Nagant Battle Carbine

[bigpower491]

The OP rifle reminds me of those super nice Polish rifles that were around in the later 90s. That lighter stock. Makes me wanna kick myself even more for not picking one up when had the chance back then. Alot of those rifles were excellent



My 38......had this thing forever. And yes, it is a fantastic deer rifle. I always had great luck with the S&B ammo, but I believe it was 174gr soft points. They'd go down like they were hit with a hammer 125 yards and in with that stuff



 

[Ugly Sauce]

Now that's a fine example. We used to whack away 25 yrs ago at a gravel put outside Lapeer MI on a Saturday afternoon, usually have 3 Mosins, Mauser, AKs, and about 1500 rds of that fine sardine can ammo. Boy I had perma bruise on my right shoulder for weeks during that spring and summer....

Remember when the Turk 7.92X57mm ammo was $75.00 per 1400 rounds? Went down to the desert below Boise Idaho with some friends, camped out, put clay birds on a berm at 100 yards and sat in our lawn chairs and plinked away all day with a Yugo Mauser, and about 3X1400 rounds. I don't remember what the others were shooting. Yep I got a little bruised up too. Also did some very cool 500-1000 yard shooting. I used a SMLE for that.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

but I believe it was 174gr soft points.

Just pulled my two boxes off the shelf, they say 180. ?

 

[bigpower491]

Just pulled my two boxes off the shelf, they say 180. ?

Those were from long ago champ. They came in a cardboard about the composition of the stuff the surplus came out of the crates in. They were right effective tho, probably the best walking gun I've had with that potent medicine.

It's that rifles turn to go to camp next yr as the secondary. I'll take it out a couple times on the nicest days. I shoot a 150 Hornady .311 over IMR4064 for hunting that works fabulous

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Oh yeah, I've shot a few deer and coyotes with the Hornady bullet out of a 7.7. I have a 16.25" 7.7 carbine, and used to have a 7.7 with a 24 inch barrel, out of the 24" barrel, at close range, it tore things up pretty good. I used to load the 7.7 hot. From the carbine, results were more better, with the short barrel bleeding off some of the velocity. Also used 4064. Yeah, long ago, I had a case of "magnumtitis".

 

[Remington1911]

Always wanted a Westinghouse, but even back in the day they went for much more than the Ruska rifles. I'm jealous, especially the sights. It would be way too cool to have one with the Arshin sights.

For your viewing pleasure....It seems to shoot well, but my old eyes have issues with irons. Going to try some silver sharpie and give that a go.

Edit to add, I paid back in 2019 $950 for a bundle of three rifles, this MN, a repro Oswald rifle, and a Mex Mauser.

 

[Atavar]

I don't shoot my 91/30 with the bayonet attached. My LGS has a M38 in stock. 600.00 though. Id give 400 for one.
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I believe I recognize that Minnesota gun shop. Lol

 

[Riomouse911]

My buddy bought a carbine back when Big 5 sporting goods had them on sale for $79 bucks. (I got my Savage lend-lease Enfield No. 4 Mk 1 for $129 around the same time.) I think he got two non-reloadable 7.62x54R 800 round spam cans for about 80 bucks each as well.

We call it the Thunderstick, because it throws earth-scorching fireballs even at high noon in the desert and has a BOOM that just won’t quit.



Certainly one of the hardiest battle rifles of all time, Congratulations on your new shooting iron!

Stay safe.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I believe I recognize that Minnesota gun shop. Lol

The one i deal with is in Shamokin dam Pa.

 

[dh1633pm]

I have a Hungarian M44. It is no match for my M39. I did install an M39 trigger on it. Much better. It does generate quite the fireball when you shoot. It was in excellent shape when I got it and remains so. The M39 which I purchased in 1986 for $29 from Century Arms is still one of my favorite Nagants ever. I shoot it regularly.

 

[hdbiker]

I bought my M44 at a yard sale for 75.00 bucks. Not matching with import marks, built in 1946. Great shiny bore, mint finish. will Groupe 3 inches at 100 yads from the bench with my old eyes

 

[Random 8]

I have a Soviet M44 and it is one of my favorite rifles to shoot casually. They really do balance better, and usually shoot better with the bayonet extended.

Back in the day when the rifles were cheap and the ammo even cheaper, we used to shoot a lot at a friends backwoods camp. He had a lot of oak wilt killed Red Oak, and we'd usually have a gathering of a bunch of milsurp addicts each summer. The goal of the weekend was to fell at least one Red Oak in the 12-16" diameter range with a paint line around the intended fire area. When the tree got close, it was all hands on the line to see who got the honor of firing the killing shot to the cheers of fellow shooters. I remember racking up at least 150 rounds of cheap surplus on stripper clips and firing until the handguard nearly ignited. It was smoking. Not just cooking cosmoline, but smoking wood. I still have that handguard on the rifle, with a nice char line along the barrel channel. Ahhh good memories!

 

[d2wing]

Congrats. I have an M44 in my safe. It's pretty nice condition and I have some accurments that came with it. I took it to the range once. With my bad shoulder I don't like shooting it. Fun if you like fireballs. I think it is between the 308 and 30-06 in energy but I am not sure.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

My buddy bought a carbine back when Big 5 sporting goods had them on sale for $79 bucks. (I got my Savage lend-lease Enfield No. 4 Mk 1 for $129 around the same time.) I think he got two non-reloadable 7.62x54R 800 round spam cans for about 80 bucks each as well.

We call it the Thunderstick, because it throws earth-scorching fireballs even at high noon in the desert and has a BOOM that just won’t quit.

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Certainly one of the hardiest battle rifles of all time, Congratulations on your new shooting iron!

Stay safe.

Yes, the very yellow fireball. Was that also yellow-tipped heavy ball?

 

[Ugly Sauce]

For your viewing pleasure....It seems to shoot well, but my old eyes have issues with irons. Going to try some silver sharpie and give that a go.

Edit to add, I paid back in 2019 $950 for a bundle of three rifles, this MN, a repro Oswald rifle, and a Mex Mauser.

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That was a pleasure. That's a 91, no? (yes) Does the US flaming bomb not indicate it was one of the rifles issued to U.S. personnel in Alaska, or something like that? I seem to recall something like that.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I have a Hungarian M44. It is no match for my M39. I did install an M39 trigger on it. Much better. It does generate quite the fireball when you shoot. It was in excellent shape when I got it and remains so. The M39 which I purchased in 1986 for $29 from Century Arms is still one of my favorite Nagants ever. I shoot it regularly.

There used to be a "trick" where putting a leather washer over/under the trigger spring, or something like that, I forget now, would make for a much nicer trigger pull. I probably did that on the Battle Axe or the M44, but now I forget the details of doing that. Made quite a difference, although one wouldn't think it would have any effect. I'll have to pull them apart and see.

 

[Riomouse911]

Yes, the very yellow fireball. Was that also yellow-tipped heavy ball?

I dont know. I do recall the ammo came in little 10-15 round packages tied with string that were all stuffed in the soft metal can.

We used to joke that the gunpowder must be made from the ashes of Nazi war dead mixed with prisoners’ tears to make such a blast with every pull of the trigger.

Stay safe.

 

[dh1633pm]

You used to be able to get an M39 trigger on Ebay for not too high of a price. It isn't the best fix, but it's way better than what you already have.

 

[bigpower491]

I dont know. I do recall the ammo came in little 10-15 round packages tied with string that were all stuffed in the soft metal can.

We used to joke that the gunpowder must be made from the ashes of Nazi war dead mixed with prisoners’ tears to make such a blast with every pull of the trigger.

Stay safe.

It certainly did. I've got quite a bit of that wrapper ammo laying around.
That propellant they used had a very unique smell to it when lit off. And the fireballs. They were something

 

[Remington1911]

That was a pleasure. That's a 91, no? (yes) Does the US flaming bomb not indicate it was one of the rifles issued to U.S. personnel in Alaska, or something like that? I seem to recall something like that.

Yes it is a 91, just a tad longer then the "normal" MN you see.

As I understand it after the commies took over russia all existing stocks of equipment for russia was held. The rifles went on to become training rifles for the US, drill rifles, things along those lines. I think some went on Polar Bear as well. This one is too pretty to have done much. I am thinking it was a drill rifle or something along those lines.

 

[dh1633pm]

I have a 50 cal can packed full of 7.62x54R. I also have plenty of brass. My M39 shoots 150 grain FMJ's (.308) just fine.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I have a 50 cal can packed full of 7.62x54R. I also have plenty of brass. My M39 shoots 150 grain FMJ's (.308) just fine.

Yep, I stocked up on brass and ammo long ago, pulled bullets on mil-surp and reloaded with better bullets before brass was available, etc. .308" usually does work perfectly well, especially with the longer bullets like a 180. As I recall Norma made boxer-primed ammo way-back, and I got some of that for reloadable brass before PPU started making it. Don't shoot the 7.62X54R much anymore, but after this thread I think I'll shoot the Battle-Axe a bit at 100, make sure those S&B 180's are still going where she looks.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

This one is too pretty to have done much. I am thinking it was a drill rifle or something along those lines.

Well, drill rifles are usually pretty beat up. Possibly never issued, or issued to personnel that didn't actually use them or even fire them beyond maybe one range session, and remained in the rack 99% of the time. ?

 

[Y-T71]

I have a Russian M44 made in '46.

Buddy and I each bought one from a local hardware store that had an FFL for $59 each.

His was a '45 and showed some wear, mine was like new.

Much to my surprise it became my son's favorite!

With the blast and recoil I figured a (then) 10 year old would've shied away from it but he was just the opposite.

Sadly, since he liked it so much I'm down to less than half of a spam can.

Might have to get some brass and dies...

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Might have to get some brass and dies...

You must!