Need Mosin Nagant Opinions

gravertom

gravertom

Joined
Jun 4, 2004
Messages
1,163
OK.


Given the low price of the ammo, and the high price of other kinds of milsurp ammo now, I am considering a purchase or two. There seem to be good prices on 91/30's as well as 38 or 44 carbines.

I owned a Westinghouse long rifle long ago. never shot a carbine.

Just on looks, I prefer the 1938 carbine.

I know I will get the best and quickest info on these right here!

let me know your shooting impressions, and preferences.

These would be, well, sort of an investment, if you will. A commodities investment. Futures, you might say. For someone without a lot of money.

savvy?

Thanks,

Tom
 
BTW, other than my Swiss rifles of yore, I have been disappointed with several other types of milsurps, either their accuracy, or their worn out condition. bad luck, or my fault in most cases, not knocking them. Looking for rugged, reliable, and 4 MOA minimum for practical purposes.

Thanks again,

Tom
 
I have a sweet M44 I got from Ad Astra. I can't hit a paper plate at 20 yards with it, but its fun to shoot. Lemme know if you find a spot selling the cheap ammo. I've not found any recently.
 
i bought a 91/30 last year around this time. it is in decent shape. def. not a collector item. i bought it was a fun, cheap, first rifle. i hear they can be very accurate. using iron sights i was on paper at 100yrds fun to have but not the most fun to shoot unfortunately. i cant imagine having to use one multiplie times for 4 yrs (ie ww2). i shot maybe 30 rounds and the barrel was smoking hot (thats russian) and my shoulder was bruised for 2 days. but as far as historic/surplus military weapons i love it. thats all i can offer ya. - CB


oh yeah, the bolt on the 91/30 is a little scarey. prolly wont malfunction... but...

id go with a mauser98k. they are lots more fun to shoot and better engineered in my opinion.
 
I own several Mosins, including the models that you are looking at. I was attracted to the low price of the rifles and ammo as well.
After a lot of shooting they have become my least favorite rifles to shoot.
Very harsh recoil, especially the carbines. The action on the Mosin has also
made me a Mauser fan as well.
For a few extra buck go for a RC German Mauser or a Yugo M48.
7.62x54R has also doubled in price from a few years back like most ammo.
 
The Ruski wartime quality is iffy. If you can find a Finn, they're a safer bet for accuracy, on a par with the Swiss & Swede stuff.
Uplander
 
I've been considering a Mauser also, as i do have a few hundred rounds of 8mm on hand still.

Thanks,

Tom
 
Since you already have the ammo, your in good shape to go with the Mauser.
Look for a Turk M38, still good deals around and it wont dis:thumbup:apoint.
I have two, one is actually a converted WWI German GEW98.
 
Tom, I have a couple of those. Can't really speak to the accuracy, cuz I ain't, but they are a lot of fun. The last (or most recent) that I bought is a 91/59 carbine, and it has the smoothest action of any. There's a seller on Ebay who makes leather recoil pads for them. Good quality, and more me, they are required, not optional. There's a lot of kick to 54R.
 
If a Mosin, you must get an M39, the Finnish Queen of the Mosins. They reign supreme.

Pat at Wholesale Guns & Ammo in New York has the best selection & prices, last I checked. (Pretty sure I can't post the link :(). Tikka=$$$, VKT (Valmet), Sako less so. All good.


Mike
 
M38/M44

I lot of fun to shoot. Kills at both ends.
20051222161010_fireball20degan.jpg

FireBall.jpg
 
Tom?

I have a 1945 M44, took the bayonet off by drilling the screw...no permanent modification to the rifle.

Took three whitetails this year with it, only the first was hard to hit, but that was MY fault. Other two where one shot drops at 125+yards. Softpoint ammo doesn't require swabbing the barrel. Old milsurp does, but it is effortless, and mostly requires water to dissolve the salts from the primer, the ammonia is nice, but...not essential. Do it when the barrel is hot and you've done 95% of the cleaning. One more swab at home, a pass with gun oil and Bob's yer uncle.

Put about 3/4s of an old recoil pad on, after taking off the metal butt plate. Makes a difference...but really, if you're hunting, you don't notice. Hitting paper makes you repeat the recoil reaction and you may become sensitized to it. The slip on pads add some length to the stock and THAT makes a difference, at least to me.

The bulk milsurp ammo is not going to get any cheaper, and having 440 round tins makes me feel rich. :)

I think they are THE bargain rifles of the moment, maybe the last two years.

A friend with a Curio and Relic license just bought FIVE more from ?Century) for $200.
The M39 (or M38-don't remember) and the M44 are the same rifle as I recall, just a bayonet difference.

Practice with the milsurp 150grs and shoot with commercial (PriviPartisan) 150 sps.

You WILL enjoy.

mosinoneuropeanmount.jpg





Kis
enjoy every sandwich
 
Thanks all, and Kis esp.

I personally like the shorter LOP, being short and all, plus the split receiver bridge puts the bolt handle forward compared to other types.

I really would like to stockpile some ammo, and a few spare rifles to share, if need be. If not, the kids will enjoy them someday.

Kis, i think we are on a similar wavelength!

Take care,

Tom
 
Oh yeah, Bob is my KIDS uncle, BTW!

:D

In our last church we had a nice Kiwi gent who clued us in on that phrase.

T.
 
This is so bizarre! Not 1 hour ago I just did the paperwork to purchase an M44 at Big 5. Aardvark is the one that got me turned onto getting one, and the time was right. They are normally $179, but they had a sale for 89 bucks and I couldn't resist. The salesman had 3 in stock, one with a "G" on the box indicating Good condition, and two with a "V" indicating Very Good. He obligingly drug all of them out for me and let me compare.

I took a bore light and checked them all out. and got the VG one with the cleanest bore, hardly any rust compared to the other, and best looking top and bottom metal. I plan on buying an aftermarket stock for it from Midway, which will run about $60 and taking off the wood. I suppose I could refinish it and put a buttpad on, but I'd almost rather have a better functional stock that comes with a decent pad and sling swivel studs, and keep the wood one for whatever. I may refinish it anyway, but this time rather than sanding the stock I want to try a chemical stripper first.

However, after seeing Kismets I may reconsider. Kis, yours is really nice. Did you fix up the stock on yours? And thanks for the ammo tips also. Good to know.

For those interested, here's a link to the stock I'm thinking about:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=777174&t=11082005

Had to pay the thieves at the USGov the $25 DROS fee, which really frosts me (do not even tell me it costs them that much; I remember when it was about 7 bucks), but even so out the door came to just $120. My Birthday present to myself, as I have one coming up. :D

Sorry Mike, I guess I'm a barbarian, but just didn't care for the M91. I like the utility of the shorter carbine, and that folding bayo is cool! Although taking it off is probably a good idea.

Don't think as long as you keep them clean the corrosive ammo is a factor. I figure ballistically the performance should be almost identical to .308.

Norm
 
Tom, I like the M38 carbines, but I don't own any Mosins so I guess I don't get a vote. However, some of my friends have the old hex receiver M91 and they shoot pretty darn good. Everybody that has the Finnish rifles thinks that they are the cat's pajamas but they are quite a bit more money. I am a cheapskate at heart, and if I was going to spend that much I would buy a modern commercial rifle.

Norm, I saw a couple of days ago that Big 5 had those on sale again. That really is a good deal you got, and I agree that the DROS is a rip off!!!! I bought my K31 there 2 years back for $89: that actually turned out to be an investment. I am waiting for them to put the Steyr M95 on sale again for a rebarrel project to 444 Marlin. BTW, I drove thru gangland Wednesday bringing my boy home from San Luis Obispo. Bet you don't sleep with your windows open at night.

Stevo
 
I have a 1939 91/30 and a 1946 M44. I love them to death.
Contrary to popular opinion they are just as strong and just as accurate as a Mauser, and I find the sights much easier to see than a Mauser. They really don't kick any harder than any other rifle that fires 30-06 class cartridges. But they do bark, and as Hollowdweller posted, the carbines are flamethrowers.

The trick is to inspect them before you buy. The ones I have have sharp rifling and mirror bright bores. The M44 is absolutely perfect. Being postwar, I'd not be surprised if they manufactured it, sighted it in and packed it for storage.

These, and their ammunition is the best buy in centerfire rifles right now.
 
stevomiller said:
Norm, I saw a couple of days ago that Big 5 had those on sale again. That really is a good deal you got, and I agree that the DROS is a rip off!!!! I bought my K31 there 2 years back for $89: that actually turned out to be an investment. I am waiting for them to put the Steyr M95 on sale again for a rebarrel project to 444 Marlin. BTW, I drove thru gangland Wednesday bringing my boy home from San Luis Obispo. Bet you don't sleep with your windows open at night.

Stevo
Click to expand...

You got that right Stevo. Doors and windows wired for an alarm when the house was built, 6 perimeter floods, one of which is a 500 watt halogen mounted 20 feet up on the eaves, all on X10 remote switches, upgraded door locks and Schlage deadbolts with reinforced door edges and HD striker plates with 4" screws, and two dogs to make lots of noise!

We actually live in a decent neighborhood though, and have little trouble in the past 11 years. We don't go out unarned though, or _ever_ go to the East side. :eek:

On topic, from what you guys have said that M91 sounds very sweet. I may have to check that out.

Norm
 
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