Mosin-Nagant user thread

[R127]

If the vendor you order from has the option the handpick is usually worth the $5 or $10. They will often pick the best one of 5 for you. Also if you can afford to it does make some sense to buy two rifles at once. The shipping for 2 items usually isn't much more than the shipping for 1 item, it will also give you a chane to pick the best one of the two for your main rifle and give you a spare of everything for less than you'd pay if you tried to buy the parts individually. Never forget the first rule of government spending.... why settle for only one when you can have two for twice the price?!

I'm a long barrel fan when it comes to cartridges like the 7.62x54r. It just makes sense to me. You may as well get the maximum burn you can for the most power, flatest trajectory and least muzzle blast. If you aren't hunting with it and you're not fighting at close quarters with it which is a weird thing to do with a 5 shot crankbolt in the first place the only real advantage a short barrel would have for you is the more compact overall length for storage and transport but realistically you'd have no problem putting a full sized 91/30 in the trunk of most smaller economy cars or any closet. I'm not knocking M44's and other Mosin carbines, I think they'd make great brush guns for hunters, but unless you like the blast a 91/30 will rattle your cage less.

 

[Ignition Override]

R127:
Thank you very much.

If the store has any left, will order a longer version Monday.
An excerpt from another gun website stated that a Finnish gun might be spotted by whatever a "potbelly stock" is, with a sling swivel also. These Finnish and Polish guns, if identifiable, appear to be better, but can cost a bit more. I want to ask them to choose one, but I only know what I've read on THR this weekend, "TheFiringLine.com" and two specifically Mosin websites ("7.62x54R.com"?).

If they cost only about $30-50 more, would you suspect that they either have very banged up wood or the mechanical operation is not so good, and not worth ordering from a gun website?
Being new to actual combat rifles and mail-order etc, will have to trust the business which I call (hope they will answer after 2-3 calls).

 

[dmftoy1]

FWIW I'd buy the one that has the best bore condition (rated). If they were both equal then I'd probably go with the longer rifle . . .but I have to say out of the two I have I enjoy the 44 the most. All of my shoot is at 100 yards or less though.

Regards,
Dave

 

[Franco2shoot]

FWIW My vote goes into the Long column... At a recent gunshow, I picked up the pigsticker, and I like that even better... The added weight seems to make the rifle balance better on my left hand, with elbow slightly ahead of kneecap. I pull it tight to the meaty part of my shoulder and feel like its part of my body... Makes for a good pattern down range and I can shoot all day without any soreness.
KKKKFL

 

[Franco2shoot]

Did we ever get the bayonet attachment issue resolved? Here's
mine with it attached, and I think I am becoming more proficient with the pigsticker on when shooting at 100 yards.

KKKKFL

 

[Colorado]

Hey- Cool! I love shooting mine. It's a 91/30 stamped 1939. I'm getting a 44 next week. Ammo at my local shop is corrosive, but it's cheap: $4 for 20 rds. They say you should clean the barrel everytime you're done for the day. Not a bad idea with all firearms really. Mine was $88. with all the goodies. I too want a scope. The Sniper version is like $800. What's up with that?

 

[dmftoy1]

There's an article in this month's "Guns" magazine on making your own "fake" sniper version. If I remember correctly it was $150-$180 to pick up the scope/mount and it looked pretty straight forward to mount it to a 91/30. FWIW.

 

[SGW42]

Nope, still haven't gotten my bayonet on there.

I file away at it occasionally when I'm sitting and watching TV. It's to the point where it slides on and off, and turns very easily, just still does not make those last few millimeters to lock.

When I finally got it to the range, it shot POA and grouped well enough without the bayonet, that I haven't been too concerned with getting it there now. I will keep filing though.

 

[dak0ta]

Are all mosin-nagants imported into N. America stamped with an import mark?

 

[Colorado]

Hey- Dmftoy1
Thanks, I'll get the new Guns and check it out.

 

[kfranz]

Are all mosin-nagants imported into N. America stamped with an import mark?

Into the US, the short answer is yes. You'll find them from time to time without import stamps, but they either are bringbacks or were imported long ago.

 

[dak0ta]

Are they ugly markings? And what's the point. Just look at the gun and you can tell what it is.

 

[Nugilum]

I got a NEW about 14 years ago from a department store called "Rose's" (I think that's how it was spelled). I got a M91 that has been re-arsenaled in Finland at least once. I paid $42.35 after taxes. It came with it's bolt tool, cleaning brush and rod, ammo pouch, and oil can. I had to get a bayonet separately.

IMunHO every rifle needs a bayonet.

There's a long story behind this bad boy. It's had a rough life and needed some serious TLC (yes I'm being vague here for a reason). It's a keeper, that's for sure.

 

[kfranz]

If you consider dot matrix on the side of the receiver ugly, then yes, the more recent (last few years) markings are ugly. In the past they were less obtrusive and often in a more discreet location. The markings are not on there to tell the user what he has, but are a way of tracing the firearm should it turn up in a criminal investigation.

As for "just look at the gun and you can tell what it is", I'll bet $10 toward the board that most of us couldn't do that with half of the milsurps produced in the last century.

 

[dak0ta]

Is there a way to remove the dot-matrix if it isn't etched into the metal? Or maybe parkerize/re-blue over top of it?

 

[Ignition Override]

R127: Thanks again for your clear recommendations. Due to the price I ordered both the 91/30 and 44.

Requested laminated stocks, although this might not be important.
With so much (spreading) popularity, when will many of these rifles, other than the Finnish, go up much in price? Is this ammo not being purchased in large quantities by the US govt for supplying any 3rd world police forces (i.e. Iraq), or by anybody needing serious stockpiles of firepower? As for the well-known corrosion and Windex advice, do owners simply squirt about three times, and let it rundown/ soak in the barrel for a few minutes, then clean that night with Nitro Solvent etc?

The x 54R ammo arrived from "Sportsmansguide" today, and with the $10-15/yr membership, costs about $48/300 rounds! Peeled the metal band from the old metal box. Glad that the metal strip was strong. Wish the guns were already at the store: my first first front-line combat rifles.

 

[dmftoy1]

I've been toying with the idea of taking a micrometer to the gun show with me the next time and mic'ing the bullets on surplus ammo. I suspect you'd get very acceptable accuracy out of any of the mosin's if you found the surplus that was loaded with pills in the .311 range. (I'd bet that alot of it is using .308 bullets)

My problem has been that I've never had a mic with me at the gunshow. The ideal situation would be if you took a bullet puller AND a mic. I wonder if they'd get nervous if you started whacking your kinetic bullet puller on the gun show table.

 

[Mike 56]

Here is my 43 91/30 i named it Bubba-Rouski i have sevan Mosin Nagants i just had to drill holes in one of them.

 

[Ignition Override]

Picked them up today . As one's first front-line combat rifle(s), they feel like very solid all-business weapons, but without the low ammo prices, I never would have been serious about buying one.
The 91 bolt sticks. Would gun grease help much?

If the bayonet on the 44 will not open, do many owners simply loosen the screw and take them off?
I'm not a marksman, so I doubt that the extended bayonet really affects accuracy at 100 yards, shooting a juice jug or branch in a river?

 

[Franco2shoot]

Keep filing the notch

SGW42

Heres a couple shots just to ensure you are on the right track.. The notch needs to be wide enough to allow full rotation and then the keeper snaps in place.

And rotating a little further...

If you blow up the bottom picture and look closely on each side of the sight, you can see how I had to widen the notch. Also note how the "Keeper" snaps back and its edge locks against the sight.

Once you get it to rotate fully, putting the bayonet on and off actually becomes a fun process.

KKKKFL

 

[SGW42]

In regards to the bolt sticking, I believe I read in some old threads here it is a combination of crud in the chamber and different cartridge case materials.

Best solution to the chamber seemed to be hooking a 20-gauge bore brush into a power drill and going to town on it.

Also heard problems with using steel-cased or lacquered case ammo. Sticky bolt seemed to happen less often with plain brass.

My chamber is pretty clean and I've only shot brass Bulgarian out of it, never had sticky bolt yet.

 

[Franco2shoot]

I have a batch of copper washed ammo and I would say that 3 of the 20 will be difficult to eject. Pulling the cocking knob back removes that strain, but I still need a pretty good whack to complete the rotation. I read on another board that the Quality control on this Hungarian ammo is not all that great, and bullet size as well as case dimensions may be off a bit causing erratic flight and rough ejection. Now I'm looking for a good source of Light ball FMJ with a lead core. Any recommendations?
KKKKFL

 

[Avenger]

The Czech light ball is very good, at least in mine. Bulgarian is right about the same. AIM and some others have Bulgarian, the Czech seems to be gone, although there are rumors that there is a BIG shipment somewhere in the future.

 

[Franco2shoot]

What's the headstamp for Czech ammo? I sure do not like the sticky ejection of this Hunkie stuff.

KKKKFL

 

[Ignition Override]

Franco2Shoot:

Thanks.

I took my 44 to a good local store today. Few people recognized what it is... "Is that a Mauser?
One guy walked out to the car (nice country guy from 'outer county') and really liked it.
Maybe the rich reddish color added to the attractiveness.
He was not aware that you call a store (i.e. "ClassicArms" in NC) and tell them what store to ship it to.
People don't seem to always comprehend (or believe?) the very low prices for the 7.62x54R ammo.

I might have sold two of them from my car if I'd had any extra rifles.
Then went to shoot the 44. The surprise was that after expecting a really strong recoil...must have somehow gotten used to the kick of the 91 a few days ago...using the 'Limbsaver' pad the 44 seemed better than I expected (even had layer of bubble wrap ready in the trunk, just in case). With gray skies at 4 o'clock, finally noticed the large flashes in front!

Does anyone anticipate that this amazing surplus ammo will steadily or sharply increase in price anytime soon?