Mosin Nagant M39 Finland Rifle

[9mmfanatic]

I am looking to buy a Mosin Nagant and I have hear that the M39 (finland model) is the best to buy. Just want to hear some feed back on these rifles. Anyone have one?
Reliable? Accuarate?
Price You would Pay?
Any info on this rifle will help out a bunch.
Thanks!

 

[spiroxlii]

"Best" is subjective. The Finnish Mosin-Nagants are known for being accurate. They were produced in smaller numbers than the Soviet and Imperial Russian Mosin-Nagants, so they cost more than the Soviet surplus Mosin-Nagants that are all over the market right now.

I only have surplus Soviet Mosin-Nagants, so I don't know what the going price on a Finnish M39 is. It's a good rifle, but I like my Soviet ones just fine. In terms of build quality, the Soviet surplus Mosin-Nagants tend to be in good condition, and they're very tough little rifles. They may shoot larger groups than the Finnish ones, but they will pretty much go bang every time, and they're dead simple to operate and clean.

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Finland's quality control during war-time was much better than the Soviet equivalent and it will show. They are all built off of capture russian mosins (ranging from the 1891 all the way to the 91/30) and should attain better groups than most Russian Mosins. I personally love the Finnish stuff for the interesting history. I own an Antique M39 and a 1933 91/30 Tula Captured by Finland.

 

[Ignition Override]

Spiroxlii:

If all else were equal, for casual shooting as a reborn plinker (after many years 20+), would you recommend the longer 91/30 length, or the 38/44 with a butt pad for recoil? Just bought a used Ruger Mini 14 (.223).
Reliability (yet economical) is my only high priority in guns.

I plan to buy one within the next few days, but for no more than $150. A store 45 min. north of here appears to have the bent bolt sniper types, but the store lists them for about $400. Seems a bit high for the sniper (short-scope) version?
Would you trust the internal condition of those at ClassicArms in NC?

Two of the sales staff at the somewhat nearby store did not recognize the name Mosin Nagant when I asked whether they had one (they have lots of rifles) . I worked the bolts on two of them. They have no x 54R ammo, but let you should used guns at their range!
Thanks for any advice. My brother has an LE and two or so Swiss K-31s.

I've posted various questions about the corrosive ammo on a few other topics at THR and some TheFiringLine rifle forums hoping for more 'big picture' responses.

 

[Mr White]

The Finns used MN receivers captured from Russia during their Independence war and built high quality rifles from them. They made better stocks and better stock hardware, they added better barrels and worked the triggers to make them smooter and 2 stage. They also shimmed the stocks to help accuracy.

They are a lot more accurate and nicer to shoot than the 91/30s. Idon't tink there are degrees of reliability with MNs. That are all just plain reliable. Its like their middle name... Mosin Reliable Nagant.

They are going between $200 and $500 depending on condition. You can pick up a decent M39 for $250-$300 and an unissued one for around $400.

There really is no comparison between a 91/30 and an M39. M39s blow the 91/30s away.

As for corrosive ammo, its really not a big deal. Run some hot water thru the bore when you get back from the range then clean the gun as you normally would, and properly lubricate it.

 

[MRIman]

Go get your finn!!!
Have it shipped to your door.

http://www.gunsnammo.com/


MRI

 

[Vaarok]

Just remember, they're a lot rarer and have far greater historical provenance than the Soviet refurbs, so butchering one with any sort of permanent modification is very frowned upon.

I have seven M-39s, and would have no qualms about buying more so long as I found one I liked the looks of.

Though really, the last one is hard to beat:





So, in closing, you should buy several.

 

[silverlance]

Comparing an M39 to ANY soviet Mosin is like comparing a Mercedes G to a Jeep Cherokee. Both are four wheeled, both are jeep types, but one is a fine vehicle and the other is a buggy.

You are literally comparing a SAKO to an Izmash.

Here is what you will do, Comrade:

1. Buy an M38 for $80 from IO.
2. Buy an M91/30 sniper for $330 from ClassicArms.
3. Buy two M39s from MGS. One SAKO, one VKT. Get them in VG+, pay no more than $300.
4. Buy an M39 SK.y for $300
5. Reliaze that the collection is not complete with an SVT-40 in AVT stock.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Though really, the last one is hard to beat

That may be the nicest looking MN I've ever seen. Is that the original wood?

 

[offthepaper]

Vaarok

I'm with Horsesoldier. That as good as it gets.
Can you give us some details?

 

[Cosmoline]

The Finnish Mosins were built by some of the best gun makers around, including SAKO and Tikkakoski. The barrels are top quality, the receivers are all strength tested and the triggers are great. They're not all tack drivers, esp. since some of them saw enough fighting to glow white hot and burn off their blue. For collectability the pre-war Finns are the most valuable and their prices have been going up and up. After that come the M39's, which used to sell for 150 or so but now go for upwards of 300 in many cases. The sleepers are the late model M91's and "M30's"--the Finnish 91/30. Many of these stayed in the arsenal and are in mint condition as a result. They're lighter weight than M39's and I find them to be better balanced. You can actually find them for under $200, though not many were made.

 

[spiroxlii]

Ignition, that depends on what you mean by "casual plinker."

There is no question that the Finnish Mosins are finely crafted, highly accurate, and richly historic, but for a "casual plinker" who wants a fun and reliable milsurp rifle, I see no reason why a Soviet surplus model for under $100 wouldn't be perfect.

Barrel length is a matter of personal choice.

My M44s are of the short variety. M38s and the various cut-down Mosins also fit into this category. They're loud. They kick like mules. They are fun to shoot at night because they look like flamethrowers.

The 91/30's longer barrel has some tangible advantages. You end up with higher muzzle velocity, better accuracy, and for some reason (perhaps the higher mass of the rifle) less felt recoil.

Which one is better? For fun shooting, I love my M44s to death. I still want a 91/30, though. I hate to cop out and tell you to buy both, but that's what I'm going to do.

 

[Vaarok]

It's a matching wartime Sako. Cost half a months pay at auction.

M-39s are nice, you've got your choice of Sako, Tikka, and Valmet barrels, with the possibility of a postwar FN barrel or a redone New England Westinghouse, Remington, or SiG. There's no way to go wrong.

 

[9mmfanatic]

I am defiantly going to buy a finn Mosin Nagant m39 sounds like there are good reasons to spend the extra money. Online the best way to buy it? The tampa gun show comes around in a few months I think, and I have to wait for the tax rebate.

 

[rmkey]

Get the M39 while you can

There are 4 issues. Sako, sky, vkt, and sneaks. The sneaks is a late production gun I believe in the 60s after they supposedly were no longer made.
They all are quality and accurate. The m39 has won world championship rifle matches- back then. Nevertheless, they are historical rifles that are very sound and accurate and has someone has said they were completely remade from Russian recievers. The MN's and fine as I have a few of all the variants and I have all the varients of the M39. The finns took great pride in their rifles and the m39 is clear evidence. I dont know what they are going for now but I doubt you can get one worth having for less than 300. They will not be on the market as long as the MNs will as there are comparatively few of them. Nothing may be on the market from Russia or anywhere else after Jan 20 2009.

 

[Franco2shoot]

91/30

I'm the picture you see when you turn to the page Casual Plinker.... for me, I stumbled into the Mosin-Nagant trap with my 1943 MN. Bubba had added the ATI bolt, rail conversion to the MN I acquired, and shooting my Remington model 7 in 308 was emptying my wallet... So it was a no brainer when I found my purchase with solid rifle'ing... The addition of good glass 6-18x50mm for 120 bucks, and then polishing the barrel resulted in a plinker that tears the orange dot out of a shoot-n-see target, and, a pack of 20 cost me just 6 bucks.

In the final analysis, I have spent 200 bucks, put in a good deal of elbow grease, but I have something that always draws comments at the range, and my son's will keep and pass along...

Just can't be beat.
KKKKFL

 

[_N4Z_]

There are 4 issues. Sako, sky, vkt, and sneaks.

You forgot the B-barrels. Barrels made in Belgium which frequently exhibit a plum colored hue. They are also quite accurate.

Here is a pic my B.

 

[Cosmoline]

There are also some Tikka M39's, though they're very rare. And some straight stock variations.

 

[gcpd]

Being of Finnish decent I always like to point out that the Finns kicked Russian butt while greatly outnumbered.

 

[Cosmoline]

This is the great Finnish war epic, Talvisota. The original "Band of Brothers," only with more Mosins. The thing starts with a shot of Civil Guardsmen and their rifles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz18Qg-weaU

 

[Coronach]

Vaarok:

Wow. Just, wow.

Mike

 

[Shalloe]

+1 Coronach

those are beautiful specimens Vaarok and _N4Z_!

If you don't mind me asking, what did you folks do to the stocks to make them that purty? Were they refinished or did ya'll just shine them up well?

My M39 has a post war stock that is pretty dull compared to those. Any tips you could share?

 

[_N4Z_]

My B is/was an unissued rifle. The stock is original and was untouched as far as I know when I took the above pic. It was also very dry to the touch, which concerned me. I read that B barrels were all post war made rifles, likely constructed in the 1950's. After much time and thought I relented my urge to leave it as I recieved it, and protected the stock with polyurethene. To maintain the look of the above pic I dulled down any added sheen with very fine steel wool. To me it now looks even better.

I have a 42 Sako that is, and looks much more used. It likely saw action in it's early existence. The wartime stock is vitually black in color and smells of pine. I will not alter the stock of this other rifle. It is nowhere near as pretty, to the best of my knowledge is totally original, and like it's pretty counterpart above, remains deadly accurate.

Vaaroks rifle above has to be thee best looking M39 I've ever seen. Very nice!

 

[_N4Z_]

double post

 

[Ignition Override]

Spiroxlii :

Thanks for the scoop. I would order the gun tomorrow if "the store" were open. Not being a bodybuilder, would the shorter 44 length be easier to hold and aim for a while, and use whatever recoil pad, assuming that the pad would improve the comfort for those not used to strong ammunition? Also excluding a normal preference for longer, standard classic weapons (as with the M-1 Garand from WW2), would the closer center-of-gravity on the 'carbine' 44 make it more fun to shoot ? My only previous bolt action is the ancient .22 Savage which was my grandfather's.

A friend (who has a Lee-Enfield and two Swiss K-31s) noticed on one of these websites that the 44 bolt action might somehow be not as good as that on the 91/30. If so, is this noticeable, or is that just something subtle and minor, which is found by more experienced rifle shooters? I've not yet read that anything in the 44 makes it less reliable, smooth or durable.

This info will help my make the final decision as to which type. My credit card might need as much cooling as the Ruger Mini needed today after three boxes.