8MM Mauser VS Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant

[thelittlestchipmunk]

I have been thinking about getting a M39 Mosin for a while, mainly for target shooting and plinking. But looking around some of these K98 and Vz. 24 Mausers seem pretty nice too. Price aside, which do you like more?

 

[morcey2]

I have 2 8mm's, one is a stock VZ-24 and the other is a sportered spanish M44. I really like them both and they both shoot better than I can. That said, an M39 is on my very short list for January. I have a stack of mosins and the advantage that they have right now is cheap surplus ammo. The supply of surplus 8x57 has pretty much dried up other than Yugo M75 sniper rounds (which are extremely accurate, btw.)

So my suggestion is to get one of each.

Matt

 

[primalmu]

The Mosin would be more fun to shoot for me, mainly because I could shoot as much as my shoulder could take for what half a box of 8mm would cost.

 

[wrench]

I like the sights on the m39 a lot better than Mauser sights, way easier for me to see.
As mentioned before, 7.62x54r ammo is cheaper than 8mm, if you're shooting surplus.
Both can be plenty accurate, will depend on the individual rifle.
I'd pick the m39, though.

 

[Chevelle SS]

I have 3 Mausers and no Mosins so you can guess which one I would suggest.

 

[ghitch75]

i like semi's....Hakim's!!!!

 

[TurtlePhish]

I have an M39 and I can say that it's my favorite rifle at the moment. It's accurate, awesome, and dripping with history.

Here, I'll even help you get started:

http://www.gunsnammo.com/

This is the usual source of M39s for most people. Selection is (was?) great and prices are good, though slightly better deals can be found other places if you look and wait long enough.

They're starting to reach the end of what they have, from what I've heard. It looks like it, too; more of the unissued, 100% condition rifles now instead of the larger selection of old warhorses there used to be.

The antiques are especially cool. My own M39 was built on an 1896 Izhevsk receiver at VKT arsenal in 1941 with a Tikka barrel.

Here's a great writeup on the M39s:

http://www.mosinnagant.net/finland/finnish_mosin_nagantm39.asp

 

[morcey2]

Also, the average M39 will be signicantly more accurate than the average battle mauser in 8mm. And the mauser sights leave much to be desired. That's why me VZ will probably be getting Mojo sights soon.

Matt

 

[tahoe2]

I'm a mauser guy all the way; 3 of em (8mm), but I reload and haven't shot factory or surplus ammo in any of them.
I have never even shot a Mosin, but I hear those Finn's are pretty nice, and for the price of a Finn you can get a really nice mauser.
But that's just me.

 

[morcey2]

I'm a mauser guy all the way; 3 of em (8mm), but I reload and haven't shot factory or surplus ammo in any of them.
I have never even shot a Mosin, but I hear those Finn's are pretty nice, and for the price of a Finn you can get a really nice mauser.
But that's just me.

My 8mms are the reason I started reloading. As for finns v. Mausers, I'd put Finn mosins in the same class as swedish mausers. They're both well made and accurate.

Matt

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

The Finnish Mosin-Nagants are by far superior to most WWII bolt-action rifles. The Finns were riflemen and their weapons reflected this.

I would go with the M39.

Josh

 

[greenlion]

The Mausers are well made guns and worth owning, but the surplus 8mm ammo has dried up, and cannot be found. Mosin Nagant ammo is still plentiful. Might make a difference if you don't reload and want to shoot cheaply.

 

[I6turbo]

The Mausers are well made guns and worth owning, but the surplus 8mm ammo has dried up, and cannot be found. Mosin Nagant ammo is still plentiful. Might make a difference if you don't reload and want to shoot cheaply.

I like the feel of the Mausers better, too. 8-mm surplus hasn't completely dried up, but very nearly, and definitely more costly than the 54R. I recently bought some of the Yugo 8mm from SOG at about $230/thousand. I haven't shot any of it yet, but it looks to be in outstanding condition and on-line reports indicate that it shoots well.

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

I love my M39. Probably one of the most accurate rifles of WWII. In order to be accepted into service they had to meet at least a 1.5 MOA accuracy requirement (or something like that in metric). Sweet rifles, through and through. They tend to like heavier ammo, but shoot the surplus just fine.

 

[TurtlePhish]

In order to be accepted into service they had to meet at least a 1.5 MOA accuracy requirement (or something like that in metric).

Close. It was 5cm@150m. So, they ARE quite accurate with the right ammo.

They tend to like heavier ammo, but shoot the surplus just fine.

The Finnish D166 cartridge issued with the M39 was 200gr, so actually quite a bit heavier than available surplus heavy ball. That said, my M39 shoots Russian lead core heavy ball perfectly well, though it's actually a little more accurate with Russian steel core light ball.

What year/arsenal is your M39?

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

Close. It was 5cm@150m. So, they ARE quite accurate with the right ammo.



The Finnish D166 cartridge issued with the M39 was 200gr, so actually quite a bit heavier than available surplus heavy ball. That said, my M39 shoots Russian lead core heavy ball perfectly well, though it's actually a little more accurate with Russian steel core light ball.

What year/arsenal is your M39?

I've got an 1896 Izzy receiver with a 1968 AV-1 barrel and stock. Beautiful rifle, if I don't say so myself Was a gift for my 16th birthday. What are the details on yours?
EDIT: NVM, read your above post. Same year/factory for our receivers!

 

[GBExpat]

I acquired my first K98k in 1968 (gift from my maternal grandfather) and have been a 7.92x57 "Mauser" Fan ever since. I currently have several K98ks and several other variants ... and one M39.

With what I know now, if I were making the choice between the two, I would select the M39 for the sights, accuracy and trigger.

 

[aka108]

I owned several Mosins from various countries. The Model 39 Finn was by far the best. I purchased case of Chinese 7.62x54 that was made with brass cases and copper jacketed bullets. That 39 with the Chinese ammo simply became boring to shoot. You really had to try hard not to get very close groups at 100 yds (max length of our range). I ended up selling all my Mosins as I really got tired of cleaning up after shooting corrosive ammo. Of the 3 98K's in the collection the best shooter is a late war J.P Sauer&Sons with all non matching parts the bolt w/o the guide rib. I don't think it was ever issued. I shoots well but not like the 39.

 

[Cosmoline]

They're both great rifles. But I'd get the M39 now. In fact I'd get an M28 now, because those are much more rare. The Finns didn't make near as many rifles as the Czechs and Germans.

Get this one!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=315900836

 

[wojownik]

The Mausers benefit from a smoother, more sophistication action. They really are a pleasure to shoot (I have a German Kar98, Yugo M38, Czech 98/22, and recently parted with my Turk and Yugo 24/47).

However, I find that I have been more accurate with the M39 (I have four of those). The action is clunkierer (standard Mosin action, of course), but rock solid.

And, importantly for me, the 7.62x54r ammo is much cheaper and more plentiful than 8mm these days...