Let's rave about the Mosin Nagant rifle

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leadcounsel

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We bag on Russians for many things (Marxism, Communism, Socialism, a failed economy and nation...), but they got a few things right including the most prolific military rifles in the world such as the SKS, AK47, and the beloved Mosin Nagant. Not only is the rifle an effective rifle, but the caliber is a great pick too. Sure, there are better actions (the Mauser) and arguably better performing calibers - but it's a great bargain C&R. Rugged, reliable, decent accuracy and super easy to use, strip and clean.

I am a collector of the Mosin Nagant and have several models spanning 3 decades. What a great rifle at a bargain price - about $100 today. My calculations place that at about $7 in 1930!

I just got a few new Mosins today and they are just gorgeous; the bolts look like they were just machined. The wood is nearly flawless and in great condition. The crowning has no visible flaws, and the barrels look nice.

To build this rifle today, I would guess it would cost 4 times what they are sold for.

If you had a competition to build a "combat" kit on the smallest of budgets, the M38 would be a serious contender.
 
Man, you can't open a thread like this braggin' on all your MN's and post ZERO PICS.

Show us a photo of a bubba-ized MN with a tasco/bushnell/simmons scope and a target with a 2 MOA group or better.

If you can produce said photo, well, I salute you!
 
yes, I love the functional simplicity of the Nagant rifle. My favorite being the m28 Finish rifle.
 
Show us a photo of a bubba-ized MN with a tasco/bushnell/simmons scope and a target with a 2 MOA group or better.

If you can produce said photo, well, I salute you!
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no cheapie scope yet & its first range trip will be tomorrow morning so you'll have to wait on the target pic.

remington 1891 and possibly the only mosin in existence chambered in 220 swift ackley improved.
220swiftmosin3.jpg

220swiftmosin4.jpg
 
I hate to be a wet blanket, they are fun, cheap, durable, different, a nice piece of history and go bang but there really no big deal specifically because they also have the worst triggers ever encountered, terrible sights, a very difficult safety and are a pain to load. I have 6 of them as well. I think the SVT 40 is much more interesting and have none...anyone want to help me with that?
 
JP, you forgot ugly as sin. I still can't figure out why I keep on buying more, I currently have eight with my eye out for more.
 
no big deal specifically because they also have the worst triggers ever encountered, terrible sights, a very difficult safety and are a pain to load.
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Yeah, they're totally substandard fare

simohayha.jpg


170px-Vasily.Zaitsev.jpg
 
Yeah, they're totally substandard fare.
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Exactly. It's not like any true snipers would deign to use such a rifle.
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I think that was more of a case of "the man" rather than "the machine". That said, the MN is a great value, what other centerfire rifle can you buy for less that won't kill you when you try to fire it. Also I don't there is a better tomato stake to be found. :D
 
I was engaging sarcasm mode.

If you know how to use them they're fantastic rifles. I'd give the nod to the Rifle No. 4 as a superior combat instrument. Probably even over the Garand. But the Mosin had some major advantages. It's tough as nails, cycles very fast, aims easy and is very easy to maintain and repair. With the 54R cartridge it's more forgiving of cruddy ammo and bad headspace than a Mauser. And it's capable of extreme accuracy, though again most folks don't understand how to realize that potential.
 
I love mine. Its made in 1942. First time shooting it was pretty accurate. We were having a shooting day at a friends Christmas tree farm. A friend of mine was trying to be cool with his varmint barrel and big scope on his bushmaster AR and to be honest we were only shooting at MAYBE 50-75 yards. I didnt know everyone was waiting for him to shoot this water bottle so I loaded 5 rounds. I raised the Mosin, steadied my aim and took out the water bottle he was aiming at with the first shot. My other friends and myself will never forget the dirty look from my friend with the AR. I was so happy I had to rub it in by yelling "open sights b****!" He was just like :what:. Everyone was :neener::neener::eek::eek::cool:
 
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I love mine. I have to agree with Cosmoline %10000. They're capable of amazing accuracy (not in my hands though :( ). Hell a Russian team in 54 won an international competition with Mosins. Not to mention that they make a great club/hammer/oar/tent stake/spear/ anything else.
 
Count me as a MN lover! Affordable, durable and simple are great virtues. I only have three yet, but I don't find alot of the disparaging remarks to be so true. Their triggers may have alot of creep but they all beat the trigger on my Remington 597 and my SKS (ok, SKS isn't hard). I know many fine rifles have better triggers, but the trigger on those rifles costs more than a Mosin or two :)

There is also a HUGE difference between different guns. I have a 1937 Tula, 1942 Tula and a 1952 Polish. The '37 Tula has far and away better machining than the '42 although the '42 has a better trigger ironically. The Polish manufacture beats both - tighter bolt, better machining, etc and lovely furniture. I want a Finn next...

To those with problems loading - get better clips. I have two different types of clips. One I cannot get to work for love nor money. The others (made of brass if that matters) load smooth and easy.

Looks are in the eye of the beholder. I prefer the full stocked military look to many "Remchesterby" stocks.
 
ANd the 54 R is a hard hitting .30 caliber bullet, still very available and provide more shooting at less cost.
 
Except for the shoulder bruises they are a lot of fun, even the surplus ammo is fairly accurate and cheap even after Obama.
I keep buying Sporterized/Bubbaized ones so I can make a truck gun, but I alway's end up getting the correct stocks and parts to return them to original conditions. They're in what my wife calls my Russian Room. I'm setting right now in my English room because of the smellies (SMLE's) which mostly followed me home as orphans too. One of my back bedrooms may become the Mauser room but I keep telling her some are turks some mausers but I want that room to be the benchrest room. Guy's I'll tell ya she ain't buying the family room becoming The AR room.
All are fun,all are handloaded, all are shot but I like to play with those cheap ass MN's
 
Cheap, powerful, plentiful and full of history. There...that's all I can say good about them.

Ugly as sin, overly complex bolt, hewn from a 2x4 and a railroad track, built for an illiterate conscript army...that's more of what I think of them.

Now the Finnish M39s....now THAT'S a Mosin!

I'm not saying I hate the MN...they are interesting in their own right. I just like many others much better.
 
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