Russian Nagant

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Jack Package

Jack Package

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Anyone out there have any experience with the Russian Nagant revolver? I really want to get one and they seem pretty cheap only being 100-120 coming with a holster and take down screw. Is ammo for them also a hit or miss? I have looked around and it seems pretty available. I just want to know if they are reliable, its a revolver so not much can go wrong. Are they accurate? Comfortable to shoot etc... Its either a Nagant or TT-33
 
Prvi Partizan ammunition is usually easy to find. I haven't seen any Soviet surplus ammo in a while but I haven't been looking either.

I've never had any problems with my pair. They're not target guns but they're accurate enough for plinking, and recoil is quite mild. I like 'em.
 
I bought my dad one a few years ago for a gift. I bought it when the hand picked ones were going for 99 bucks. I also picked up about 500 or so rounds at like two bucks a pack, or maybe it was three?

Long story short I cleaned all the cosmoline out of it (that mainspring is a PITA!) and it was a good looking gun, kinda.

Shot very good, very poor DA trigger. My dad and I are going to try making a new mainspring for it to improve the trigger. Maybe make a few other mods.

Overall it's a good cheap gun to have some fun with.
 
A Nagant in good condition is mechanically very accurate. The gas-seal mechanism pretty much eliminates potential timing and chamber alignment problems. Is't not easy to shoot well, though, because of the small grip and heavy trigger. Once you master its quirks, it's a fun and satisfying gun. I have won medals in a couple of traditional military pistol matches with mine; I can shoot it just as well as my Tokarev and Luger.
 
They are a neat curiosity for the little you have to pay for one. I bought a non-import stamped 1933 Tula model about 15 years ago. I don't shoot it much, but it is plenty accurate with the proper ammo. Like every other Russian weapon I have seen, they are reliable to the extreme. The Nagant is actually a pretty simple design, even with the extra moving parts.
Surplus ammo is available, but pretty old and crusty, and it is selling for about the same as new commercial ammo right now. I have also come across some old Russian target ammo which was so underpowered that it wouldn't even penetrate my plywood target backer. Fiocchi ammo is the way to go, or reload your own. You can fire .32 S&W long in them, but the cases will bulge at the base and are junk for reloading. There used to be a company that sold .32 ACP cylinders, but I'm not sure if they are still available.
 
At one time they were sold for 75-100 dollars, no more. The going price is more like $200. The import supply has dried up.
 
I would get one just for the fact that they will be harder to get coming up. As others have said, they are more expensive now. I haven't seen them under $250+ online. That being said my LGS has gotten a few in (trade ins) for $140-$150 with the holster. I love the Mosin Nagant rifles, I collect them, so figured I might as well have at least one of the revolvers so bought my first one couple months back for $140.

Check out wikiarms for deals on ammo. I just checked and saw boxes of 14 for $3.99.
I agree they leave a lot to be desired shooting wise, but the historical "value" is why I like them.
 
Quiet said:
The days of $75-100 Nagant M1895 revolvers have passed.
They are now in the $150-300 range depending on condition, variant, and markings.

J&G Sales currently has 7.62x38mmR Nagant ammo in stock:
Russian surplus 108gr FMJ, 1092 round sealed tin = $338.52
Prvi Partizan 98gr FMJ, 50 round box = $24.95

The Nagant M1895 revolvers can also shoot .32S&W Long and .32H&R Magnum.
Click to expand...

One of mine can also shoot 7.62x25 Tokarev and .32 ACP. I cannot think of any other revolver of .30something bore size that can be so easily made to shoot some many different .30something caliber cartridges. I forget, will a .327 fit into the cylinder and more importantly not immediately blow it up when fired?
 
One of your Nagant's can shoot 7.62X25 tokarev ammo? Are you sure you didn't quote the wrong caliber there? 7.62X25 is a bottle necked round that is too large to enter the chamber and if you did fire one it would probably blow up the gun!
 
Tark,

Maybe 15 years ago a gunsmith in the midwest (Oklahoma?) was advertising in Shotgun News the conversion to 7.62x25 Tokarev. I sent him the cylinder from one of my Nagants. I'm have never heard of one blowing up. Mine has a few boxes of S&B through it. Lots of gas blasts out of the cylinder gap. It has been years since I shot it since I have other newer toys to play with and as I get older I am a little more cautious. I also have an aftermarket cylinder chambered for .32ACP. Not so much gas out of the cylinder gap. Surprisingly they both shoot reasonably accurately (minute of man) out to 25 yards.
 
Nom de Forum said:
I forget, will a .327 fit into the cylinder and more importantly not immediately blow it up when fired?
Click to expand...

.327Federal Magnum will fit and fire, but doing so will cause it to ka-boom.

.32H&R Magnum +P ammo is the limit for the Nagant M1895 revolver.
Shooting +P will split/bulge the .32H&R Magnum cases.
 
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