5 Things You Should Always Check on Any Used Military Surplus Rifle

Military surplus guns can represent incredible value, as can any military surplus, or milsurp, as it is commonly, colloquially called. 

Yet, there are risks associated with purchasing used firearms, just as there are with purchasing used cars, or anything used, for that matter. 

With that said, here are 5 things you should always check on any used firearm, and that includes military surplus firearms. 

But Safety First 

Always treat all firearms as if they are loaded; keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and open the action to visually and physically inspect the gun to make sure it is clear before proceeding with any of these checks.

1. The barrel (interior and exterior, muzzle and breech end, with particular attention to the chamber)

While there are many important components of any used firearm that you should check thoroughly before buying, the barrel is arguably one of the most important. Where significant material failures occur, they often impact the barrel. 

First inspect the exterior of the barrel. It should be free of pitting and corrosion and in good shape. Minor surface rust can be acceptable as you can likely buff this away but anything more considerable should make you rethink the purchase. 

Then check the crowning; it should be clean, rust-free, and in good shape. With the action open, inspect the chamber. This is where a lot of damage from accumulated fouling and corrosion occur, as well as wear. 

If you can, scope the barrel, or look down the bore with a light. It should be clean and look shiny. A reflective bore is generally a clean bore. Shadows may indicate a bulge. The barrel should also be straight. 

2. The stock 

If the rifle has a wood stock, be particularly attentive in your investigation. Check the exterior of the stock for signs of water damage, dry rot, or general wear. Small chips are not necessarily cause for concern, but long cracks may indicate that the stock needs to be replaced.

As you scan the stock, check for missing hardware like sling stud mounds or barrel bands. Sometimes military surplus rifles are missing these. 

If you can, inspect the barrel where it encounters the action and stock, as these areas are liable to be disproportionately affected by both wet and dry rot. 

3. Tool marks or other markings that shouldn’t be there

Check the barrel and the stock, especially around the action and muzzle, for signs of work that shouldn’t have been performed and which may indicate that there was some damage that someone tried, professionally or otherwise, to rectify. 

You might also want to check for weld marks on any metal components including the action and barrel. Overall, the gun should be free of random marks that indicate impromptu work.

4. All external controls (run the action)

Run the action and run it several times, don’t just open it. Some actions break in more smoothly than others, but regardless, you want to make sure the action runs properly and smoothly and does what it’s supposed to do before you buy the gun. 

A military surplus rifle that has been heavily used should have an action that is well broken-in and which should run fluidly. Ask the gun shop owner if you can feed the action snap caps to see that the magazine works and the action runs as intended.

In addition to the action, you should also try the other external controls, where applicable, including but not limited to the magazine release, safeties, action locks, bolt and slide releases, sight adjustments, and on AR-style rifles, forward assists 

5. The trigger 

Note: never test the trigger of any military surplus firearm (or any gun) without first getting permission from the person at the shop who is responsible for showing you the gun. First, clear the action and then ask for permission to test the trigger. Most will let you do so, but may ask you to drop the hammer on a snap cap to protect the firing pin. 

The trigger should break cleanly and shouldn’t be mushy or overtravel. Many otherwise excellent military surplus rifles have been undone by a bad trigger. Sometimes they can be replaced easily, but it’s better to know what you’re getting out of the gate. 

Explore Military Surplus Guns in Our Online Collection

While you should absolutely be thorough and do your due diligence when shopping for military surplus, if you are smart about if you can find real deals, often at incredibly low prices. 

Shop our collection of military surplus rifles and get in touch with us if you have any questions before you buy, or are looking for gun parts for a specific military surplus model you see listed. We have an exhaustive assortment of gun parts compatible with many of these platforms and can help you find what you need.