Mosin Nagant

[HighAngleHell]

http://sovereignguns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_22&products_id=340


thinking about picking one of these up. Any tips on what I should look for?

[seaninmich]

about a gazillion of these were made. very, very few rare dates and variants out there and they aren't going to turn up in a $87 luck of the draw.

if you are going to be able to hand pick your own, just take a bore light. all the ammo for these is corrosive and mosr haven't been cleaned since the day they left the factory. don't expect a nice bore, but don't take a sewer pipe if you don't have to

[HighAngleHell]

I am more concerned with getting one in good shape. I do plan on hand picking one. I don't have gages so I was curious if there was a way to do a kind of ghetto head space. Also wondering if there were obvious things to watch out for other then the bore.

[seaninmich]

I've had literally dozens of these (as well as other MN variants - M44, M38, M39, etc) I've never had any head space or function issues. remember, these things are glorified clubs that happen to also launch a projectile. there is nothing pretty about them. the stocks are junk wood with junk finish (usually peeling and cracking). Most of them have wedge repairs in the butt end and some handguard repairs. the repairs are fairly well done and i've never had one fail, but I do tend to look for wood with fewer, or no, repairs in them.

[seaninmich]

here's a great site with lots of good info.


http://7.62x54r.net/

[seaninmich]

which reminds me. this is one a pretty funny list that only a nagant owner will ever really get

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinHumor.htm

[dogboysdad]

I have some Mosins that go back to 1896 or so. I still shoot them. Do they headspace? With a rimmed cartridge, does it matter?

[seaninmich]

I've got a handful of pre-1899 M39s.

[Punch The Clown]

My buddy Stan has a few, including a PU. Anyway, after a range trip we decided to clean one. I always put a small dab of grease on the locking lugs on my bolt guns. I did on his all serial # matching 91/30 and worked the bolt a few times. I found the grease undisturbed. The lugs don't contact the receiver. The bolt is held in battery by the bolt handle. Very safe design. Russian engineering and quality control at it's best.

[ZachM]

If you have the dough, I would try and swing for a Finnish M39. These are really neat rifles, lots of history, only about 130,000 or so made, and they just look awesome. They can still be had for around 300-400, even Southern Ohio Gun has VKT M39's for $229+ shipping, which is where I got mine.

[seaninmich]

I have a half dozen M39s. One is a mint arsenal rebuild with new wood. I picked it up for under $400 not too long ago.

[LEAD POISON]

If cost is a factor AIM has them for $79.00 + $10 .00 for handpick.

[musketjon]

[which reminds me. this is one a pretty funny list that only a nagant owner will ever really get
http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinHumor.htm ]

Now THAT'S some funny excrement. Thanks for the laugh, Sean.
Jon

[musketjon]

One of our local chain sporting goods stores has M91/30's for $119 complete with bayo (which may or may not fit the rifle), sling, dog collars, oil can, cartridge pouch, and tons of cosmo. Mine was made in '45, has an absolutely pristine bore, and shoots sub-2" 10-shot groups at 100 yds. It actually shoots tighter groups than any of my Garands. That's really SAD. The fact that the muzzle is about half way to the target helps some, I'm sure.
Jon

[singleshotcajun]

IMHO every man woman and child in the U.S needs at least one 91/30 and a truck load of surplus ammo to go with it. Why would anyone not have one and a bunch of ammo at current prices is beyond me. I used to have Mosin fetish, still have a little one. I've pared my Mosin collection down to mainly rare examples and ones that shoot way better than they should.A hand full of great shooting M39s,one nice M91/30,one super clean Valmet M91 and the crown jewel one excellent M28/76 Finnish Marksmanship rifle from Dennis Kroh's first hand picked shipment.You can learn to control your Mosin addiction but it aint easy.I find that the cost of collecting U.S Service rifles is a good way to keep Mosinitus in check.

[jjones]

buy it, they are fun to shoot, ammo is decent. Enjoy.

[LCPL Hanky]

Pat burns has a great listing of M39s. Www.gunsnammo.com I bought a very nice one from her for $295

[HighAngleHell]

IMHO every man woman and child in the U.S needs at least one 91/30 and a truck load of surplus ammo to go with it. Why would anyone not have one and a bunch of ammo at current prices is beyond me. I used to have Mosin fetish, still have a little one. I've pared my Mosin collection down to mainly rare examples and ones that shoot way better than they should.A hand full of great shooting M39s,one nice M91/30,one super clean Valmet M91 and the crown jewel one excellent M28/76 Finnish Marksmanship rifle from Dennis Kroh's first hand picked shipment.You can learn to control your Mosin addiction but it aint easy.I find that the cost of collecting U.S Service rifles is a good way to keep Mosinitus in check.

That's what I was thinking. They are so cheap and the 7.62 X 54 has decent ballistics. At the current prices it just seems smart to buy a few rifles and a few cans of surplus ammo.