Mosin Nagant - Am I the only one who does NOT like these?

[sixgunner455]

I went to buy a Mauser, but the ones at the store were all crap. I picked out a nice-looking, all numbers matching M44 that was $49, bought a bunch of cheap ammo, and had some fun with it. I finally decided that I didn't like it that much, it wasn't that accurate, it hurt to shoot, and I sold it and the few boxes of ammo I had left for it for $100. The guy who got it absolutely loves it.

I got a K31 for $79.00, and I can tell you, my friends, that there is a huge difference between the two. Yes, the ammo is more expensive. I can also hit anything with it I can see, and it has a fantastic trigger and elegant bolt design. To me, it is a far superior weapon.

I may buy another Mosin someday, but it will be either a nice 91/30, or a Finn M39.

 

[Davek1977]

And... again... when's the last time we saw one for $75-85, especially a guaranteed decent one?

aimsurplus.com $79

classicarms.us $75

Can definitely still be had at under $100 from several vendors

 

[BCRider]

I like mine BECAUSE it's ugly, unrefined, kicks and above all because it provides an accurate link to that great past conflict of WW II that there's no way to duplicate without shooting one.

At some point I'd like to add one each of the major WW II powers' rifles to my collection. A Lee Enfield, K98, Garrand and perhaps even an Arisaka.

I may not be a multimillionaire that can afford to buy a flight worthy P51 Mustang or Supermarine Spitfire. But I can afford to buy one of each of the major arms of that conflict and see what the ground troops were using.

As for a short length of pull and harsh recoil? Remember that a lot of the time the Russian troops would have been wearing a heavy wool greatcoat over a fairly heavy wool tunic. That's a pretty effective and thick built in recoil pad....

 

[Outlaw81]

I think I just finished bashing mosins over on the firing line LOL. A lot of those guys love that stinking gun. I've got plenty of Belgium brownings and mannlichers, so I don't see the point in buying mosins.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Gun kicked like a constipated mule.

What are you used to shooting?
I've fired a box or so through a Mosin 91/30 and the recoil was less than my Weatherby Vangaurd .30-06. I figure that a lot of people shoot AKs and ARs and then go to a Mosin and think it's heavy recoiling. I don't know if that's the case with you or not. It's certainly no more recoil than your average .308, .30-06, .270 or cartidges like them. I guess it's about what you're used to.

To answer your question, I like them but don't love them. I wouldn't mind buying a few while you can get them for under $100. I also agree with rcmodel. The reason they're popular now is all the cheap 98 Mausers and 03 Springfields are gone.

 

[KrankyKraut]

Like them. Especially the M39 and M38 carbine. But overall, prefer the smoother operation and workmanship of the Mausers, especially the early K98 and VZ24.

 

[cooldude14]

Bought a M44 1948 that had a nice bore last november and ever since i got it ive had to slap the bolt down on every round and ive tried everything to fix it so now im thinking about getting one of those steyr 95s from JG sales since ive heard they are nice rifles but the ammo is a bit steep and the mauser supply has pretty much dried up

 

[wlewisiii]

I own a Mauser 1893 that I got for less than many Mosins. I'll just keep shooting it

 

[ColtPythonElite]

IMO, they are great for some cheap fun. However, when it comes to tasks such as serious target shooting, hunting, SD, ect. there are far better choices....Sure, I have one. It was big fun a couple of decades ago when I was poorer. It was hard to beat at 49 bucks from the local department store shooting dime a round ammo. Since then, I have moved on.

 

[mortablunt]

It's not that you are the only one who doesn't love the Mosin, but instead, you're the only one who hates them enough to make a thread about it.

 

[jnoble87]

"When you need it, and ain't got it....You sing a different tune.."

When it comes down to it...When SHTF and all else fails...I can ALWAYS depend on a Mosin to fire with accuracy enough to take human and any other game I need it to.

You're not gonna care if its ugly and if it kicks and if its got thousands of dollars in accessories and glass on it when a zombie hoard bears down on you and its all ya got, or you need a gun to feed your family in a time of crisis....

I'll even put money down that it'll outlast the fanciest of black rifles, when the time calls for it to do so.

Yes, I love the Mosin Nagant.

 

[RNB65]

I have one because I wanted to own at least one milsurp and the 91/30 was by far the cheapest milsurp option. I shoot it maybe once a year and find it very boring. It's accurate enough, but my middle age eyes don't work well with v notch open sights.

 

[Geckgo]

Not going to read the posts on this one but I'll weigh in. I think that they are ugly and I don't care for an oddball caliber. They may sell them at walmart (never looked) but if it's not one of the "major" calibers that's been around forever I generally tend to avoid it till it's proven itself. In the case of the mosin, I'm not going to find myself hunting for ammo, don't care to get reloading dies for it, and I could care less.

Plus the guns are ugly as sin.

just my thoughts, for those that enjoy them, keep enjoying them, just not for me.

 

[J_McLeod]

I will never own a M44. Way too much recoil. I have a 91/30, but it mostly stays in the safe. Even with the longer barrel, it has a lot of recoil, and isn't that fun to shoot. Can't beat the price though.

 

[vellocet]

The OP is correct. If one could buy a springfield, german mauser or even an enfield or arisaka for the same price, and price of the ammo, of a mosin nobody would want mosins. Why would they? I have three mosins and like them, but them or three springfields? Jeez. I'd keep one mosin as a reminder of why I appreciate the others so much. On the other hand, I like the looks of the long mosins, and the overall weird lines of the m44.

 

[LoonWulf]

I just thought id mention that its the felt recoil thats so nasty, and aftermarket stock, or pad would help. If you actually do the calculations the recoil energy of an m44 is actually a couple pounds less then your normal scoped 06. I used my own hand loads for both which are around max.

 

[theriflespeaks1863]

A little bit of well-deserved Mosin love...

Hey, I can understand where everyone is coming from on this, but to me, the Mosin is one of those 'beauty in the eye of the beholder' type of weapons.
For me, a gun has to be from a different age for me to want to buy it- don't get me wrong, the black rifles and such fascinate me, but I only 'love' my old military guns.

Criteria:

1: It (or the design) must be older than my parents, plus a few years.
2: It must be a military rifle.
3: Inexpensive.
4: Bayonet is a must.
5: Cheap to purchase and shoot.

The list goes on, but those are some of my gun buying criteria (although, I have made a few exceptions), and the Mosin fits all of them.

As for recoil, I become very unnerved if my gun doesn't let me know it's there. The Mosin, in my opinion, is much more comfortable to shoot than any of my family's guns- granted, I was raised shooting 20 and 12 gauge shotguns with various loads and a .30-06 Browning BAR deer rifle, so recoil is very subjective to me. I also shoot a .58 caliber rifle musket, and she lets me know she's there in her own way, just like the Mosin. I love my old thumpers.

To each their own, though.

Cheers,

-Chris

 

[35 Whelen]

I went through a Mosin phase for the same reason as most everybody else; cheap rifle and cheap ammo. I bought several rifles and several hundred rounds of ammo.

Being a tinkerer, I immediately began work on improving a couple of mine:

Trigger: Was very successful in my attempts to improve the trigger and my efforts are now a Sticky over at the Surplus Rifle forum: 2¢, No Creep, Adjustable Mosin Trigger


Accuracy: Most of the Mosins I had were reasonably accurate with 2" or less at 100 yds. being quite do-able.

Recoil: Deal with it.

Sights: I bought an old rust-bucket of an M-44. HEAVILY modified it; bedded it, did the 2¢ trigger job, installed a better front sight, and even figured out a way to install a reciever sight.

Bolt handle: Ridiculous, stubby bolt handle situated an arms length away. Devised a modification that allowed for the mounting of a receiver sight, but the bolt lift was still difficult.

Cartridge: With it's gigantic rim and tapered body, WAY outdated.

Magazine: Single stack and stripper clips that made loading the magazine difficult at best.

The M-44 Scout project is detailed here and here except I eventually Parkerized the entire rig.

I eventually grewed tired of monkeying with the rifles when Mausers are SO much easier to work with. But, I understand the allure of the cheap price of the rifles and ammo, especially for those who just like to blast with a rifle.

35W

 

[theotherwaldo]

I shoot the 91/30 when my shoulder needs a rest from the .68 cal. flintlock musket.

 

[elmerfudd]

I love my M39. The rest of 'em...meh. They really aren't the best design of the era at all. Between the rimmed cartridge, the bolt handle being too far forward, the often sloppy manufacture and other shortcomings they really don't measure up to the better bolt actions.

Still, the price is right and the ammo is cheap.

The rifle that I've never understood the appeal of is the K98 Mauser. I just don't get why people thought a rifle with bad sights, a low capacity and a slow action was so good. Lee Enfields or K31's are practically semi-autos by comparison and they have sights you can actually hit your target with.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The rifle that I've never understood the appeal of is the K98 Mauser.

 

[wankerjake]

Eh. I don't hate them, but I have no need for them. They are cheap, but not good for much. I'd rather have a Mauser. I had one for awhile, bought it for $65. It was accurate enough, chinese carbine, but it was less fun than shooting any of my other rifles. I traded it and my Mauser for a 1894 in 45 Colt. I miss the Mauser. I don't miss the Mosin.

 

[wankerjake]

The rifle that I've never understood the appeal of is the K98 Mauser. I just don't get why people thought a rifle with bad sights, a low capacity and a slow action was so good.

The Mosin I had didn't hole a candle to the Mauser I had. Looks better, feels better, better cartridge... to each his own I suppose.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Love 'em. Obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be making stocks for them! lol.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

And Geckgo, the round has been around since at LEAST 1891! To me, that's forever.