Mosin madness strikes again

[Cosmoline]

I feel the song of the Mosin calling me again! This time another minty Finn late-model M-91 from the Continuation war. They're so long, like a Kentucky rifle. I'm a certified addict when it comes to these rifles, esp. the Finn variations. When it comes to Mausers I can take them or leave them. Same with SMLE's. But these guys just pull me in.

 

[SuicideKing]

I hear ya....

I pick up a Finn 91 or M42/91 every chance I get....

I still have yet to pick up a perfect mint on one tho.... congrats.

 

[rbernie]

Ah, but is it a controlled-round feed or a push feed?

 

[homeka45]

What's your source? But only if you care to share, if not I understand. Pickings are slim here in the middle of the pacific ocean.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Cool.

My first Mosin-Nagant was a Finn M1891 built on a Remington receiver.

 

[The_Antibubba]

Alaskan Mosins?

I'm sure I've got my dates wrong, but:

Weren't the first Mosin receivers built in 1894? And didn't we purchase Alaska from the the Russians in 1902? If so, what are the chances of there being original Alaskan-issue Mosin-Nagants out there? Somewhere, in some forgotten corner of a fishing village might sit an "old family heirloom"...

 

[Malice]

I got my first Mosin this weekend at the Houston gun show. It is a Russian re-arsenaled M38 with matching bolt and reciever, nice bore and stock. The only date I see on it is 1942, so I guess that is when it was produced, or re-arsemaled. Can someone clear that up for me?

In any case, it cost me $75 for the rifle, sling, ammo pouch and wierd cleaning goodies.

Cant wait to shoot it!

 

[Langenator]

Alaska was purchased from the Russians sometime in the 1860s, I believe. SecState at the time was Seward, a leftover from the administration of the late Abe Lincoln. At the time the purchase was derided as "Seward's Folly"

 

[english kanigit]

I've got a Finnish M39 and finally got out to shoot it for the first time this weekend. It is a good thing...

I was doing some poking around on the net and I read somewhere that Finland captured a small quantity of the SVT40's. I wonder what a finnish-reworked SVT would do? A po'boy's garand maybe?

Seriously now, could somebody tell me if there is match grade 7.62x54r? The surplus stuff is fine but I want to see what she can really do...

 

[Bridger]

Wolf advertises some "match" 200 grain ammo.

 

[George S.]

Would think that 200gr may be a bit heavy for match grade. I have shot some 180gr Russian milsurp and some 147gr Czech Silvertip in my 1931 Izzy 91/30 and the lighter round was much more accurate at 100yds.

You could always load your own match ammo as new brass is available and there is a variety of bullets available.

 

[Langenator]

I wonder what a finnish-reworked SVT would do? A po'boy's garand maybe?

I don't think there's anything po'boy about the cost of a Finn-capture SVT-40.

 

[Ouizel]

Malice: The 1942 on your M38 is the year that it was made. The M38 carbines were made between 1938 and 1944. In 1944, they added the permenantly-mounted bayonet, and it was re-designated the M44. (I just bought an M44 last week.) Good luck, and let us know how it shoots!

 

[armoredman]

Any questions on the wonderful rifles known as Rifle Mosin, (in Russia), and the Mosin Nagant here, can be answered here - http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/ the best place I have found for Mosin info. Yes, the 1942r barrel shank stamp on your M38 indicates what year it was built. The "r" stands for the Russian word "god", which means year. Look for the arsenal stamp, too, and see the history come alive as you explore just all the markings on your rifle.
My first M38 was a gift, and it started me on a journey of exploring the strange and fun world of collecting the surplus rifles that sometime in the future, just like the Mauser and Springfields after WWII, will be long gone.
But, for right now, you can collect the whole set cheap! And, since the round is still in miltary production, surplus ammo will be available for quite a while, too! Longest serving military cartridge, ever. Nifty.
I would love an M39, but can't afford one, yet. Have M38, 91/30,(still paying on, I am that broke), and another 91/30 on the way.

 

[Sam Adams]

Antibubba & Langenator

Weren't the first Mosin receivers built in 1894?

Yes. Sometimes you can get a re-arsenaled pre-1899, which requires no 4473 paperwork (since the '68 GCA defines a "firearm" as something that was made after 1898).

And didn't we purchase Alaska from the the Russians in 1902?

No, 1867. We bought it for $0.02/acre ($7.2 million), courtesy of Sec. St. Seward who was, as Langenator indicated, rewarded by having his masterstroke derided as "Seward's Folly." I don't think so - first, we had a gold rush up there in 1898 - that alone paid for the whole place. Second, I'm real happy that the Commies weren't on the continent during the Cold War (or now - and, yes, they are still a bunch of Commies. As my Russian cousins say, "same wall, different wallpaper."). Third, there's an ocean of oil underneath that state. All we have to do is shut the environfreaks up for a while, and somewhere north of 10 billion barrels of oil will get pumped. At $45/barrel, you're looking at about $450 billion. Some folly.

If so, what are the chances of there being original Alaskan-issue Mosin-Nagants out there?

Zero, if you're looking for a genuine rifle.

Somewhere, in some forgotten corner of a fishing village might sit an "old family heirloom"...

If you see one, it is probably owned by the Brooklyn Bridge Sales Company. They have many other items for sale, including a rather large bridge in New York, some beachfront property in Arizona, a stuffed Yetti, a real unicorn horn and the genuine Ark of the Covenant that was featured in the first Indiana Jones movie (and which was recently purchased at a government surplus auction from a giant warehouse somewhere near Washington, DC).

 

[homeka45]

UPS just dropped off my M39 a 1941 Sako, still has the unit disc on the stock, built on an 1897 Sestroretsk Receiver. Now I gotta find some ammo on this island!

 

[armoredman]

AIM has/had a sale on Czech Silvertip, $50 for a case or something like that.

 

[Sam Adams]

homeka45

What did you pay for that rifle, and where did you get it?

 

[homeka45]

$189 at www.gunsnammo.com, I noticed they just put out several more antiques (faxed them a copy of my drivers license) and a few more post-1898 M-39s. Only downside is it has a small import mark near the muzzle on the R. side of the barrel and bluing is approx. 50%, however I wanted to start off w/ a shooter instead of a pristine safe queen. I just wish I could get ammo from the mainland but nobody will ship to hawaii. I guess ammo only gets here by boat.

BTW- not affiliated w/ wholesale guns and ammo.

 

[homeka45]

Just talking about this website led to my going there between posts and ordering another antique VKT 1944 99% blued on a 1895 Tula. I think I'm terminal.

 

[Sam Adams]

homeka45

Can you give me the exact URL? I can't seem to find the company you mentioned. Thanks.

BTW, this is my 1,000th post on THR!

 

[Sam Adams]

homeka45

Never mind, I found it. Great site! My wallet is cursing you, however.

 

[jefnvk]

I wonder what a finnish-reworked SVT would do? A po'boy's garand maybe?

Methinks that a Garand would be a po'boy's Finn SVT

EDIT: Can't pre-1898 guns go to anyone over 18? Their site specifically says 21. I wouldn't mind buying one.

 

[spacemanspiff]

what are the chances of there being original Alaskan-issue Mosin-Nagants out there? Somewhere, in some forgotten corner of a fishing village might sit an "old family heirloom".

i've seen a few 'heirlooms'. villagers typically werent/arent as keen on cleaning their guns. they usually are beat to hell and back. the bores take a lot of elbow grease to come clean. hoppes just isnt sold in village stores.

not to mention that villagers dont usually see shooting as a hobby, so they are more apt to trade/sell their guns on a whim. what i wouldnt give to have the rifles my grandfather owned. but no one remembers what happened to them. probably in the village dump somewhere.

 

[homeka45]

Hey Sam Adams, just remember you can't take it with you so enjoy the fruits of your labors.