The Nagant as a self-defense handgun?
This is about the worst choice one can make with the exception of going with Cap and Ball. :banghead:
I have 4 of these, and while two are Cowboy Action Guns, I would never use these for anything else, ever! The other two punch paper at the range when I can find good deals on ammo.
Let's look at it objectively:
1. The DA pull: The DA/SA versions are the most common and cheapest of the C&R handguns right now ranging from 79-120 bucks. One of mine was measured to have a 33 pound DA pull! None were fewer than 20. The SA pull is only a measely 13 pounds. So, most likely in pulling the trigger on one of these, you will miss the target because of the trigger pull.
2. Ammo: It shoots a 7.62X38R round that goes a screaming what, 800fps?
If you shoot .32 S&W Long out of it, that goes around 600 fps and is nowhere near what a defensive round should be in a handgun. .32 H&R Magnum can be fired, but all kinds of debris comes off the bullet when it hits the forcing cone. This debris can get in your eyes and throw off your shooting. Neither round is really a reliable self-defense round.
3. How are you going to conceal one of these? It's not exactly a small revolver, and no one makes holsters for these. I don't think running around with the rubberized canvas holster it came in is a good idea.
4. Reloading. This is slower than the Colt SAA of 1873, at least Sam Colt's engineers had the good sense to put a spring on the ejection rod.
4. The 1895 Nagant was obsolete by WWI, as there were better handguns out there, Webley, Rast, Enfield, Colt 1911, Luger 1908, 1896 Mauser, etc. This handgun was officially replaced in 1930 by the TT30 Tokarev, which was then replaced by the Makarov after WWII. The main reason it was still in use in WWII is the Russians needed everything they had to throw against the Germans, although it's more likely the Nagants were used to execute deserters than shoot Germans.
I understand that folks are looking for a bargain self-defense gun and oftentimes C&R handguns are thought to really be sufficient for this purpose. Even in the C&R category, the CZ-52 and Makarov are better choices.
If one is looking for an inexpensive Truck Gun or Self-Defense gun for 150-200 bucks, I suggest a High-Point in 9MM, .380; a CZ-52 for 129 bucks, or a Bulgarian Makarov for 150 bucks. Using the Nagant is a poor choice IMHO.