Mauser VS Mosin Nagant

Not much the same price.

K98 Mausers have been higher priced for about a hundred years.

I do not believe you will find any of the original form K98's as inexpensive as an 1891/30 Mosin, which are still numerous and relatively easily found.

Go with the Mauser.

Welcome to the High Road.

As for what to look for?

See if you can find a Mosin with all matching numbers. They are usually a better deal in the long run and hold value better.

The Mausers have a better reputation.

The Mosins are not bad rifles. I have had one a long time and have shot it more than any other center-fire rifle.

Although going up in price, about $150 for 1891/30.

I do not see as many K98's listed so do not know what their price would be. I am not looking either though...

Actions from the K98 are used a lot in custom rifles, and those hold their value okay especially compared to custom Mosin rifles, which are usually hard to move at all even at low prices.

At the current cost and availability of Mauser ammo vs Mosin ammo, the Mosin wins all day long on that basis alone.

Both are tough & serviceable designs. For me, the Mauser for many reasons. Specifically the Swedish and "contract" (my favorite being the Chilean) small ring variants. In their original calibers!

Funnel

I've owned both. I think the Mauser is a better rifle, but both are practically indestructible, and shoot well. I like the sights on the Mosin much better. The thinner stock on the Mosin feels better to me too. The Mosin is a VERY long rifle, and can be awkward. The bolt and action on the Mauser are more refined.

Surplus ammo for the Mauser has pretty much dried up, but is still available for the Mosin. Both rounds are powerful. Around here the Mauser goes for about 250-300 and the Mosin around 160-200. Mosins in good condition are much easier to find. The Yugo M48 is another good Mauser variant.

I would say the Mauser is a bit more refined than the MN but the MN is a better value with good inexpensive ammo available.

The different varations can make a difference as well.

A Swedish Mauser will blow a run-of-the-mill MN 91-30 out of the water in refinement and construction but a Finnish M39 MN variant is nicer and more desirable to me than a beat up Turk Mauser.

The short answer if you are into surplus or you appreciate military rifles then get both. Buy the MN 91-30 with a couple cans of surplus ammo right now and shoot it and enjoy it and then start looking for a Mauser.

You know that before long, you will own them both.

I think he is talking about other Mauser pattern rifles then the 98k....some of those can still be had for not much more than a nice 91/30. I also think like the SKS the days of the $89 91/30 are behind us. That said you will have a much more easy time finding ammo for the 91/30, and it will be MUCH cheaper. As to what is better...it is going to depend on the rifles you are looking at....I have mosin's that will start to key hole at 25yards.....others that will put 5 into a group the size of your fist at 200...same with Mausers....these are surplus rifles and no two are taken care of in the same way. I bought a arasaka (Japanese rifle) from a vet...it sat next to his fireplace for 50years....you could not even get a cleaning rod down the barrel it was just so gooked up....I also have a Krag that looks like it was made last week. But if both rifles are in like shape they will shoot about the same. Personally I like shooting the Mauser a little better...its butt pad is a little wider and is better on my shoulder....but I shoot them all from a pad now...so that does not matter.

Get the best one you see.

Is Mauser ammo $80 for 440 rounds?

Keep in mind the M-N was sighted in at the factory with the bayonet ON.

This is a frequently debated topic. You may find some useful information here and here.

It would help if you said a little more about your purpose. Are you just wanting one as a collectible, or do you plan to shoot it? Will you hunt with it?

The K98 is probably the "better" gun, overall, from a technical perspective. And probably worth more as a collectible. But the Mosin is certainly a serviceable weapon, and there's lots of cheap ammo (but corrosive -- no big deal, just clean appropriately after each use) for it. I acquired an M44 Carbine and lots of ammo as a SHTF weapon several years ago. I've since put a forward mounted scope on it, and hope to take it hog hunting sometime. It gets regular range time, and shoots decent, if not spectacular, at 100 yards. I've since acquired several other rifles, but it is still one of my favorites.

For me, the availability of cheap ammo gives the Mosin an edge. But that consideration aside, the K98 is probably the "better" of the two.

There is going to be a huge price difference between a K98 and a 91/30. I have about ten 91/30s and three K98s. I have a ton of Mosins, so obviously I like them a lot, but the K98 is just a better, more refined, much more collectible rifle. You are going to spend a lot less on ammo for the Mosin. If you have a K98 budget, a good buy might be a nice M39 Mosin.

Soviet doctrine was to have the bayonet on the rifle at all times....that little bit of extra weight will make a difference on where the rifle hits.

From what you say I would start with the 91/30 and get one with the best bore you can find. For a fun introduction to high powered battle rifles it is I think the best thing for you.

There is a reason so many have them....they are inexpensive (not cheap made) good quality rifles, the ammo for it is the cheapest center fire rifle round you are going to find....and good rifles can be very accurate.

It is the best bang for your buck.

But the Mosin is certainly a serviceable weapon, and there's lots of cheap ammo (but corrosive -- no big deal, just clean appropriately after each use) for it.

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There's relatively unexpensive new production non-corrosive ammo for it too. I just picked up 200 rounds of new Russian made 7.62x54R back in early March on aimsurplus.com for $6.20 a box.

Get an M44. Much easier to maneuver than the 91/30 and still rock solid. Seem to be going for ~$250 locally with ammo back around $99/440 rounds. Lots of fun for not a lot of money.

fpgt72 said:

Soviet doctrine was to have the bayonet on the rifle at all times....that little bit of extra weight will make a difference on where the rifle hits.

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A famous quote from a Soviet General said "The bullet is foolish, the bayonet wise".

The peasants were more likely to find their target with the bayonet than the bullet.

And yes, it does affect POI.

akv3g4n said:

Get an M44. Much easier to maneuver than the 91/30 and still rock solid. Seem to be going for ~$250 locally with ammo back around $99/440 rounds. Lots of fun for not a lot of money.

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They also make a good flame thrower.

I've got several of both. They all go bang when you pull the trigger. Ammo is definitely cheaper for the mosins. The current batches of refurb M91/30s are almost all good shooters, as are the Yugo M48s and M24/47s. You can still find in-the-cosmo M24/47s for between $200 and $300 online. If it were me, I'd pick up an M91/30, a spam can of surplus ammo, and see if you like it. Learn to clean up after corrosive ammo and you'll be all set. You can also find Chinese T-53s for between $100 and $150, but the wood on those isn't great.

Matt

Definitely a Mosin fan here (just got my second) but never looked at Mausers. Check out 7.62x54r.net for any and all possible info on Mosins. They are pretty good as is, can be made great with less than $5 and a trip to the hardware store, and an hour or two worth of fine sanding / polishing of certain parts. You can also customize them to your hearts content as there are many stocks, sights, scope mounts etc available many of which are reversible mods for if / when you want to return it to its original glory.

Touchy subject. All but the most "last ditch", slave-built Mausers are going to be much more nicely built and finished guns. In some aesthetic senses, the best of the Mosins are only going to match mediocre Mausers (excluding the ones noted). Mausers have conventional safeties wherease Mosins have the cocking piece hook thing which works very well if a bit awkward.

The Mauser has a much simpler bolt design than the Mosin.

Now in terms of real world function, under the most adverse of conditions and with the most rudimentary maintenance, the Mosin is one of the most rugged, tried and true, reliable, and accurate rifles of the type ever made. So too is the Mauser for that matter.

Scores of sporting gun designs have been based to one degree or another on the Mauser. The Mosin is a one-off design.

The Mosin shoots a round that is (or at least was very recently) very common, very plentiful, very powerful, very accurate, and very cheap. Billions upon billions of that round were manufactured and I'd expect a fair proportion of that number still sit somewhere un-fired. Whereas supplies of 8mm have long since been shot through and while good surplus 8mm still turns up, it is neither plentiful nor cheap.

20 years ago a surplus Mauser was about the same price as a Mosin. Today, no.

One thing about the Mosin, despite it's large size (I had a 91/30), it has a very short length of pull. I wish mine had been two inches or more longer in the stock. My thumb collided with my face on many occasions...one reason I sold it. I am 6'7".

At the end of the day, they are both superb rifles. You will see more Mosins by maybe 4 to 1 at gun shows and shops than old Mausers and the Mausers will cost more.