I’ve got a 1937 Mosin Nagant. Man, does it kick!
I have a couple of Nagants and as you say they kick like hell. However, if you buy a lace up pad for the butt-stock, they are quite comfortable to shoot.
As an added bonus there is still a lot of cheap 7.62-54 corrosive ammo available. Corrosive ammo is not a problem. Clean your weapon promptly and you will have no corrosion.
I do the following:
Immediately after shooting I spray brake cleaner down the bore to get most of the crud out. I then follow with ED’s red on a bore snake.
Formula for ED’s Red is a follows.
1 part acetone
1 part mineral spirits
1 part Mercron Transmission fluid.
I make it a quart at a time for less than 4 dollars.
This gives you a solution that is both polar and non polar and thus cleans very well. The Acetone and Mineral Spirits will eventually evaporate leaving a thin lubricating film of Mercron.
Caution: The Acetone will play hell with the finish of weapons and plastic stocks if you get it on the stock. I only use it on oiled wood stocks such as on the Nagant, M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield, etc.
Shake you bottle of ED’s Red each time you use it, as the emulsion will seperate on standing.
1943, Izhevtsk Arsenal. And a full spam-can I haven’t even TOUCHED yet, plus about half a spam-can in the open can. . .
I have seven. Two of them engraved.:-))
I have an M91/30 Mosin Nagant ex-sniper made in 1943 by Iszevsk that I recently acquired for a steal of a deal. Great shape. Love it.