How bad is the craziness? Will I be able to find a mosin?

[YZ]

If you hunt and spend one shell at a time, it could make sense. If you shoot it for sport like most Mosins today, don't waste money on a worn rifle. That's all she wrote.

 

[jamesbeat]

A buck a round?!
I already have some Wolf stuff that I bought years ago because I was planning on getting a Mosin and I needed to add something to an order to get free shipping.
I'm pretty sure you can still get 'spam cans' of surplus ammo, but I suppose that's lower quality than the commercial stuff.
I'll be using it for casual plinking, so I'll be buying bulk surplus stuff.

My copy is from 1942, so it has a rough wartime finish, but the bore is perfect and the wood is in tip top condition. I was planning on refinishing the stock as a project, but the shellac is in such great shape that I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth refinishing.

Another great point is that it came with no cosmoline. It stinks like cosmo, but it must have been cleaned off by the importer or the gun shop.
I still need to detail strip and clean the rifle to get rid of the smell, but at least there isn't loads of gunk to remove.

 

[flightsimmer]

I just saw two at Beech Grove Firearms and Range in Indpls, In. this evening, one is Russian and the other I don't remember but they were model 44's I believe he said. 317-791-2725, open Sunday 12:00 to 6:00 eastern time, closed Monday.
http://www.bgfrange.com/Beech_Grove_Firearms_&_Range/BGF_Range.html

 

[YZ]

A buck a round?!
I already have some Wolf stuff that I bought years ago because I was planning on getting a Mosin and I needed to add something to an order to get free shipping.
I'm pretty sure you can still get 'spam cans' of surplus ammo, but I suppose that's lower quality than the commercial stuff.
I'll be using it for casual plinking, so I'll be buying bulk surplus stuff.

My copy is from 1942, so it has a rough wartime finish, but the bore is perfect and the wood is in tip top condition. I was planning on refinishing the stock as a project, but the shellac is in such great shape that I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth refinishing.

Another great point is that it came with no cosmoline. It stinks like cosmo, but it must have been cleaned off by the importer or the gun shop.
I still need to detail strip and clean the rifle to get rid of the smell, but at least there isn't loads of gunk to remove.

As in $18 for a 20 round box.
Surplus ammo has and will again surface in tin cans. If you don't mind corrosive, no problem. That ammo was issued to Red Army infantry. Soldiers didn't own their rifles or anything on them. Fast forward 70 years. You are a civilian, or any case not a red army recruit. No bulk for me. My rifle.
No doubt fine Mosins turn up from wartime production. I was referring to buying sight unseen at an auction. To improve your chances of being happy. Over the counter, sure thing, bore light is your friend.

 

[mgkdrgn]

The local surplus store is running a special that consists of a fairly good quality Mosin with accessories and a 440 count spam can of Wolf ammo for $300. No Mosins without all the crap for sale. The thing is that they still have some magnum primers and they are priced at $28 per K. Same price as they were selling them for a year ago.

Sooo, basically they are selling the Mosin for $200. Good deal on decent Russian M44 (not the krap Chinese M53's that are out there now), lousy deal on a "pristine" 91/30.

None of the distributors have any now (a few snipers and the above mentioned krap M53's are the exception), and don't have any idea when they will be getting any more. The only thing they do seem to be sure of is that when/if they do get any more, they won't be as cheap as they were.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Call Liberty Tree, they're showing some for $100. https://www.libertytreecollectors.com

They are also sold out ... and have been for some time.

 

[mgkdrgn]

Oh and the ammo is pushing one buck a round. Where was I. Right. Don't buy a foul-bore shotup musket for a 100 to save money. This is an expensive gun to shoot. You'll do better with anything x39 caliber. Buy a quality Mosin. Spending more on ammo than your rifle is worth will make you feel like, eh....

Commercial ammo maybe .... but I can still find milsurp at less than $100 for 440 rounds.

If you want to shoot non-corrosive .... reload.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Here at my LGS its out of semi-auto handguns,no ARs, No DA revolvers. Only saw single action vaqueros and single-sixes. Lots of AKs though.

 

[19-3Ben]

Many are M44 carbine es. They are identical to M38 just shorter and therefore louder.

Erm.... the M44 is shorter than the 91 and 91/30 (and yes, much louder than than 91 and 91/30). But the M38 and M44 have the same barrel length and overall length. The big difference between the two is the attached bayonet of the M44.

 

[YZ]

That's correct. I was referring to the full size 91/30 not the m38 carbine. My mistake. I hope the point isn't lost though, namely if you shop the internet for a Mosin look for a newer one.

 

[plumbob1968]

buds gun shop has them 129-139 not sure but free shipping.