Nagant M1895 Revolver

[Smoovbiscuit]

Hi everyone. So I am considering purchasing the Nagant M1895 Revolver, I found it online for $100 and I'm finding it hard to resist as I'm a history buff.

I understand the ammo for it is expensive and pretty rare, but I only plan on getting around 50 rounds and just shooting it a few times and then just keeping it as an interesting piece of history to go with my mosin m91/30.

Anyone own one? are they total crap or something worth considering? I'm not buying it to shoot much, I just want to try it out then just keep it around

 

[DPris]

Have two. Interesting & very affordable pieces of Russian military history.

Very stiff triggers, very slow reloading, factory ammo is expensive, low recoil.
Workmanship is fairly crude.
Not crap at all.

Pretty much curio only, though, not very effective in any kind of a serious role.

Denis

 

[TheGent]

They are not crap at all. A tank of a revolver. People will say the DA trigger pull is tough. It is, but it can be gotten used to with practice. 7.62x38mmR is an expensive ammo. I shoot 32 H&R mags out of mine because they are easier to find at the gun shows. Though they cost about the same. You lose the gas seal effect when not using the original ammo, but like you said, it's more of a history piece so that shouldn't be a concern. The Nagant is a reliable working revolver for a great price. I snagged mine for $100 as well. Loading and unloading is like the Colt SAA and like revolvers, loading gate and extractor pin. 32 acp conversion cylinders can be bought for the Nagant as well.

 

[Smoovbiscuit]

hmm I'm still pretty interested. Do you know where I could buy ammo for them? only place I could find is http://www.rguns.net/ where I also plan on ordering gun

edit: you can shoot .32 H&R mags out of them?! now im pretty much sold

 

[TheGent]

Yep. 32 S&W Longs too. I think I last saw the 32 acp conv. cylinder for $79.95. I haven't got one yet -- other guns to buy -- but if you think about it, with the cylinder conv. you are still under $200. Who wouldn't want a gun with that many ammo options?

 

[goodtime]

I have one I bought ftf from rguns. It is a very interesting and rugged gun. I think it is a great addition to any collection for a very good price. It has very unique properties. I was pleasently surprised about the condition; many, like mine, are arsenally refurbished and in very good condition. It is well worth it!

 

[Smoovbiscuit]

TheGent what does seal gas effect mean? just less velocity? My main concern would be the gun blowing up in my hand

Goodtime what loads do you use in it?

 

[goodtime]

I use 32 mag. They are safe to fire in a Nagant.

One of the unique properties I mentioned above is the fact that the cylinder actually moves forward as the action is cycled. The front face of the cylinder meets with the forcing cone to form a seal. It is an answer to a non-existent problem, which, as I understand it, (I am no historian) was part of what helped the Nagant brothers win the contract with the Russian Military -- they sold the Russian Military on the idea that a cylinder gap leads to significant loss in velocity, which we know today to be untrue within reasonable specs. The 7.62x38r round actually has a lip on the top of the brass into which the bullet sits, recessed, and this aids the gas seal effect.

 

[Smoovbiscuit]

thanks for the info, I'll order one when I get a chance

 

[DPris]

Midway has ammo.
Denis

 

[tinygnat219]

use 32 mag. They are safe to fire in a Nagant.

Gotta seriously disagree here. I've tried the .32 H&R Mag. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. First, the bullet is larger than the forcing cone so you are going to get shavings. I fired 3 rounds through my Nagant before noticing this effect and my right hand was seriously bloodied from the lead shavings coming off of the forcing cone. It's not something I'd want to repeat. .32 S&W Long works... ok. You'll have a lot of lead around the forcing cone area and it's a PITA to clean up. Accuracy also suffers quite a bit.

The seal works, and works well. It's the only suppressible revolver outside of one or two other examples. The only issue is it didn't really provide much of a velocity increase. We're talking maybe 50-75 fps.

 

[goodtime]

Thanks for the input, tinygnat219.

I was quick to state that 32 mags were safe in a Nagant, but I should have expressed also that those were MY results with MY Nagant, and others' results with other Nagants will vary. These guns are 65 years old or more, and should be checked by a competent gunsmith before shooting any ammo at all.

 

[MCgunner]

If I got one, it'd be for the history or for a neat paper weight. I wouldn't shoot it for reasons given. Main thing is the trigger, is the worst I've ever tried and I'm a guy that loves his Kel Tec P11.

 

[psyshack]

I like my 1934/35/39 Tula's 1895. And all three shoot POA at 25 yards of rest with my reloads, true Russian surplus, or .32 long.

Double action sucks and you can only tune on it a tad. SA is much better ,, and can be cleaned up more than a tad.

They are pussy .32's over all. But can shoot good. And are very interesting pistols. And a part of history worth owning if ,,, you can get them cheap.

Yes,,, they have some cool to them.

 

[Cosmoline]

You will often get shavings tossed at your face with the .32 H&R Mags. They aren't actually "magnums" and the Nagant seems to be strong enough for them (no guarantees though). But they're not very accurate either.

Plus, 7.62 Nagant ammo is NOT hard to find anymore. There's quite a bit of it available now. And it's possible, though still tricky, to reload the Boxer brass.

As an aside ON NO ACCOUNT should you put a .327 Federal in one. Those *ARE* magnum rounds, unlike the .32 H&R Magnums. And there's no way the Nagant can cope with them.

The trigger will make you stronger! After you master that 20 lb. monster, all others will seem buttery smooth. And you'll be able to break a man's forearm with your index finger.

 

[hardworker]

you aren't a real nagant owner until you've drawn blood on the side of your trigger finger trying to shoot it double action and pinching it in the trigger.

 

[NMGonzo]

I need one.

 

[tinygnat219]

goodtime,

Thanks for the input, tinygnat219.

No problem. Just wanted folks to know my experience.

I was quick to state that 32 mags were safe in a Nagant, but I should have expressed also that those were MY results with MY Nagant, and others' results with other Nagants will vary. These guns are 65 years old or more, and should be checked by a competent gunsmith before shooting any ammo at all.

I at least have been blooded by the guns. I used to shoot these in CAS with .32 Long. Accuracy was enough for CAS days. You should have heard the responses when I told them this gun retired the S&W No. 3 from Russian service.