1895 Nagant trigger pull

[Roudy]

Can someone direct me to a site that provides information on improving the trigger pull on the 1895 Nagant revolver? Got one a couple months ago and started reloading for it, seems to shoot well but it has a trigger pull that could double as an exercise machine.

I've read that Nagants were used by Russian shooting teams and they certainly wouldn't have had poor triggers.

 

[Rogue1]

Nagant trigger

Roudy, You might try gunboards.com They share lots of Nagant info. I have found that with the Nagant Officers model it is best to shoot it single action.The trigger pull in DA is very heavy.
Good luck, Rogue

 

[Jim K]

Nagant triggers are amenable to most of the kinds of modifications as any other triggers. The mainspring can be lightened and the engagement surfaces stoned like any other revolver. As in all cases, proceed with care.

In all honesty, though, I would not choose a Nagant as a target revolver. The ammunition is not easy to load (it is designed for the bullet to be loaded before the case is tapered) and the whole gun is just not target quality.

The Russians did use the guns in target shooting, but not when something better became available. I remember one story that in an international shooting competition the Russians made a point of being seen practicing with Nagants and were subject to some ridicule. But when the real thing began, they showed up with brand new K-38 Smith & Wessons, and cleaned up on everybody.

Jim

 

[Roudy]

Thanks for the info!

Appreciate the information. I don't delude myself about using the Nagant for target shooting, have other firearms that are better suited. I bought it because it comes from a bygone era and has a unique operating system. It does seems to want to group well though. I do not form the brass after seating the bullet down into the case because I don't want to over-work the brass and have a shot case life. Occasionally a cartridge will not fit into the chamber, when this happens I remove the primer punch from the sizing die and gently taper the tip of the case until the cartridge fits the chamber. Have had no problems at all.

I'm using a 90 grain .308 round nose bullet with about 3.4 grains of Unique, seems like it would be a fair small game revolver....although the are better ones in the cabinet.

I'll give gunboards.com a try.

 

[Jim Watson]

There was a target model Russian Nagant, meant to be shot single action, of course. Some of the last gas seal Nagant ammo in from Russia several years ago was target ammunition with a little wadcutter setting well down below the case mouth.