Getting a Mosin

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Moose23

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So I plan to get a Mosin. I've heard lots of different opinions about different countries of origin, year models, round vs hex (recievers?), carbines vs full length, etc.

I'd like to spend around $100 for the rifle, no more than $150, and get a case of ammo (which I keep hearing is about $100 also). Plan to use it to punch holes in paper and other targets, and the occasional unfortunate deer that happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Will probably ride around behind the seat of my truck or in the toolbox.

Kinda leaning towards full length version instead of the carbine. Any suggestions?
 
The long ones will spare you some blast and have a longer sight radius.

Besides being usefull, they are simple and very Cool.........


Have fun.
 
Do you have a C&R FFL? I just bought a 1942 Tula arsenal round receiver 91/30 from Classic Arms, they have "value priced" Mosins for $69.99 and $79.99 for the Izzy and Tula respectively, I went with the Tula just because I have seen some folks who say the woodworking is better on them. Shipping runs from $18-23 on them, I got mine four days later counting the weekend in between ordering and getting it.

Mine did have one forced-match on the magazine floorplate, other than that all the numbers match. It's in excellent condition, I have seen a lot of them priced higher that have dark or frosted bores. It came with all the accessories as well, I can't be happier with the service or price.

If you have a C&R they will ship straight to you, otherwise you have a transfer fee through your local FFL.

They also carry the spam cans of surplus, but Widener's is about the cheapest I've found for the spam cans, last time I checked they were under $80 and shipping runs about $16 or so.

I picked up a UTG 1" thick butt pad for it and was glad I did, first time out shooting it. Loads of fun, but some serious recoil to them but you get used to it. Stripper clips are a good thing too, don't buy the super cheapy ones you see on ebay, try to find some of the originals, still plenty of them out there it seems. Some of the surplus comes on stripper clips, probably the best way to get some.

I can recommend Classic Arms, but others may chime in with other suppliers that they have dealt with. Good luck!

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Here's my $.02, as I own both a M44 (carbine) and 91/30 (full size). The carbine is more fun at the range. The muzzle blast and concussion wave that the thing throws out is flat out awesome. But I don't know that you can find carbines for cheap anymore, whereas you can still get the full size versions for like $70.

www.classicarms.us has some nice condition 91/30's right now. that's where mine came from.

Other than that, my only suggestion is to buy two instead of one, and enjoy them :D
 
I do find the M44 carbine enjoyable to shoot. After 30ish rounds, I'm done. I'm a big guy.... maybe I need to become fat?

Now, my Finnish M39s... I can shoot them all day long, and print some impressive groups.

Comparing the two, the M44 is a novelty.
 
I've heard that fit & finish went down in the 40's after German hostilities began, the nicest ones being manufactured in the late 30's. Any truth to this ?

Writerinmo: No I don't have a FFL, but deal a lot with a local gunshop (just purchased 20 long guns for a fundraiser from him about a week ago), and feel like he'll let me ship to his shop & FFL. Do I have to have a FFL to have ammo shipped as well, or can it be shipped to me?

Harmon rabb: Thanks for the site info, looks like I'll be calling them on Monday.
 
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I've heard that fit & finish went down in the 40's after German hostilities began, the nicest ones being manufactured in the late 30's. Any truth to this ?
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Yes, it's true. Every army in the Second World War at some point was designing new weapons with new production methods to cut down on materials or production time, or simply shaving off quality with existing weapons systems to put them in the hands of the infantry faster.

You can find some good looking 1941 productions from when the Germans were still rubbing the frost off of Stalingrad's factory windows to look inside, but for the most part rifles made post-operation Barbarossa have extremely rough metal machining. The metal gets really rough and bumpy to the point where a lot of barrels can't fit the bayonet, and it's pretty noticeable on the receiver, but the rifles are by all means just as safe to shoot as any other. If anything I think they have smoother actions than the pre-war hexagonal Mosins; they are however, less accurate.
 
"...fit & finish went down..." The Russians/Soviets didn't care about that. Having a rifle that an illiterate conscript could be taught to use in as little time as possible was far more important. Both the SKS and AK were designed for that.
Find a Finnish rifle. Forget the carbine. Muzzle flash, blast and felt recoil are far too much.
 
I have a 1932 hex receiver 91/30 that is a pleasure to shoot. With Hungarian light ball ammo I can pick off clay's lined on my clubs back stop @ 120yards all day long. I am keeping my eyes out for a Finn M-39 to add to my collection.

As far as recoil, once I installed a recoil pad like this http://cgi.ebay.com/MOSIN-NAGANT-RI...223?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d2baa188f I can put 60-80 rounds through it on a weekend am without getting beat up.
 
Moose, you can have the ammo shipped right to you. And seriously, buy two. These things won't be $70 forever :D
 
The 91/30 (the full-size one) is the cheapest and most readily available, with prices commonly below $100, although you may pay a little more for a really nice one. They are also more accurate than the M44 carbines. The carbines are usually more money and are generally not as accurate. One interesting note with the M44s is that the point of impact changes noticeably when the sidefolding baoynet is extended. Finnish models are very, very nice but usually cost quite a bit more. As far as which one is nicest, I would buy the one that has the nicest bore and crown that you can find. This will affect accuracy more than the outward condition of the rifle.
 
I paid $90 for mine a few months back.. just look for the coolest markings and cleanest bore.. mine looks like it was never shot .. so bonus

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