Nagant revolver

[MCgunner]

Friend of mine has one, looks like new production, was looking it over this weekend. I never spent much time lookin' at 'em and never handled one, just read about 'em and the gas seal thing. I didn't realize the ammo had the bullets seated in that deep, but makes sense for the gas seal.

Now, I read posts where guys think this gun is the next best thing to pancakes, but I gotta say, I wasn't real impressed. The overall finish of the gun reminded me of a High Standard. Now, High Standards were good functioning guns, but they lacked any sort if refined look to the finish. Also, it had the trigger only the devil could like. I've never felt a WORSE DA or SA trigger on a revolver. It was terrible, stiff, gritty, and with all that goes on with the DA stroke, cylinder moving around and to and fro, it was just awful. Now, I didn't fire the gun, but I don't know how well I could control THAT trigger Next to this thing, all the Rossis I've ever owned felt like Pythons in my hand. :banghead:

And what's up with the shell extraction? Do you just have to poke 'em out with your fingers? The case protrudes from the front to allow that. I couldn't get the cylinder pin out to poke 'em with. It would retract after turning counter clockwise about 180 degrees, but would not come all the way out.

My friend said he gave 80 bucks for the thing. Well, it's probably worth 80 bucks as a curio, but it's not much of a shooter. It even came with a surplus holster and cleaning jag for that price.

Any Nagant lovers here to set me straight, tell me that these things are accurate as lasers, or something redeeming about them? I've never shot one. Maybe they have an inner goodness that I don't know about?

 

[dogrunner]

You eject by turning the cylinder rod and pulling it forward, you then rotate the collar assembly to line up the rod with the chamber (if you look closely you'll see witness marks on the bbl and collar) you then "poke"out the expended round much like a Colt SAA.

True, actions are HEAVY on most, mainly due that massive double spring, but can be lightened. Surprisingly, the things can be quite accurate. I have a 1941 Tula that will shoot one ragged hole at ten yards with handloads.....for what they are and their price they are certainly an interesting bit of history......Reloading is not at all difficult and you can obtain components easily.....you can also shoot various .32 rounds in that gun as is. Part of the reason for the heavy DA action is the fact that the cyl. must be cammed forward ...... With the cyl out of the gun mine is surprisingly smooth...tho still quite heavy