Bolt Rifle suggestions

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

The Mosin is a cheap, ugly, clunky, crude, pile of you know what, worst rifle I have ever shot bar none, but you can still hit a deer with it out to 200. I would personaly invest a few extra bucks to get a Savage 110 that will shoot circles around that Mosin all day every day, not to mention feed reliably and shoot quality hunting bullets, oh and it weighs 50% less, and you don't need to buy a special mount for modern scopes.
30-06 > 7.62x54R

Cheap = More ammunition for practice.
Ugly = Maybe to you, but it's a beautiful battle-rifle just begging to be repurposed after what it did in WW2 and before.
Clunky = Part of it's simplistic design
Crude = Part of it's simplistic design
Pile of you know what = Pile of gold in my opinion, and everyone should have one. No one needs a tack driver for ANY kind of shooting, unless you're doing competitions that REQUIRE one hole groups.

.30-06 > 7.62x54R?

No.

7.62x54R > .30-06.

Cheaper practice. Just the right amount of oomph for everything on our continent.

 

[Kachok]

Cheap = More ammunition for practice.
Ugly = Maybe to you, but it's a beautiful battle-rifle just begging to be repurposed after what it did in WW2 and before.
Clunky = Part of it's simplistic design
Crude = Part of it's simplistic design
Pile of you know what = Pile of gold in my opinion, and everyone should have one. No one needs a tack driver for ANY kind of shooting, unless you're doing competitions that REQUIRE one hole groups.

.30-06 > 7.62x54R?

No.

7.62x54R > .30-06.

Cheaper practice. Just the right amount of oomph for everything on our continent.

Don't take the ugly part too personaly, I call my Savages ugly too and love them all the same, but they ain't no CZ550 if you know what I mean. Is the bolt sticking so hard you gatta break out the WD40 to break it free in the design? Or was that just some piss poor construction? And before you ask no it was not rusted.
Does the 7.62x54R really beat the 30-06 lets compare.
Versatility: the 06 is available with a vastly wider range of bullet weight both for handloaders and those who shoot factory fodder, not to mention a MUCH wider selection of quality bullets in .308 then .310 cal. ADVANTAGE 30-06
Design: The 06 has a modern rimless design, higher max case pressure and greater case capacity. The 7.62x54R rimmed design has been outdated for over 120 years now and a poor performer when compared to the 06 in every bullet weight. the 06 can be toned down to duplicate 7.62 recoil but the 7.62x54R cannot be turned up to 06 power. ADVANTAGE 30-06.
Availability: The 30-06 is an international cartage and good quality hunting ammo can be found all over the world, the only 7.62x54R that you will find everywhere is piss poor quality FMJs, it is only a popular hunting cartage in former USSR countries where it was the only big game cartage available. ADVANTAGE 30-06.
Price: For cheap fodder ammo the 7.62x54 has a clear advantage, but to be honest I would not feed that horrible corrosive junk through anything I shoot, quality hunting bullets are a little cheaper for the 06 in my experience. Advantage split.
Reloading: 30-06 Brass is everywhere, reasonably good quality for most brands and cheap as all getup. 7.62x54R brass is hard to find since most cases are non-reloadable steel. Powder consumption is close but the 06 probably burns a tad more per shot, but that is more then offset by .308 bullets costing less then .310 cal. Advantage 30-06.
So there you go, the ol 06 walks all over the outdated Ruski fodder in nearly every respect. The only real advantage the 7.62 has is cheap plinking ammo and I have a .22LR that whoops all over that. Now if we were to compare the 30-06 to the 7.62x51 that would be a totally different ball game
BTW "practicing" with a 2MOA gun is no practice at all, you don't know where your aimpoint really was when they scatter like that. Might as well "practice" with a 12ga LOL

 

[1948CJ2A]

.30-06 > 7.62x54R?

No.

7.62x54R > .30-06.

Cheaper practice. Just the right amount of oomph for everything on our continent.

Now that comment is just plain un-American!

I'll agree that Nagant rifles have their place but there's no way I would be able to argue that they are superior to the 30-06 Springfield rifles of the same era. There's a reason why Nagant rifles are significantly cheaper than 1903 Springfields. Give me the Springfield any day.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Is the bolt sticking so hard you gatta break out the WD40 to break it free in the design? Or was that just some piss poor construction? And before you ask no it was not rusted.

The soldiers of the Red Army would probably laugh at you seeing this statement, lol. It's called cleaning the action, chamber, and the lug recesses. When gunk gets in the lug recesses, it will give you sticky bolt, as well as baked cosmo in the chamber, and in the rare chance, the cam on the bolt head.

Versatility: the 06 is available with a vastly wider range of bullet weight both for handloaders and those who shoot factory fodder, not to mention a MUCH wider selection of quality bullets in .308 then .310 cal. ADVANTAGE 30-06

I'm not talking about hand-loaders. And honestly, I see people who buy factory ammo in .30-06 as wasting their money. The x54R cartridge is a CHEAP chambering allowing for MUCH GREATER practice on the inexpensive side. .30-06 isn't cheap, therefore, PRACTICE comes cheaper, which equals MORE practice.

Design: The 06 has a modern rimless design, higher max case pressure and greater case capacity. The 7.62x54R rimmed design has been outdated for over 120 years now and a poor performer when compared to the 06 in every bullet weight. the 06 can be toned down to duplicate 7.62 recoil but the 7.62x54R cannot be turned up to 06 power. ADVANTAGE 30-06.

Again, you're talking hand-loading, something I am completely throwing out of this debate. The x54R does it's job today, just as well it did in it's creation. If it wasn't up to par, the Russians wouldn't still be fielding it.

Availability: The 30-06 is an international cartage and good quality hunting ammo can be found all over the world, the only 7.62x54R that you will find everywhere is piss poor quality FMJs, it is only a popular hunting cartage in former USSR countries where it was the only big game cartage available. ADVANTAGE 30-06.

You can kill a deer with FMJ just as well as you can with a Soft Point hunting load. Don't even bring that whole "better bullet selection" argument in, because in truth, it's knowing where to PUT the bullet that matters. Okay, so in some states hunting with FMJ is illegal. Maybe in all states. Point is immaterial. You can kill a deer/elk/moose/elephant, etc. just as well with a x54R. Shot placement. I swear, people rely too much on technology.

Price: For cheap fodder ammo the 7.62x54 has a clear advantage, but to be honest I would not feed that horrible corrosive junk through anything I shoot, quality hunting bullets are a little cheaper for the 06 in my experience. Advantage split.

A couple extra steps, and more careful cleaning is all that is required. This statement shows laziness. Just being honest.

Reloading: 30-06 Brass is everywhere, reasonably good quality for most brands and cheap as all getup. 7.62x54R brass is hard to find since most cases are non-reloadable steel. Powder consumption is close but the 06 probably burns a tad more per shot, but that is more then offset by .308 bullets costing less then .310 cal. Advantage 30-06.

I'm not talking about reloading, but even if I were, it can be reloaded just like about every other caliber out there. Minus rimfire. I don't see any advantage here, because all I'd ever see myself reloading for would be to shoot whenever I wanted, because I wouldn't have to wait for ammo to come in the mail (however, I did find a local source of x54R, so I'm happy).

So there you go, the ol 06 walks all over the outdated Ruski fodder in nearly every respect. The only real advantage the 7.62 has is cheap plinking ammo and I have a .22LR that whoops all over that. Now if we were to compare the 30-06 to the 7.62x51 that would be a totally different ball game

If the '06 walked over everything Ruskie, I'm sure the Russians would have adopted the '06, and I'm sure we'd still be using it.

BTW "practicing" with a 2MOA gun is no practice at all, you don't know where your aimpoint really was when they scatter like that. Might as well "practice" with a 12ga LOL

Practice is practice. Whether you be trying for the same hole every time, or trying to hit the same target, every time. The Mosin Nagant was designed for Minute-of-Man, being a Battle rifle able to handle adverse conditions (this is why you think it's clunky, because it's built with some pretty wide tolerances).

Your argument against the Mosin just makes me laugh. Because honestly, if it were that bad, I don't think we'd see as many people who SWEAR by them as we do already.

 

[Fremmer]

How about a swiss k31? I hear they are accurate and well made.

 

[1948CJ2A]

You can kill a deer with FMJ just as well as you can with a Soft Point hunting load. Don't even bring that whole "better bullet selection" argument in, because in truth, it's knowing where to PUT the bullet that matters. Okay, so in some states hunting with FMJ is illegal. Maybe in all states. Point is immaterial. You can kill a deer/elk/moose/elephant, etc. just as well with a x54R. Shot placement. I swear, people rely too much on technology.

Are you being serious? Anyone who hunts game animals with FMJs should have their license revoked. Bullet selection for hunting rifles is critical if you're going to be hunting. If you're just plinking then it doesn't matter as much, though I know several rifle ranges around my area that forbid FMJ bullets.

Your argument against the Mosin just makes me laugh. Because honestly, if it were that bad, I don't think we'd see as many people who SWEAR by them as we do already.

People buy them mostly because they are cheap to buy and cheap to shoot (if you don't mind the corrosive ammo).

I believe the Russians had the most casualties in WWII...

 

[FMJMIKE]

i was so impressed with my $110 Mosin that I went back for a second one.....

 

[Kachok]

First of all I do clean my rifles, you could white glove an any of them right now and not find a spec of dust or residue.
Pardon me for bringing handloading into the debate, some of us roll our own cheaper then that junk you cram in yours even your corrosive surplus.
If you think practice is practice and accuracy has no bearing on it then you don't shoot for the same level of precision that I do. I shoot for quick clean kills, just hitting it anywhere does not cut it for me.
FMJs make for poor terminal ballistics, they rely on yaw to apply their energy to the target and often change course as they yaw, so that perfectly aimed double lung shot could end up in his intestinal tract instead. That is why they are illigal for hunting, they do not make for reliable quick kills. Soldiers used to file the tips of their FMJs to make them more effective, that is how the soft point was invented. Expanding bullets are more reliable killers that has been proven over and over and over again.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Are you being serious? Anyone who hunts game animals with FMJs should have their license revoked. Bullet selection for hunting rifles is critical if you're going to be hunting. If you're just plinking then it doesn't matter as much, though I know several rifle ranges around my area that forbid FMJ bullets.

I've only taken one animal with FMJ, and it was by complete accident with my K31. I had grabbed the wrong ammo pouch (they were both identical) without checking like I should have, and didn't pay attention when I loaded the rifle. All I'm saying is FMJ can do the same thing as hunting rounds can, with shot placement. I personally don't condone the use of FMJ's while hunting, and would only use them if I had no other means to find better-suited ammo, nor a better way to stock the freezer.

People buy them mostly because they are cheap to buy and cheap to shoot (if you don't mind the corrosive ammo).

I believe the Russians had the most casualties in WWII...

Which equals more practice. And look at it this way, it allows you to get to know your rifle better, because it adds a couple more steps to cleaning. And their high casualties just shows that they had sacrificed a lot more to fight of the fascist tyranny that was trying to conquer THEM.

 

[1948CJ2A]

All I'm saying is FMJ can do the same thing as hunting rounds can, with shot placement.

And their high casualties just shows that they had sacrificed a lot more to fight of the fascist tyranny that was trying to conquer THEM.

No I think it showed how behind their country was in terms of military technology. The only thing they had going in their favor was population and geography.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

First of all I do clean my rifles, you could white glove an any of them right now and not find a spec of dust or residue.

An impossibility, there will always be some form of dirt on any rifle. Dust. Little amounts of old oil in a hard-to-get-to spot.

Pardon me for bringing handloading into the debate, some of us roll our own cheaper then that junk you cram in yours even your corrosive surplus.

I'm just throwing hand-loading out of the argument, for proper argument's sake. May be cheaper, but I definitely don't think it's junk. You might, but again, to each their own.

If you think practice is practice and accuracy has no bearing on it then you don't shoot for the same level of precision that I do. I shoot for quick clean kills, just hitting it anywhere does not cut it for me.

Practice allows for being consistent with you're rifle. If you know where to aim with your particular rifle, and you know your rifle's behavior with specific loads (my corrosive junk, as you call it), you can be plenty accurate. I am fully confident in my abilities to hit anything I'm aiming at with my rifle. But even more, I am fully confident in MY abilities as a rifleman. Marksmanship is the ability to hit anything you're aiming at, with any projectile you happen to be launching.

And you must be mistaking me for my step-father. I am on a perfect streak for hunting, 3-3 for bang-flops. He, however, thinks that the "whopping ol' '06 will drop 'em in their tracks, no matter where he hits them, and has hit them "just anywhere" numerous times, without the same results. I know shot-placement.

FMJs make for poor terminal ballistics, they rely on yaw to apply their energy to the target and often change course as they yaw, so that perfectly aimed double lung shot could end up in his intestinal tract instead. That is why they are illigal for hunting, they do not make for reliable quick kills. Soldiers used to file the tips of their FMJs to make them more effective, that is how the soft point was invented. Expanding bullets are more reliable killers that has been proven over and over and over again.

Regardless, if it comes down to where that's all you have, and the only way to stock the freezer is with an FMJ, it'll do the same thing.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

1948CJ2A:

Barf on shot placement all you want. FMJ to the heart will kill faster than FMJ to the rump.

No I think it showed how behind their country was in terms of military technology. The only thing they had going in their favor was population and geography.

It's still all about sacrifice. They made the greatest sacrifice, because they took what they had to war. And they still came out as one of the victors.

 

[1948CJ2A]

Barf on shot placement all you want. FMJ to the heart will kill faster than FMJ to the rump.

I would never hunt with someone like you. Your comments are ridiculous! Why would anyone shoot an animal in their rear-end?? The barf was in response to your attempted justification in using FMJs as hunting rounds.

It's still all about sacrifice. They made the greatest sacrifice, because they took what they had to war. And they still came out as one of the victors.

So what's your point? My point was that had they been armed w/ M-1 Garands, 1903 Springfields, or even Mauser rifles they would have likely had less casualties.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

I love seeing the Mosin-bashers. Makes me laugh. My cheapy rifle can do anything your expensive rifle can do, in the right hands. Gun-snobbery at it's finest...

Uh really? Are you seriously claiming that the mechanical accuracy of high end target rifle is equivalent to a $100 surplus gun? I haven't seen many surplus guns win, or even enter high power events in Georgia, and there are quite a few "capable hands" down here. You really don't have to get defensive for a brand or type of rifle just because you happen own one, or your screen name suggests you do. There are plenty of valid reasons to own a rifle that costs more than a couple hundred bucks if you can afford it.

It's still all about sacrifice. They made the greatest sacrifice, because they took what they had to war. And they still came out as one of the victors.

And now you are attempting to quantify sacrifice? Seriously dude.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I would never hunt with someone like you. Your comments are ridiculous! Why would anyone shoot an animal in their rear-end?? The barf was in response to your attempted justification in using FMJs as hunting rounds.

You are taking my statements in the worst possible ways. Did I say I personally hunted with FMJ's on purpose? No. I hunted with FMJ's ONCE, after negligence that I shouldn't have had happen in the first place. I clearly stated that I had grabbed the wrong pouch of shells, not looking inside to make sure I had grabbed the right ones like I should have. I also admitted to the mistake of not making sure I was loading the proper rounds into the rifle. Had I have been on top of my game, and at least looked at what I was loading into the rifle, I would have set down the rifle, and hand my cousin my tag so it didn't go to waste. It was a lack of being aware of what I was loading into the rifle ONCE. Hasn't happened since. And to further assuage your feelings towards me, the shot was humane, bang-flop, and I STILL stocked my freezer. Lesson was learned, I keep all hunting rounds separate from my FMJ rounds, in two completely different rooms. Did I feel bad for the possibility of causing the animal undue suffering? YES I DID. I man'd up to the mistake, just like I'm doing now. I call it God giving me a second chance with morality when I took the deer with a bang-flop.

Did I say I would shoot an animal in the rump? No. My step-dad seems to think it's alright, which is one of the reasons I don't hunt with him anymore. Secondly, he seems to think that a bolt-rifle won't shoot if the bolt is only half-closed, trying to ease the hammer down on the firing pin. Nope. Shot clean through the cab of his truck, almost hitting my cousin. I won't hunt with the man after these two facts.

You're mistaking my arguments of shot-placements as something I would do. No, I wouldn't aim for part of the animal that would cause suffering. I've always aimed for the vitals, and nothing will teach me different. Nothing will make me aim elsewhere, either.

So what's your point? My point was that had they been armed w/ M-1 Garands, 1903 Springfields, or even Mauser rifles they would have likely had less casualties.

My point being they were armed with the rifle, the rifle did it's job, and the war was won. They could have used better equipment, agreed, but it still did the job amicably.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Uh really? Are you seriously claiming that the mechanical accuracy of high end target rifle is equivalent to a $100 surplus gun?

No. I simply said you can shoot the Mosin-Nagant out to 200-500 yards. It's about practice. Sure, maybe a more expensive rifle will do the job better. But the Mosin can still do it.

I haven't seen many surplus guns win, or even enter high power events in Georgia, and there are quite a few "capable hands" down here.

Then compete yourself with one. Practice and see what you can do. Everybody nowadays seems to think that more expensive is better. I call it gun-snobbery. If you know your rifle, you can make it connect with the target you're shooting at.

You really don't have to get defensive for a brand or type of rifle just because you happen own one, or your screen name suggests you do.

I don't necessarily call it getting defensive, because yes I happily own one. I don't think it's the best rifle in the world. My Savage 110, my K31, hell, even my Turkish Mauser and my Marlin 22 are all more accurate than my Mosin is. But that doesn't mean I can't hit my target with my Mosin.

The OP was asking about the Mosin Nagant. Kachok came in calling it a pile of crap. I'm just standing up for a viable option.

There are plenty of valid reasons to own a rifle that costs more than a couple hundred bucks if you can afford it.

Just like there are plenty of reasons to buy one that only costs $100 and still has the ability to do so with some TLC.

And now you are attempting to quantify sacrifice? Seriously dude.

I try to quantify nothing. They lost a lot of people in the war. They died defending their own land. I have nothing but the deepest, most profound respect for those who fought in the war. I have even greater respect for those who gave it all defending their homeland. Those are the real heroes.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Yes, like the type of person that finds it arrogant and snobbish if someone suggests their favorite brand of rifle just might not have the same qualities as another type of rifle

Simply stating that a Mosin is capable of doing the same thing. Maybe I should have added that a little bit of TLC is required to do this more consistently. Regardless. I don't bash your firearms of choice. So why bash mine? I simply stated what I said above.

ETA: The OP also asked for an inexpensive military bolt action rifle. I gave my suggestions.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Simply stating that a Mosin is capable of doing the same thing. Maybe I should have added that a little bit of TLC is required to do this more consistently. Regardless. I don't bash your firearms of choice. So why bash mine? I simply stated what I said above.

Ok man I'll give you that. The Mosin is capable of shooting a bullet 200-500 yards...just like other rifles. Most people put some value, however, on where the bullet lands. Thats where a rifle with more mechanical accuracy comes into play. I don't care how much TLC you give a mosin, you can lap the bore, install a scope, sing it bedtime stories, it still won't compete with a proper target rifle at a distance.

Not trying to be harsh, but it is misleading to suggest to a new shooter that they can go to the range and start stacking 158 grain bullets on top of each other with a cared for Mosin, just like they could with a rifle of superior quality. At some point, especially off of the bench, the shooter becomes less of a liability to accuracy, and the gun takes on more. Thats where an inferior rifle falls on it's face.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Back to the OP....

Hey man, the ammo isn't cheap but it is of very high quality. Take a look at the Swiss K31's. They can still be had for $250-300, and will shoot extremely well (yeah, I'd wager much better than a Mosin. The triggers are great, never seen one with a bad bore, and are bound to be worth more in the long run than some of the commbloc stuff floating around.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I honestly wouldn't steer anyone away from a K31. I own one as well. And like I did say, my K31 is more accurate than my Mosin.

I don't think it's the best rifle in the world. My Savage 110, my K31, hell, even my Turkish Mauser and my Marlin 22 are all more accurate than my Mosin is. But that doesn't mean I can't hit my target with my Mosin.

 

[Kachok]

An impossibility, there will always be some form of dirt on any rifle. Dust. Little amounts of old oil in a hard-to-get-to spot.



I'm just throwing hand-loading out of the argument, for proper argument's sake. May be cheaper, but I definitely don't think it's junk. You might, but again, to each their own.



Practice allows for being consistent with you're rifle. If you know where to aim with your particular rifle, and you know your rifle's behavior with specific loads (my corrosive junk, as you call it), you can be plenty accurate. I am fully confident in my abilities to hit anything I'm aiming at with my rifle. But even more, I am fully confident in MY abilities as a rifleman. Marksmanship is the ability to hit anything you're aiming at, with any projectile you happen to be launching.

And you must be mistaking me for my step-father. I am on a perfect streak for hunting, 3-3 for bang-flops. He, however, thinks that the "whopping ol' '06 will drop 'em in their tracks, no matter where he hits them, and has hit them "just anywhere" numerous times, without the same results. I know shot-placement.



Regardless, if it comes down to where that's all you have, and the only way to stock the freezer is with an FMJ, it'll do the same thing.

Well that is good, I am glad to know that you get your kills clean even with a less then superbly accurate weapon Being able to place you shot exactly where it is supposed to go is 1st and foremost, more important then what caliber you shoot or what specific bullet you use. While I like my 06 my go to deer gun is my "puny" 6.5x55 which has a perfect track record of putting them down very quickly.
I prefer my handloads to factory ammo, I have just been able to get better accuracy with them in all but one of my rifles. I had a 270 WSM that shot one hole groups with factory 130gr ballistic tips, I could work up a load as good I am sure, but that is the limit of my shooting ability so getting more accurate is beyond splitting hairs.
If you like your Mosin, and you are confident in it by all means use it, I did not like them but I don't like Fords either, and plenty of people swear by them. Just don't make statements like the 7.62 is better then the 06, you will get plenty of flame mail on here for a statement like that, cheaper bulk fmj ammo is hardly grounds to call it better then an international legend like the 30-06 especially if we are talking about hunting.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Well that is good, I am glad to know that you get your kills clean even with a less then superbly accurate weapon

Like I said. Practice. I was able to determine where my rifle would hit with some different loads, and was able to compensate.

Being able to place you shot exactly where it is supposed to go is 1st and foremost, more important then what caliber you shoot or what specific bullet you use.

Like I said, I personally don't condone the use of FMJ for hunting. I've used FMJ once, to good effect, but I call it "God giving me a second chance at morality."

While I like my 06 my go to deer gun is my "puny" 6.5x55 which has a perfect track record of putting them down very quickly.

I want one chambered in that neat "puny" cartridge.

I prefer my handloads to factory ammo, I have just been able to get better accuracy with them in all but one of my rifles.

I'm actually wanting to start rolling my own. I won't bash it at all, but for the sake of the argument, I stuck with factory loads. You do have a point, there are better bullets in .308 dia. pills than .310-312. But like I said, I was, for the sake of the argument, sticking with factory loads.

I had a 270 WSM that shot one hole groups with factory 130gr ballistic tips, I could work up a load as good I am sure, but that is the limit of my shooting ability so getting more accurate is beyond splitting hairs.

Practice makes perfect.

If you like your Mosin, and you are confident in it by all means use it, I did not like them but I don't like Fords either, and plenty of people swear by them.

I'm a Chevy guy, myself.

Just don't make statements like the 7.62 is better then the 06, you will get plenty of flame mail on here for a statement like that, cheaper bulk fmj ammo is hardly grounds to call it better then an international legend like the 30-06 especially if we are talking about hunting.

I should have clarified right off the bat that for cheap practice, 7.62 would prevail, using FACTORY LOADS. Surplus or not. Hornady or Wolf.

^OK dude, you win. You have the answers we are all seeking. A Mosin can hit a target just like a custom bench rifle can. A Mosin was once seen saving a child from a burning fire, and holds the secret to a cancer cure---"in capable hands of course".

I was agreeing with you. I didn't say it could do exactly what a Custom Bench Rifle can do. But I did say that it is capable of hitting targets at distance. And let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Mosin isn't that great.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Now tell me where exactly in that statement I said exactly that? I didn't. The Mosin can hit targets at 500 yards. Can HIT man, HIT!

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

Ehh, whatever guys. I like my mosin. Works just fine for what I need it to do and what everybody else needs theirs to, and does so with pretty inexpensive ammo and a lot of fun. The rifle costs $100-don't expect it to perform like something that costs 3 to 10 times that much.

 

[Kachok]

The Mosin is a functional rifle for most real world hunting, no you won't be hunting elk at 1,200yd with it like the guys on youtube but within 200 where most deer/elk/hogs are shot it is plenty accurate enough to put a bullet where it counts. But before you rush out to get one know the downsides too, it is a heavy/bulky &!^@# not to mention uncomfortable for small framed shooters like me. The Ruskies never were that good at ergonomics. The trigger is heavy and gritty, that action is course at best and forget about such luxuries as a safety or scope rails the Russians do not believe in those either. It is just a crude gun, nothing fancy just a boomstick with a semi-functional iron sight, that has appeal to some people, just not me. I am spoiled, my 6lbs Tikka shoots well below MOA even with bulk factory fodder, the action is so silky smooth I cannot feel the difference between it cambering a round and dry cycling, and the trigger breaks clean as glass at 3lbs with ZERO creep or grit. No way am I going back to 4 foot long 10lbs Mosin
There I think that summed it up.