Mosin Nagant

[bp231986]

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

 

[krdshrk]

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).

 

[Gunzuki]

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.

 

[mkk41]

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.

 

[Fredo Batali]

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

 

[2152hq]

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..

 

[gregintenn]

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

 

[AR_Black]

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

Read this: MOSIN HUMOR

 

[DGNY]

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

 

[Fishslayer]

Muzzle blast of the shorter barreled versions is SPECTACULAR!.

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

 

[AZ_Shooter]

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.

 

[DeadAye]

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

 

[Straightshooter2]

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

 

[Deacon KC]

Mosin Nagant Humor  AK vs. AR vs. Mosin Nagant

 

[Deacon KC]

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.

 

[gregintenn]

Neither has a safety you can call user friendly. Most never use it.

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

 

[Rule3]

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??

 

[Straightshooter2]

what's to love??

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

 

[Fredo Batali]

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

 

[Leatherman-Cowboy]

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