Im considering getting me one of this for fun and i like the look and history that comes with it. Never shot one, know very little about them. Please take me to school and tell me the positives and negatives.

Also im thinking about getting one from Budsgunshop.com anyone have any experince with them?

Thanks!
Bryan

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Aim small miss small

Buds is ok but you may be able to find one at a LGS or gun show for cheaper (after transfer fees, etc.).

Not a lot of them are numbers matching, but make sure the bore is bright. If it's still packed in Cosmoline, you have to clean it out (thoroughly).

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USPSA RO
IDPA - SSP MM

I have a 1939 Tula, Mosin , i must admit I love it . A very fine weapon. Most have been refurbished and come completely in cased in cosmoline ACk had to take the bolt out and soak it in mineral spirits for a cpl of days even. the rifle is VERY accurate Fires a 7.62 x 54R ( rimmed) cartridge. Roughly about the same specs as a .30-06. Where can you find a .30-06 for a hundred bucks ? I shoot Russian surplus ammo out of it from green spam cans --74 bucks at a gun show for 440 rounds. ( it is CORROSIVE and get this , silver tipped , steel core Ap !!!) I clean it immediately after we are done firing. I highly recommend the Mosin, you will love it.

Positives; cheap to buy($100 or less) , strong , cheap , reliable , cheap , historically interesting , cheap , fairly accurate , cheap , powerful (slightly more than a 30-06) , cheap , plentiful (and cheap) ammo ,

Negatives; crude, most were built during the war by what can best be described as slave labor.
Painful to shoot, stock is one of the most non-ergnomic stocks I've ever shouldered.
Muzzle blast of the shorter barreled versions is horrendous.
Most are regulated to shoot with the bayonet. Not a rumor , a fact as I have done it.
Bolt lacks primary extraction power and when using steel cased ammo , ya often have to beat the bolt open.
Trigger is horrible. Timney makes a replacement , but they cost as much as a rifle.
Sights on older ones may be graduated in ARSHINS , not quite a yard. Supposedly like 27 inches.


My advice , buy one! Ya can always make a cool floorlamp out of it.

I have several more Mosin Nagants than I need, In various configurations and flavors. They are a Hoot! Some are shooters and some not so much. I shoot strictly surplus ammunition in all of mine (from about a dozen or more countries). The carbines M91/59, M38, and M44 are easy to handle and recoil is quite manageable. The rifle was designed with your basic conscript peasant in mind. You can't really break them. They are very simple to operate and disassemble. The Finnish model 39's are way ahead of your basic Russian version. The Finn's kept the magazine assembly, receiver, and bolt and trashed everything else. Very accurate and they look good too. For all you want to know about them go to 7.62x54R.net and settle in for a good read.

De Oppresso Liber

Fun shooters. Select one with the best condition bore you can find. Avoid one with a counter bored muzzle if you can. It may shoot well enough but if you ever go to sell it,,it really down grades the rifle ($$).

Get a FinnM39 if you can afford one. About $250/$300 will get a nice one yet with some looking and the better sights and stock are worth it if you're into the rifle for more than an entertaining noise maker. Though the stock 91/30 can turn in some very good groups itself...

Neither has a safety you can call user friendly. Most never use it.
Parts are all over the place yet for these rifles if you ever need any and ammo is still affordable though like everything else, it;s gone up in the past few years. It wasn't more than a few years ago the 440rd spam can was $45. Now their twice that. But still cheap..

I feel they are the best bargain on the gun market right now.

For $100 it sure will hurt your shoulder! AND it's FUN, LOUD, and a BLAST!

Read this: MOSIN HUMOR

They are fun, indeed, particularly if your eyesight appreciates military open sights. I would suggest you look for one in person, so you can inspect for numbers [esp bolt and receiver matching], lack of muzzle counterboring, clean and shiny bore, with muzzle looking round and uniformly rifled. You might take a .311 jacketed bullet on your travels to gently try in the muzzles of a few rifles - after a bit you will know which ones have less worn muzzles; and that will assist you.

A few accessories come with many of the refurbed Model 91-30s.

Would recommend fresh non-corrosive ammo, esp apt if you would hunt. But if you clean AT ONCE after shooting corrosive, you will be OK if your budget for plinking allows only the old stuff.

As someone has mentioned - the safety is prehistoric. Best not to chamber a round EVER, unless you are ready to shoot.

Second the motion that the heavy Finnish rebuild known as Model 39 is an especially fine rifle. If you get one and can't resist taking it out of the stock, mind the shims tucked in the odd place - and inventory them for return to their hiding places.

Best,

Dyson

Pretty much spot on except for this one. That, and you had it listed in the "negatives."

I have an M91/30 and M44 and both are quite fun. They pack a heck of a punch and are pretty accurate considering the simple sights. I've always thought of them as tree branches with a barrel built in. They are reliable and tough firearms. I'd say go for it but here's some ups and downs as you requested

Positives:
Inexpensive, even if you don't like it, you're not out that much cash.
Historic
Lots of ammo options
Accurate
Powerful
Wonderful muzzle flash at dusk

Negatives:
The gun has been known to smack me in the nose a few times depending on where I place my thumb behind the bolt. The bolt itself (at least on my M91/30) was not matching and didn't quite fit right and would get stuck easily with certain types of ammunition. I've had ejector problems, again from surplus ammo that seemed like a "good deal".

I'd recommend jgsales.com I'm originally from that part of AZ and they've always done right when it comes to Mosins.

There's a place on the internet (7.62x54r.net) with lots of info - check it out

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In dog years I'm dead.

If you buy one packed in cosmoline, Louisiana Joe has a tip for cleaning. Soak the barrel overnight in Kano Kroil penetrating oil and follow up passing a patch through the barrel 20-30 times using J-B Bore Paste. Also make sure you get the chamber clean. Cosmoline after many years leaves a varnish like substance that is hard to remove and when heated (takes about 3 or 4 rounds) causes the cases to stick which leads to using a plastic hammer (or 2X4) to open the bolt. I used a 30-06 chamber brush on mine with a very low speed electric screwdriver. A gunsmith I know said you can even use toothpaste to clean the chamber? As cheap as you can get these things it's worth a try.

CW

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μολὼν λαβέ

Mosin Nagant Humor  AK vs. AR vs. Mosin Nagant

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Always bet on stupidity.

MNs also have one of the most clever magazine designs ever made. There is an interrupter so that no matter how the rimmed cartridges are put in, it will feed them unlike the SMLE.

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Always bet on stupidity.

Yeah, the safety is akin to fins on a 58 Cadillac. There mostly just there for looks.

I just do not see the appeal in these rifles. Other than cheap (I can relate to that)

They are brutal to shoot, ammo is corrosive, made out of old pallet wood and held together with bailing wire. Over a bazillon made, stored in cosmoline what's to love??

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Still Running Against the Wind

They are cheap, brutal to shoot, ammo is corrosive, made out of old pallet wood and held together with bailing wire. Over a bazillon made, stored in cosmoline, can hit the broad side of a barn from two counties away, they make nice fireballs at night and they scare politicians.

CW

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Just buy one and see what happens. You will be suprised to see no "bailing wire" or "pallet wood". The U.S did some tests with captured Mosin Nagants after the war trying to blow them up with overcharged loads. They were not successful. They will shoot long after your remchester gives up the ghost.

De Oppresso Liber

I have a few and just love them.As stated on here:cheap-reliable-strong-crude-rugged,,,all the things I like in a Rifle.Has the metal stock plate-will shave some of your collar bone if not shoulderd correct.They will reach out and deliver a thunderus boom.
Get one-shoot it and then make up your mind.It's a very cheap way to find out if it's for you.
Thank you,
Henry

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Henry

Perfect zombie/wolf/bigfoot/bear rifle.

Plus, the muzzle flash can be seen from the space station!

These are very historical rifles. They bled the Nazis dry during "The Great Patriotic War" (WWII). Powerful, reliable, and intrinsically accurate. I think anyone who collects World War II weaponry would be remiss in not having one.

I own two; a 1939 Tula 91/30 standard rifle, and an original and correct 1943 Ishevsk 91/30PU sniper rifle, illustrated below. They are really fascinating examples of what the Soviet Union used to help defeat the Germans. A case could be made that this rifle probably did as much or more to win the war than any other weapon, given the numbers employed. The sniper version was probably the best sniper rifle employed during the war. Even the Germans used them when they could.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Yeah, it's fun knocking down everyone's targets with the muzzle blast. LOL

Forgot to mention that my LGS is going to hold the next Tula Arms Plant made 91-30 he gets in for me. My Russians that I have right now were Izhevsk Mechanical Plant made.

CW

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The Mosin is no worse than most firearms designed in that period, especially when you consider the crazy pace of development at the time. Many in America gripe about the stock, but it was designed for the stature of the people in that country and how well they were fed. The length of pull is fine when wearing a thick felt coat typical of the Soviet Union/Russia of the time. Yes, the recoil is nasty when wearing a T-shirt, so get a wearable pad like I do. BTW, most 7.92x57mm Mausers of that period are no more comfortable to shoot IMHO. Neither is the Mosin inherently any less accurate than many rifles of the time like the Springfield 1903, the Enfield and the Mauser. They are all milsurps and subject to the potential for many years of use and abuse.

The draw of the Mosin is that not only are so many of them cheap, but there are so many variations, some of which are excellent shooters. The Finnish M39 rifles show that there is little wrong with the basic design, and even the Finn captured Soviet guns were made to shoot very well with a stock change and some shimming.

The MN was a tool for a job not a wall hanger. I know its not a piece of Americana. It didnt settle the west or fought in the Alamo but that doesnt mean it was made like ****! But on the other hand I guess I can see your point. I never got the fascination with Colt SAA or lever guns or anything really from the old days (pretty much anything prior to WW1 era).

OK, if John says I should get one I will. At least I can say I have a gun that John has. I can probably afford this one.

Don't get me wrong I like old guns, old tools antiques and such

it just doesn't jump out at me a say take me home. The Broomhandle does.

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Still Running Against the Wind

They're an historically significant rifle, used in battle by numerous armies, freedom fighters, liberators etc. worldwide. One wonders what sort of stories even the lowliest counterbored Big 5 rifle could tell...

A plethora of variations that can keep a collector busy for quite some time. Sub variations are numerous, captures, recaptures, refurbs etc. ranging from $89 Big 5 Specials (rare gems have been known to surface in these batches.) to rare & desirable models into multi-$K.

You can take your collection out & have a great time doing what they're made to do & generally not worry about the odd scratch here & there.

Even opening a can of ammo is an adventure.

the Mr. does not see my fascination with these.

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Soli Deo Gloria

I've been known to pick one up now and then...

Generally inexpensive, built like a T-34 tank, surprisingly accurate, cheap to shoot, historically as important as any rifle ever built....what's not to like?

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

Take a look at the Nagant Revolver too; Model of 1895. It has a very unique action where the cylinder moves forward while turning and pushing the cartridge partially into the barrel. The unique cartridge has the bullet fully inside allowing it to expand and seal in the barrel thus increasing velocity. It also allows you to fit a silencer and have it actually work since there is little noise or flame from the cylinder area. Only revolver that I know of that can work with a silencer. They are available pretty cheap ($150 or so) but the ammo can be hard to find. Mine shoots pretty well but I've never had the inclination to fit a silencer and pay the big bucks for the privilege.

I sniped a woodchuck with my 91/38 just a few days ago, from the 2nd floor, open sights, about an 85 yard shot. That 'chuck didn't know what hit him. I want another MN!!
As for the cosmoline, lay down a thick layer of newspaper on the back deck of your car, roll the windows up, park it in the sun. Lay the rifle down on the newspapers. At noontime, flip it. 4 or 5 hours to a side, that will clean out the cosmoline pretty thoroughly.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

A Chipmunk killed a Woodchuck? You must be a bad arse!
Aren't you related?

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Still Running Against the Wind

cheaper than a designer purse and more usefull than a shovel

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is it just me?

I have an old Moisin that looks like it went through the entire Stalingrad campaign. Slightly freckled bore, but surprisingly accurate.
There's hardly anything more fun to ring the steel gong out at ~200 yds or so with.....

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Now y'all have ME looking at Mosins. Stopped bu the LGS this week and he had just got a small shipment on M44s in. One was a matching (not electro pencil matching) Tula. His $240 OTD price was a little more than it would have cost me to order one directly from SOG. However this one "felt" right, you know what I mean.

I have two of them. One is a 1937 Tula I got at Cabelas and the other is a 1932 Tula hex reciever I got from J&G Sales. Fun to shoot but I stay away from the corrosive surplus ammo and reload my own with cast bullets. Lots of history. My dad was in the Korean war and he talked about capturing many of these from the red Chinese and using them for tent stakes!

I also have two of the Nagant revolvers. Very sturdy and simple weapons. I reload for it also. Reloadable ammos is available at Cabelas.

For the past 10+ years for that matter.

I have an M44 carbine model I bought in the late '90s. Fun to shoot but punishing recoil.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

That's precisely why they are so cool. Mine is a 91/59 carbine - that's a 91 that was shortened to carbine length in 1959.

They have decent accuracy considering the sight radius.

Also a big part of the appeal is they were the main battle rifle of the Russian Army which, according to something I once read, killed 80 percent of the German soldiers who died in battle in WWII. 80 percent!

I love shooting mine, provided I wear a slip-on shoulder pad.

I was going to shoot my Sport today - after reading this thread I may just take the Mosin instead!

Not to be argumentative , but I've heard that more German invaders were killed by the M-N's bayonet than it's bullets. The Russians were great fans of the mass bayonet charge. Wonder if the Mosins stubborn bolt factored into that?

I've also read that often due to the lack of rifles , only the first few waves of a Russian infantry charge were armed. The following waves were issued ammo only , and expected to pick up a rifle from a fallen comrade.

That's because the Russians would fire one volley and while the surviving Germans were still stunned by the muzzle blast from all those 91-30s, the Russians would run over and bayonet them.

CW

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I suspect as many German soldiers were killed by Russian winters as Russian rifles.

I am a great fan of the Mosin's as they keep me in gun money and put food on my table. I've been machining front sight adjusting tools for the various models for the past few years and sold and shipped them all around the world. Also one of the sponsors over at the Russian Mosin Nagant forums.

You have to buy and shoot one before you'll ever understand, but beware, once you do, you might fall prey to "Mosinitus" and Lord help you then!

dont think ive seen it mentioned. but be careful if you find one with a right angle bent bolt handle for regular price buy it. its a rarer bolt design made specifically for a sniper platform. those bolts can sell for aroound the same as the regular version guns. especially for a collector trying to make an accurate sniper build.

Saw a sniper version at the gun show yesterday. $499.00, the regular Mosin's were going for $109.00.

I'm sure most of you guys have seen this, but for the one or two who haven't..."Enemy at the Gates." German and Russian snipers going at it during the Battle of Stalingrad. Great movie.

I have not, would it be on NetFlix?

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Aim small miss small

The bent bolts have longer handles, which gives more leverage in extraction and chambering. This is a good thing, because neither Mosin or Nagant had learned about the primary extraction principle. Extraction and chambering could be very difficult with certain ammunition; not a good thing in combat.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

The bent bolts were solely to clear the scope that the sniper rifles used.

There is no doubt about that, but the point I was trying to make was that inasmuch as the sniper bolts had longer handles, the side benefit was easier extraction and chambering through better leverage.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -