Military Surplus Firearms: Common Problems to Assess

We’ve already covered the topic of why military surplus firearms can represent an incredible deal, and several times at that. We’ve always written about what to look for when shopping for a used gun, since even though a used gun can represent incredible value, there’s always a bit of risk involved for the buyer.

So, with that said, what are some common problems you’ll encounter in military surplus firearms, and to some degree, all used guns? Let’s start with these.

Stock Cracking

Oftentimes, the springs or pins that are missing from a used gun can be easily and economically replaced, but a wood stock can be quite expensive. Therefore it behooves you to know what to look for in the stock.

Probably the biggest issue with the wood stocks of most used guns is cracking. Minor cracking is nothing to be worried about especially if the crack is small, but if it runs the length of the grain and starts at the butt or the forend, with time and the stresses of firing, the crack will continue. Sooner or later, the crack will become so severe that you will need to replace the stock.

Therefore, while small chips and minor scuffing and wear of a wood stock are generally nothing to be concerned about, cracks are a different story.

Stock Dry Rot

Dry rot is a condition that affects seemingly dry wood, and which is caused by a wood-decaying fungus that affects wood even when not exposed to wet conditions. Dry rot causes wood to decay, become brittle, and crumble, and often affects the stock where it meets the action, barrel, and other hardware.

If a stock exhibits dry rot, it will eventually crumble and need to be replaced, which can be an expensive proposition. All the same, if the action and barrel of the gun in question are in good condition, the affected firearm might still represent a viable deal.

Barrel Bulges

Barrel bulges are a hard stop on any used gun, even though they can be difficult to detect. Wherever the barrel bulges, there is a precursor to catastrophic failure of the barrel - a barrel burst.

If you can see the bulge, that’s one thing, but you should also look down the bore with a bore light - oftentimes a bulge becomes apparent as a shadow on the inside of the bore. If you see a bulge, pass. That thing is a wallhanger at best and should be scrapped in the name of safety.

Barrel Dents

Dents in the barrel are as severe as bulges as, even where they do not restrict the interior diameter of the bore (which can happen) they do represent an area in which the barrel has been weakened so significantly it has taken a set. And that, like a bulge, is a precursor to a sudden and catastrophic failure of the barrel.

It’s unfortunate, but both of these issues (bulges and dents) which generally arise from abuse or neglect, render the affected gun unsafe to use. Any gun with a dent should have its barrel replaced; but the better and safer option for you is not to buy the thing.

Barrel Pitting

Barrel pitting occurs once corrosion becomes severe, to the point that some of the metal of the barrel gets compromised. Intense pitting reduces the strength and integrity of the barrel and like a bent or a bulge, can presage catastrophic failure. It is also a condition that should be rectified before the gun is fired, and all in all, is significant enough that you shouldn’t buy the gun in the first place.

Rifling Wear/Chamber Throat Erosion

Rifling wear will not be noticeable until you can take a bore light (and more realistically, a bore scope) to the barrel. But if you do notice rifling wear, and buy the gun anyway, know this: it won’t be accurate till you replace the barrel, especially at extended ranges.

Chamber throat erosion occurs fairly early in the life of a rifle affected by barrel burnout (though some calibers are more suspect than others) and when the throat erodes, the distance the bullet must travel from the case before it engages the lands of the rifling increases. This is also a cause for a drop in accuracy, and if the throat has eroded, expect accuracy to be middling at best until the barrel is replaced.

Corrosion (Affects All Steel Parts)

Corrosion - rust, that is - affects all the metal components of a gun, including the barrel and barrel bands, hardware like fasteners and swivels, and potentially even magazines. In the case of hardware it may be somewhat easy to replace, but corrosion to the barrel, bolt, or other action parts can be concerning.

Missing Hardware or Magazines

It’s relatively common for military surplus guns to be missing hardware and other parts like butt plates, fasteners, swivel mounts, and even sights. Sometimes these can be easily replaced, but not always.

Also, sometimes surplus guns are sold without magazines, which is a bit more of a concern. However, if the gun is in good shape and you can still buy magazines for that model, you shouldn’t necessarily pass up the deal.

Magazines That Are Missing Internals

If the gun itself comes with a magazine (detachable or otherwise) make sure you look closely. A magazine that looks intact could have a fatigued magazine spring, deformed feed lips, or a missing or damaged follower that will basically render it useless.

If the mag is detachable, drop it and charge it a few times to make sure the mag catch and release work as intended.

Shop Military Surplus Firearms Here

Interested in learning more about what to look for in military surplus firearms before you buy? Want to see what options are in stock? Take a look through our full collection of surplus firearms and don’t forget; even if some model is missing a part, we sell a huge assortment of gun parts, especially for rare and historically significant firearms, so the fix may be easier to find than you might think.