Snowdog
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 4,608
I received my C&R 91/30 Nagant along with my Swiss K31 from SOG yesterday. I was a bit disappointed with the condition of the wood on my K31, but the metal is in pristine shape, I suppose that's what really matters.
However, I was pleasantly taken back by the shape of the cheap 91/30. It appears to be a reconditioned rifle, having been refinished and reblued. It essentially looks unissued and I would have thought as much if it weren't for the repair work on the stock.
Dovetailed stock repair that could be seen as adding character
Though the M44 offered a shorter and wieldy package, the longer 91/30 felt no more muzzle heavy despite the longer stock and barrel thanks to the M44’s side folding bayonet.
M44 posing with his new 91/30 big brother
I took them and my new CZ-52 (report in the auto forum) out to a friend's farm and put a few rounds (Wolf 148gr FMJ) through each, trying to get a feel for the difference in accuracy and handling.
Since my buddy already had a pro tem shooting range set up, I decided to go that route though it only allowed for a maximum range of 50 yards. However, the rifles did give me a sense of who was most accurate.
Best 50 yard group with the '44 Soviet M44 using Wolf 148gr ball
Best 50 yard group with the '42 91/30 Mosin Nagant using the same ammunition
I only took along two boxes of Wolf ammunition, so I didn't get a chance to run the new Mosin Nagant through the ringer, but it did well for its first excursion. The groups offered by the M44 were about half the size I typically get at 100 yards (4"-6") but I felt I could do better with the 91/30 if I put a few more rounds through it. Regardless, it did seem to consistantly offer tighter groups.
Strangely, the felt recoil seemed indistinguishable between the two; regardless of what I've heard from others, I simply couldn't tell the difference.
Also, while the M44 shot high as as it typically does, the 91/30 actually shot about an inch or so low at 50 yards. I suppose that had something to do with the ammunition I was using, but it struck me as odd right off as all my other military surplus rifles seem to have come zeroed around 300 meters.
I would have loved to have tried my new K31 (whose stock will be next weekend's project) but I couldn't find ammunition for it anywhere.
I'm guessing S&B or some other fairly popular foreign manufacturer will start importing this caliber soon as the once plentiful military Swiss (match grade) ammunition dries up.
So, it looks like that $60 afterthought turned out to be the gem of the lot after all.
However, I was pleasantly taken back by the shape of the cheap 91/30. It appears to be a reconditioned rifle, having been refinished and reblued. It essentially looks unissued and I would have thought as much if it weren't for the repair work on the stock.
Dovetailed stock repair that could be seen as adding character
Though the M44 offered a shorter and wieldy package, the longer 91/30 felt no more muzzle heavy despite the longer stock and barrel thanks to the M44’s side folding bayonet.
M44 posing with his new 91/30 big brother
I took them and my new CZ-52 (report in the auto forum) out to a friend's farm and put a few rounds (Wolf 148gr FMJ) through each, trying to get a feel for the difference in accuracy and handling.
Since my buddy already had a pro tem shooting range set up, I decided to go that route though it only allowed for a maximum range of 50 yards. However, the rifles did give me a sense of who was most accurate.
Best 50 yard group with the '44 Soviet M44 using Wolf 148gr ball
Best 50 yard group with the '42 91/30 Mosin Nagant using the same ammunition
I only took along two boxes of Wolf ammunition, so I didn't get a chance to run the new Mosin Nagant through the ringer, but it did well for its first excursion. The groups offered by the M44 were about half the size I typically get at 100 yards (4"-6") but I felt I could do better with the 91/30 if I put a few more rounds through it. Regardless, it did seem to consistantly offer tighter groups.
Strangely, the felt recoil seemed indistinguishable between the two; regardless of what I've heard from others, I simply couldn't tell the difference.
Also, while the M44 shot high as as it typically does, the 91/30 actually shot about an inch or so low at 50 yards. I suppose that had something to do with the ammunition I was using, but it struck me as odd right off as all my other military surplus rifles seem to have come zeroed around 300 meters.
I would have loved to have tried my new K31 (whose stock will be next weekend's project) but I couldn't find ammunition for it anywhere.
I'm guessing S&B or some other fairly popular foreign manufacturer will start importing this caliber soon as the once plentiful military Swiss (match grade) ammunition dries up.So, it looks like that $60 afterthought turned out to be the gem of the lot after all.
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