Totally clueless on Nagants.

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It has definitely been rearsenaled, that's what the lined-out box on the stock means. It is force matched (crossed out magazine bottom plate) the serial number is ZD910. (The '3' is the Cyrillic Z, and the funny thing behind it is the Cyrillic D) The C2435 is probably what's recorded as your serial number, it was put there by the importer, next to their legally-required 'billboard', most of the other marks are various stampings from either when it was made, or when it was rearsenaled.
It will probably shoot high, they were set for 300 meters. It also may shoot to one side, they were sighted in with the bayonet on, as the bayonet was always upposed to be fixed when action was expected. Soviet (and earlier Czarist) soldier were usually not issued bayonet sheaths. There were locally made ones used, they can occasionally be found.
 
If yours does shoot high, there are several fixes. One is by a THR poster, Joshua Smith, who posts here sometimes. His business focuses on Mosins and making them more user friendly and accurate. He also has some free stuff like instructional videos and articles on the Mosin on his website. Highly recommended. See http://smith-sights.com/

The other fix is homemade where you use shrink tubing to increase the height of the front sight and trim to your desired height. Compliments of THR poster DPris, an old THR thread about it. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/mosin-nagant-shooting-high.681711/ Easy peasy, no permanent alterations to affect value, and cheap. Some other pointers on that thread as well.
 
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What’s really enlightening is to take one out on a really cold day in the snow with some rounds in your pocket and the load it and shoot some jugs or plates while wearing a pair of leather mittens. It’s got to be the easiest bolt rifle in the world to manipulate and shoot with gloves on in the cold. It’s almost like they thought of that! ;)
 
Mn Fats said:
Bore is bright, rifling sharp.
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It's only going to be fun if you can shoot it and have some expectation of good groups.
I owned a Mosin Nagant carbine with a folding bayonet made in Poland in 1952. Brand new in the cosmoline.
I was younger then, and with good eyes I was able to shoot 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards with the open sights from the bench.
There is nothing wrong with the design, accuracy-wise.
Buy the bayonet and the accoutrements for display. (Russian oil bottle, sling, and a couple of ammo pouches.) They should be quite cheap.
Don't refinish it. It looks great and the results would be disappointing.
Consider reloading for it. If you aren't into reloading yet, you could buy the Lee Challenger kit and some dies and go to it.
 
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Well it all depends on what kind of shooting you like, if hitting gongs and metal plates in an action match is your thing, it could be quite fun. But you'll have to get some of Bulgarian blued stripper clips and maybe file out the "half moon" on the interrupter a bit achieve some speed and consistency. And rot-gut Soviet-bloc surplus ammo works just fine the purpose. Almost like there is some connection between the design and what it was meant to do, or something.

The windage issue is easily addressed (shoots right). You chase the error with the front sight, which moves in its dove-tail. A sight-mover is really best for this. Since I have a few Mosins, I shoved a crow bar in my wallet, leaned on it, and opened it up to spend a very small amount of money on a sight-mover made for Mosins - works great. So I've been able to dial in the windage easily at the range, one small allen wrench movement at a time, for all of my Mosins.

As noted by others, elevation issue has a simple solution (shrink tubing). Or if the issue is minor, an even simpler one - change the hold/sight picture on the target. This works for mine, and you'll quickly get in the habit of holding a bit higher or lower.
 
LoonWulf said:
Ahh well, you came away with a really nice Nagant!
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I gave a fellow member the location of the Arisaka. Hopefully he picks it up and maybe starts a thread on it after it's restored. Ya know, to make me feel bad :D. I really should have bought it, $75. What does $75 get you these days.

Im having a blast with the Mosin though. I just need a sling. And another Mosin.
 
I would recommend getting a Finn Mosin next--either a 28/30 or a 39. They are a bit more but the Finns knew how to get the most of the Mosins compared with the Russians.
 
Screenshot_20190317-193058.png Screenshot_20190317-192952.png Screenshot_20190317-193703.png I gotta pick one up for myself. Izzy and Tula Hex is Latin to me. What's the significance? Which would you pick? Assuming bore, stock, overall condition being equal.
 
Mn Fats said:
View attachment 831778 View attachment 831779 View attachment 831783 I gotta pick one up for myself. Izzy and Tula Hex is Latin to me. What's the significance? Which would you pick? Assuming bore, stock, overall condition being equal.
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Entropy is right. The Hex receiver type is the original Mosin design and was simplified a bit later in the 1930's to the round receiver. Supposedly the Hex are stronger and usually demonstrate better fit and finish due to prewar conditions. Depending on the deal for ammo and accessories, those might be a good buy. You could probably flip the Mosin Tula hex almost immediately for a profit if you wanted.
 
Coincidentally, a 1931 Tula was my first Mosin Nagant.
I experimented a bit on it, but nothing irreversible.
Taller front sight post, extended butt pad, Finn trigger and sear, cloth and BLO wrap under front of hand guard, brass shims for bedding.
Groups tightened up a bit, but not as good as any of my Finns.
Still, a fun and challenging rifle to shoot, and a solid piece of history.
 
My first was a 1941 Ishevsk M38 Carbine, picked up at Fleet Farm for $69. I actually went there to look at them for a co-worker who was thinking of one for a deer rifle. After looking at the one I ended up buying, I reported back to him they wouldn't be the best deer rifle (for him, but I left that part out) because of the safety, (it takes some practice to get proficient with it for hunting) but it sure is fun to shoot! I bought one box of 20 rounds, took it home, cleaned a LOT of cosmoline out of it, and shot it, and instantly regretted only buying one box!
My second was the one my son is shooting in the pic, '30 Tula, and well, it kind of snowballed from there......
 
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