Improving Grip on a Nagant Revolver

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Noah

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Hey! I got my first revolver a few days ago, one of those horrible, funky gas seal, 100 pound trigger pull, seminonexistant corrosive ammo Nagant Revolvers. It's a 1944 Tula. Why? It's cheap, it's cool, my brother collects Mosins, it's cheap...

I've actually been very pleasantly surprised by it. The double action is very heavy, but after a year of thousands of BBs through a CO2 BB pistol with almost as heavy a trigger, it's really not too awful. I can at least keep all the rounds on a piece of paper at 15 yards. The single action is short and crisp, but still heavy. I actually got 5 shots in a quarter sized group 10 ring at 7 yards. I'll provide a pic on that if requested :evil: No seriously.

However, I have found that my groups are very inconsistent; 5 shots touching one cylinder, and then the next cylinder the group is 4" again. I think I am jerking the gun when I pull the trigger in Single Action. It's very short, but still heavy, so maybe I am pulling too fast or with too much pressure?

That's all a skillset problem- so anyone who actually knows what they are doing, please give me all the advice on gripping and shooting a revolver you can! I've only ever shot and handled semi autos before.

Next- I can feel the small and very round grip moving (almost rolling around) in my hand as I pull the trigger- I've never had this problem with semi autos with a more oval/rectangle cross section.I have long fingers, and the "broomhandle" grip still feels very different, and more importantly, much less stable when pulling the trigger compared to a semi auto.

So, what can I do to fix this?

Also, are there any slip on grips that fit a slim handled revolver? I looked far and wide on Amazon and was very surprised to find no slip on grips for a slim revolver, only autos. Am I that stupid, or what? I think a cheap finger groove Hogue type grip would fix or help some of my ergonomics issues.
 
To the best of my knowledge there is nothing available beyond duct tape that'll fit or alter the Nagant's grip.
Since there are few who actually shoot the gun much, or try to use it for anything but casual plinking and curio value, there's no market for aftermarket grips.

Most people would balk at putting $50 grips on a $99 gun.

Denis
 
If CMP sold you a re-arsenaled, prime condition 1949 USGI 1911 for $99, that would be a "$99 gun" too, right?
 
If CMP sold you a re-arsenaled, prime condition 1949 USGI 1911 for $99, that would be a "$99 gun" too, right?
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IF it the operative word here . . . IF the dog hadn't stopped to lick his unmentionables, he'd have caught the rabbit.

The fact is, there really aren't any aftermarket grips for the Nagant. My suggestion would be to draw what you want, then whittle or sand it out of a piece of scrap walnut, inlet it with a chisel or Dremel tool and bed it with some Brownell's Acraglass.
 
you should PM 9mmepiphany. He just helped me out a lot recently. Pics would help i bet
 
Not a $50 grip... I was hoping something like a Hogue handall, cheap and simple.
 
If you're at all handy with some wood working I'd suggest having a go at making up a set of grips.

What you want is to "encase" the frame similarly to how the bigger S&W grip scales do along the front frame strap. Or, depending on how long a reach it is to the trigger, you may want the strap cover portion to fill in at the rear and extend out the back strap. Or perhaps BOTH front and back.

In any event what you're looking for is an oval shape around the upper grip area where your middle finger and thumb can overlap just enough that your finger nails line up with each other. For myself I find that's just about how all my better shooting revolvers line up. But hey, the nice thing about your OWN grips is that you can start with them a little oversize and try things out.

Start out with some fir or hemlock from the local lumberyard. That way you'll have about a dollar's worth of wood you're risking. Both fir and hemlock are hard enough that they actually make pretty good pistol grips. They aren't all that decorative but as a trial to learn how to work the wood and how to find the shape you want it's a great way to go.
 
My grandfather has a full workshop next door, and I've been working with wood since I was like 3, so I guess I have no excuse not to try. Been thinking about trying my hand at an AK stock or custom knife scales for awhile too...

When I have time I'll pull the gun apart and take a look at the grip construction again.
 
My grandfather has a full workshop next door, and I've been working with wood since I was like 3, so I guess I have no excuse not to try.
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With all that in place I'm surprised that you didn't already leap into this project.

To get some ideas of what is needed make up some leather or simply taper folded card stock spacers and tape them to the existing grips to get a feel of where you want more fill. It'll be a good guide for the shaping of the new add on grips.
 
While I don't own a nagant revolver, I would like to if one comes by me at the right price. Ive fired a few and enjoyed them. The trigger pull is not as bad as some say and I've found them to be very accurate. Making a set of decent looking grips makes perfect sense to me but a length of inner tube or a wrap in grip tape will probably work just as well.

HB
 
Let's just say that one thinking of making grips for that gun should study the job carefully. It is not quite like making grips for a 1911.

Jim
 
The pictures at Tombstone grips show what is needed. These pictures along with the stock grips should be all anyone with a bit of woodworking background needs.

In fact they look pretty easy other than needing the middle filler. And even that filler is just a flat piece. Flat side scales that simply need to be shaped to suit the shooter's hand unless the maker wants to build in some back strap or front strap fillers such as used on the S&W target grips and other after market ones.
 
DPris said:
To the best of my knowledge there is nothing available beyond duct tape that'll fit or alter the Nagant's grip.
Since there are few who actually shoot the gun much, or try to use it for anything but casual plinking and curio value, there's no market for aftermarket grips.

Most people would balk at putting $50 grips on a $99 gun.

Denis
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That has to be about the worst handgun one can get. I would much rather own a Hi-Point.
 
There was a single action only Nagant with factory target grips. There were quite a few on the market about five years ago.
 
>Why do they call it a Moisin Nagant?

They don't. The Nagant revolver was a brainchild of brothers Émile and Léon Nagant. The Mosin-Nagant rifle was a mix of features developed by Sergey Ivanovich Mosin and the Nagant brothers.

Whether a Nagant revolver is a good weapon or not, depends on the point of view. As for a modern SD gun, or as sidearm of a 21st century soldier, it clearly is not that good. But don't let anyone tell you that Nagants are inaccurate, because they are not. The gas-seal mechanism eliminates timing problems that tend to plaque low quality revolvers. Charge holes of a Nagant are always well lined up with the bore, and even the crappiest pieces manufactured at wartime are incredible good shooters. The trigger is heavy all right, but it's also very precise and has virtually no creep. I've used my Nagant in several Traditional Military Sidearm contests and have given shooters with Lugers and Lahtis a run for their money.
 
Whether a Nagant revolver is a good weapon or not, depends on the point of view. As for a modern SD gun, or as sidearm of a 21st century soldier, it clearly is not that good. But don't let anyone tell you that Nagants are inaccurate, because they are not. The gas-seal mechanism eliminates timing problems that tend to plaque low quality revolvers. Charge holes of a Nagant are always well lined up with the bore, and even the crappiest pieces manufactured at wartime are incredible good shooters. The trigger is heavy all right, but it's also very precise and has virtually no creep. I've used my Nagant in several Traditional Military Sidearm contests and have given shooters with Lugers and Lahtis a run for their money.
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A big +1. I would also prefer a Nagant revolver over a hi-point for any purpose. I use my Nagant all the time while camping/hiking. It's a fun and accurate gun.
 
Still trying to find time for some woodworking- got a nice backpacking trip coming up. :cool:

So, Nagant vs Hi-Point?

My Dad has owned both a .380 and a 9mm Hi-Point. I was with him every single time he shot either gun, and I personally put a few hundred rounds through the two handguns. My Uncle had a 9mm Hi-Point and over 75% of his shooting was done in my backyard range. So I am no gun snob about Hi-Points, I have shot and seen many rounds shot through them.

All 3 handguns were too unreliable for any defensive use. Better than a knife/pepper spray, but compared to any other guns we could get or had, no thanks. Chunky, heavy, weird, odd blowback recoil. Decently accurate, Ok trigger, but ammo picky, easily gummed up, and lots of FTEs and FTFeeds. Slides never wanted to cycle. They were accurate, and tough, just finicky. All 3 guns ended up being sold. My Uncle shot my Ruger P95 (not a $1500 custom or even $500 polymer duty gun by any means) and had bought it from me and sold his Hi-Point within a week. My Dad sold his Hi-Point for a Kel-Tec PF-9 that has worked great for him.

The Nagant revolver may have sub 9mm ballistics, 7 shots and little or no reload capability, and a slow RoF due to DA trigger or SAO use, but it is reliable and combat accurate. If I had to pick the Hi-Point or the Nagant in a defensive situation, I'd take the Nagant. Accurate and most importantly, so far 110% reliable. The Gas Seal system is clean and neat. Sure I'd take my WASR or even a shotgun, or a duty grade handgun any day, but if it's all you have, or just the only gun you can get to, it *can* hit, *has* stopped (in battle), and *will* go bang 7 times. Not too shabby.

As a plinker, Hi-Point is ok, but Nagant wins in my opinion. So historical and cool, especially if you love old Commie guns like me. Nothing like using old Communist hardware to enjoy life and even defend freedom and liberty or your loved ones.

All of this is a 'lil off topic, but I also must say that I do not dislike Hi-Point at all. I actually really like the company, they are local and really stand behind their products. I have only read good and better reports on the Hi-Point .40s and .45s- guess the higher pressures and bigger guns work better in the cheap blowback? And, regardless of the troubles with their .380 and 9mm handguns, my brother had a 9mm Carbine that was a fantastic gun that I would gladly recommend to anyone. Zero FTanythings in 500 or so rounds, inexpensive, handy, plain fun, and very very practical. He has to say something about how much he regrets selling it to fund his Saiga at least 4 days every week. So I am no Hi-Point basher, I actually like them. Maybe we got lemons? Either way, the carbine was great.

Back to the Nagant revolver, I can't shoot it much more until I save up the spare change for a full case of the surplus stuff- not available in the 14 rounds boxes at the moment. :( Only the $300 something case. Oh well. $0.30ish/round for the best ammo available for the Nagant isn't bad. Especially at current ammo prices...

In the meantime, I'll see what I can come up with for the grips, nothing like summer gun projects. :)
 
Also just to add: When you can get a Nagant Revolver or a Mosin rifle for the same price as a quality AEG airsoft or .177 Pellet Rifle, why the heck not? Just for a "toy" even, buy a lot of each :neener: Let alone that the Nagant revolver is a neat design and a historical war vet, and a $120 Mosin rifle is some of the funnest and most useful bang for buck you can ever buy. Seriously, you get a .30-06 power, MOMammal accurate, totally reliable, collectible and historical milsurp for less than a week's pay of a minimum wage high school job. And it's cheaper to shoot than an AK or AR. A Mosin could be a truck gun, deer rifle, survival rifle, heck, a battle rifle if it's all you had. So get one. Or two. My brother is refinishing Mosin number 3 for him while I enjoy the revolver.

Before you drop $1500 on *another* AR-15 range gun, do everyone who shoots with you a favor and buy some cheap WWII Soviet guns while you still can. Then buy the AR when you even can get ammo for it. Or buy an AK instead of the AR :neener:

/commercial over. I feel better now.
 
A Nagant revolver is on my shopping list but I can't find one. All the typical online surplus sites seem to be sold out. None at the local shops either.

I recently bought a Mosin rifle and it was less than the Crosman 2400KT air rifle I bought last year. Fun to shoot though and a piece of history.
 
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