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SHOP NOWThis episode counts down five surplus rifles that are realistically attainable today, focusing on models with interesting engineering, accessible calibers, and solid shooting performance. The hosts compare variants, explain operating systems, and discuss why each rifle deserves a place in a practical surplus collection, whether you’re an experienced collector or just getting started.
The hosts open with a casual conversation about getting into surplus firearms. One of them is looking at a modern FAL-pattern rifle, and the other points out that it is not actually surplus, using it as a springboard to explain that there is a huge world of true surplus rifles to explore. They introduce the episode as a countdown of the top five surplus rifles you can realistically go out and buy today. They stress that the surplus market is cyclical, with periods of abundance and scarcity, so the list avoids ultra-rare dream pieces and focuses on rifles that are still attainable either at retail or on the secondary market. One host repeatedly describes himself as a novice who is eager to learn, while the other, more experienced host explains that the list reflects his personal picks and invites viewers to argue, agree, or disagree in the comments. The stated goal is to highlight surplus rifles that are mechanically interesting, use calibers that can still be sourced, and make sense both for established collectors and for people just starting a surplus collection.
The countdown begins with the SKS-45 in the number five slot. The hosts note that many people immediately think of the AK-47 when discussing mid-20th-century self-loading rifles, but the SKS-45 predates it in service and takes its designation from its 1945 adoption. They describe it as a semi-automatic, short-stroke gas piston rifle with a tilting bolt. Instead of rotating like a typical turn-bolt or rotating-bolt semi-auto, the rear of the bolt tips down into a recess in the receiver to lock, bearing against a ledge that keeps the action closed during firing. The rifle on the table is a Type 56 pattern SKS with a spike bayonet and a fixed 10-round internal magazine chambered in 7.62x39. The hosts contrast this example with earlier production rifles that often feature a blade-style bayonet and more visually striking hardwood stocks with pronounced grain and color. They also mention other national patterns that can be identified by unique features such as integral rifle grenade launchers at the muzzle or different front-end hardware. Some commercial variants that were imported with detachable AK-pattern magazines are briefly referenced as interesting but not representative of the classic configuration most collectors seek.
The hosts go into more detail on how the SKS operates. Gas tapped from the barrel drives a piston that travels rearward and impacts a separate operating rod with its own spring. That operating rod then nudges the bolt carrier to the rear. As the carrier moves back, it cams the rear of the bolt upward out of its locked recess so the action can cycle. The rifle is loaded from the top using stripper clips that feed into the fixed 10-round magazine through a built-in guide, though single rounds can also be pressed into the magazine by hand. They explain that total production of SKS rifles reached into the tens of millions worldwide, with especially large runs from major producing nations and smaller quantities from others such as Albania and Romania. Chambered in 7.62x39, the SKS benefits from its roughly 18–19 inch barrel, which helps the cartridge perform well in terms of velocity and practical accuracy. The 10-round capacity is described as perfectly adequate for casual range use and recreational shooting. The hosts note that some barrels are threaded at the muzzle, which theoretically allows for the use of muzzle devices or suppression, though they have not personally encountered many suppressed SKS builds. Overall, they characterize the SKS as mechanically interesting, historically significant, widely distributed, and very comfortable to shoot, making it an excellent entry point into surplus collecting.
At number four, the hosts present the Swiss K31, a straight-pull bolt-action rifle that outwardly resembles a conventional turn-bolt but functions differently. Instead of manually rotating the bolt handle up and down, the shooter simply pulls straight back and then pushes straight forward. Inside the action, a sleeve with a cam track converts that linear motion into the rotation needed to lock and unlock the bolt lugs. The K31 is chambered in 7.5x55, a cartridge that is not as ubiquitous as some others but is still produced for civilian use by the Swiss government and by commercial manufacturers such as Prvi Partizan. The hosts recount shooting a K31 at roughly 450–500 yards on an 8-inch steel gong using only iron sights and managing hits within a few attempts, which they offer as a practical demonstration of the rifle’s excellent accuracy and shootability. They highlight the smoothness of the straight-pull action, the quality of the trigger, and the rifle’s handy overall length as reasons it stands out among surplus bolt-actions.
The conversation broadens to place the K31 in the context of Swiss straight-pull development. The hosts point out that many shooters think of straight-pull rifles as a modern innovation seen on contemporary sporting and target guns, but the K31 actually represents the mature stage of a design lineage that began in the late 19th century with the Schmidt–Rubin series. While some people casually refer to the K31 as a Schmidt–Rubin, the hosts clarify that it is technically a different pattern, even though it shares visual similarities and underlying design concepts. By the time the K31 was adopted, Swiss engineers had refined the straight-pull system into a robust, accurate, and reliable service rifle. The hosts praise its iron sights, compact overall length, and very smooth cycling, all of which contribute to its reputation for precision at several hundred yards. They also comment on the distinctive look of the wood stocks, noting the rich finish and character that make the K31 appealing both as a shooter and as a collectible surplus piece.
The hosts pause the countdown to feature Venture Surplus, a surplus gear supplier based in Colorado. They describe the company as a team that actively evaluates and tests a rotating inventory of surplus equipment, including cold-weather clothing, uniforms, boots, chest rigs, and other field gear. A major focus of the segment is on MREs and preparedness. The hosts talk about the importance of having food on hand for emergencies such as extended power outages, severe storms, or periods of civil unrest. They recommend keeping at least a couple of weeks’ worth of food in reserve and present USGI MREs as one practical option, noting that they can have a shelf life measured in many years when stored properly. They mention a discount code, CLASSIC10, that viewers can use for a percentage off MRE purchases, and they frame the sponsorship as part of a broader mindset of readiness rather than just collecting surplus items for nostalgia.
Returning to the list, the hosts introduce the M1 Carbine as the number three surplus rifle. They point out that it was the most prolifically produced U.S. rifle of the Second World War, issued to a wide variety of troops who needed something lighter and handier than a full-size battle rifle. The M1 Carbine is chambered in .30 Carbine, which they describe as an intermediate, pistol-like cartridge conceptually similar to a hot revolver round such as .357 Magnum: more powerful than typical handgun ammunition but still relatively soft-recoiling. The rifle uses a very short-stroke gas system with a small gas tappet that moves only a short distance. An operating rod connects this tappet to a rotating bolt; as the rod travels rearward under gas pressure, it cams the bolt to unlock and cycle the action. The examples on the table feature postwar upgrades like an adjustable peep rear sight, a bayonet lug, and improved safety controls. The hosts emphasize the carbine’s light weight, compact size, and gentle recoil, noting that it is easy to carry all day and very manageable for smaller-framed or newer shooters, which helps explain its enduring popularity on the surplus market.
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