Mosin Nagant for foul weather hunting

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Dr T

Dr T

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I am considering picking up a Mosin Nagant for foul weather hunting in the Rockies. This will be used as a shooter and any collector value is a secondary concern. While price is not a big issue, I am willing to pay for functionality. My priorities in order are:

1. Accuracy
2. Strength of Action
3. Reliability in adverse conditions
4. Condition of exterior (bluing, stock finish, etc--I don't want rust magnets)
5. Price

All of this seems to point to a Finn M39, but there are others out on the market, e.g. Grade 1 hex receiver guns that were made in the early 30's and arsenal reconditioned are available.

Any suggestions regarding year of manufacture, hex versus round receiver, and arsenal of manufacture would be greatly appreciated.

Thx,

tds
 
I have a 1942 stamped 91/30. While it's in good shape (6.5/10 outside, 8/10 bore) for all the ammo I've shot through it it seems to like to shot 3in high and 4in to the right at 100yd. At least it's consistent from one ammo to the next.

Best thing I can say is just give them a good looking over before buying one. Some may look good (like mine) but wind up being iffy at best shooters.
 
The M39 is a tank and will hold up well in extreme conditions. But it is several pounds heavier than the 91/30 which can be a real factor in mountain hunting.

I would suggest the option of the Finnish M30,which was their version of the 91/30. There are a real mixed assortment of these ranging from SA stamped 91/30 captures to truly Finnish rifles made with new barrels and everything, so finding one can be a little challenge. Dig around on gunbroker and pay attention to whether it has a Finnish "pot belly" stock, Finnish high sight in front and a Tikkakoski barrel. Here's one, though the price is a little too high:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=170984742

Another option would be the Polish M44's, which have an excellent rep for accuracy.
 
Any one will do, so long as it can shoot minute of deer, might want to find a sporterized one with a plastic stock already on it, will save $60, more if they have a decent scope mount.
 
I've done the M39 hunting thing. It is HEAVY. Go with a M38/M44/M91/59. The short barreled versions can be surprisingly accurate, utterly reliable, and about 2-3 LBS lighter than the M39.
 
M-38, no pigsticker to worry about, unless you want that option for last ditch spear fighting agaist angry whatever....
Good solid carbines, I had a wartime production counterbored that shot minute of felon at 100 yards.
 
91/59 is another good option as mentioned. Also there's a Czech carbine made from the M91 long rifle that's said to be quite accurate, though I haven't seen one in the flesh.
 
If they are good enough for hunting Germans in -30 below weather at Stalingrad, or in the mud season...I doubt you can throw anything at it dear hunting that will make a Mosin not shoot. Actualy I can't think of anything that will stop a Mosin from shooting, as long as you can work the bolt it will go bang.

I'd buy a 91/30 for $100 and go at it.
 
I have to ask, why? If you answer is, because I want to and think it would be a challenge, then that is fine. But there are far more accurate, far lighter rifles that would make for better hunting rifles. By in the Rockies do you mean NM, CO, WY, or MT? I am not trying to be that guy, just trying to understand.
 
i've got 2 m1891 mosins that are very accurate. i love them. they arent the most accurate rifles i own but are more than accurate enough for hunting. if you are interested my m1891 finnish tikka is for sale
 
Why? Why ?!? Why?!?!?!?

There are my top 10 reasons

1. 7.62x54 R Is a historically significant cartridge and the Mosin Nagant is a historically significant rifle. I think it would be interesting.
2. I have a number of rifles that are likely to be lighter, more accurate, and much more expensive. Some are just almost too pretty to take into the field, especially during snow storms and rain.
3. All of my non-lever action big game rifles (with the exception of a .460 S&W barrel for my Encore) are wearing glass. Scopes do not work very well when snow is limiting your visibility to 150 yards maximum.
4. If I hunt wearing snow shoes or skis and fall, I might need a crutch.
5. I sort of like using tangent sights. I have access to a silhouette range that allows rifles up to 8mm.
6. The idea of going down to the ranch in West Texas and plinking with a centerfire rifle that is less expensive to shoot than a 22 magnum is an interesting concept. I need to work on my recoil management anyway.
7. It is nice to take a rifle into the field and not worry about scratching the stock.
8. I would be too worried about messing up a 1903 Springfield with military wood furniture and ruining the collector value if I used one in this application.
9. The action has a mechanically interesting design that I want to examine in some detail.
10. I just bought another gun safe and need to put some more stuff in it.

The areas that I have in mind for hunting with this thing are in Colorado in Grand County in fairly heavy cover and out west of Vail. And, I am more interested in minute of elk than minute of deer.
 
Mosins are sighted for minute of German, which tend to run smaller than elk and or deer.:D

The 7.62X54R is a hot round, I can't imagin it wouldn't be a good deer round.
 
Caribou of this forum has used an M39 to take nearly everything that's walked or crawled in Alaska at one time or another. Up to and including griz. So with the right bullets they will absolutely get the job done.

I don't think you should skimp on the accuracy though. Spend a little extra to get a good type with a nice barrel and take the time to get your chosen load sighted in and calibrated with the tangents. For handloading with the Finns in particular some of the .308" bullets work great. I've been having good results with Barnes TSX 168's.
 
plinking with a centerfire rifle that is less expensive to shoot than a 22 magnum is an interesting concept
Click to expand...

I am more interested in minute of elk
Click to expand...

I've found 50 yo ammo, packed in spam cans for $0.20/rnd to be pretty inaccurate. I can just barely keep them on a blue profile @ 50 yds. Maybee, I have been buying especially crappy stuff without knowing it. But you are looking at .308 prices for commercial 54r if you want decent accuracy.

But I love my Mosin and blasting the cheap stuff until my shoulder can't take it anymore
 
Well, minute of jackrabbit is always better. Heck, even minute of bobcat or collared peccary would work (but I have to go the ranch for those--but that is 750 miles from here).

The "minute of elk" comment was actually referring to the type of game, not the level of accuracy I would like. I have a number of more appropriate things for deer, and I am not likely to venture into a snow storm for anything less than Wapiti. A 3 inch group at 100 yards with iron sights would be acceptable accuracy for me. It is a goal.

And the rifle pictured in AH-1's post is about what I have in mind (but that is not a $100 rifle). Right now the Finns and Poles are on the top of my list.

This is beginning to feel like a quest. To paraphrase Robert Service, It is not the gold, but the finding of the gold, that matters.
 
While not a $100 rifle...

M39s, especially collectible ones or those in really good condition, do go for a bit more. But I got my pre-1898 reciever for right at $200, and I get 3 inch groups (sometimes...but that's my fault) with surplus ammo. The cheap ones can look a bit rough (mine has about 2% finish left), but the bores are often nice and still shoot well.

http://www.gunsnammo.com/ sells a lot of M39s, and they are having a sale right now...
 
Well, I think they're butt ugly, fire a round that kicks the devil out of you, lights up the night sky for miles around, I can't stand straight bolts, and did I mention they're butt ugly?

Having said all that and having read numerous posts about how some people seem to love them (WHY? I ask myself, WHY?) I think I may have to head down to Gander Mountain to see what they're asking for the ones in their rack. Every once in a while they get one that isn't as bad looking as the rest of them.

I kind of like the idea of having a rifle in the back of the barn and not having to worry about it getting weathered a bit, or the barn burning down either for that matter.

I like old milsurps and the Mosin is one I haven't added to the collection yet. :)
 
its a love them or hate them thing :).I got into the finns in the early 90's.unssued M-39's were 100.00 ea.my M28/30 sako I paid 175.00 for.
I love my russians but you can't put them into a group with the finn's.
right after I bought my M28 sig I headed to the range with a friend that
bought a new sav in 7mm mag leupold scope ect.that old finn out shot the sav with iron sights with my handloads.

if you were looking for a MN for hunting foul weather on the cheap I would go with a "good" 91/30 in a laminated stock.
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My first instinct is to answer this question with: Might as well get a No. 4 Enfield since the hunting grade ammo is the same price, it has a bit less recoil, has better sights, and the bolt is already bent and easy to manipulate.

However I also understand the allure (and low price) of the Mosin. I would not think it was matter greatly which one you chose. The most important thing would be to practice manipulating the bolt. It is easier to do with the hand that grasps the forend with practice. I would be tempted at one of the carbines if it weren't for that pig sticker on most of them.
 
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