Which Mosin-Nagant to get?

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

Wade

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
Messages
60
Location
West Tennessee
First of all, let me say that I never should have gotten that C&R! :D

I have an urge for a Mosin Nagant, but can't make up my mind which one to order. Yeah, I can already hear the "just get one of each", but I'm trying to pace myself (that and the guncase is already overflowing).

So, give me your opinions: the 91/30, M38, or M44? Also, who has the nicest ones right now (AIM, SOG, etc)?

As always, thanks in advance for your responses.
 
Can't go wrong with any of them to start, you'll end up with them all anyway in a few years. :)

I vote for M44, just for the "earth shattering kaboom" factor.


-James
 
The M91/30 is the best to shoot, especially with surplus ammo. The M38/M44 are nice to round out a collection, but I don't like shooting them at the range with surplus because it's too loud and the muzzle blast really disturbs the other guys at the bench (it's like shooting next to someone with a muzzle braked .300 WinMag). As far as accuracy, I feel the 91/30, 38, and 44 are pretty much the same with handloads.

Aztec used to have the best imports. All their rifles didn't have cosmoline and the import marks were nice and small compared to Century's import billboards. Unfortunately, Aztec stopped importing Mosins. I think they still have some M44s left, but that's about it.

All of the Mosins available through AIM, SOG, and other dealers are most likely Century Arms Intl, imports so the quality between the vendors is going to be equal. So just pick a reputable vendor with a good price and you should be good to go.

If you want a really great Mosin Nagant get a Finnish M39 from Wholesale G&A. I recently purchased two unissued M39s from them (VKT and 'B' barrels) and they are the best examples of the Mosin Nagant. If you compare an M39 and a M91/30 side by side, you can see the superiority of the Finn in quality. Prices range from as low as $150 for a fairly worn rifle to $250+ for an unissued or uncommon piece (Saka/Sky/Tikka barrels).

Finnish M39 1944 VKT:


Finnish M39 1942 B (with OEWG Austrian marking):

 
What do you want it for?
Just to have one?
A shooter?
Want to collect certain ones?

Assuming it's just a general "have one in the collection that I'll shoot sometimes", I'd recommend either a 91/30 or an M38. The 91/30 because it's a bit easier shooting, the M38 because lately they've been a bit more scarce.
 
What causes the surplus 7.62x54R to have such concussion and flash in a 20 inch barrel rifle? Is is just slower burning powder? I've never been around one before but the above comparison to a muzzle-braked 300 mag got my attention.

My C&R application will be mailed Monday and I was thinkng about getting a M38 or Yugo SKS for my first C&R purchase in a couple of months. The M38s I've handled seemed like a handy size carbine, but if each shot will register on the Richter scale :D I may have to reconsider.
 
M91/30 ex-sniper. Aztec International may have a few left. My Tula ex-sniper is very accurate.

http://www.aztecguns.com/Specials.htm

Hungarian M44. Mine is immaculate. All matching, no electropencil or lineouts. Found it trolling at a local store.

I like the M38 carbines. They are pretty good short range brush guns. Great little flamethrowers. Look for the version with the correct stock. Ivan rearsenaled zillions of M38 with M44 stocks. A true M38 stock won't have a cut for a side folding bayonet.

I have bought from AIM and Aztec. They are great to do business with.

ZM
 
Mosins are great inexpensive rifles, with lots of history behind them. BTW, 7.62x54R cartridge is the longest serving cartridge ever, used sonce the 1890s to today.
I'd start with a 91/30, a nice one, and a slip on recoil pad, then get an M44, for that permanantly attached pig sticker!
I have two 91.30s, and an M38, and all three are grand fun! Ammo is dirt cheap, right now, so grab case lots! :)
 
First choice would be a Finnish Mosin. Any make, depending on your tastes. My second would be an M38. Handles well, lots of noise and to-do (I like that sort of thing), and it has a better balance than an M44 with that large hunk of metal hanging off the barrel. And if you want to roast Mashmellows/hotdogs, the cleaning rod works just as well as the M44's pigsticker. :neener:
 
The carbines are the most fun. The muzzle blast will impress your friends. I prefer the M38 over the M44 for the simple reason that the bayonet can be clunky, but I think the bottom line is that you should buy at least of one of each then decide.
Mauserguy
 
The Mosin 91/30 is a good rifle to start with. They are pretty common and you can find both hex and round receiver versions. They are a very simple rifle and designed just for the Russian peasant who was conscripted to fight in the Great Patriotic War. The M38 is a cut down version of the 91/30 and was primarily issued to support units. The M44 version did go to some front line units and that's why it had the folding bayonet.

I have a 1931 Izhevsk 91/30 with a hex receiver and I can get 6-8' groups at 200 yards with the Czech Silvertip 148gr surplus ammo. The 91/30 was designed with a 200 yd battle zero so it seems it still shoots as good as it was designed to. It has about the same recoil as my M1903A3. My M38 (1944 Izzy) is a bit more accurate but it looks like it had been rearsenaled and put right into storage. The barrel looks new and probably had not been fired a lot. It definintely kicks and the muzzle flash is great for evening shooting. I highly recommend a slip on recoil pad or one that you wear like the PAST pad.

The 7.62x54R milsurp ammo is fairly cheap and readily available but all of it is corrosive so you need to douse the chamber, bore and bolt face with hot water or Windex with Ammonia immediately ater shooting to kill the corrosive salts found in the primers. Wolf has some decent ammo that is non-corrosive and runs about $5/box of 20.

You can find some great information at these sites:
http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forums.com/
http://www.7.62x54r.net/
http://www.surplusrifle.com/russianmosin189130/index.asp
http://www.mosinnagant.net/
 
the 91/30 is my personal favorite but the finnish m39s are pretty good too, just more expensive. and as far the "huge ka-boom"factor goes, the 91/30 still wins in that. at the range one time iave had someone two lanes over complain that the shockwave was causing him to flinch and miss his target :evil:
 
I will cast my vote for the M39. I got two of them for $80 and gave the extra to my best friend for x-mas.
My%20Mosin.jpg

Word to the wise fellas, dont ever give a woman a rifle, some ammo and lessons. Them is a volatile mix! :eek: :uhoh:
 
english kanigit Hey, are you doing the "The M1 does my talking" pose in that picture? :D

BTW, I recommend the Finnish M39 also. I've got two and they are both beautiful rifles that shot very well.
 
It's called "personal contacts" :p
My doctor is a good friend and used to be a dealer, he told me of a mutual friend who had bought the rifle and not used it much. Paid $80 for the rifle and just a wisker over a hundred for a whole passle of ammo. At the time I thought I had picked up a beat up old russian (all mosins are the same right?? :rolleyes: )

Went back to the doctor friend and asked to buy any strippers he had...to make a long story short we went down to his "basement bunker" and he grabs a large plastic baggie which he tosses at me. Contents: 2 disassembled bolt, 1 set barrel bands (finnish), 1 trigger group, a magazine well and follower group, and +/- 20 strippers. :eek: He won't take my money! I make him swear that he will call me next he needs help from "Manwel Laboor" on any projects around his place, to which he grudgingly agrees. I start to leave the room and he asks me to wait up a sec. When I turned around he was dragging a shelf away from the wall and reaching behind it. He turned around holding another M39, which he hands to me and then tells me to leave! :what:
I protest and begin pulling money out of my pockets. After my third attempt to pay him he runs me out of the house! I guess you just have to know when to cut yer losses and run... :rolleyes:
 
I have a Finn M28/30 made in '37. One of my pawn shop finds. Got it for $90 OTD. Forward end on the stock has been spliced. Has a hex receiver and has the Sk.Y Arsenal stamp.

Took it out this afternoon for the first(for me anyway). I can put 5 rounds in 3-4 inch groups at 100 yards. Made everyone on the firing line look at me when I pull the trigger the first few times. Don't think any of the Glockites shooting on the other end on the firing line had ever heard one.

Anyone know where I can get a bayonet and sling for it?
 
Slings are any where from $5-$10 at the gunshows. If you manage to find an original bayonet, snap it up! The original bayonets were made by Fiskars (now makes high quality cutlery and axes, etc...). I could be wrong but I believe the production runs for the M39 bayonets were less than 4000. This makes original units rare and pricey.

Here is a good place to start looking for info on your gun.

PS- I believe there are repro bayonets for these guns, about $60. I am unsure as to their quality...
 
I got my slings from WGA when I bought the rifles and you can also try gunbroker or ebay. I'm not into bayonets but I did get a buddy a reproduction M39 bayonet from www.interordnance.com for his birthday (he really likes bayonets but as English mentioned, real M39 bayonets cost more than the guns :what: ). It's a good quality blade for about $35 plus shipping and it fit perfectly on his Sako.
 
M44

I would get a Polish M44. They are among the most well made Mosins and the M44 does not have as much reciol as the 91/30 or M38 it is also VERY loud. KABOOM
 
I don't think you'll notice any difference in recoil or muzzle flash between the M38 and M44. They are pretty much identical.

I really enjoy shooting my M44. I actually prefer it to my 03A3. Ammo is cheaper (I prefer Czech silver tip) than any .30-06 short of stealing it.

All the ammo works fine in mine, but the old Hungarian yellow tip seems to be a bit dirtier although the fireball and BOOOOM are worth it. The yellow tip is heavier (174 grs I think) while the newer Czech silver tip is lighter (147 grs) and cleaner.
 
The reason M39 Bayos are so rare is that the Finnish government destroyed most of them rather than surplus them. The IO bayos were originally somewhere around $70 when they first came out (at a time when they were not advertised as replicas, by the way).

Ash
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Best Mosin Nagant?
Replies
16
Views
1K
Cosmoline
C
T
  • Locked
Mosin Nagant Carbines
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
chris in va
C
S
  • Locked
Which Mosin-Nagant to Buy? Milsurp or handload?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
Sam Adams
S
J
  • Locked
Mosin nagant front sight question
Replies
3
Views
570
johnsack2001
J
Redlg155
  • Locked
Gun Show this weekend. What Nagant to get?
Replies
10
Views
1K
Tropical Z
T
Back
Top