The cool part of this, is that I'll now have 4 WW2 era rifles, Mosin 91/30, Mosin M44, Russian SKS and SVT-40.
Some will say WHERE'S YOUR AKA-47, Mr. Russian Riffle Man? And so far (living within the NJ Rifle Rules) the 47 doesn't always meet our laws, even those tailored down to meet our laws don't interest me too much. I think it is my dislike for the AR15 variants I've seen and shot. More so the ammo I think.
Yes, the 7.62X39 AK cartridge (which is a stretch of the truth - the SKS had it first) is fun in my SKS - which without a doubt my most accurate rifle. I like how it stays stripper clip feed - I like to think of that in the heat of the battle, just as the Mosins. Not to forget it also is FIXED magazine as with the Mosins.
The SVT-40 though (to me) has the uniqueness of being the first detachable magazine and has an adjustable gas fed system and has a lot of similarities (at least breakdown wise) of the SKS. So in many ways the SVT-40 is in that category of rifles I like and less like the lighter m-4, m-16, ar-15, etc..
I love to say, I love the powerful recoil of these weapons, the thunder and lighting from every shot, the dirty looks I get from the AR folks - heehee and the amazing fact that they are 50-80 years old and in GREAT condition and operate flawlessly WITH ammo that costs about $0.17c a round - I last paid $78 for 440 rounds of Mosin Ammo - I bought three spam cans of it. Sure it is corrosive surplus, but cleaning your guns is part of owning your guns. Another issue is it keeps my TYPES of ammo down to two for rifle and two for handgun. I know, that means the AK would work out well and NO I have not discounted it. For now I need a real gun rack, sad truth - the night I was going to ask my coworker to build me a rack and a memorabilia case, he died at work just an hour before I was to relieve him. The rack has been on the back burner ever sinse.
But thanks, I am happy with the auction, I have no doubt it will be a blast to shoot, Only problem, I may need a bigger car to take them all to the range
of course I am kicking myself in the pants for not getting one when I first was search Russian long arms. And no, I don't plan on stopping at Russian - I just wanted to start with more paycheck friendly rifles: start going to other AXIS Countries and it get pretty expensive quickly.
I'm saving ALLIED for last, I do have an Lee Enfield in the works with a coworker, he's just a tail dragger at getting the info on it so I can fairly price it - it was his fathers bring back: Why an American brings back a British rifle, I'm not sure (and I know many Enfields were made in the states too)- but I have his word it was British - we'll see. But as the Greatest Generation leaves us, their kids will be selling everything they have and I don't feel bad at giving a good home to those who fought wars across both sides of the globe to Victory.