Mosin Nagant Must-Haves

[silverlance]

If you like the Mosins; if you like Russian history; if you revere the history of the country who gave the most lives to win WWII; if you admire the Finns; if you are fascinated by Sino-Soviet relations post-war; or if you just like hard hitting rifles that are incredibly reliable and are cheap today :

Here's a list of Mosin Must-Haves, for a basic affordable collection:

1. M91/30 $80
2. M38 $80
3. M44 $80
4. T53 $50
5. M39 $200

 

[foghornl]

If you can still find them, one each of the Westinghouse and Remington-made Czarist era rifles.

 

[Todd A]

US proofed Westinghouse 91 (its a Balkan import mix master )

 

[offthepaper]

A Tula, an Ishey, pre-war era, war era, post war era, hex receiver, round receiver, laminated, Sniper repro, different year mfg, .....
man these things are like eating peanuts, getting started is easier than stopping.
I love every one of mine.

 

[Todd A]

Stopping isn't to hard....I let mine go except the Westinghouse. Fun shooter.

I kept a couple of photos of this one. Let it go about 4 years ago,not a repo,and it didn't go for cheap..



Kinda miss it sometimes

 

[brentn]

Where do you guys find the nagant scope+mounts?

I don't want a modern one, I want a recreation or possibly vintage original mount+scope.

Does the reciever have to support the scope, or does it not matter what mosin reciever you get, they all support the original style scopes?

 

[Todd A]

Don't really want to Hi-jack the thread. But you would be better off getting an already made up Repro PU sniper.

An original scope,base,and mount would be costly to add to a rifle. Repro parts might be available,don't know I've been out of Mosin collecting for awhile and haven't kept up.

I found that one in a local gun shop years ago. It is an early Coles import that missed being import stamped. Just to give you an idea at cost of an original PU..I let that go 4 years ago for $775 USD.

 

[bmwguy]

Original PU with original base and scope are running between 800 and 900. 800 being the Izzy and 900 for a Tula.

A repo PU can be purchase for 350.00 from SOG.

 

[Cosmoline]

Yeah you have to have an M91 on there, preferably both a Czarist M91 and a Finn M91. Those are the originals and IMHO the coolest.

Also the Finn M30's with the potbelly stocks are really cool.

And if you have the $$ you must have an M28 or M28-30--the legendary Civil Guard rifles of the Winter War.

 

[Spiggy]

cant have a M39 without a puuko bayonet

you'll also need an array of the variation of tools used to maintain your mosin collection; as well as a "I (Heart) My Mosin" bumper sticker

 

[rr2241tx]

Speaking of must haves, does anyone remember the big red star with cyrillic across it? I think it said Mosin-Nagant in Russian, although obviously that would be strictly an American thing? Have a link to it?

 

[Ignition Override]

For just casual plinking and having very moderate experience with rifles (am certainly no mechanic/tool guy and a beginner learning about components), would you buy the 91/30 or the 44?

Other than the attraction of a full-length classic, would the 44's different, closer center-of-gravity (using a recoil absorber) be just as fun to shoot? I really like my first Ruger Mini 14's balance (plinking gun), compared to a long rifle. Yep-really like it.
And it is so incomparably more reliable (10 boxes, only one partial feed) compared to my broken, new semi-auto gun (back) in the factory, I'm in hog heaven. Oink, oink.

I assume that the moving parts might be just as reliable and smooth when comparing the two general Mosin Nagant types...

People point out the better accuracy of any longer barrel, but is it very obvious within about 100-200 yards?
What do Y'ALL think?

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I started out buying different models of the Mosin Nagant and then started adding by country of manufacture. I have 16 now. 91/30, M38, M44, T53, M39 and 91/59. Russia, Poland, Hungary, China and Finland. I don't see an end to this. If I ever get all the models and countries I'll have to start collecting dates.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

For just casual plinking and having very moderate experience with rifles (am certainly no mechanic/tool guy and a beginner learning about components), would you buy the 91/30 or the 44?

Personally, I prefer the M91/30 to the M44. It's more pleasant to shoot and the longer sight radius (distance between front and rear sight) allows the shooter to be more precise, all other things being equal. Yes, it is long, but it also balances quite well. That said, I have to admit I'm tempted to pick up an M44 just to round out the collection.

The two guns should be equally reliable since they use the same action. The outside contours of the receivers might differ slightly, but bolts are interchangeable as long as headspace is okay. In short, if you can maintain an M91/30, then you can maintain an M44 and vice versa.

BTW, I'd say another "must have" for Mosin Nagant lovers is Terence W. Lapin's book, The Mosin-Nagant Rifle.

 

[Ignition Override]

Thanks Beetle:

In that case, although the first MN which I ever held ( the 44) was over two weeks ago in Starkville, MS at the "Army/Navy" pawn shop-having no possible idea what it was (the nice, sincere young salesman...also a veteran of the Marine Reserves in Iraq...called it an SKS)-I'll go with your advice to buy the longer gun. With the Ruger Mini 14 to augment the broken carbine, that's handy enough. Most seem to prefer the longer i.e. 91/30.
My only priority is reliability, durability, yet economical to buy and shoot. But military style.

Too much tv watching "Combat" in 1965 with Vic Morrow, "Rat Patrol" and "Twelve O'Clock High", "Battle of the Bulge" and "Bridge Over the River Kwai"?

My bias towards shorter, handier guns is admittedly difficult to overcome, but less recoil would be nice, and it would be interesting to have my first powerful (and standard size) combat rifle.

Maybe in the future I'll offer to trade it for a '44'. A local 'gun swap' (my first) at the outdoor range here in March could be interesting.

 

[cracked butt]

My bias towards shorter, handier guns is admittedly difficult to overcome,

It'll be easy to overcome once you hold a 91/30 with the bayonet mounted, or even partially attached( I've bever been able to twist one all the way on). With the bayonet attached its a very formidable spear or pike like weapon that's close to 6' long

 

[John Wayne]

Anyone have experience with ATI's Nagant Fiberforce stock? I was thinking of picking one up along with the bent bolt handle and scope mount after seeing some soft point 7.62x54r rounds I'd like to try on whitetails.

 

[mndfusion]

chk this out its pretty cool.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu63.htm

Corking a Mosin Rifle to Improve Accuracy

 

[Lichter]

I have a 91/30 and a T53. I need to get around to getting a M38, M44 and a Finn