Lightsped
Member
I am halfway considering looking at some Mosin Nagants. Are these considered quality rifles? Are there different types of Mosin Nagants? Will they hold up well, and be reliable? It would just be a fun range gun.
Mosin Nagant - worth it?
- Thread starter Lightsped
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Ash
Member
They will be reliable and will hold up well. The beaver-gnawed wartime models will be just okay accuracy wise, but this is not always the case as there are some that are plenty accurate. They are quality military rifles with a large variety of models and nations. The best are the Finns. The worst are the Chinese (but mostly just because of condition).
Ash
Ash
dirtyone55
Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2008
- Messages
- 4
are these the ones that use 7.62 x 54 round?
If so, how hard is the ammo to find?
If so, how hard is the ammo to find?
Lightsped
Member
Yes, 7.62x54r. A friend of mine bought a Russian 1944 model and I fired it the other day. It must have had like a 28" barrel....
Funderb
Member
ammo is easy to find,
the m44 has a 21.5 inch barrel,
the finns are the best,
m91/30s can be found to be darn accurate.
the m44 has a 21.5 inch barrel,
the finns are the best,
m91/30s can be found to be darn accurate.
bja5006
Member
for under $100, darn right they're worth it! i love mine, and am REALLY considering taking it out hunting this season. i have a m91/30 (russian sniper version), and i just re-finished the wood. it looks like a million bucks and shoots like it too.
i have to buy my ammo online in bulk, then try to find soft-points for hunting. ammo is cheap, you may have to buy a lot at once though.
just be sure to clean it VERY well after firing, because a lot of eastern bloc gunpowder is corrosive. just be sure to inspect the bore before purchasing, and use that as your standard, you can always clean up the wood/blueing later.
i have to buy my ammo online in bulk, then try to find soft-points for hunting. ammo is cheap, you may have to buy a lot at once though.
just be sure to clean it VERY well after firing, because a lot of eastern bloc gunpowder is corrosive. just be sure to inspect the bore before purchasing, and use that as your standard, you can always clean up the wood/blueing later.
Worth it??
Let's see...
1. It's a rifle.
2. It costs less than a hundred bucks.
3. It shoots the cheapest full-power rifle ammo available.
4, It's about as fragile as a shovel.... and about as elegant.
So, is it worth it?
Only your wallet knows for sure.
I love mine. It's set up with a Darrell's scout mount and a 2-6x32 pistol scope. With cheap ammo, I can plonk scrap hunks of 3" steel pipe strewn between 50 and 100 yards, first shot, every time.
Works for me.
--Shannon
Let's see...
1. It's a rifle.
2. It costs less than a hundred bucks.
3. It shoots the cheapest full-power rifle ammo available.
4, It's about as fragile as a shovel.... and about as elegant.
So, is it worth it?
Only your wallet knows for sure.
I love mine. It's set up with a Darrell's scout mount and a 2-6x32 pistol scope. With cheap ammo, I can plonk scrap hunks of 3" steel pipe strewn between 50 and 100 yards, first shot, every time.
Works for me.
--Shannon
alemonkey
Member
Everyone should own a mosin. Or three or four. Or ten.
dispatch55126
Member
I have a 1938 91/30 in great shape but not very accurate (even though it took my first deer). I also have a T53 that I rescued from bubbu but not before he hacked the barrel down. Its also one of my more accurate rifles.
Cheap rifle+cheap full power ammo+history=great deal.
Cheap rifle+cheap full power ammo+history=great deal.
AndyM
Member
Wow.. there are a lot of answers in those seemingly simple questions.
Lightspeed. You said
I'm going to take your questions in reverse order...
1) Not really a question but you said
Both definitely are fun. No doubt about that.
2) Will they hold up well, and be reliable?
They should. Remember, these are surplus rifles so condition will vary.
The action is quite sturdy and reliable. They're dead simple too.
3) Are there different types of Mosin Nagants?
Oh boy.. yes, there are different types of MNs.
Go here: http://7.62x54r.net/
Tons of info about M-N rifles.
For different model types, start here: http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM.htm
At a gun show, 95% of what you will see are probably either the model 91/30 or the M44. The other 5% will be M38, M39 (Finnish) and others.
If someone tells you that you can get a M-N for around $100, they are talking about the M44 or the 91/30. Everything else is a premium over that.
They all share the same type of action. Stocks, barrels, sites, etc vary from model to model, year to year, country to country.
4) someone above asked
short answer, after shooting clean with water to neutralize the corrosive salts and then clean normally. If you shoot it and put it away dirty for 3 months, you will find rust.
BTW.. definitely use the search function. There are probably 1 billion threads on M-N rifles.
-Andy
Lightspeed. You said
I'm going to take your questions in reverse order...
1) Not really a question but you said
I have two rifles based on the Mosin Nagant action. A 91/30 and a Finnish M39.
Both definitely are fun. No doubt about that.
2) Will they hold up well, and be reliable?
They should. Remember, these are surplus rifles so condition will vary.
The action is quite sturdy and reliable. They're dead simple too.
3) Are there different types of Mosin Nagants?
Oh boy.. yes, there are different types of MNs.
Go here: http://7.62x54r.net/
Tons of info about M-N rifles.
For different model types, start here: http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM.htm
At a gun show, 95% of what you will see are probably either the model 91/30 or the M44. The other 5% will be M38, M39 (Finnish) and others.
If someone tells you that you can get a M-N for around $100, they are talking about the M44 or the 91/30. Everything else is a premium over that.
They all share the same type of action. Stocks, barrels, sites, etc vary from model to model, year to year, country to country.
4) someone above asked
Yes, they use the 7.62 x 54r round. No it's not hard to find. Any gun show has lots of it. Either current commercial loadings or crates full of corrosive surplus ammo. If you buy the surplus, it will be corrosive ammo and you have to understand what that means.
short answer, after shooting clean with water to neutralize the corrosive salts and then clean normally. If you shoot it and put it away dirty for 3 months, you will find rust.
BTW.. definitely use the search function. There are probably 1 billion threads on M-N rifles.
-Andy
alemonkey
Member
The Finn M39's are probably the best rifle value out there, IMHO. The Finns basically did a lot of the same work a good custom rifle builder would have done, and the results speak for themselves. Mine is very accurate with just iron sights and cheap surplus. I've said it many times and I'll say it again - if that rifle was built today it would cost well over $1,000. I bought mine for around $300.
Even the run of the mill 91/30 is a great deal. The accuracy can vary greatly, but they're more than accurate enough for hunting and general plinking. The ammo is cheap and they're a blast to shoot. And all for under $100.
For a good deal on an M39, try http://www.gunsnammo.com. I bought mine there and I'm very happy with it.
Even the run of the mill 91/30 is a great deal. The accuracy can vary greatly, but they're more than accurate enough for hunting and general plinking. The ammo is cheap and they're a blast to shoot. And all for under $100.
For a good deal on an M39, try http://www.gunsnammo.com. I bought mine there and I'm very happy with it.
BHP FAN
Member
I've had the M-39.Arguably the best rifle .The Polish version of the M44 may very well be the best carbine.I've had a Chinese type 53,it would occaisionally split a steel case,but was STILL deadly accurate at 200 yards.I currently have an all matching M38,a mixed Russian M44,and an old 91/30.All work excellently.Ammo is cheap and plentifull at the moment,but Winchester makes good reloadable boxer primed ammo if we ever run out.Quality is at least as good as my Enfields,and ALMOST as good as my Mauser.
Franco2shoot
Member
Inexpensive and a hoot
All those responses and not one picture. I have both M44 and the below pictured 91/30 w/bayonet... I see I'm wearing the proper head gear for the upcoming administration... Ammo probably comes in around 12 cents a round if purchased in bulk.. Just be sure to remove the bolt of your prospective purchase and look for good rifle'ing.
KKKKFL
All those responses and not one picture. I have both M44 and the below pictured 91/30 w/bayonet... I see I'm wearing the proper head gear for the upcoming administration... Ammo probably comes in around 12 cents a round if purchased in bulk.. Just be sure to remove the bolt of your prospective purchase and look for good rifle'ing.
KKKKFL
Are these considered quality rifles?
In good condition, the actions are simple and reliable. The majority out there are crude. There are some fine examples, but those are not the rule.
Are there different types of Mosin Nagants?
Yep, several websites and threads out there that cover that if you'll do some searching.
Will they hold up well, and be reliable?
Clean it up after using corrosive ammunition and it should hold up fine.
It would just be a fun range gun.
It should be great for that. In times past, you could get a Mosin Nagant for $75 and surplus cartridges for < ten cents each. A bottle of Windex and some range time and you had a inexpensive afternoon of fun. Harder to find inexpensive ammo these days.
The best value I had on one was a '39 Izhevsk 91/30 with a thin, spliced stock, $90 OTD from a Big5 rack. Action was smooth and I could hit man-sized targets at 500 yards with regularity using most types of ammo.
jm
In good condition, the actions are simple and reliable. The majority out there are crude. There are some fine examples, but those are not the rule.
Are there different types of Mosin Nagants?
Yep, several websites and threads out there that cover that if you'll do some searching.
Will they hold up well, and be reliable?
Clean it up after using corrosive ammunition and it should hold up fine.
It would just be a fun range gun.
It should be great for that. In times past, you could get a Mosin Nagant for $75 and surplus cartridges for < ten cents each. A bottle of Windex and some range time and you had a inexpensive afternoon of fun. Harder to find inexpensive ammo these days.
The best value I had on one was a '39 Izhevsk 91/30 with a thin, spliced stock, $90 OTD from a Big5 rack. Action was smooth and I could hit man-sized targets at 500 yards with regularity using most types of ammo.
jm
Reliable? Yes..always go BANG!
Sturdy? Only slightly more breakable than an anvil
Accurate? Depends on ammo and bore/muzzle crown condition.
Ammo? yeah, a lot of 7.62x54 of different vintage/types/country of origin.
Types...a bunch from the carbines like the M-44, to the ones with barrels that stick out into the next area code.
Sturdy? Only slightly more breakable than an anvil
Accurate? Depends on ammo and bore/muzzle crown condition.
Ammo? yeah, a lot of 7.62x54 of different vintage/types/country of origin.
Types...a bunch from the carbines like the M-44, to the ones with barrels that stick out into the next area code.
WardenWolf
member
Never buy a Mosin Nagant sight unseen, unless you buy one from an honest distributor that is willing to hand select one for you. Condition varies wildly. I once saw an M44 that looked great on the outside, but when I looked down the barrel half the rifling was GONE and the other half was rounded off and barely there. I wound up buying mine from a short guy walking around at the gun show. $75 got me a 1943 Izhvesk M91/30 with a bright bore and crisp rifling, bayonet, 4 stripper clips, an ammo pouch, and 20 rounds. And the toolkit / oil can. Basically the full Russian kit. This one is just nice all around. Only thing I did to it after buying it was install a rubber buttpad that I got from TickBiteSupply. They have one specifically designed for the Mosin Nagant, and it helps.
Biggest issue with them is getting all the cosmoline out of them, especially in the chamber. Any cosmo left in the chamber will make spent rounds a pain to eject. Scrub the chamber good with a 20 gauge brass brush mounted in a drill and some Hoppe's.
My 91/30 is a 1938 Tula, made before WWII so the quality is a little above average. The war models were made in a hurry, and can be a little rougher finish-wise.
My 91/30 is a 1938 Tula, made before WWII so the quality is a little above average. The war models were made in a hurry, and can be a little rougher finish-wise.
BobOfTheFuture
Member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2008
- Messages
- 142
Get one, if only to tell your grandchildren "Yep! back in my day, i could buy 440 rds of a full power cartridge for 70 bucks"
Reliable? Ask me again after the next hundred years
Sturdy? this thing is a war club, that happens to shoot
Accurate? Yes. Wear or damage causes some to give it a bad name. most of the refurbs out there are fine
Ammo? 54R is the oldest in use cart out there. All surplus is corrosive, some will tell you its not, these are lies. the cart itself is accurate.
Types- get a 91/30. learn how to shoot it, learn how to not get your arse kicked by the recoil (think shooting 12 gauge) by then you wont need us to convince you to get a Finn.
Look for a Tula Hex reciever made around 1928. they are high-quality ex-dragoon guns. good stuff.
If not, an early 40's ex-sniper. these are harder to find, and if you read up, you can make your dragoon just as good. ask how i know.
This was at 100 yds, light wind, no rifle mods becides a bit of plastic on the front sight to bring it on target at 100 yds (all of these rifles have a BSZ setting at 100 Meters- about 6 in high at 100 yds)
Reliable? Ask me again after the next hundred years
Sturdy? this thing is a war club, that happens to shoot
Accurate? Yes. Wear or damage causes some to give it a bad name. most of the refurbs out there are fine
Ammo? 54R is the oldest in use cart out there. All surplus is corrosive, some will tell you its not, these are lies. the cart itself is accurate.
Types- get a 91/30. learn how to shoot it, learn how to not get your arse kicked by the recoil (think shooting 12 gauge) by then you wont need us to convince you to get a Finn.
Look for a Tula Hex reciever made around 1928. they are high-quality ex-dragoon guns. good stuff.
If not, an early 40's ex-sniper. these are harder to find, and if you read up, you can make your dragoon just as good. ask how i know.
This was at 100 yds, light wind, no rifle mods becides a bit of plastic on the front sight to bring it on target at 100 yds (all of these rifles have a BSZ setting at 100 Meters- about 6 in high at 100 yds)
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WardenWolf
member
Yours may not have cosmoline when you get it. It just depends on if it's coming from from a supplier (who got it direct from the former Soviet Union) or if it has already gone through private hands and been cleaned up. Mine was clean and ready to shoot, but the PSL I bought was full of the crap.
LPS Electro Contact Cleaner makes a great general degreaser. Wipe off the bulk of the stuff, then spray it on an area and wipe it down. It's totally clear, and it won't discolor or damage wood. I swear by the stuff for a wide variety of uses. It'll even get grease and oil out of clothes and upholstery when combined with water and a good scrubbing. Everyone should have a can of this stuff lying around.
LPS Electro Contact Cleaner makes a great general degreaser. Wipe off the bulk of the stuff, then spray it on an area and wipe it down. It's totally clear, and it won't discolor or damage wood. I swear by the stuff for a wide variety of uses. It'll even get grease and oil out of clothes and upholstery when combined with water and a good scrubbing. Everyone should have a can of this stuff lying around.
expvideo
Member
Great rifles. Everyone should own one at this price. And the ammo is cheap on AIM surplus's website. Some of the cheapest rifle ammo money can buy.
woad_yurt
Member
I recently bought 2 M44s for cheap, one's for my Dad. It took a few hours of crud removal before I could take them both to the range. They grouped very well. The front sight is trash on both of them. I'm going to scout scope one for $69 + s/h. The rifles were $75 per, total. Crudely finished but functional and strong. I like. Powerful mofos, too.
indyk
Member
I like the 7.62x54
Fun to shoot!
ammo is cheap
parts are everywhere and somewhat cheap
i have a limbsaver on mine
cons:Massive recoil
Original scope mount cost more than the rifle
I shoot 175 yards prone at bricks and targets all the time.
Folks at the range love to shoot it
Some say the good ones are drying up.
time will tell..
Fun to shoot!
ammo is cheap
parts are everywhere and somewhat cheap
i have a limbsaver on mine
cons:Massive recoil
Original scope mount cost more than the rifle
I shoot 175 yards prone at bricks and targets all the time.
Folks at the range love to shoot it
Some say the good ones are drying up.
time will tell..
indyk
Member
indyk
Member
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