If you had to choose between these two cheap surplus rifles which would you choose and why?

I lean towards the Mosin Nagant. Not for any technical reason but only because I'm a bit of a Russophile.

I have great respect for those living in America's stocking cap (Canadia)and know many of them have a fondness for the 303 and probably for good reason.

I had a British .303 years ago. Good gun, it was as accurate as I allowed it to be. But ammo could be difficult to find. And all the reloading manuals stated that .303 brass didn't have the life of other calibers before they had to be discarded. When I bought it I bought a box of ammo and poured 20 rounds through it... The rifle had a brass buttplate and I took a good beating. Shoulder was purple and green the next day. Lol

I know little about the Mosin Nagant. I believe it 7.62 x 54 (correct?) Ammo seems to be easy to find.

Mike

I collect the Mosins, but the British Enfield is a better hunting rifle as issued. Better safety and sights. As a military weapon they were developed for two very different armies. Both worked for their respective militaries.

I think whichever rifle people start out with is their "go to" rifle most of the time. They learn how to use it and get confident with it. A good trapper can catch with any brand of trap but we all have a favorite and there is a bunch of variety. The first coyote on a lure a guy catches quickly becomes a favorite etc. Mosin or Enfield either one are quality firearms. We could discuss problems and attributes for the rest of the day but there are plenty of both out there, still feeding people and still shooting paper at an afternoon range outing.

incidentally, both were manufactured here also- Mosins by Remington and Westinghouse, and the SMLE by Savage.

Mosins have huge variation in quality, ide go with the 303 but they don't seem to be very cheap any longer?

Ive seen both at similar price points. Most of the Mosins seem to also come with a packet of old ammo too.

Ive seen some pretty beat up Mosins and some nicier looking. I'm no gun expert so I wouodnt know what is a good gun until I shoot it

I've only really been around one .303 British it was my dad's yes I shot my first deer with it and learned that I've got a love hate relationship with peep sights . I still have dies for it and a box of bullets for it sadly after dad passed away it and some of the other thing's of his disappeared some day I'll find another that I can afford .

I don't know which rifle is better. I know there is still a ton of very cheap WW2 ammo for the Mosins. If you want modern ammo (non corrosive), there is a ton of that available too.

I've got 2 303's
No 4 MK I 1943 Long Branch
Enfield 1915 SMLE 3
The No 4 was my deer rifle until last year and I've put hundreds of rounds through that gun. It's got a synthetic stock and a top mount scope with a Nikon Pro Staff. I get 1" groups if I do my part. The recoil is almost non existent. I got a heck of a deal on a 6.5 T/C Compass off Gunbroker or I'd still be using it. I wouldn't hesitate to take it out anyway.
The other one was my Dad's gun that he used. That ones shot a pile of deer. The wood stock is cut down (sporterized) but there's no scope on it.
I have no experience with a Mosin.

Prior to the revolution of 1917 in Russia, the Russian Gov't placed a large order with Remington to produce Mosin Nagant rifles for them. When the revolution changed the government in Russia, the new communist gov't renegged on the order, or contract. Remington had all of these rifles to deal with, so they sold them off as surplus here in the US (and maybe elsewhere too).

Just work the bolt on each rifle. SMLE will win hands down. I like rifles I don't have to pull away from my face to work the bolt. Many Mosin Nagant rifles are very stiff. 10 round magazine is a plus too. I loved my No. 4 SMLE rifles I've had over the years. Never been too attached to any of the Mosins, not even the Finnish one I had.

Not to change the subject but I will as far as military surplus I would be looking at a 6.5 Swede.

My son had a Nagant,the bolt ran stiff,but the worst thing was the safety.It took almost two hands to pull the thing back and twist.And nothing worked that would loosen it up.I don't know if thats indicative of them or not,but he never used it because of that reason.Shooting off the bench accuracy was as good as could be expected,the caliber is close to a .308 if I remember right.My experience with the .303 is with my Mark 5 Jungle carbine,bolt runs smooth,safety is easy and it too is accurate as can be expected.I grew up with peep sights so those were no big deal.I personally love the gun and the caliber.Ammo was easy to find,I haven't bought any in a while but from what I'm reading here from others its not as available as it used to be.I'm not knocking the Nagant,my gut feeling was the the .303 was the better made of the two,while the Russian is more crude but won't quit.My 2 cents anyway.

Just picked up my 4th Mosin today. A bit rusty but the price was right at just under $100.00 at Cabelas no less. I fired over 100 rounds yesterday between my 91/30 and my M 44 with folding bayonet. I have a few parts guns I have been scrounging parts for here and there. I am partial to Mosins, they are crazy simple, ammo is dirt cheap with a very large variety. Just got some armor piercing incendiary a while back to shoot 1 lb. propane tanks for fun. Grandson has taken a nice whitetail doe with the M44. I am partial to Mosins. The safety can be fixed with a Max Shepard cocking piece $30-40 + shipping, with a finger ring on it. Keeping your original for later

The Enfield was in service when the sun never set on the British Empire, the 303 British Enfield has probably killed every species of game animal known. The Mosin is capable of that but hasn't had the world wide use like the Enfield has. I think the Enfield is more user friendly by far.

The Mosin Nagant was made from 1891 to 1965 37 million were made it has been used by many countries from 1891 to present. Comes with a cleaning kit that contains one tool for complete teardown, firing pin measurement and reassembly. With folding bayonet on carbine models and removable on standard model. Sniper models were used by Russia to make shots 500+ yards. The Enfield and Mosin are both great rifles, but are in a different class. Our of our members, "Caribou" I think, from Life Below Zero fame often use Mosins for hunting on the show. I want a Enfield for my collection but prices have gone up on all Milsurps.

What do you think kept the Russians at bay in Afghnaistan the 303 British. A lot of surplus was bought up at that time in Canada.

Prices have gone up on all milsurps?You got that right!I don't expect prices to sit still,and I realize their worth whatever somebody is willing to pay, but jeez!I bought a 96 swedish mauser from Walmart in the late '80's for $70,today I see them listed for $350-$400!8mm mausers they practically gave away are now selling for close to a $1000,if they have the Nazi stampings on them.I paid $200 for my Postal Meter M-1 carbine around '90,today I see them listing for $900-$1200.When I grew up in the '70;s deer camps were full of surplus rifles because they worked well and were cheap.Today a guy can pay more for a surplus rifle over a new commercial one.I keep hearing the surplus rifles are way overpriced but year after year the price just keeps going up.My son's Mosin-Nagant cost me $49.95 at Dunhams in Escanaba around 2005 or so.