Rifle "Condition" Question

[Critias]

I found all sorts of info about the "percentage" condition listings (not that it seems too complicated in the first place), but I'm having trouble finding out very much (thanks for nothing, google!) about the actual listings that most on-line stores seem to be using.

Excellent sounds like it's pretty good. Shooter grade is apparently pretty bad (but, well, if I want to shoot with it, is it "good enough?"). Being a complete novice to this sort of thing, I'd think that "refinished to excellent condition" would be a good thing, right (so why is it so much cheaper, if it's in good shape now?!)? How much does the nation of manufacture have to do with it, too? I'm seeing Finnish MN's in "very good" shape for $190, for instance, where a Russian that's "refinished to excellent" is just $70, from the same dealer (AIM).

Overall I'm just left with the feeling I'm really missing something, when I go looking. I'm primarily pricing for an SKS, but I keep gettin drawn to the old Mausers and Moisins (often on the same pages as SKSs), and thinking about how, with as cheap as milsurps are, I could afford more than one rifle...help a new guy out?

Can someone list, or link to the info on-line, a "best to worst" listing of these conditions, and what I should realistically expect? I'm just left pretty confused by all of it. Money's tight, and I'm all about "form over function," but I don't want to accidentally get a POS just 'cause I'm trying to save a few bucks.

[97guns]

http://www.fo.com/cr-buds/prices.asp

[Critias]

So what's the story with a refinished rifle? Is there any real reason not to buy one -- I'm not after a rifle for a collector's piece or anything, so wouldn't it being "refinished to excellent condition" be, y'know, a good thing?

If so, why is it so much less expensive?

[sharpshooter]

Refinished or refrubished rifles are less expensive because their value is less. There is a greater demand for "original" antique rifles. The restoration process ruins collectability and originality. Sometimes the process is not done very well or to original specifications. Refinished rifles always carry stamps in the metal/wood showing that they are not original, and they typically are assembled from a Frankenstein collection of mismatched parts.

True, the refinished rifle probably looks nicer, and newer. But visualize this comparison... If you fancied old cars, would you rather have a '68 Corvette in good original condition with low mileage? Or a '68 Corvette with a new Maaco paint job, a rebuilt engine, mismatched tires, a replacement chrome bumber, a chopped dash to fit a cd player, and new carpet?

If you just bought it to shoot, then who cares. But it matters if you like having a "real" piece of history in your personal "collection".

[Critias]

So if I'm buying one -- an SKS, say, or even maybe a Mauser or Moisin -- just because I'd like a basic, inexpensive, shooter rifle, it sounds like I wouldn't go far wrong to try and pick up a refinished one. I'm as big a history buff as the next guy, make no mistake, but what got me poking around some of the surplus stores was the low price tags for what I hear are generally sturdy, reliable, can't-kill-'em, basic rifles.

I'll wait and get a cool old authentic one somewhere down the line. For now I just want something I can take to a rifle range. :)

[m2hmghb]

Good move. I have a chicom sks that is a mix mash of parts, I plan on putting a side mount scope on it eventually. The only thing I plan on doing with my Nagants are to refine the trigger and probably coat the stock in BLO.

[Emmet F]

You just have to ask yourself what you want to do with your purchase. Say your looking for an SKS. The overwhelming majority of "unissued" Yugo M59/66A1 SKS rifles are not really "New" but have been overhauled at least once, if not more than once. I'm only using this as one example. Just as previous poster mentioned, if you are looking for a "shooter", by all means buy a Yugo SKS in the best possible condition. Matching numbers and the best possible bore condition. It helps that the rifle was in production for close to twenty years and was placed into second tier status in the late 1970's when they began use and production of their version of the AKM (M70).

If you want to collect the Yugo SKS instead of shooting them for fun, you will find plenty of research online to pick up an original rifle. They are wonderful rifles and are everybit the equal of the Russian original. Good luck. :beer: