Mosin-Nagant

[LeverGunJunkie]

High Roaders:

I shot a buddy's Mosin-Nagant a couple weekends ago. Seems like a nice gun to have around, and you can't beat the prices. I'm thinking about buying one, and thought I'd ask the experts what should I look for? Manufacturers/importers I should stay away from. What is a fair price nowadays for a 'very good' condition model? Appreciate a little help when you all get a chance. Thanks.

 

[dispatch55126]

Don't worry about import marks. You want to find one (preferred) that has all matching numbers (bolt, barrel, buttplate, magwell). If the numbers are not matching or if you're concerned that the bolt has been pieced together, get a no-go gauge to check headspace. MN's do not have a gas port so a casehead failure or pierced primer will direct the gases back into the bolt assembly.

Most bores will show some amount of corrosion due to corrosive ammo but look for one with good/pronounced rifling. Counterbored barrels (as identified by a ground out area near the muzzle) can be accurate as well.

The premier rifles are finnish. Most of what you'll find are russian or chinese. They come in many varieties such as M1891, M38, M91/30, M44, T53 and the finnish variants. You can also get them in high wall or low wall receivers, hex or round receivers, many types of wood and multiple manufacturers such as Westinghouse, Remington, Tula and Izzy.

In short, they can be a cheap, addictive and the variants can be a collection onto themselves. Go to 7.62x54R.Net for more information.

 

[cbrgator]

Just grab one from aimsurplus or jgsales and run with it.

 

[Cosmoline]

If the numbers are not matching or if you're concerned that the bolt has been pieced together, get a no-go gauge to check headspace. MN's do not have a gas port so a casehead failure or pierced primer will direct the gases back into the bolt assembly.

I wouldn't worry about that with Mosins. Most of the best ones are parts guns the Finns put together that have no matching numbers. They headspace on the rim and are much more tolerant of headspace variations than a Mauser or other rimless round. And they do have a gas venting system. I've shot some that pierce every other primer and never had a problem with blowback.

 

[kis2]

http://7.62x54r.net/

everything youd ever want to know about them.

i picked up an all matching numbers from big five for $99. crown was pretty rough but besides that good to go.

 

[Starship1st]

I bought mine from AIMS back in March for $69.00. You can still get them cheap.

 

[finfanatic]

I got one from Aim in Nov 08 and the first shot was a bullseye!

Very accurate rifle.

The wood was dinged up but the metal was fine.

I am looking for a M38 or a M44 because I am a glutton for punishment.

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

Thanks for the info guys. When it comes to hexagonal or round receivers, is one better than the other?

 

[chuwee81]

th ehex is basically pre ww2, so they had time and tooling to put more details. The round one would most likely a wartime production so to save time and cost, they just made round receivers. The hex cost more but internet reports say that the round receivers shoot just as fine as the hex ones.

 

[Proinsias]

Hex is preferred, and 95% of that is simply because they are rarer. You shouldn't expect any functional differences.

 

[brocksamson]

I got mine from a local dealer for $80.00. He had some that were in almost pristine condition, but I wanted mine to be beat up and butt- ugly. A rifle like that makes you wonder who held it before you and where its been. Mine is an Izzy hex reciever made in 1935.
Cleaning the bore was an experience, but she shot just fine loaded with Brown Bear 185gr. FMJ and 150gr Hornady SPs I handloaded.
Get one. Even the supply of Mosin- Nagants isn't inexhaustable.

 

[stchman]

Look for matching numbers on the bolt and receiver.

It is nice to have all numbers match but the bolt and receiver are pretty important as to be sure the headspace is correct.

As far as hex vs. round the hex are reportedly more accurately machined as the round ones were just churned out by the millions during WWII.

Going rate for a good 91/30 is about $100-$120.