Nagant Owners - Ammo question

[Bruenor]

I was looking online at AIM Surplus for 7.62 x 54R ammo to feed my Nagants. I had originally bought a 440 round can of Hungarian 7.62x54R 147grn Light Ball, which AIM has on sale for $79.95 a can, before taxes and shipping. Then I see that they have a 250 round can of Bulgarian 7.62x54R Heavy Ball Yellow Tip for $39.95 a can, making that round a couple of cents cheaper.

All things considered, the cheaper Bulgarian ammo sounds like the better deal, especially since it's brass cased as well. I'm looking to order anywhere between 1000 and 1500 rounds, but I've never fired this ammo before.

Does anyone here have some experience with this ammo? If it matters, I have two Nagants, one 91/30 and one M44. Thanks in advance for any help/comments.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

well in the m44 it's going to kick a little more because of thelesser weight, but where's the fun if you can't feel the kick? lol

 

[Hoppy590]

well in the m44 it's going to kick a little more because of the lesser weigh

M44 weighs the same as a M91/30, the kick is perceived from the shorter barrels shock wave and fireball.

heres a good site to look up ammo
http://www.mosinnagant.net/i3tro4.asp

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

not necesarily. I had two of the same bullets and an m44 and a 91 and shot through each of them. The M44 kicked a little more. to me anyways.

 

[rugbyer81]

My '43 Izhevsk 91/30 absolutely loves the Hungarian stuff. When I work the bolt it goes almost as smoothly as if it weren't cycling any rounds at all. No experience with the Bulgarian stuff, and all Mosins are different anyway.

 

[Funderb]

m44 does not weigh the same. all that shockwave stuff is total bs pressed on people until they too believe. my m44 does not scare my shoulder harder than my m9130.

 

[Hoppy590]

m44 does not weigh the same. all that shockwave stuff is total bs pressed on people until they too believe.

actually, the M44 weighs more... and unless your from some strange reality where the effect of gravity on an object (otherwise known as an objects "weight") can be changed by mere force of will, the M44 will continue to weigh more than the m91/30 despite your opinion
http://www.7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSpec.htm
i assure you iv tested it myself (albeit a more crude fashion, buy holding one of each on a scale with me) they both weigh in at 9lbs

 

[azredhawk44]

I like the heavy ball a lot better than the light ball.

I find it more accurate.

I shot light ball in my 91/30 while learning the rifle, but it just didn't feel... right. Consistently hit low. Switched to heavy ball for a 400 round tin can's worth and absolutely loved it.

Made it a point to go up to J&G Sales and buy 4 more cans of the same stuff, so I can be sure to have all I want. I'm set for the next 5+ years for Nagant plinking ammo... and I like the way the 180gr offering feels so much, I have 100 rounds of S&B brass cased reloadable 7.62x54R at 180 grains also... next elk tag I get, I'm taking the Mosin. I'll drop an elk with that ammo at 250 yards with the irons.

 

[possom813]

A few years back I bought a couple of cases of the Czech Silver tip ammo. The M44 loves it, through about 1k rounds, only one jam. It was on a hog hunt where we were surprised by about 15 hogs at once. The jam may have been my imagination after I ran the bolt across my thumb and split it open. Tried to rapid fire it, idiocy on my part.

We've shot the Czech through a couple 5 or 6 91/30's that have come and gone. The only issue is on two that a friend of mine has. It fte about every 3rd shot on both of those. The Hungarian ball fires fine through both of them though.

I tried some surplus that had a yellow tip, I don't know what country it was from, but it shot as well as anything else I've shot.

 

[dmftoy1]

FWIW my sights are alot closer to POA/POI shooting the light ball than the heavy. (in my M44) I haven't tried both in my 91/30 so I can't comment.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Avenger]

My experience has been that the heavy ball tends to shoot better from the 91/30s. BUT, that is just my experience. Like others have said, try 'em all and then stick with what works best for your rifle.
That said, for my rifles at least, the Bulgarian heavy seems to be about average for the mil-surp ammo as far as accuracy goes.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

Hoppy590 is correct in that the M44 is heavier than the '91/30.

I shoot mostly Bulgarian heavy ball from my M44. I've yet to actually bench it for accuracy, though. For what it's worth, the M44 sights are, as I recall, regulated for light ball.