Sporterize, or not?

[Slimjim]

I was wondering about buying a wooden sporter stock for my nagant carbine. I was wondering what you guys think i should do, should i sporterize it, or keep it original, i think the butt of the rifle is a bit small, and would perfer a regular sized butt to use a real recoil pad on. I was also thinking of adding a scope. But what do you guys think?

Also, anyone had any experience with the advanced tech synthetic stock, i heard their shotgun parts are crap, but i dunno about their rifle stocks.

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I think you ought to go with your gut feeling.

It's YOUR gun and you have the right to do with as you see fit.

I'm a purist by heart but I don't condemn or put down anyone who does sporterize, etc.

It's a Mosin Nagant and it's not like it's likely to increase much in value in our lifetimes. Heck, they're a dime a dozen, so to speak, and you can always have a few in original condition and a few spiffed up, if you wish.

And, you can always find a mismatched Mosin that shoots great and sporterize that one so you won't have any leanings toward quilt feelings.

That's what I'm thinking of doing.

 

[Slimjim]

Yes, but id like to see one sporterized first. Anyone have any pictures of one?

 

[Feanaro]

Can't help you with a picture but I might help on the question; to sporterize or not to sporterize? If we are just talking about changing the stock, all you have to do is keep the original in the closet or something like that and you can restore your gun to it's original condition anytime you want.

And if you want a scope, there is a B-Square Mosin Nagant scope mount that fits over the rear sight base, slap L.E.R(Long Eye Relief) pistol scope on there and you have a cool setup that can be changed back to the original form in minutes.

Or you could drill and tap your Nagant, as well as take a little wood off the left side, and put on an original(Or repro) PU scope.

It's your rifle. I wouldn't sporterize a Springfield '03 or an original Kar98. But Nagants, M48s and the like are a dime a dozen, so it's not like you'll rob anyone of a collectors piece.

 

[LynnMassGuy]

Don't do it. But if you do, put your original stock somewhere safe. You're going to want to put it back eventually.

 

[JShirley]

Keep it original? It's a M-N. If you want an original one, buy two.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I agree. Buy two, keep one as-is, slice up the lesser of the two. Have a look at what this guy has done.

http://www.gswagner.com/mosin-nagant/mnsporter.html

It may give you some ideas. I'd go with a cheap synthetic stock, myself. The B-Square scout type mount would be the easiest choice for a mount rather than chopping the original bolt. If you decide you have to have a 'conventionally placed' scope, buy a bare bolt from Tapco and cut it, keeping the original bolt for reconversion if needed.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[jrhead75]

Keep it original? It's a M-N. If you want an original one, buy two.

Uh-huh...exactly what's been said about every milsurp to hit these shores...right up until they're all sold. Tons of bubba'd Mosins out there to choose from already. Not to mention that by the time you're done, you probably will've been able to buy a brand new rifle for not much more.

You're talking about something that might have helped keep the Germans out of Leningrad, or been carried on the final assault into Berlin. It deserves more respect.

But it's your rifle...

 

[Kestryll]

I have a fairly nice Modified Mosin M44, Nothing too fancy but I like it.
It started as a $39.99 special, I then added a "sporter-style" stock purchased on e-bay for $10.00. It was already cut down and had the recoil pad installed, I just refinished it. I spent $60.00 on a scout mount and 2x7 LER scope. So for $110.00 I have a very nice little 'Scout Rifle'. Since I took this picture I have added a bent bolt off e-bay for $10 and trimmed the front of the scope mount so the scope sits in the center of the mount.

Now before anyone gripes or whines.
The rear sight was removed to mount the scope, it is intact in a bag. The stock was removed and stored wrapped in paper and plastic. The bayonet mount, bayonet and font sight assembly was tapped off the rifle and stored with the stock.
So while it was a beaten-up, non-matching $40 rifle with broken metal clips for the barrel bands it can still be put back to that condition.
No rifles were harmed by me in the making of this weapon.

 

[Slimjim]

The most ill probly do is add a scope. I think ill keep the stock the same, unless cutting the butt straight to add a regular buttplate would be wrong.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I usually put my "This is America, and you have the freedom to do what you want with your own possessions" ideals in front of my "You are the caretaker of a tangible link to a part of history that shaped the world you now live in" feelings (usually, but not always ). I usually fall into the camp of "If you can reverse the process and the finished product makes you happier, go for it!" It will probably mean more enjoyment of the rifle that way . But if you scope it, I recommend a scout scope like Kestryll has. If you want the traditional scope, you are talking drill and tap, mount, bent bolt, and scope. The price adds up to not be justifiable IMHO.

 

[Slimjim]

Yes, the scout scope. That was the one i planned on adding.

 

[AC]

Slim Jim, I just don't see what you gain by sporterizing. The military stock is rugged and functional. Everyone seems to comment on the recoil of the chopped Mosins but as milsurps go the Mosin butt is well designed to distribute the recoil. (Shoot a comparable weight .308 SMLE and Mosin 7.62x54R and you'll see what I mean.)

If you must have a scope use one of the non drill and tap mounts that uses the rear sight base as an anchor point.

The way I look at these is that I have sporters with scopes, so just keep the milsurps in as issued condition. The milsurps give me much more pleasure at the range.

 

[Slimjim]

Yea, im gonna keep it as it is, its grown on me.

 

[c_yeager]

Personally i think that of all the milsurps out there the MN makes the absolute ugliest "sporter". its a great rifle but it really isnt all that condusive to making into a "sporter" type rifle. Now, mausers on the other hand....

 

[Okiecruffler]

"But Nagants, M48s and the like are a dime a dozen,"

I remember saying the same thing about the $75 Russian SKS's a few years back when everyone was buying them by the case. You never can tell what the market will do. Now I really don't expect the value of my horde to go up, but if you just look at the history of military surplus, you just can't tell. I don't own any sporterized MN's, most I've ever done is slap a scout mount on a couple, but to each his own. Just don't buy to much into that "they'll never be worth anything" arguement.