Posted on 03/05/2014 7:08:51 PM PST by dynachrome
. Then, I came across the Russian Mosin Nagant 91/30– a bolt action surplus rifle. I was intrigued as it was only $125, had lots of history, the ammo was cheap, and I thought I could sneak this by the wife. I bought a 1938 Mosin Nagant 91/30 manufactured at the Tula Armory from my local gun shop. That was the start of my love with Russian designed firearms.
When you purchase a Mosin Nagant, it comes coated in a bunch of cosmoline and needs lots of cleaning before you should try firing it or for that matter even touching it. These rifles need to be completely detail stripped. This gave me a little more confidence that I could work on guns. The final results were great with this rifle, having refinished the stock and also adding a scout scope to it. The rifle, without the scope, shoots a little high and to the right at a 100 yards. With the scout scope, I have it zeroed in at 100 and 200 yards. It's a great gun.
I would like to make one point about the Mosin Nagant 91/30. It shoots 7.62x54r ammo. The round is the same size as a 308, actually .312. The ammo is available in surplus tins and is quite cheap. The rifle itself kicks like a horse. I had to buy a good shoulder pad to shoot this rifle without causing myself shoulder pain and injury.
I only use surplus ammo with Mosin Nagants and that ammo is corrosive. The reason I use surplus is the cost of non-corrosive ammo is too high for me. After shooting at the range, I just swab down the bore and bolt with Windex, run a patch through the bore, and I'm done.
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The 91/30 is one of the best investments around right now. It’s the last of the bolt action war rifles that has yet to see major appreciation in value. CAI and other companies are doing a good job refurbishing them.
On top of that, it’s a solid rifle and ammo is cheap. Leave it packed in the oil/box and stack them in a closet with a tin or two of ammo. You won’t regret it IMHO.
I might have one or two hanging around.....
No, no, no... what you HAD accidentally fell out of your canoe while you were paddling across Lake Forgot-the-Name somewhere upstate a couple of years ago.
Only a stupid person would have a Mosin Nagant M91/30.
Fortunately, I’m smart, and have the M91/30, PLUS an M38 carbine fitted out as a scout rifle, a Romanian M44, a Finn M39, and a lifetime supply of Yugo 7.62x54Rmm M75 sniper ammo.
Several years ago, I bought this Yugo Mauser for just about the same price the Mosins were going for. The dealer also threw in 200 rounds of corrosive Egyptian ammo. The stuff shoots OK and is in stripper clips. It is really, really corrosive tho.
Finn M39
Very accurate rifle. The finns did some damage to the soviets with them.
24/47?
A solid rifle, and usually you get a new barrel with the refurbishment. (sigh. They are at $279 at cabelas, and that is the sale price)
Whoops, I look closer and it is a m48A
It was $95 including tax when I bought it around 10 years ago. I think you could get a Mosin for around $79 at the time but the ammo would have cost at least $20 so I figure I paid about the same as the Russian guns.
I had a Chinese short barreled Mosin Nagant for a while. Every time I fired it with the Chinese ammo I had, the bolt would lock up and I would have to beat it open with a block of wood.
I gave it to a friend and he used different ammo and never had any problem. He used it for his deer rifle and I am sure took a few with it.
The Finns know how to set them up. It came with a shimmed stock, and is the most accurate of the group.
The M38 does 2 MOA with hunting ammo and the 4x scout scope. The Finn beats that, preferring the Yugo surplus over new ammo, with 1 MOA, if I do my part. Only thing is it shoots 12” high at 100 yds and 6” high at 200 yds. I’ll need a longer range if I’m ever going to move the leaf sights above “zero”.
Yes, if your going to shoot the 7.62x54, shoot it through an M39.
No comparison to the basic Russian model.
The sights were supposedly calibrated for the bayonet being attached. Or so I heard on the interwebs.
The best made rifle I have ever owned and it isn’t even close was a 9809 Argentine Mauser made by DWM in Berlin.
It was stamped “Deutsch Waffen und Munitionsfabriken Berlin Modelo Argentino. 1909. The 1909 meant that my particular rifle was actually made in 1909 so it was an early one.
The bluing was actually a fine matte yet still well polished blue. And it really was blue instead of black. The small parts were finished in a bright cobalt blue. The workmanship was better than anything made today except by custom makers.
My particular one came with the test target and Herr Ritzman had fired a two inch group at 200 meters with open sights then signed the target. My guess is the really good shooting ones were separated along with their test targets but they eventually sold them and I got a great rifle.
>> stack them
“them”? How many should I have? :-)
I won't be able to shoot it as I'm on blood thinners and hard kicking rifles bruise me real easy.
bump
>> Every time I fired it with the Chinese ammo I had, the bolt would lock up and I would have to beat it open with a block of wood.
That’s funny.
“War is hell”
I'd much rather have a German engineered/manufactured gun than something made by/for a bunch of backwards Russians.
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