli Mausers. Some rifles are produced from the ground up in the 7.62x51mm NATO caliber while others, such as Israeli Mauser rifles, were converted from existing rifles. Additionally, parts kits and complete examples of classic Cold War era battle rifles such as the FAL and G3 are also available chambered in the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. Of course, the cartridge can also be utilized in surplus firearms chambered in .308 Winchester.
7.62x54r
The 7.62x54r was introduced in the Russian Empire in 1891. Notably, the cartridge is surpassed only by the .303 British in terms of longevity and service life. In addition to the Russian Empire and subsequent Soviet Union and present-day Russia, the cartridge has been utilized by a wide variety of countries. Official militaries, rebel groups, guerillas, and governmental authorities have utilized the round. Notable firearms in the caliber include Mosin Nagant type rifles, the SVT-40, and SVD. Bolt action rifles, semi-automatic rifles, designated marksman rifles, and light machine guns have utilized the round.
As far as milsurp offerings go, a majority of the firearms one will encounter will be of the Mosin Nagant variety. These variants include the common M1891/30, M38 carbine, M44 carbine, and Chinese Type 53 rifle. At this time, one can still find PU sniper variants of the Mosin Nagant, a desirable rifle among collectors. Typically, Mosin Nagant rifles are accompanied by accessories and items such as bayonets, cleaning kits, and ammunition pouches. Additionally, one can still find SVT-40 rifles in the caliber, though these rifles are a bit rarer and more expensive than their Mosin Nagant counterparts.
7.7 Japanese
The 7.7 Japanese, also known as the 7.7x58mm, was introduced in Japan in 1940. Like many of its counterparts, the 7.7 Japanese served as a mainline service cartridge and was chambered in various firearms. Notably, the cartridge was utilized by the Type 99 Arisaka service rifle and the Type 99 light machine gun. The cartridge was notably employed by the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War and during World War Two. After the end of World War Two, remaining firearms and 7.7 Japanese ammunition gradually made their way into other conflicts or onto the surplus market.
Military surplus rifle offerings in the 7.7 Japanese cartridge will most commonly be found in the form of Japanese Arisaka rifles. These rifles were produced by a number of factories and can be had in various configurations. Some examples include components such as dust covers, bipods, and aircraft sights, features which were omitted on later rifles as the war dragged on. Shooters can also encounter infamous “last ditch” rifles which are notable for their rushed construction.
8mm Mauser
The 8mm Mauser is another iconic Mauser cartridge that has seen widespread use throughout the 20th century. Initial adoption came in 1905 when the German Empire selected the round for mainline service. The 8mm Mauser, also known as the 7.92x57mm, is perhaps the most common and iconic Mauser rifle cartridge. Notably, the cartridge was employed by Germany and many of their allies during both World Wars in a variety of firearms. Rifles such as the Gewehr Model 98, Karabiner Model 98k, MG 42, and FG-42 have utilized the cartridge. Beyond its military history, the cartridge is also utilized in hunting, competition, and recreational capacities.
Milsurp firearms chambered in 8mm Mauser are typically going to be found in the form of Mauser rifles. These types of rifles were produced by numerous countries across the globe throughout history such as Germany, former Yugoslavia, former Czechoslovakia, Turkey, and even China. Additionally, semi-automatic rifles such as the Gewehr Model 43 can be found in the caliber, though they demand a premium price these days. Additionally, parts kits can be found for FG-42s and MG 42 type firearms, allowing end users to assemble unique firearms from surplus parts kits.
Not An Exhaustive List
Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list of military surplus rifle calibers by any means. More obscure cartridges, such as the 7.5x55mm Swiss or the 6.5 Carcano were not included on this list as they are not as readily available as the other calibers on this list. This list mainly focused on calibers and firearms which are accessible and can be found with little difficulty.
Concerns with Corrosion
When shooting surplus ammunition, one should be sure of the type of loading they are dealing with. During the 20th century, many countries produced ammunition with corrosive primers. When fired, these loadings release corrosive salts into the firearm, something which can lead to erosion and corrosion if neglected. These loadings will not cause immediate, irreparable damage by any means, but one should be prepared to take prompt action to avoid damage or decay if necessary. Not all surplus ammunition is corrosive, meaning that some older ammo offerings can be shot without worrying about corrosion. In short, one should be sure of the ammunition they are using when shooting.
Conclusion
All in all, this list encompasses many of the popular milsurp rifle cartridges which are used by various common surplus rifles. Like the rifles that shoot them, these calibers are well-used by shooters in the modern era and are quite accessible. We here at True Shot Ammo carry various loadings for each of the calibers on this list, providing shooters with many options to stock up on. These calibers can be acquired in the form of individual and bulk ammo quantities. Whether you want to stock up on a caliber on this list or purchase ammo of a different type, we here at True Shot Ammo have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
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