Thinking about buying a Mosin Nagant.

[ElectricZombie]

I got interested in military surplus guns a while back after I picked up an almost perfect Yugo SKS at a local gun show.

I've been thinking about buying a Mosin Nagant since they are so cheap and ammo is still easy to find. I would also like to have one simply for the history behind the gun. I was looking at this particular one:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Russian_Model_91_30_7_62x54R_Mosin_Nagant.html

Has anyone ordered a gun from these guys before? Does anyone know about the build quality of these particular guns?

[LonghornGlock]

Getcha one! One of the better rifle deals out there. Aim is a good company to deal with and these ruskies are supposed to be arsenal refinished so they will be fine shooters. My father has one and likes it, I have the shorter version the M44 carbine. It's a fun little gun in it's own right. The 7.62*54 is powerful enough for anything that the 30.06 can handle and surplus ammo is very cheap. Very fun to shoot these guns! Enjoy.

[kf4zra]

a word of warning about mosins, once you buy one, you will be hooked.

im up to about 8 or 9 now.

also i would recommend paying the extra for the hex receiver and the tula manuf.

the hex receiver guarantees that it was made 1935 or earlier, it is more desirable, and cooler looking. the tula arsenal is the more desired manufacturer, plus the big commie star looks cool too.

John

[ElectricZombie]

Originally posted by kf4zra

the hex receiver guarantees that it was made 1935 or earlier, it is more desirable, and cooler looking. the tula arsenal is the more desired manufacturer, plus the big commie star looks cool too.

Thanks for the heads up; I didn't know about the receiver. I think it would be worth the extra cash to get the older one.

[jonathon]

Older you go, the more chances your rifle would've been used in world war 2..

Only problem is worn out barrels and headspacing. If the rifle has a strong rifling and headspaces, it's a great shooter. Not sure what it takes to fix headspacing.. but I know EVERY Milsurp bolt action rifle should be headspaced.

[jonathon]

I have two, a 91/30 and an M44. Both can hit a pie plate every time at 100 yards off hand, no problem, every time..

I wouldn't call a good chunk of the surplus "crap", as most of it is pretty decent, though corrosive. The Polish stuff I got for example, is MUCH cleaner than Wolf, and very accurate out of both guns.

Comercial ammo is readily availabe, and S&B even makes a hunting load 180gr JSP for it.

Just as I said above, make sure the bore is good and it headspaces okay, and you'll have a rifle that will outlast and outshoot you or me.

[ElectricZombie]

Originally posted by jonathon
Older you go, the more chances your rifle would've been used in world war 2..

Only problem is worn out barrels and headspacing. If the rifle has a strong rifling and headspaces, it's a great shooter. Not sure what it takes to fix headspacing.. but I know EVERY Milsurp bolt action rifle should be headspaced.

What exactly is headspacing? Don't they do this before selling you the rifle?

[kf4zra]

headspacing basically checks the distance from the bolt face to the cartridge casing.

if its too big, cartridges can get stuck, at worst case metal and wood can fly when you pull the trigger.

if it is too small, you will not be able to close the bolt, or it will be extremelly hard to close it.

you can get 54r headspace gauges at most gun supply sites. i believe you can find em at midway.

adjusting headspace on a mosin is fairly easy, its just trial and error with different bolt heads.

[nognig]

I just bought a Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 from Aim 2 weeks ago. I didn't go for the hand-pick/Tula/hex option.

I got a 1942 Izhevsk rifle, refurbished. The rifle looks like a very good condition, 60 year old rifle. The finish has been "repaired", the wood has only minor nicks in it.

The bore looks good, but I haven't seen a ton of bores so keep that in mind. The rifling isn't sharp, but it's not bad either, looks like it's seen a few thousand rounds. A few pits are visible.

The rifle shoots very well. I've only been shooting rifles for a past few months, but my first few shots at 50 yard were all within 3".

NN

[kf4zra]

you will notice a considerable difference in metal finish with the 1941-1943 dated 91/30's.

there is considerably less refinement to it. you can see and feel the lathe marks on the receiver and barrel. this doesnt affect shooting any at all, but it just looks rougher. im sure the russians werent too concerned about the looks when the nazis were knocking on their door.

word had it that at one point they were handing the unblued rifles out the factory door to troops.

[thisaway]

IMHO the best bet is the M91/30. Reason 1) It is still a full-sized rifle, but not quite as long as the Imperial Russian M1891s. Reason 2) It has far less muzzle blast and flash then the M44 carbines. Reason 3) It balances well and has enough weight to keep recoil more manageable.

The M91/30, the M38 carbine, and the M44 carbine are all plentiful and quite inexpensive, and there are vast quantities of good ammo available now, so I think everyone should own at least one Mosin of some type! Good luck with your purchase! :cool:

[kf4zra]

Ive got most the major ones anyways, if you have any questions about how a certain model shoots, lemme know, ill be glad to assist

1899 finn capture russian M91 (hex)
1941 Finnish M91 with belgian leige marks (1915 receiver) (HEX)
1942 Finn M39 with 1895 receiver (hex)
1920 russian 91/30 tula ex-dragoon (hex)
1930 russian tula 91/30 (hex)
1946 russian m44
1945 russian m44 with hex receiver
1955 romanian m44

i have my sights set on a finn M27 with popsicle stick front sight bands, or an m28.

still need to fill the obligatory m38 and m91/59 slot filled too when i find one at the right price. also lookin for an all matching polish and hungarian m44 as well as a polish Wz-48 .22 cal mosin trainer.

[Deep Blue]

Originally posted by thisaway
IMHO the best bet is the M91/30. Reason 1) It is still a full-sized rifle, but not quite as long as the Imperial Russian M1891s.

Ya mean they made a rifle longer than the 91/30? Good grief, it must have been taller than than the average Russian was.

[kf4zra]

yup, the m91 is big, put a bayo on it and it stands almost 7ft from butt to bayo tip

[p01ic3m4n]

i have a '33 tula hex with laminate stocks. it's a super nice looking gun. the '42 izhevsk isn't near as nice looking, but they are both in good shape with good barrels. i'd also suggest the tula hex with the laminate stocks.

[Quickshot]

Originally posted by kf4zra
a word of warning about mosins, once you buy one, you will be hooked.




I know I went in for one and walked out with three!!!!! They are really fun little guns to shoot and it also turns some heads at the range!!! Get one or two or three or......

you have been warned!!!


Quickshot

[GLOCK22SHOOTER]

Buy one.You wont be dissapointed.I have a Finnish 1933 M27 and it is my favorite rifle I own.I can pop the paper at 500 yards with that thing off the bench rest.Also 7.62x54r is a serious round.Super power and distance.And it makes one hell of a BOOOOMMMM!!!!!!!!!

[m2hmghb]

I have a finn capture 91/30 1934 Izhevsk and a 1917 M39 Izhevsk. The m39 is about as good as it gets, with handloads it will shoot better then sporting rifles. I have to get out and try the 91/30 again, the bore was full of crud and looked shot out then i tried a foaming bore cleaner and it now gleams. Bubba got to the front sight and hacksaed 1/2 the globe off and the rifle has pitting and probably 40-50% of the finish left. Not a great rifle but it was my first.

[Rick O'Shay]

I have a Finn 91 (capture), and a Russian 91/30. The Finn stands about 5" taller than the 91/30. The barrel alone is 31.5" long. Extremely accurate, too. Just look for the little box with SA in it to identify the Finn captures. The Finns had a way with making rifles accurate.

[97guns]

i have a dozen or so mosins and like said above the fin guns are the finest of them. the m39's are extremly accurate and are fine collectables, prices on them have been on a steady increase within the last 6 months or so. also pricing on m38's seem to be creeping up slightly. 91/59's are fine collectables and are more accurate than the standard sub $100 variety.