1925 Tula M1895 Nagant

[TJm15.38]

If you want additional appreciation of how smooth and easy it is to shoot a typical S&W revolver, just go out to the range and shoot a M1895 Nagant "Gas Seal" revolver. Possibly the worst double action trigger in the world, and there is nothing you can do about it; it's just the nature of the gun. They cylinder moves forward with the pull of the trigger to complete the gas seal which makes the trigger pull about double that of even a cheap revolver. The ammo is weird too; the 7.62x38r cartridge is maybe on par with a .32 ACP in terms of power. The sights are crude and the single action trigger isn't much better than firing double action. I have fun with it and just enjoy the challenge of trying to shoot it well. I have a bunch of military surplus ammo which is all corrosive-primed, so I take my water-based cleaning stuff to the range when I shoot it. I have a couple of these pieces. This one has been refurbished and has a perfect bore.

 

[LVSteve]

My WWII Enfield No2 feels like a slicked up 686 compared with my Nagant in DA. Oddly, the SA on my Nagant isn't too bad.

 

[Speedo2]

I, too, have a Tula 1939 Nagant revolver. I shot it DA.........once. I have no idea where that bullet went. -S2

 

[waffles]

I know they're kind of crummy, but if I had the chance to buy the Nagant revolver (and its ammo...) at 2010 prices I'd not repeat the mistake of passing them up.

 

[TJm15.38]

I know they're kind of crummy, but if I had the chance to buy the Nagant revolver (and its ammo...) at 2010 prices I'd not repeat the mistake of passing them up.

Yes; the revolvers are not in stock anywhere these days. I purchased both of mine around 2011 from Aim Surplus and was glad to get both for $169 each. I also have a good supply of commercial and military ammo including a spam can of Russian 1977 surplus. Go on Gunbroker and you will probably see Nagants for ridiculous prices.

 

[waffles]

Yes; the revolvers are not in stock anywhere these days. I purchased both of mine around 2011 from Aim Surplus and was glad to get both for $169 each. I also have a good supply of commercial and military ammo including a spam can of Russian 1977 surplus. Go on Gunbroker and you will probably see Nagants for ridiculous prices.

Yeah I remember $79 nagants along with $69 91/30s. Bought and sold or traded plenty of 91 30s, never got a nagant. Wish I'd bought and kept several of both

 

[Rudi]

Very cool piece. Always wanted one, but gee, add to list.

 

[Golddollar]

I bought a 1940 Tula 1895 Nagant with Finnish capture mark at the Gettysburg gun show a couple years ago. I bought some shells so someday I'll take it out to shoot it. But the main reason I got it was in honor of the Finns in their struggle in the Winter War back in 1939-40 and the Continuation War.

 

[dmar]

These revolvers are very cool. As for their stout triggers, I kind of look at it like a great trigger control training tool.

If you can practice and become proficient with a Nagant in double action, you’ll be an absolute champ with a S&W in DA. Heck even a Ruger will be a piece of cake….

So, practicing with my Nagant is kind of like swinging a lead bat to warm up before stepping up to the plate.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I have a 1944 made Nagant refurbished pistol. Bought it years ago for $135, which included a canvas holster, lanyard, cleaning tools, screwdriver and a few other things.

The odd thing about mine is that it is a genuine single action only version. It has the correct SA hammer, so it has not been converted from DA to SA. I know that almost all Nagants were double action by 1944, or converted to DA by then, so I am not sure why this one is a SA only version that late.

I took it to the range a few weeks ago mainly so a friend could try it out and shot maybe 35 rounds of Russian surplus ammo. Did okay, but had a few flyers! An interesting piece of history for sure.

 

[GypsmJim]

I guess I got mine early. Right after I got my C&R Century was selling them for $59. I think they were selling at gun shows for about $150.
Fiocchi new mfg was $30 / box of 50.

Mine is a 1928, reworked in 1954. It was basically new. Yeah its a fun trigger, but still a hoot to shoot.

A 32-20 cartridge is almost exactly the same size, but without the gas seal feature. As such, I'm loading them for $2.50 a box. When they first came available Lee made a special die that you could reload an original case, and re-form the gas seal end. I have cases that were reloaded 4-5 times and are still OK, but I don't know how many more times they will go.

 

[DWalt]

I sort of remember that Nagants issued to noncoms were different from those Nagants issued to officers. Maybe one was SA, the other was DA. I think their main military purpose was to shoot deserters. I think there was also a Nagant snubby made for use by the Cheka, NKVD, KGB, etc. I remember reading something about a Nagant being used to shoot Rasputin. It apparently did not work too well for that.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

The Nagant pistols are clearly an acquired taste!

 

[DWalt]

Never owned one, never wanted one. Fiocchi still makes the ammo, at least I think so.

 

[deadin]

I understand they have "back of the head" accuracy......

 

[TJm15.38]

I understand they have "back of the head" accuracy......

Yeah; that's about right. Only good for shooting "traitors to the Motherland," and only if their hands are tied.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have one, but to me it's just a curiosity to muse over. One advantage it has is that it's feasible to use a sound suppressor on it because of the sealed barrel/cylinder interface. The Russian secret police used them with the Bramit device to carry out political assassinations without disturbing the neighbors.



John

 

[LVSteve]

I think mine cost me $70 from a guy at work, complete with holster and cleaning rod.

 

[fordson]

Mine is a 1937 Tula that I picked up in ‘05 or ‘06 for about $150. I reload and shoot 32-20’s out of it. Surprisingly good accuracy at 7 and 15 yards. However that DA trigger is …..not too good at about a 12 # pull. The SA runs about 6-8#. My understanding is the DA was an Officers sidearm while the SA was for the NCOs.

 

[TJm15.38]

That's a nice one; I like those later models with the simple Tula star on the side plate. I have heard about people reloading .32-20 cases for these guns, but since I have a ton of surplus ammo, I'll probably refrain from investing in a bunch of reloading equipment for the Nagant.