Mosin-Nagant as a first rifle?

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CmdrSlander

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So, my nephew has gotten straight A's, I'm not bragging, just saying the implication of this is that he gets to have a rifle for Christmas. His father is somewhat knowledgeable about guns, and is enthusiastic about it, but I am the only person with multiple firearms in the family (they have a .22 and that is it) and have thus been declared the "expert" and placed in charge of setting everything up so that all my brother (his father) has to do is buy it and pick it up. My nephew is a history buff and it was his idea to get a surplus WWII rifle, with not a Springfield or Garand in sight, and with a limited budget to work with we settled on the M-Nagant. So my question is: is this a good first rifle?

Obviously weight and recoil are factors, but this kid is tall and strong for his age (about 6 feet tall) and has fired .308's .45's and 20 Gauge shotguns without trouble. Is this something he can maintain and enjoy with limited intervention on my part? Obviously it will be stored securely and shot with direct parental supervision (btw, he has taken an NRA-sponsored safety course) but he will be in charge of the maintenance and pay to fix anything if it breaks and has already formulated a list of upgrades and enhancements that he would like to install down the line.

Finally, I'm having his father buy it from Bud's Gun Shop online, are their Mosin's of good quality? I don't want him to get it out on christmas day (after I've cleaned off the cosmoline and nicely repackaged it some days before) and find a warped, rusty disappointment.
 
Quality can be a crapshoot really. You may get a good one you may not. Any way you can get ahold of one you can see beforehand? Either way, make sure you can check it out and make sure the bore looks ok etc before you give it to him. Nothing worse than a Christmas lemon lol.

Any idea on what he wants to do with it? Maybe a 22lr would be more usable? BUT the Mosin will hammer deer and is cheap enough to plink with considering its a centerfire. It is a great historical weapon too. There is recoil and there is blast. It is nothing a slip on recoil pad wont fix though lol. I wouldn't consider the recoil to be much worse than my light weight 308, but a pad would help I'm sure.

Ammunition is cheap, but there is a good chance it will be corrosive and he will have to stay on top of that. Accuracy should be plenty good for plinking and typical hunting distances.

I think it would make a fine first rifle, although I would always lean to a 22 lr for this purpose. 25 bucks can get around 500 rounds of 22... enough said lol.
 
To Above

They have a .22, he likes it and they plink a lot but he wants to improve his recoil management skills and accuracy at longer ranges - thus, he wants a centerfire. After a while, he came to find the .22 boring (virtually no recoil, predictable etc.)

Also, I will have a chance when cleaning it to check out the bore and other parts (but won't have a chance to fire it) any warning signs that I should look for - I'm new to surplus rifles.
 
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The Mosin is a good first full power rifle. My first full power rifle was a Mosin. Sure, quality is a crapshoot, but I've seen and handles a lot of mosins, and I've never seen the sewer pipe barrels of myth and legend. They don't need to be sub MOA accurate. Minute of watermelon is fine. It's a great way to introduce newer shooters into the joys of recoil.
 
Its great rifle.
Recoils like any other highpowerd rifle, so you have to hold it tight to the shoulder so recoil is managable. My 12 year old daughter Mary shoots hers 100 rds atta time, no problemo.
Get one that has been through the referb process, slatherd in Csmo ad the wood in varnish.
It will be in "ready to issue" spec, as accurate as the Soviets deemed nessassarry, and proven, then stored. Help him clean it proper, especcially the chamber of all cosmo.
Its heavy enough, (reduces recoil) and theres lots of ammo types for sale nowdays.
Milsurp ammo for inexpensive practise and the fact that the rifle must be attended and cleaned is the big "Teach 'em right" part of a first high power rifle ownership.

I give them to my many nephews with no regrets, teach them riflemanship basics, as well as shooting/cleaning/citizenship tips,and am proud when I look down the barrels, thay are clean and shiney, not wasted by lazieness. :D
If they couldnt take care if such, keeping them clean and in shape, I would not buy them any more.
 
Whats not to love about a gun you don't have to pay for. Cheap fun. But if you have to spend over $100-150, I'd look for a new Stevens or other cheap new or newer centerfire.
 
The recoil of the extra long 91-30 is mild to manageable. My 10 year old shoots mine to feel like a big shot.

M-44 can bark and kick quite a bit more.

Mosin Nagant rifles would make a fine choice for the first timer. I have found the best bet for cheap and serviceable rifles is the Soviet re-arsenald guns. Someone somewhere inspected it kinda before they dunked in in the bluing tank. Re-arsenaled 91-30s soaked in cosmo with matching numbers can be found for under $100.
 
Please dont buy it as a first gun! Too much kick for a first timer. A pre cross bolt safety Marlin 39a is what I got my son when he brought home his good report. He is much older now and he loves it still!
 
The it kicks like a mule is stuff i dont understand im 5'9 and 130lbs and i can shoot a m44 like there is no tomorrow sure it bruises me but its not that bad of recoil no more than my 870 , make sure that you get a bayonet for that kid with the rifle and set him up with a battalion of oncoming facist watermelons.
 
I'd buy him a .22 RF of some sort.
10/22, Marlin Model 60, etc.

That way he can afford to shoot it enough to learn how to shoot.

Without having to deal with heavy recoil induced flinching, and the corrosive ammo cleaning regimen.

Those two right there is enough to make a new shooter switch to golf or tennis, if not crotch-rocket motorcycles.

rc
 
Clarification

Not the first rifle he has shot, he has shot many of mine, putting 100's of rounds down range accurately, and he handles larger calibers just fine. This is simply the first rifle he will own and be responsible for. Also, HE HAS A .22 readily availible, I should call the thread "Mosin Nagant as a first CENTERFIRE Rifle?"

Thanks for your help though.

Know any good recoil pads?
 
If his interest is there I'd suggest getting him a minty M39 Finn. The weight is more than substantial enough to soak up the recoil and the quality is typically excellent.

As far as the need for prompt cleaning when shooting, that helps instill good habits I think.
 
I say go for it. A Mosin 91/30 was my first high-power and that thing's no problem for me. Kick isn't bad at all unless it's off a rest. Ammo is cheap, the system is incredibly simple to disassemble and reassemble, it's strong, foolproof, and just plain fun.
 
My advice, order 2,(if price is right) and give him the nicer of the two... if you are getting a good deal, maybe you and he can both shoot the same type rifle together after Christmas
 
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